First let me thank all those who offered prayers for my healing of what the spine specialist and I presume is an episode coming from L5/S1; I am due for an MRI 5/3 to be certain and to know if anything can be done to prevent future problems. Five days ago there was no way I could have driven the distance to Calvary, and, though I am not entirely out of pain, I can now drive and play the organ comfortably. God's healing continues.
Read MoreThe organ prelude is a meditative setting of the familiar hymn, "Morning has broken", and is by Franklin D. Ashdown (1942-2023), Texas born prolific composer -- and physician -- of whom I have written before. The setting begins in C Major (as does hymn 8 in our hymnal) and then modulates to D Major, then back to C Major, making it a sort of ABA form.
Read MoreThere will be two organ preludes Sunday, the first being Edwin T. Childs' setting of "Father, We Thank You". This tune, "Rendez A Dieu", is used 3 times in our hymnal, and happens to be the tune on which our anthem is based, using the text of 301. Dr. Childs (PhD, Eastman School of Music) is an active composer, 79, native of New England.
Read MoreAlthough there is important singing of hymns and chants at both our Maundy Thursday service and Good Friday, I will concentrate on our Easter Sunday celebration, which will have two trumpets as well as our choir to aid in the worship. The prelude music will consist of 3 pieces, the first being a setting of the familiar hymn "Thine Be the Glory", arranged for 2 trumpets and organ by the American contemporary, Nigel Williams.
Read MoreThere will be the traditional procession with palms, beginning in the parish hall, and upon arrival in the sanctuary the singing of "All glory, laud, and honor to Thee" (hymn 154), which as you may note is a tune that dates back to the 16th-17th centuries, and can also be used in Advent using a different text (hymn 74).
Read MoreThe original hymn, "O Man, Thy Grievous Sin Bemoan", is 23 stanzas long and dates back to the 16th century; it is attributed to Matthaus Greiter (also spelled "Greitter"), who was a monk and chorister at Strassurg Cathedral (he wrote many hymn texts); however, the author is uncertain and it is also attributed to Seybold Heyden. What we do know is that both the harmonization of the hymn and the setting that I will play as a prelude are by J.S.Bach.
Read MoreThe prelude is a David Lasky setting of the hymn "That Priceless Grace", which is not in our hymnal, and it is my understanding this originated in Ghana. One can check out the text as well as the tune on You Tube, of course. Mr. Lasky resides in New England and is involved in the Catholic Church, and has become quite popular as a composer in the world of church music.
Read MoreFor this Season of Lent, today's prelude consists of 3 contemplative hymns: 'St Flavian' (Lord, Throughout these 40 Days), Horsley (There is a Green Hill Far Away), and ' Beecher' (There's a Wideness in God's Mercy). These hymns have been arranged by Charles Callahan, who is an American composer, organist, choral conductor, pianist, and teacher.
Read MoreThe prelude for the second Sunday of Lent is titled "Canticle of Grace", and is based on the hymn tune "New Britain", which is probably the most well known hymn of all time-- "Amazing Grace". The setting is by the American composer, Franklin D. Ashdown (b.1942) who passed away Jan. 30th, 20223. You will remember from previous notes that he enjoyed a very long career in both medicine and church music.
Read More"Lord Jesus, think on me" (hymn 641) is the basis for the organ prelude for our first Sunday in Lent. The pleasant setting is by J. Bert Carlson (1937-2017), who was an American pastor and respected composer. I haven't found any significant details other than that, but I see that he wrote a number compositions based on hymn tunes. This one seemed to be appropriate for a Lenten meditation.
Read MoreFor the last Sunday after Epiphany the organ prelude will be a David Cherwien setting of "Fairest Lord Jesus", hymn 383. Dr. Cherwien (b. 1957) is a prominent midwestern organist, composer, and choral director in the Lutheran Church, and is the Artistic Director of the National Lutheran Choir. After receiving his doctorate he studied further in both Germany and France with several well known organists and composers.
Read MoreFor the organ prelude Sunday I will play 2 hymn settings; the first is "O Bread of Life from Heaven" (46 and 309 in our hymnal), and the second is "Now We Join in Celebration", which we know as "Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness" (339), which we sang last Sunday. Dr. Childs (b.1945), as I have mentioned before, is a professor in the Chicago area and has his doctorate from the Eastman School of Music (one of the more prestigious music schools in the country).
Read MoreThe organ prelude Sunday is a very meditative setting of the hymn "Fairest Lord Jesus" (also known as "Beautiful Savior"), by Dale Wood. The well known and loved hymn is 383 in our hymnal, and is also known by the tune name "St. Elizabeth". I use a lot of Mr. Wood's settings, as he was incredibly prolific and very talented. He lived and worked in California (b. 1930), and died there in 2003. Listening to a quiet meditation on such a hymn is a good time to focus on the text!
Read MoreFor those who will brave the cold Sunday morning (or listen on line), the prelude will be an Edwin T. Childs setting -- actually a set of short variations -- on hymn 645, "The King of love my shepherd is". Dr. Childs (doctorate from The Eastman School of Music) is a professor of music in the Chicago area. Processing we will sing "Give praise and glory unto God" (375), a 17th century hymn we sing every so often, and one easy to sing! It also has very nice harmony.
Read MoreThe organ prelude Sunday will be short settings of 2 familiar hymn tunes, 587, "Our Father, by Whose Name", and 339, "Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness". Both arrangements are by the young contemporary American Jacob B. Weber, who along with concertizing and composing, serves as an editor of Concordia Publishing House, known to all organists. I think that what helps congregants best prepare for worship is arrangements of known hymn tunes; if not, do let me know!
Read MoreThe prelude is a set of variations on the hymn "Puer Nobis" (What star is this, with beams so bright), which also is our final hymn (124). This is a well known tune by Michael Praetorius, dating all the way back to the 16th-17th centuries. The variations are by the contemporary American, Michael Burkhardt, of whom I have written before.
Read MoreThe prelude for this Sunday's Lessons and Carols service is a simple arrangement by Willard Irving Nevins of a Cesar Franck tune entitled "Noel Angevin". Mr Nevins, American, was active in the first half of the 20th century and part of what was known as the "Guilmant School", which was neo-romantic and leaned to the French influence (which included Cesar Franck, of course).
Read MoreThe organ prelude for Sunday morning (Advent 4) is a Wilbur Held setting of "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus", although the tune base is not the one in our hymnal (66). You will find that it has the same feeling, however. Mr. Held (1914-2015) had a very active and distinguished musical career, eventually becoming head of the keyboard department at Ohio State University. During communion we will sing this text from our hymnal.
Read MoreThe basis for the prelude Sunday is the hymn "People, Look East", a tune I think familiar to most; at one time we did a special program in the Parish Hall that used the tune throughout. The hymn originated as a French carol, "Shepherds, Shake Off Your Drowsy Sleep", but was adapted by the English in the early 20th century with another Advent text and inserted into the Oxford Book of Carols. The setting is by the contemporary American, Robert Hobby, of whom I have written before and whose arrangements I often play.
Read More"My Lord, What a Morning", a tune known to most, is an African American Spiritual often associated with Advent; a setting of this hymn by Richard Billingham (20th century, Chicago native, trained there) is the basis for the organ prelude. Among other compositions, Mr. Billingham wrote arrangements of a number of other spirituals also.
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