November 23, 2025

The prelude is a set of variations on the hymn tune by Henry Purcell, known as "Westminster Abbey", which is "Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation" (518).  The set is by Richard Proulx (1937-2010), one of the most important American church musicians of the 20th century; check out his contributions to our hymnal, a very very minor part of his extensive output.

Our processional hymn is 435, "At the Name of Jesus", by none other than Ralph Vaughan Williams-- text author, not so well known, Caroline Maria Noel.  Though the tune of our Gospel hymn is an English melody, you will see in the hymnal notes that Vaughan Williams "adapted" it: "O Jesus crowned with all renown", 292, is the hymn.  

Richard Proulx also had a hand in our anthem, editing "Keep Me Faithfully in Thy Paths",by George Frederick Handel. The text dates back to around 1717.

Communion hymns are the beautiful  20th century "Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face" (318), and the very old hymn, "Bread of the world, in mercy broken" (301), known as "Rendex a Dieu".  Both hymns are very familiar.

The closing hymn is the great 19th century hymn, "Crown Him with many crowns" (494) with a descant on the final verse by none other than Richard Proulx!

Now I could play a postlude by Proulx-- there are many -- but it is by the German composer, Hans Friedrich Micheelsen (1902-1973), who, after serving as a church organist, indeed was drafted into the army.  After the war he became a teacher (and composer of organ and choral pieces) in Hamburg.  The piece is his setting of "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty".