My Beloved is Mine, and I am His-Chris DeBlasio

The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers featuring Anthony Ross, cello, conducted by Philip Brunelle perform "My Beloved is Mine, and I am His" from The Best-Beloved, Chris DeBlasio.
MY BELOVED IS MINE, AND I AM HIS
E’en like two little bank-dividing brooks,
That wash the pebbles with their wanton streams,
And having ranged and search’d a thousand nooks,
Meet both at length in silver-breasted Thames,
Where in a greater current they conjoin:
So I my Best-belovèd’s am; so He is mine.
E’en so we met; and after long pursuit,
E’en so we joined; we both became entire;
No need for either to renew a suit,
For I was flax, and He was flames of fire:
Our firm-united souls did more than twine;
So I my Best-belovèd’s am; so He is mine.
If all those glittering Monarchs, that command
The servile quarters of this earthly ball,
Should tender, in exchange, their shares of land,
I would not change my fortunes for them all:
Their wealth is but a counter to my coin:
The world’s but theirs; but my Belovèd’s mine.
-Francis Quarles (1592-1644)
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers
Anthony Ross, cello
Philip Brunelle, conductor
Audio Recording by John Scherf
Video Recording by Novart Media
Recorded at Larson Hall, American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, MN on Sunday, February 4, 2024