staring into the distance::as far as our eyes can see

Of Andy Kershaw and John Barleycorn

I watch very little TV these days. The weekly trip to the telly room is for Doctor Who. For the rest of the time, the wireless is (and has always been) my broadcast medium of preference. The greatest gift the BBC has bestowed on the listening public is the ability to listen to radio shows retrospectively on the web. For me, this means that I can listen to Late Junction and Andy Kershaw on the Radio 3 website. (For non-UK readers, BBC Radio 3 is dedicated to music which demands serious listening – and has widened its output in recent years to include experimental, world, jazz, rock, blues, folk and electronic, as well as the main output of classical music.) So an evening off at home is often spent in my den, with the computer linked to a decent hi-fi, and usually Kershaw’s programme through the speakers.

In the last couple of weeks, Kershaw has twice played an engaging version of the traditional piece John Barleycorn by Tim van Eyken. The lyrics of the song are powerful: John Barleycorn is at once the personification of the barley crop and is also portrayed as an unjust victim of human violence. Christians will instantly see the the strong Christian allusions within the lyrics (although it is also argued that the song has pagan precursors). Van Eyken’s version brings the lyrics up to date, but maintains the strong spiritual allusions. In the end, of course, Barleycorn is irrepressible, and will always have the power to overcome his oppressors, inevitably rising again and bringing his blessing to all.

At the moment we’re planning the June service for Foundation. We’ve somewhat reluctantly decided to focus upon the theme of violence (there’s such a lot of it around these days!). On Thursday, after an evening’s discussion on the source, nature and necessity (?) of violence, we decided that the cross needed to be at the centre of June’s service, with its paradox that in the Christian faith, redemption comes through violence. Our discussions came back to me strongly as I listened to Van Eyken’s lyrics.

It’s possible to listen to Tim Van Eyken’s version of the song by visiting his myspace site.

Other highlights of Andy Kershaw’s programme last week were George Thorogood’s classic One bourbon, one scotch and one beer, a featured performance by the wonderful Manu Dibango and a fantastic contemporary calypso by 84-year-old Walter Ferguson, complaining about a computer whose deliberations led to his pension being cut off. You have two more days to listen to this episode before it is replaced by the next show, so the clock’s ticking.

Posted on Saturday, 5 May 2007 by Paul | Posted in altworship,spirituality,uncategorized | 1 comment