Thursday, November 6, 2008

Dona Nobis Pacem

I think the music in the video clip at the end of this post is not by Johann Sebastian Bach as the YouTube header indicates, but it is the very version I was hoping to find and share with you today.

Fifty years ago on his weekly, live documentary television show, Wide, Wide World, host Dave Garroway used to end each one of the Sunday-afternoon programs by quoting these lines from Edna St.Vincent Millay’s poem, “Renascence”:

The world stands out on either side,
No wider than the heart is wide;
Above the world is stretched the sky,
No higher than the soul is high.

Then he would raise an arm, fingers pointing up and palm facing outward, in a gesture that looked like he was about to say “How” just like Tonto on The Lone Ranger, but Dave never said “How.” What he always said was “Peace.”

Here, without further commentary from me, is an anonymous, amateur church choir singing a lovely rendition of “Dona Nobis Pacem” (Grant Us Peace).

7 comments:

  1. What a love Peace Post, rhymsie! The choir video is perfectly fitting.....good idea!

    I've heard of Dave Garroway, but don't have any recollection of him. The wikipedia article was interesting.

    And, the poetry verse helps me envision each person's "sphere of influence".

    Dona Nobis Pacem and all God's blessings to you and yours!

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  2. Very evocative Mr RWP. To think of peace the day after Mr Obama's election seems very appropriate. As he said at the end of his noble victory speech - "God Bless The United States of America" and yes...Peace!

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  3. Peace be with you, also, RWP. Nice post. I remember Dave Garroway very well.

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  4. Thanks, Jeannelle and Yorkshire and Pat, for commenting. I had read that November 6th was "Dona Nobis Pacem Blog For World Peace Day" and this post was how I chose to participate.

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  5. because of you rhymes, something is new on PUTZ

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  6. Putz (Mr. Barlow, sir), the new photos on your blog are great! Great pictures that apply to what you wrote! What a concept!

    Congratulations!

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<b>Always true to you, darlin’, in my fashion</b>

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