August 20, 2023

The hymn tune for the prelude (O Waly Waly -- "When Love Is Found"), though not in our hymnal, will be totally familiar (I think!) to everyone.  What may be of note is that the setting is by a most prolific and well respected contemporary female American composer, Emma Lou Diemer (b. 1927).  Some of her compositions were played at Penn State when I was on the faculty there.  She has written a great deal of choral, organ, as well as piano music, and also performed as organist at some of the major churches in this country, including The National Cathedral.  There have been more female composers in the classical world than most people realize; some go back many centuries, but in the 19th century the most popular was Clara Schumann, who had to support the large family after Robert Schumann died.  She, of course, had the advantage of being a top notch concert pianist.  There are many females, like Fanny Mendelssohn, who had to publish under a male name; some compositions that Felix Mendelssohn performed were actually written  by his sister.  Today, one of the female -- and African American -- composers getting deserved attention is Florence Price.  Amazing works! And some being performed by major orchestras today. Perhaps Google her -- and Emma Lou Diemer also!

Our familiar opening hymn --559, "Lead us, heavenly Father"-- is actually another very old "tried and true" tune from 1782, as you may note, the text from the 19th century.

The Gospel hymn tune -- "Passion Chorale" -- may make you think of Palm Sunday, but the text here is different and relates to the Gospel reading.  It is hymn 669.

During the offertory as will sing the wonderful Ralph Vaughan Williams hymn, "At the name of Jesus", 435, the first 4 verses only.

Closing we will sing "Give praise and glory unto God",  hymn 375, another very well known tune at Calvary-- and with a history reaching back several centuries.

The postlude is based on a hymn in our hymnal -- 319, "You, Lord, we praise in songs of celebration" -- but this is a hymn we have never sung!  The setting is by Jacob B. Weber, a very young American organist and composer working on advanced degrees and associated with the Lutheran Church.