Three Angels Sang a Sweet Song
Text by Anonymous
Three angels sang a sweet song,
with blessed joy it rang in heaven.
They shouted too for joy
that Peter was free from sin!
And as Lord Jesus sat at the table
with his twelve disciples and ate supper
Lord Jesus said: "Why do you stand here?
When I look at you, you’re weeping!"
And should I not weep, gracious God?
You should not cry! You should not cry!
But I have violated the ten commandments!
I wander and weep bitterly!
You should not cry! You should not cry!
O come and take pity on me!"
If you have violated the ten commandments,
then fall on your knees and pray to God!
Love only God for all time!
So will you gain heavenly joy.
The heavenly joy is a blessed city,
the heavenly joy that has no end!
The heavenly joy was granted to Peter
through Jesus, and to all humanity for eternal bliss.
Angels are the next step on Gustav Mahler’s ladder of consciousness. In the joyful fifth movement of his Third Symphony, the orchestra is joined by a children’s choir and a women’s choir giving voice to the angels.
Three Angels Sang a Sweet Song
Text by Anonymous
Three angels sang a sweet song,
with blessed joy it rang in heaven.
They shouted too for joy
that Peter was free from sin!
And as Lord Jesus sat at the table
with his twelve disciples and ate supper
Lord Jesus said: "Why do you stand here?
When I look at you, you’re weeping!"
And should I not weep, gracious God?
You should not cry! You should not cry!
But I have violated the ten commandments!
I wander and weep bitterly!
You should not cry! You should not cry!
O come and take pity on me!"
If you have violated the ten commandments,
then fall on your knees and pray to God!
Love only God for all time!
So will you gain heavenly joy.
The heavenly joy is a blessed city,
the heavenly joy that has no end!
The heavenly joy was granted to Peter
through Jesus, and to all humanity for eternal bliss.
Guests include:
• James Burton, Choral Director, Boston Symphony Orchestra
• Eamonn Greiner, Chorister, Saint Paul's Boys' Choir, Boston
• Caroline Kita, Washington University in St. Louis
• Megan and Hannah Laurence, Choristers, Boston Symphony Orchestra Children’s Chorus
• Marilyn McCoy, Columbia University, New York
• Joanna Neilly, Oxford University, England
Music used in Episode 5. All titles used with permission.
Symphony No. 3 in D Minor: V. Lustig im Tempo und keck im Ausdruck
By Gustav Mahler
Arranged for brass quintet by D.D. Jackson
Performed by the New York Philharmonic Brass Quintet
Recorded by Ed Haber and James Yost at Reservoir Studios, New York, NY
Symphony No. 3 in D Minor: V. Lustig im Tempo und keck im Ausdruck
By Gustav Mahler
Performed by the Gurzenich-Orchester Köln, the Cologne Opera Chorus, the Cologne Cathedral Children’s Choir, and conducted by Markus Stenz
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.
Oehms (OC648)
Symphony No. 3 in D Minor: V. Lustig im Tempo und keck im Ausdruck
By Gustav Mahler
Sung by Catherine Wyn-Rogers, with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Ladies of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir, and conducted by Gerard Schwarz.
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.
Artek (AR-0057-2)
Symphony No. 4 in G Major: IV. Sehr behaglich
By Gustav Mahler
Sung by Heidi Grant Murphy, with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Andrew Litton
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.
Delos (DE3261)
Symphony No. 2 in C minor: V. Im Tempo des Scherzos. Wild herausfahrend
By Gustav Mahler
Performed by the Gurzenich-Orchester Köln, conducted by Markus Stenz
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.
Oehms (OC647)
Le Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111, Part IV: Scene XX – Dans le ciel. “Laus! Hosanna!” – Apothéose de Marguerite. “Remonte au ciel, âme naïve”
By Hector Berlioz
Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Chorus, Tiffin Children’s Chorus, Tiffin Boys’ Choir, Tiffin Girls’ Choir, and conducted by Sir Simon Rattle
Courtesy of LSO Live
LSO Live (LSO0809)
© 2020 Aaron Cohen