Dark Mofo: Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Gavin Bryars’ composition, Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet. The composition is based on a loop of an audio recording of a homeless man in London singing an improvised stanza of the 1912 hymn – His Love Never Failed Me Yet – written by James M. Black, an American hymn composer.
The St David’s Cathedral Choir will perform the original hymn at their Service of the Light at 5.30pm on Friday 18 June, and everyone is invited to come and hear the hymn in its entirety.
In Bryars’ composition, the homeless man sings, ‘Jesus’ blood never failed me yet, Never failed me yet, Jesus’ blood never failed me yet, This one thing I know, For he loved me so.’
“Gavin Bryars’ composition is a beautiful expression of the words sung by that homeless man. But the words themselves also express a simple but lifechanging truth,” says The Rt Revd Dr Richard Condie, Bishop of Tasmania.
“The original hymn draws our eyes upwards to the God who remains constant in the face of ‘gladness and joy,’ as well as ‘sorrow and tears.’
“Leigh Carmichael wrote in his creative notes for Dark Mofo 2021, that, ‘In moments of despair, when all else fails, we journey inward. A journey that is sometimes referred to as “the dark night of the soul”.
“This hymn points us to what illuminates that journey – Jesus Christ,” says Dr Condie.
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MEDIA ALERT: Friday 18 May
All Media are invited to attend/film the Service of the Light at St David’s Cathedral
The St David’s Cathedral Choir will perform His Love Never Failed Me Yet at their Service of the Light on Friday 18 June.
Date: Friday 18 June 2021
Time: 5.30pm
Place: St David’s Cathedral, 23 Murray St, Hobart
The Anglican Bishop of Tasmania, The Right Revd Dr Richard Condie, will be available to answer questions on Dark Mofo and Gavin Bryars’ composition following the service.
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For further information contact:
Tess Delbridge | +61 3 6220 2015
Published: 17 June 2021