“Love Bade Me Welcome” a poem by George Herbert was set to music by Ralph Vaughn Williams as part of his “Five Mystical Songs” (1906-11).
Both the poem and the song have the power to convert. The poem had a profound effect on the Jewish philosopher/mystic Simone Weil. The song has, more times than I can recall, calmed and reoriented me.
Here is a performance by baritone Thomas Allen at the the 2004 Proms. Also included is Vaughn Williams’, “The Call,” often included in Catholic hymnals and is one of the great tunes we sometimes get to sing at Mass.
Orthodox. Faithful. Free.
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Click here if you want to watch Allen’s performance of other songs in the cycle. The second song, “Rise, Heart,” is specifically about Easter.