Love’s Philosophy

Love’s Philosophy

by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822)

The fountains mingle with the river
And the rivers with the Ocean,
The winds of Heaven meet together
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In one another’s being mingle.
Why not I with thine?—

See the mountains kiss high Heaven
And the waves clasp one another;
No leaf or flower would be forgiven
If it disdained to kiss its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth
And the moonbeams kiss the sea:
What are all these kissings worth
If thou kiss not me?

Notes

The year 2024 began with the biggest disappointment I’d had in a long time, both in music and ministry; however, I’m grateful it didn’t take long for things to start looking up. The very next day after I’d had my bad news, Doug Albertson called me to ask if I’d consider accompanying the Big Island Singers, a local amateur choral group he directed, then with three seasons under its belt.

I couldn’t help but notice how interesting the timing of this was. Is this you speaking, Lord? Is this you opening a different door? And besides that, I’d recently been very, very impressed by the group’s third season concert in the fall of 2023. Not just because they had a beautiful sound and blend. I also loved the variety of interesting and difficult music, including an original piece by a well-known local composer—and the fact that the concert included other instrumentalists and even a beautiful hula. In fact, I found the concert so impressive that I wrote a note to Doug A. afterwards to let him know how wonderful I thought it all was. Add to this the fact that my David had already joined the BIS as a tenor the previous season, and it didn’t take long to arrive at Yes.

The plot took another unexpected turn when I had my first lunch meeting with Doug A. a few days later. We just got settled, when he put a sheet of paper in front of me with his prospective program for the fourth season, “Dark and Light.” There was an obvious line of dashes and arrows right through the middle of the song list. He pointed to the line and asked, “Do you know what that is?”

A little bewildered, I tentatively offered, “…maybe intermission?”

But instead he answered, “That’s where I’m hoping to put a Doug Howell piece.”

I sat there for a moment, completely stunned. Here was a guy that didn’t really know me at all, yet he extended to me such trust and respect—in fact, the very opposite of what I’d just experienced from people who did know me. A scene from the 1995 movie Sense and Sensibility (the one with Emma Thompson as Elinor) came easily to mind: After Elinor tells the newly disinherited Edward Ferrars (Hugh Grant) of Colonel Brandon’s generous offer of a parish, Edward is similarly stunned. To which Elinor says, “The unkindness of your own family makes you astonished to find friendship elsewhere.” Unlike Edward though, I—not being an English gentleman in the 1800s—could not hold back a tear or two. When I finally got my voice back, I told Doug A. I’d give it a go!

From that moment on, 2024 became a year marked by possibility, not disappointment, the BIS season ending recently with a series of wonderful concerts in Volcano and Hilo, with 37 Big Island Singers presenting a varied program of music on the theme “EarthSeaSky”—including “Love‘s Philosophy,” this piece, a musical setting of one of my favorite poems.

At year’s end (which is now upon us!), I can truly say I am glad things worked out the way they did, and feel that God wants me where I am, not where I thought he wanted me. The disappointment not only made my whole association with Big Island Singers possible, but also created the space I needed to compose two new pieces for them, as well as complete several other projects, including the release of the Jimmy & Me Revisited album.

I hope maybe you can take a little hope from my experience, and never stop looking forward, no matter what you’ve been through or how much you’re hurting right now. When you’re in the middle of all the hurt, it’s hard to remind yourself that there is much of the story yet to be written. But there are possibilities waiting on the next page…

Music Notes

A few years back, the British detective series Lewis featured this poem—mainly the last four lines—in an episode entitled “And the Moonbeams Kiss the Sea.” I was so taken with those lines I found the poem, read up on its scandalous author Shelley, and have been haunted by it ever since. When Doug A. asked if I might write something for the “EarthSeaSky” Season, this poem came immediately to mind.

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) wrote this poem not long before he died from a tragic drowning accident—at age 29. During his brief lifetime, he was looked down on by all polite society, but this is a sacred poem if ever I’ve heard one. Not only does Shelley exquisitely describe the elements of nature—earth, sea and sky—he reminds us that none of these exists by itself alone, but finds its fulfillment in relationship with all the others, or as he puts it, “All things by a law divine / In each other’s being mingle.” Then the philosophy turns sharply personal at the end when he asks why we don’t do the same—why we don’t simply follow their example and love one another.

I started thinking about a possible setting in the summer, and dreaming about it many, many a night. It finally came together in early August, and I hope expresses the beauty and emotions—from wonder to love to anger to hopeful longing—in these rich lines. I’m still dreaming about it, and am very happy with the result, which is dedicated to Big Island Singers and its indefatigable director, Douglas S. Albertson.

Sheet music is available for SATB chorus via Hal Leonard Music.