October 13, 2024

The prelude, by Ralph Vaughan Williams, uses the hymn tune known as "Aberystwyth" by the Welsh composer Joseph Parry (1841-1903). This tune is used 3 times in our hymnal 349, 640, & 699.  Mr. Parry wrote over 400 hymns (this being one of the more famous), along with oratorios, cantatas & operas.  The English composer Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) is known to us all.  I will play his arrangement of the theme and then Variation No. 3.

Our processional hymn, 348, is the well known tune known as "O quanta qualia", and dates back to the 17th century, as you may note. Many pieces have been written using this melody. Our text by the 20th century Pratt Green begins, "Lord, we have come at your own invitation".

The Gospel hymn, 455, "O love of God, how strong and true", jumps ahead to the 20th century for the tune, but uses a 19th century text; we sing this beautiful tune and text often. 

The anthem, "Saviour, Like A Shepherd Lead Us", is by Calvin Hampton (1938-1984), who wrote no less than 5 hymns in our hymnal (403, 407, 456, 469, 659), none of which we have sung--but we should begin learning several.  The famous Eric Routley called Hampton the greatest hymn writer of all time!

During communion we will sing hymn 379, "God is love, let heaven adore him", another 20th century hymn known to all at Calvary.

Closing will be another favorite, 477, "All praise to Thee, for Thou, O King divine", the Charles Villiers Stanford tune known as "Engelberg".

For the postlude some J. S. Bach--his Fantasie in A Minor.