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You have selected: MARY, MARY, QUITE CONTRARY (words by Fred Kaan) from the Ron Klusmeier Anthology. Subscribers may download arrangements using the links in the right hand column. Log in at left (first link beneath "The Catalogue") to activate the columns on the right.

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Lyrics and Author/Composer Comments are below.


Click the arrow above to listen to a sample of this selection while following the melody line below.
The audio sample is one verse played on piano by Ron Klusmeier.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary OP

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Lyrics:

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
rebel, giving ear to God,
earth soprano, singing freedom:
Zion’s song in ‘yes’ and blood;

earmarked Mary, world affirming,
in compliance giving birth,
your defiance gave us Jesus,
Word among us, run to earth.

Mary, mouthpiece of God’s people,
Sister Chosen, giving voice,
Ave Mary, Eve of Easter,
Bibi Maryam, Sister Choice;

Mary/Miriam, ever bearing
life as hope for all to share,
make us, women, men and children
as expectant as you are!

Words Copyright © 1999 by Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL (www.hopepublishing.com) for the USA and Canada; and Stainer & Bell Limited, London, England, (www.stainer.co.uk) for all other territories.

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Author / Composer Comments

• Author Fred Kaan, from his book The Only Earth We Know (Stainer & Bell / Hope Publishing Co., 1999, page 15): “In 1994 I was invited to write a Hymn to Mary for a local ecumenical hymnbook supplement. My first reaction was: ‘What! Me? One of Calvin’s boys?’ Then I thought again… and this is the result.”

• RK: Fred has written nearly a page of wonderfully elaborate footnotes for this text which appear in The Only Earth We Know. Inserting them at various points between verses adds a fascinating dimension to the hymn.

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