Music for the First Sunday of Advent: November 30, 2020, Year B

 

OPENING VOLUNTARY Creator of the Stars of Night (Conditor alme siderum)

setting, Carlton R. Young

 

Advent and Christmas seem to pull our hearts to older, ancient even, music of the church. This hymn is no exception. Christians were singing it about 900 years before the Reformation began – that means some 1,400 years before our present day. ELW places it in the Advent section, but it’s also suitable for Christ the King Sunday. Our choir sang an arrangement of it last week.

 

The melody has four short phrases and they rise and fall with notes that stay close to each other.

Carlton Young’s setting features an ostinato accompaniment (a short phrase that repeats throughout a piece of music) while the melody is in the pedal.

 

Conditor alme siderum is also the basis for the Kyrie that we’ll be singing throughout the season of Advent.

 

GATHERING HYMN O Lord, How Shall I Meet You (Wie soll ich dich empfangen)

ELW 241

This is one of nine hymns in ELW by Paul Gerhardt who is known as Germany’s greatest hymn writer. (I bet you thought it was Martin Luther, didn’t you?) Gerhardt played a role in German Church history by attempting to bring together Lutheran and Reformed clergy – a task that ultimately failed because of their diverging theological viewpoints. Still, Gerhardt was well-liked on both sides of the protestant aisle.

 

Gerhardt’s faith combined “a deep personal piety and filial trust in God with the love of nature of the true poet. . . “We can see this throughout this hymn, but especially in the second stanza:

 

HYMN OF THE DAY Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding (Merton)

ELW 246

The gospel reading opens with a terrible scene: darkness, falling stars, and a shaking heaven. Then we see Jesus coming with “great power and glory.”  According to this hymn, it is seeing Jesus that allows us to cast off the darkness and rise from our bondage.

 

MUSICAL OFFERING God of Still Waiting

Music: Alfred V. Fedak
Text: Carlton R. Young

 

MUSIC DURING COMMUNION Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (Picardy)

setting, Robert Hebble

 

This hymn is even older than Creator of the Stars of Night, possibly dating to the second or third century. The familiar tune, Picardy, is of French origin and not quite as old since it comes from the 17^th century.

We will encounter Picardy three times in today’s liturgy since it is the basis for the gospel acclamation and the Holy, holy, holy. (Sanctus)

Robert Hebble, the composer, died in Atlantis, Florida on February 17, 2020. Here is a link to his obituary:
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/west-palm-beach-fl/robert-hebble-9043903

 

SENDING HYMN Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending (Helmsley)

ELW 435

It would be hard for me to tell you how much I love this hymn. I first heard it on a CD by the Cambridge Singers with an arrangement by John Rutter. You can hear this arrangement, with its stirring brass and organ introduction, at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBAG0TXu2AE

 

One day, as I was browsing the Episcopal Hymnal 1982 (I worked at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Jacksonville at the time), I was playing through hymns and recognized Helmsley. I was so excited to discover it was actually a congregational hymn and it has been an important part of my Advent season since that day.

 

There is a stanza missing in ELW so I usually print a four-stanza version when we sing it; however, with COVID-19 concerns we are also trying to limit assembly singing. I included the missing stanza, from the pen of Charles Wesley, here:

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Trumpet Tune on “Wake, Awake!”

Martha Sobaje

 

OTHER MUSIC

Kyrie Eleison

Our Kyrie has been composed from “Creator of the Stars of Night.” This is a new setting so I’ve done a short “tutorial video” to help you learn it.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT0ItLZGyVU&t=63s

Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah Tif in veldele – lighting of the Advent Wreath

Psalm Setting

An assembly refrain with an ELW tone sung antiphonally between the choir and assembly

Gospel Acclamation Picardy

Sanctus Picardy

 

Sources:

Wikipedia

Painting of Madonna with Child by Lorenzo Monaco, Florence, c.1410
By Unknown author - Paul-Gerhardt-Kirche Lübben, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1410833

Portrait of Paul Gerhardt, Wikipedia

The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church Oxford University Press

Music for the 24th Sunday after Pentecost: November 15, 2020

 

OPENING VOLUNTARY Partita on “Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart” (Herlich lieb)

A partita is a musical suite. In recent years, composers have been writing “hymn partitas” – a suite of variations on a hymn tune. This partita by J. Wayne Kerr has three variations. We’ll hear the first one, Reflection, as the service begins. The other two variations will be heard later in the worship service.

 

Today’s gospel reading is the parable of the talents. We are often told the lesson for us in this reading is that we should not squander the gifts we have from God. In Martin Schalling’s hymn we acknowledge God’s gifts and ask for help in using them for God’s glory.

       Yea, Lord, thine own rich bounty gave my body, soul, and all I have in this poor life of labor.

       Lord, grant that I in every place may glorify thy lavish grace and serve and help my neighbor.

 

I did not know this hymn before coming to St. Mark’s. Now it is one of my favorites.

 GATHERING HYMN Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us (Hyfrydol) ELW 707

 

HYMN OF THE DAY As Saints of Old (Forest Green) ELW 695

This is one of the most satisfying of all hymn tunes. It’s AABA form is solid and reassuring. This is my favorite tune for the Christmas text “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”

 

MUSICAL OFFERING Jesus Calls Us K. Lee Scott

This text is found in ELW with the tune Galilee, but K. Lee Scott has paired it with Sion’s Security, an American southern folk hymn that was first published in 1867.

 

MUSIC DURING COMMUNION

Variation 2 in J. Wayne Kerr’s partita is a trio – a piece of music with three voices. The right hand takes the melody while the left hand plays a counter melody. The organ pedals provide a solid foundation with a steady beat.

 

SENDING HYMN O God, Our Help in Ages Past (St. Anne) ELW 632

 

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Variation 3 on “Lord, Thee I Love”

The final variation is a toccata. The hands are quite active while the pedals solo out the melody. If you’ve ever wondered what it sounds like when all of the organ’s stops are played, listen to the last two chords of this piece which are played “full organ.”

Music for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost: November 8, 2020

 

OPENING VOLUNTARY The Trumpet Shall Sound

G. F. Handel from Messiah, arr. Lani Smith

 

GATHERING HYMN Come, We That Love the Lord

(Marching to Zion) Evangelical Lutheran Worship 625

 

HYMN OF THE DAY Wake, Awake for Night Is Flying
(Wachet auf) ELW 436

Many call this hymn the Lutheran King of the Chorales and I have to admit it’s one of my favorites. Before coming to St. Mark’s, the only time I sang this hymn was in choir when I was in middle school.  It’s in most hymnals and musicians of all denominations revere it, but it’s rarely sung by congregations outside of Lutheran churches.

Today’s second stanza is an “organ only” stanza with a setting by Robert Lau. (In this time of Covid, one of the ways we can limit assembly singing is through the use of organ settings. While the organ plays, the assembly to hear another composer’s approach and to meditate on the text.)

Robert Lau’s setting of this tune includes four variations and we’ll hear them all throughout the service this morning. The first variation comes during the Hymn of the Day. Variations 2 and 3 will be heard as the communion elements are distributes. The fourth (and final) variation will be heard as the closing voluntary.

By Hieronymous Francken II - Web Gallery of Art:   Image  Info about artwork, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6860120

SENDING HYMN Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers
(Haf trones lampa färdig) ELW 244

This is another hymn I never sang before coming to St. Mark’s – and this text paired with a Swedish folk song has become one of my favorites!

CLOSING VOLUNTARY Wachet auf

setting, Robert Lau

Music for All Saints Sunday: November 1, 2020

 Opening Voluntary Behold the Host Arrayed in White

(Den store hvide flok)

setting, John Ferguson

 

Gathering Hymn For All the Saints (Sine Nomine)

ELW 422, stanzas 1, 2, 3, 7

 

Hymn of the Day Jerusalem, My Happy Home (Land of Rest)

ELW 628

 

Musical Offering For All the Saints Bob Moore, text by John L. Bell

Sung by the Festival Choir

 

Music During the Distribution

Shall We Gather at the River setting, Robert A. Hobby

 

Sending Hymn Sing with All the Saints in Glory (Blaenwern)

 

Closing Voluntary Prelude and Chorale on “Rejoice in God’s Saints”

(Laudate Dominum

prelude, David Cherwien; chorale C. Hubert H. Parry

Music for Reformation Sunday: October 25, 2020

 

OPENING VOLUNTARIES – St. Mark’s Ringers

Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word (Erhalt uns, Herr)

By Grace I’m Saved (O dass ich tausend Zungen hätte – Dretzel)

Settings, Lauran Delancy

 

GATHERING HYMN Rise, O Sun of Righteousness (Sonne der Gerechtigkeit) ELW 657

 

HYMN OF THE DAY A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Ein feste Burg)

ELW 504

 

MUSICAL OFFERING The Truth Will Make You Free Anne Krentz Organ

 

SENDING HYMN Rise, Shine, You People (Wojtkiewiecz) ELW 665

 

CLOSING VOLUNTARY – St. Mark’s Ringers

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God setting, Lauran Delancy

Music for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost: October 18, 2020

 

OPENING VOLUNTARY Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good
(Lobt Gott den Herren, ihr)

setting, David P. Dahl

 

GATHERING HYMN Holy, Holy, Holy (Nicaea) ELW 413

 

HYMN OF THE DAY Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good

(Lobt Gott den Herren, ihr) ELW 871

 

SENDING HYMN O God, Beyond All Praising (Thaxted)

ELW 880

Music for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: October 11, 2020

 

Opening Voluntary O That I Had a Thousand Voices
(O dass ich tausend Zungen hätte)

setting, Jeffrey Blersch
Evangelical Lutheran Worship 833

 

Did Johann Mentzer (1658-1734) have Philippians 4:4 in mind when he wrote the hymn this prelude is based on? We can’t know for sure, but we can see the influence of the Lutheran movement known as “pietism” in this hymn*. The singer’s joy is so great they call on all creation to join in a hymn of praise because, “My utmost powers can never quite declare the wonders of God’s might.”

 

Johann König’s (1691-1751) tune has become one of my favorites since coming to St. Mark’s. He was an important church music director of his day and a composer of operas and cantatas.

 

Jeffrey Blersch’s arrangement incorporates a happy ritornello between phrases of the tune.

 

Gathering Hymn Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart (Marion)

ELW 873

 

Hymn of the Day Beloved, God’s Chosen (Kremser)

ELW 648

 

It was difficult to choose a Hymn of the Day this week. In the gospel reading, a king throws a wedding banquet for this son. Our hymnal is filled with hymns about feasts – but they usually are also communion hymns. Can we really sing about communion on a Sunday when we cannot gather around the Lord’s table?

I decided to see what else this parable has to offer.

At the story’s conclusion, an invited guest is thrown out for showing up without the proper garment. I wondered what he should have been wearing and, by extension, what we all should be wearing as children of God.

I was led to a newer hymn by Susan Palo Cherwien, “Beloved, God’s Chosen.” In it, we are exhorted to put on “compassion, forgiveness, and goodness of heart.” The text further encourages us, “Above all, before all, let love be your raiment. . .” The text is a poetic version of Colossians 3:12.

 

Isn’t it amazing that after 14 years we still haven’t sung all of the hymns in Evangelical Lutheran Worship? This happens to be one of them. Teaching new hymns in an online service is not easy, so I decided to use the familiar tune, Kremser. Most people will recognize it from Thanksgiving services as “We Gather Together to Ask the Lord’s Blessing.”

The tune suits the text, in my opinion, but I look forward to a day we can learn Robert A. Hobby’s tune, Andrew’s Song, as well.

 

Sending Hymn O God of Every Nation (Llangloffan)

ELW 873

 

Closing Voluntary Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart

(Vineyard Haven)
ELW 874

prelude setting, Kevin Hildebrand

chorale, Richard W. Dirksen

Inside All Saints Chapel
The University of the South

Earlier we sang this hymn with the tune Marion, but ELW also offers Vineyard Haven. It’s a tune I really love, but it’s not well known and it’s difficult to sing even with practice.

(Let me also say it is well worth the effort! The first time I sang it was in procession with 150 other church musicians. We were accompanied by the magnificent organ at All Saints Chapel,The University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee. It was one of the most thrilling moments of my musical memory.)

Kevin Hildebrand’s prelude is used as a fanfare to introduce this majestic, staid, chorale. A snippet from the prelude comes back at the end to round this voluntary out.

Sources:
Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Brittanica.com
Wikipedia

 

*Pietism began as a Lutheran movement in the 17^th century. Adherents stressed Christian living and personal faith in a church they believed emphasized theology.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pietism