May 5, 2024

The organ prelude will consist of Dale Wood settings of 2 familiar hymn tunes: "This Is My Father's World", and "My Faith Looks Up to Thee".   Both prelude and postlude music this Sunday will be by Mr. Wood (1934-2003), who was one of the most prominent American church music composers of the 20th century, and who also served the Episcopal church in San Francisco for many years, both as organist and choral director at the cathedral.  "This Is My Father's World" is known well to most but not in our hymnal.  It might be of interest that it was written by a 19th century New York minister but not published until 1901.  "My Faith Looks Up to Thee" is 691 in our hymnal, and, as you may note, another tune by Lowell Mason (1792-1872).

During the processional we will sing "Come, we that love the Lord", 392, tune by Richard Wayne Dirksen, who was organist and choirmaster at the Washington National Cathedral from 1977-1988.  This is probably his most famous and most revered hymn tune.

To complement the Gospel reading we will sing "Lord, we have come at Your own invitation", 348, the tune known as "O quanta qualia", as you may note dating back to the 17th century.  Countless pieces have been written using this beloved melody.

The anthem will be "My Eyes for Beauty Pine", the beautiful tune written by the English composer Herbert Howells (1892-1983), who wrote extensively for the Anglican church.

Communion hymns will be 529, "In Christ there is no East nor West" (the postlude is based on this tune), and 204, "Now the green blade riseth", the midieval French carol that I think you know well.

Closing, we will sing "Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing", 344, another 18th century hymn tune well loved by all.