Music for the Second Sunday of Christmas: January 3, 2021 (Year B)

 

OPENING VOLUNTARY Chorale Prelude and Chorale on “Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ”

(We Praise You, Jesus, at Your Birth) J. S. Bach

Martin Luther wrote something like 36 hymns, about half of which are included in Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Gelobet seist is one of those hymns not found in ELW.

 

It is found in J. S. Bach’s Orgelbüchlein, a collection of Chorale preludes arranged according to the church year. In many instances, chorale preludes are used to introduce the assembly singing of a chorale or hymn.

 

Bach’s treatment solos the melody, largely unadorned, with a gentle accompaniment with several large leaps in the pedal.

The hymn existed with a single stanza before Martin Luther added six more. An early English translation of the first stanza shows it appropriateness for the Christmas season:

        Now blessed be Thou, Christ Jesu;

        Thou are man borne, this is true:

        The aungels made a mery noyse,

        Yet have we more cause to rejoyse.
        Kyrieleyson.

 

GATHERING HYMN Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (In dulci jubilo)

ELW 288

When this hymn was first sung in Germany, it was a macaronic carol. That is to say that the text had more than one language. (Think of the familiar Angels We Have Heard on High with is Gloria in excelsis Deo refrain.)

 

You may have sung versions like this one:

        In dulci jubilo,

        Now sing with hearts aglow!

        Our delight and pleasure

        Lies in praesepio . . .

 

A nativity scene at the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC

You might also have sung a version that included some extra words (News! News! And Joy! Joy!) This appeared in many hymnals, but it was the result of a transcribing error that most hymnals have fixed.

 

Our version doesn’t include Latin phrases or bonus words, but it’s 6/8 meter makes it a dance that is still fun to sing and an apt proclamation of Jesus’ birth.

 

HYMN OF THE DAY In His Temple Now Behold Him (Regent Square) ELW 417

This hymn was specifically written for the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a commemoration that Lutherans call the Presentation of Our Lord.

 

The second stanza paints a picture of today’s gospel reading and alludes to Simeon’s famous words, also known as the Nunc dimittis. After communion we’ll sing a metrical version of these words, for in the act of communion we too see the Lord’s salvation and are able to leave the table in peace.

 

MUSIC DURING COMMUNION Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen (Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming) Johannes Brahms

This beautiful Christmas hymn is still suitable for the season. It’s not a straightforward setting for the melody comes in bits and pieces and is often hidden in the inner voices. It's played today on two manuals, alternating between the organ's flute and string stops.

 

SENDING HYMN Let All Together Praise Our God (Lobe Gott, ihr Christen)

 

CLOSING VOLUNTARY O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste fideles) Sigvart A. Hofland (1889-1956) was born in Norway and came to America when he was a teenager. In 1942 he was he joined the faculty of Luther College where he taught composition and directed instrumental and choral groups.

Sources:

Wikipedia
Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns
Hymnary.org