Sabbath Songs: Jesse Dixon’s special talent from the Lord
Koot van Wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD) Visiting Professor, Department of Liberal Education, Kyungpook National University, Sangju Campus, South Korea, Conjoint lecturer of Avondale College, Australia
This is a hymn by Mary Baker and Horatio Palmer dating to 1874 and is based upon the history of the words of Mark 4:37-39.
Jesse Dixon (12 March 1938---26th of September 2011) from San Antonio, Texas, is one of the most talented gospel singers at the turn of the millennium. He had this special style that he would combine his ministerial background with music and turn the hymn into a narrator’s performance. The way it works is that the normal song is with classical rhythm kept in the conventional way by the audience or chorus or group with him, but that he steps out of this conventional “box” and on the side, on top of it, under it, whispers, add words, like a coach encouraging the singers, begging them, asking them, seeking response from them. The result is always wonderful since all musicians, including some famous Adventist singers (Manuel Escorcio) in that audience, all could appreciate his ministerial narrative direction of the hymn. The hymn is of course given gospel additions, namely repetition for effect. Peace be still is repeated over and over again until his monologue or narrative comes to completion. Jesse act out his singing and steps forward to be the audience and chorus on stage’s director. Even if there is a director like the famous William Gaither, Jesse takes over the directing and becomes the main director since it is a ministerial function that leads people to contemplate, reflect and approach the moment of worship with the Almighty.
Link:
YOUTUBE: Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSBPhGa8QD0
Song:
Master, the tempest is raging!
Master------the temp-e-s-t ------is
raging
The
billows are tossing high!
Oh, the billows-------are
tossing---------high!
The
sky is o’ershadowed with blackness,
The sky--------is o’ershadowed-
with blackness
No
shelter or help is nigh;
Oh, no shelter- or
help---------is nigh
Carest
Thou not that we perish?
Carest--------Thou not-------that
we p-e-e-e-erish?
How
canst Thou lie asleep,
How can we lie------how can You
lie there---asleep
When
each moment so madly is threat’ning
It feels like each
moment-------so madle-e-ey-----is threat’ning
A
grave in the angry deep?
A grave-a grave-a gra-a-ve------in the angry deep
Refrain:
The
winds and the waves shall obey Thy will,
Get up
Jesus because-------shall obey Thy
Peace,
be still!
All You
got to say peace------------Oh------peace be still
Whether
the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Whether
the wrath------storm tossed sea---
Or
demons or men, or whatever it be,
It can
be demons----or evil men----whatever will it be
No
waters can swallow the ship where lies
No waters----can
swallow----the ship----where lies
The
Master of ocean, and earth, and skies;
The
Master-----of ocean, ooooooooh and skies
They
all shall sweetly obey Thy will,
Woooooow-
Peace,
be still! Peace, be still!
He will
say---I just want to hear Him say it-peace be still
They
all shall sweetly obey Thy will,
The
a-a-all-----
Peace,
peace, be still!
-------God will give you peace, He wanna give you peace, He will give you peace
peace, be still!
If you will---
peace, be still!
In the midnight hour
peace, be still!
You can get out on your knees
peace, be still!
And get up by your bed
peace, be still!
Only Jesus
peace, be still!
You wanna peace?
peace, be still!
You wanna do it?
peace, be still!
When you feel lonely
peace, be still!
There is Someone Who got perfect-perfect peace, perfect peace
peace, be still!
Wait’n there for you
peace, be still!
All you got to do is say Jesus
peace, be still!
I’ve got peace
peace, be still!
I’ve got peace
peace, be still!
W-o—o-o-o-w I’ve got peace
Dear God
Also us seek peace and we want to hear Your voice saying: Peace be still. Do Your will in our lives to calm the angry waves in our souls today. Amen.