Touch of the Master's Hand

I was looking for something online (I can't even remember what it was).  Lo, and behold, I found myself at You Tube listening to the Continental Singers singing "Touch of the Master's Hand," originally a poem by Myra Brooks Welch.  I was quite excited, of course, because this was one of our songs the summer of 1982, my second year of tour with Continentals. 

When I toured in 1980 and 1982, there were about 16 groups of singers and bands (Continental Singers and Orchestra), averaging 40 people in a group.  Each group sang in the United States for most of the summer, and then spent a few weeks in other countries.  We started out with two weeks of rehearsal camp at Arrowhead and then hit the road.  My first year, I traveled to West Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland.  My second year, I went to Great Britain, Belgium,  and Holland.

A few weeks before rehearsal camp, we'd receive our practice tapes.   These were sent to us with the assumption we would have the music memorized by the time we arrived in California.  Well, um, I usually began cramming about two days before I had to leave.  I was an alto, so between having to learn a part and the words, I arrived at rehearsal camp knowing neither my part nor the words.  I was always amazed to find I was in the minority.  Oh well, by the middle of the summer I had it all down perfectly. 

The practice tapes were from the album, which had been made sometime during the winter to be ready for sale by summer.  By the 1980s, Continentals had well-known Christian artists who sang the solos on the albums.  The choral parts were sung by studio musicians, in addition to a few people who were current and ex-Cons.  I'm explaining this, because many people thought the albums we sold were performed by our actual group.  No, that was not the case.  But, we had to sing it exactly as the album, because "when people buy records, they want it to sound like the performance."   Rest assured, each tour had the "Continental sound."

In 1984, one of the songs on our album was "Touch of the Master's Hand."   I liked it well enough; it wasn't my favorite.   I did  love our guy who had the solo/speaking part.  His name was Link, he had curly red hair, and he was from Tennessee.  He had a southern drawl and voice that were perfect for this song. 

I don't have the album, although I think my mom may have one.  I hadn't heard or thought about this song in many years.  I was quite surprised to find it on You Tube.  I don't know anything about the group who made the video, just that they used the Continentals' version of "Touch of the Master's Hand."

THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND
'twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile:

"What am bidden, good folks?" he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar! A dollar!" then "Two! Only two?"
"Two dollars, and who'll make it three?"

"Three dollars once, three dollars twice . . .
And going for three . . . "   but no.
From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow.

Then, wiping the dust from the the old violin,
And tightening the loosened strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
As a carolling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low
Said, "What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.

"A thousand dollars! And who'll make it two?
"Two thousand! Who'll make it three?
"Three going once? Three going twice?
"And going . . . and gone!" said he.

The people cheered but some of them cried,
"We do not understand!
What changed its worth?" -- Swift came the reply,
"The touch of the Master's Hand."

And many a man with life out of tune
And battered and scarred with sin
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
Much like the old violin.

A "mess 'o pottage"
A glass of wine
A game and he travels on.
He's "going" once
And "going" twice
And "going" . . . and almost "gone"

Then along comes the Master, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul or the change that's wrought
By the touch of the Master's Hand. By Myra Ross Welch (1926)

I can still remember my part in this song that I haven't sung now for a couple of decades.  I wish I could remember what I was searching the internet for a few hours ago. 

Comments

[Kristin]

I'm pretty sure we'd had the Continental Singers group for concerts in the 80's at our church in Lincoln, esp. back then when the church was really huge in numbers. I remember this song well, as many beyond the Continentals sang it as a solo for other church events/worship as well. Thanks for sharing a neat memory! I'll have to stop by their website now :)

[tweet herself]

ha! well that is quite a nice youtube version but you won't be surprised to hear that my druthers would be to hear you song it :) you have travelled so much! oh..and i am wondering about your and tim's progress on getting a little video up on your blog... a shot putting song with bethany...yes?
xoxox

[Lori]

You know, Kristen, when the boys were little (early 90s), we went to one of their concerts in Lincoln. In fact, I just remembered taking Brett to one right after he was born, in 1986 - in Lincoln, but I can't remember the name of the church.

I could have toured with Continentals every summer, it was wonderful in every way!

I do have the shot putting video that Tim made, finally - and with music!! - but it's too long. He's going to edit it so that we don't have to watch every girl in the meet and listen to the song five or six or ten times.

[Kristin]

I'll ask mom next time I think of it and see if that was the year they were in concert at Indian Hills.

[Lori]

Oh, Indian Hills! The church in 1986 was definitely not Indian Hills (I have no idea which one, I was only there the one time). But, we did go to one of their concerts at Indian Hills in either 1991 or '92 - I'm thinking '91.

[Lakena Alesana-Yan Lan]

Hello friends in Christ,

Though I've always wanted to join the Continental Singers it's a dream that still hasn't come true. But the memories that I have of the this very talented group has been a spiritual fulfillment that will never grow dim. I'm a Samoan from American Samoa, and the Continental groups that travelled all the way to the Pacific Islands back in the late 70's and the early 80's was a blessing for my family to host when my dad was the pastor for one of the village churches. One of the members whose name I'll never forget for some reason is Raewyn. I don't know if that's the correct spelling. Anyway, I'll never forget the beauty of their music as well as their joyous spirits. The Continental Singers are my greatest inspiration in that something about their music brings me back into God's loving arms everytime I hear them sing. I work with church choirs and youth choirs and I keep going back on the internet to try to google some of songs that I remembered them sing hoping that I can still find the music. But in any case the Continental Singers are just unforgettable. God bless you all and thanks a million to Mr. CAM FLORIA & THE CONTINENTAL SINGERS!!!!!!

[Ann-Marie Williams]

Thank you for taking the time to share this video. I have been searching for this song and the version by the Continental singers. I was fortunate enough to hear the group at the Son Shine Centre in Jamaica in the early 80's. It never left me. Thanks a million