My Reflection from “Whispering Hope” by Septimus Winner

 

我對“微聲盼望”的省思

 這是異乎尋常的一年, 壓力重重, 永無祈望！我以為，儘管，這條黑暗隧道是多麼的長，我已經開始在隧道盡頭看到一點亮光。我試圖反省，我們走過的過去一年來，我想感受到可能預見希望的喜悅。期盼這種 “希望” 成為我永遠不想失去的 “快樂”。

2021 年 8 月 26 日，我第一次從華府聖詠團指揮，許卓美佐老師那裡得到這首歌曲-微聲盼望。這首歌由 Septimus Winner 作曲。我 一下子對這首歌曲的故事很著迷。同時，作曲家生平的一瞥也揭示了他創作這首歌的靈感。歌詞有臺語、中文、英文三種。都寫得很美麗動人。有徘徊在孤單中, 尋找堅強後盾之感。後來，同時，也被翻譯成非常吸引人的讚美詩。經常在敬拜教堂中獻唱，因為它確實有聖經參考—考據其引至，希伯來書 6:19 “希望我們有作為靈魂的錨，既可靠又堅定。”

愛麗絲·霍桑（母親娘家姓的筆名）和納撒尼爾·霍桑（美國著名作家）

Septimus Winner 以他母親的娘家姓 Alice Hawthorn 筆名，創作和編詞這首歌。它出版於 1868 年。 他的父親是約瑟夫·E·溫納，一位專門從事小提琴的樂器製造商，母親瑪麗·安·霍桑是美國著名詩人和作家,納撒尼爾·霍桑（1804 年 7 月 4 日 - 1864 年 5 月 19 日）的親戚。

如果你讀過美國著名的短篇小說《七角樓》和《紅字》，納撒尼爾·霍桑就是這些長短篇小說的作者。他是美國最著名的作家之一。寫作風格，古典保守，受到新英格蘭清教謹嚴教條及浪漫主義思潮影響，為當時19 世紀的美國文藝復興的一部分。 

Septimus Winner（1827 年 5 月 11 日 - 1905 年 11 月 22 日），是家裡的第七個孩子，這就是他父母給他取名 Septimus 的原因。他是一位自學成才的音樂家，還經營著一家音樂商店，教授各種樂器。他成為 19 世紀後期的詩人、小提琴家和多產的作曲家。有200多卷音樂，有20多種樂器，2000多首鋼琴和小提琴編曲。他的許多當代流行歌曲，包括“聆聽知更鳥的聲音”（1855 年）、“我的小狗去哪兒了？” （1864 年）和 “十個小印第安人”。

他經常使用母親的娘家姓, Alice Hawthorn,來創作流行的、感傷的民謠。這些作品歌謠，通常與女性音樂家的神聖, 技巧, 深度 和智慧 相關。 據説，Winner 是在聽到黑人小男孩迪克·米爾本 (Dick Milburn) 在街上吹口哨彈吉他時，口哨聲變成模仿知更鳥的聲音，頓時靈感萌生而創作，人人愛哼的《知更鳥》歌曲。 林肯總統說這首歌“就像一個小女孩在戲劇中的笑聲一樣婉轉悅耳”，英國國王愛德華七世說，他還是個小男孩時，也常常，不自覺地的用口哨吹出這條曲子。 據說，Winner 從未想到，取自「知更鳥」的 「微聲吩望」這首歌會變成一首宗教歌曲。

因叛國罪被判入獄

在美國內戰期間, Septimus Winner 創作了一首名為 “歸還我們的老指揮官：小麥克，人民的驕傲” 的歌曲。 他的目標是呼籲，林肯總統讓喬治·麥克萊倫，能夠恢復「南方聯盟將軍」的職務。 不幸的是，它在 1862 年被視為反判「北方聯邦政府」的叛國罪被判入獄。 最後, 他同意銷毀這首歌的所有剩餘副本後，才被釋放。

尾聲 

最近的頭條新聞，非常嚴峻複雜：COVID-19 疫情危機已在全世界造成數千萬人死亡。 社會動盪不安、阿富汗淪陷和全球暖化，引發極端天氣，大幅增加。 我知道我必須與病毒共存亡。 我知道反華情緒的敏感化。 我知道我的臺灣故鄕，面臨中國的公開侵略的考驗。 我知道我必須節制能源，才能拯救地球。

總而言之，我是多麼努力應對上述的不安及恐慌。無論如何，日常生活中的挑戰壓力，我不能逃避！我會帶著心靈的觸感和亢奮的激情來唱這首老師贈送的歌。 這首歌將成為我最喜歡的歌曲之一。

My Reflection from “Whispering Hope”

 

It’s a momentous year – anything but stress-free!  Endless hopeless!  I thought I am beginning to see a bit of bright light at the end of the tunnel; nevertheless, this long and dark tunnel may be.   I am trying to reflect the past years that we have trudged through and to feel the rejoice of hope that we may foresee.  I really want to keep this “hope” as the “joy” of something I will never want to lose.

 

It was August 26, 2021, when I was first introduced from my Washington Oratorio Choir conductor, Ann Kuo. to sing this song, Whispering Hope composed by Septimus Winner.  I am fascinated by song stories.  The glimpse of composer’s lives shed light on his inspiration for writing this song.  There are three lyrics in Taiwanese, Chinese, and English.  All are beautifully written, and equally translated to transpire the appealing hymn of hope.  People often sing in the worship because it does have Biblical references – Hebrews 6:19 “Hope we have as am anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.”

 

Alice Hawthorne (pseudonym from his mother’s maiden name) & Nathaniel Hawthorne (famous writer)

 

Septimus Winner wrote and composed both, under the pseudonym of Alice Hawthorn, his mother’s maiden name.  It was published in 1868. His father was Joseph E. Winner, an instrument maker specializing in violins and mother, Mary Ann Hawthorne, a relative of American famous poet and author, Nathaniel Hawthorne (July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864).

 

If you had read the famed America’s short and long novels, The House of the seven Gables and Scarlet Letter , Nathaniel Hawthorne was these novels’ author.  He was one of America’s most renowned authors.  His writing style was considered old-fashioned, classical and conservative, influenced by the rigorous dogma of New England Puritanism and romanticism.  It's part of the American Renaissance that occurred in the 19^th century.  

 

Septimus Winner (May 11, 1827 – November 22, 1905), was the seventh child in the family, which is why they named him Septimus.  He was a self-taught musician who also ran a music store, gave lessons of various instruments.  He became a poet and violinist and a prolific songwriter of the later nineteenth century.  There were over 200 volumes of music for more than twenty instruments and 2,000 arrangements for piano and violin. Many of his popular songs included, "Listen to the Mockingbird" (1855), "Where, Oh, Where Has My Little Dog Gone?" (1864) and "Ten Little Indians."

He often used his mother’s maiden name, Alice Hawthorne, for composing the kinds of popular, sentimental ballads which usually related to the sacredness, skill, depth and wisdom of female musicians during that era.   It is reported that Winner got the idea for “Mockingbird” after hearing a young black boy, Dick Milburn, whistling and playing guitar on the streets, with the whistling turning into an imitation of a mockingbird.   President Abraham Lincoln said the song “is as sincere as the laughter of a little girl at a play,” and King Edward VII of England said that he whistled the song when he was a little boy. It is said that he never intended for this song to be turned into a religious song.

 

 

Jailed for Treason

 

During the American Civil War, Septimus Winner composed a song entitled, "Give Us Back Our Old Commander: Little Mac, The Peoples Pride". He aimed it as an appeal to President Abraham Lincoln to return Union General George McClellan to Confederate service. Unfortunately, it was deemed anti-Union in 1862.  Winner was jailed on a charge of treason. Finally, he was freed after he agreed to destroy all remaining copies of the song.

 

 

Epilogue

 

The headlines lately have been grim and complex: The COVID-19 pandemic has killed thousands, and millions people worldwide.  The social unrest, the fall of Afghanistan and global warming triggered the extreme weather events.  I know I must live with the virus.  I know the anti-Chinese sentiment.  I know how vulnerable my home-land, Taiwan, can be in the open aggression from China.  I know I must be energy-conscious to save the planet. 

All and all, I will sing this song presented by my Teacher Ann with the touch of my heart and passionate feelings whether I am struggling to cope with the above uneasiness or just feeling stressed out by the challenges of my everyday life.  This song will be one of my most favorite songs.