October 8, 2023

The organ prelude is based on a hymn tune by the famous English composer, Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918), which in our hymnal is 653, using the text "Dear Lord and Father of mankind".  Most people associate that text with an older well loved tune, but this tune I feel is equally as beautiful.  Obviously, when Robert Powell wrote this setting, he had a different text in mind -- "He comes to us as One Unknown".  

Our processional hymn, 492, is one we sing fairly often, and is by a former organist at St. Paul's Cathedral (London), Christopher Dearnley.  The text, "Sing, ye faithful, sing with gladness", is 19th century as you will note, and by John Ellerton.

Our Gospel hymn, 339, happens to be a favorite of mine, "Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness".  Note in the hymnal how old both the tune and the text are!  To me, they always seem fresh-- and I suppose that is why they have remained popular over the centuries!

Our anthem, "There's a Wideness in God's Mercy", was not written by an organist but by a 20th century bass-baritone (Maurice Bevan), who sang professionally at St. Pauls's Cathedral (note our processional hymn author).  If interested, do Google him and note his interest in reviving music from the baroque period and his 40 year career with the Deller Consort.  

During communion we are fortunate on another "second Sunday" to have Martha and Lynn Bailey playing the harp.  Both hymn arrangements --" Abide With Me", and "He Leadeth Me", are by Hugh A. Callison, about whom I have written before.

Closing, we will sing hymn 450 (verses 1,2,3, & 6) -- "All hail the power of Jesus' Name"-- what I call a "chestnut" in the hymnody repertoire.  It is complete with a beautiful descant on the last verse, a descant being a "countermelody" improvised or written above the main melody.  

The postlude, titled "Sortie Festivo", is by Ludwig Boslet, a German organist who lived from 1860-1951.