Het Schelfzeelied - Exodus 15 = Song Of The Reed Sea (Ex 15), 1967 - 1993

This song draws its theology of Baptism from the biblical memories of Exodus, the passage through the Red Sea. Wit is more literal than interpretative about the events in the great Canticle of Moses (Ex 15:1-18) than Oosterhuis would have. The song from the mid 1960s appears to be almost primitive in contrast to the later songs to come from Amsterdam. Its merit lies in the role it played in the development of the Dominicus and Student Church liturgies, having nourished those early, formative years. The piece may be used after the third reading of the Easter Vigil (the Exodus story) or during the baptismal rites of initiation. It may be sung at any baptismal occasion, including the First Sunday of Ordinary Time in January, the baptism and heavenly anointing of Jesus on the banks of the Jordan. It can also be understood metaphorically, to celebrate 'triumph' over any form of difficulty, and as such is well-suited for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The text presented many problems in translation. The heavy masculine imagery about God does not sit comfortably with today's sensitivities; yet how do you preserve the art-form of proclamation as distinct from narrative? The basic underlying triumphalism is also foreign to our ear. The rhyming scheme was yet another problem; although it may appear banal or contrived, it faithfully reflects the Dutch scheme. The overall song comes across as a rallying song, enthusiastic and shameless in its presentation of the party manifesto. But there is no heavy agenda, simply a lyrical retelling of a story with a moral tucked away in the last verse.