Newborn Stars...

Newborn Stars

2013, 2014
walnut, 30"x60"
collection Zion Lutheran Church, Hopkins MN

I have gone through this process many times before--finding a text in a piece of choral music that is the source material for work in wood.  As a choral singer, it takes some time to learn new music--notes, intervals, phrasing, tempo--and then at some unexpected time, a phrase or verse hits like the proverbial ton of bricks.  Sometimes there are tears, often I just can't sing for a while when the profoundness of the text finally hits home.  This text is one of those.  It's a hymn text written by writer/theologian/musician Dr. Carl Daw, and the hymn is "As Newborn Stars Were Stirred to Song."  It was the perfect metaphor, especially the last verse-- the symbolism of the redeeming Christ set into musical terminology that just struck me... and a perfect choice to change the text into wood.

An example of 'interchange', a favorite technique that I can only attribute
to Dorothy Divers, Art faculty at St. Olaf...

I have done this carving twice.  The first is the one shown, done in walnut, was purchased by longtime National Lutheran Choir friends Bob and Helen Gusaas, who in turn donated to Zion in Hopkins, MN for the church anniversary.  The second iteration was in white birch, done for the choir room at Zion Lutheran in Anoka, MN.

As newborn stars were stirred to song when all things came to be,
as Miriam and Moses sang when Israel was set free,
so music bursts unbidden forth when God-filled hearts rejoice,
to waken awe and gratitude and give mute faith a voice.

In psalms that raise the singer’s sense to universal truths,
in prophet’s dark-toned oracle or hymn of three brave youths:
the song of faith and praise endured through those God called to be
a chosen people bearing light for all the world to see.

When God’s redeeming Word took flesh to make salvation sure,
unheeding hearts attuned to strife refused love’s overture.
Yet to the end the song went on: a supper’s parting hymn,
a psalm intoned on dying lips when sun and hope grew dim.

But silence won no vict’ry there; a rest was all it scored
before glad alleluias rose to greet the risen Lord.

The church still keeps that song alive, for death has lost its sting,
and with the gift of life renewed the heart will ever sing.