The prelude is based on the popular 19th century hymn, "There's a wideness in God's mercy" (470 in our hymnal), and is a setting by Dale Wood (1934-2003), who was born in California and lived his entire life there. Along with many other organists, I play various hymn settings of his often; they seem to be a staple in the service repertoire these days. If you check out the hymn notes for our processional hymn (537), you will find that the well loved melody is from the 18th century. The tune ("Moscow") is used 3 times in our hymnal, this text being "Christ for the world we sing".
Read MoreThe organ prelude is a set of variations on our closing hymn, "Oh, for a thousand
tongues", by one of the most prolific American composers living today, Robert A. Hobby, who is most active in the Lutheran Church. For good reason, his music is widely used by organists. Our processional hymn is "The God of Abraham praise" (401), which is, as you may know, a Hebrew melody that became a hymn in the 19th century. We sing it often.
The prelude is a Jonathan Reuss setting of the popular 19th century hymn, "Eternal Father, strong to save" (608). Mr. Reuss is a young and talented American very involved in the Lutheran Church. Our processional hymn, "Glorious things of Thee are spoken" (522), uses the famous Haydn tune (I'm very sorry that Hitler apparently liked it too).
Read MoreThe prelude for Trinity Sunday is based on hymn 366, "Holy God, We Praise Your Name", a 17th century tune, and is by the American composer I often use, Wilbur Held (1914-2015). I will play through the hymn before playing Mr. Held's somewhat baroque like setting.
Read MoreFor Pentecost I will play again Wilbur Held's setting of "Veni, Creator Spiritus" (Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire), which is 504 in our hymnal. Wilbur Held (1914-2015-- yes he lived 101 years) was professor of organ and church music at Ohio State University from 1946 to 1978, and composed extensively. I often use his music, as obviously do many other organists!
Read MoreThe prelude is based on the opening hymn, "Llanfair" (presumably called that because the blind from birth author was from that small Welsh town), and is by McNeil Robinson, the internationally renowned American organist and composer (1943-2015). The hymn is 214 in our hymnal but is used sometimes for other texts; this text, by Charles Wesley, is "Hail the day that sees Him rise", obviously appropriate for Ascension Day!
Read MoreThe prelude, "Passacaglia, Fughetta, and Finale" is based on the hymn, "Abbot's Leigh", which is used no less than 3 times in our hymnal-- 379, 511, and 523. (we have sung all 3 texts). It is by North Carolina born, Austin C. Loveless (1919-2010), who was highly educated and eventually wrote over 1,000 compositions, played and lectured internationally. A "passacaglia" is usually in triple meter with the melody (in this case the hymn tune) in the bass -- or for the organ, the pedals; a "fughetta" is what you might guess-- a short "fugue-like" movement; and, here, the "Finale" is simply an emphatic restatement of the hymn tune.
Read MoreSunday's prelude is based on "How Firm a Foundation", hymn 636, the great 19th century melody from "The Sacred Harp". The setting is by Dale Wood (20th c. American), whose music I play often and who also wrote our day's anthem. The processional hymn is another great 19th c. hymn, "The Church's one foundation" (525), this one by the famous S.S. Wesley, text by Samuel John Stone, as you may note.
Read MoreThe prelude is a set of variations based on hymn 206, "O Filii et Filiae", a tune which has been used for countless compositions. The set was composed by the famous French composer, Francois Dandrieu (1682-1738), the prodigy who lived, played for churches, and composed in Paris.
Read MoreThe prelude will consist of two Lutheran hymn settings by Max Regerr (1873-1916), the German composer who was known to have more or less bridged late romanticism with modern harmonies-- sometimes rather Wagnerian. The hymn tunes (or chorals) may actually sound familiar; they are the Easter hymns, "Jesus Christ, My Sure Defense", and "Like the Golden Sun Ascending".
Read MoreOnce again for our Easter celebration we are fortunate to have 2 trumpeters along with our choir. Prelude music will begin with "Thine Be The Glory" from Handel's 3 part oratorio, "Judas Maccabeus", arranged for 2 trumpets and organ by the 20th century American, Nigel Williams. Secondly, to give the trumpets a short break, I will play Charles Ore's setting of the familiar hymn,
Read MoreThe prelude Sunday is J. S. Bach's "O Man, Bewail Thy Grievous Fall", one of his many settings of chorales, and a piece the famous Widor said once was the finest piece written. In it Bach does use all of his techniques to express sadness. I try to play the setting every year, and will play the actual chorale upon which it is based, first.
The prelude is a set of variations on the hymn tune, "That Priceless Grace", by
the contemporary American whose music I often play, David Lasky. The hymn tune
is not in our hymnal, but is a simple and most "singable" tune that one might think
he or she "knows".
The prelude is based on the hymn, "Lord Jesus, Think on Me", a familiar 16th century hymn (641). The setting is by J. Bret Carlson, who is actually a contemporary American pastor. Our processional hymn is from the same time period, "Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word we are gathered all to hear Thee", hymn 440.
Read MoreThe prelude is based on the hymn, "Come, Follow Me, the Saviour Said", a late 19th century hymn not in our hymnal. The setting is by the famous German composer Max Reger (1873-1916), who wrote extensively in his short life and is said to have "bridged Bach counterpoint with Wagnerian harmony".
Read MoreWe seem to have gotten here fast-- the last Sunday before Lent! The prelude is what becomes more like a 4-voice fugue, a setting by J.S.Bach of the choral, "We All Believe in One True God", which text is the Nicene Creed. I will play the actual choral upon which it is based, first.
Read MoreThe prelude for Sunday, February 8th, is another Dale Wood (American, 1934-2003) setting of another favorite hymn tune, "My Faith Looks Up to Thee" (tune name, "Olivet", 691). Our processional hymn is the Hebrew melody we sing often-- 372, "Praise to the living God," a hymn that compliments the day's Gospel reading. -- And the Gospel hymn itself is "Lord, make us servants of your peace," 593; the text is based on a prayer of Francis of Assisi.
Read MoreThe prelude is based on what I think is a familiar hymn tune to most, "This Is My Father's World". The text is in our hymnal (651) but with an entirely different tune. The setting I'll play is by the American and most popular composer among church musicians, Dale Wood (late 20th-early 21st century).
Read MoreThe prelude is a set of variations based on "What star is this, with beams so bright" (hymn 124), a 15th century tune which is also used for an Easter hymn (193). The variations are by the American contemporary, Michael Burkhardt. Our processional hymn is "Thy strong word did cleave the darkness", 381, the early 20th century hymn by Thomas John Williams. Ralph Vaughan Williams composed the Gospel hymn (116), "I come, the great Redeemer cries, to do Thy will".
Read MoreThe prelude is based on the hymn, "People Look East. The time is near of the crowning of the year", a French tune with words by Eleanor Farjeon, who wrote the words to "Morning has broken", hymn 8. I think people do know this tune; the setting is by the American contemporary, Robert Hobby.
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