May 4, 2025

The hymn, "Ye sons and daughters of the King" (known as "O filii et filiae") is a still popular 17th century tune on which many pieces are based, and is 203 in our hymnal.  I will play for the prelude some of the variations by the French Baroque composer Jean-Francois Dandrieu, who at an early age actually played the harpsichord for Louis XIV!

The opening hymn is "Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim", 535, from the 18th century -- still popular, with a text by  Charles Wesley, all of which you might note in the hymnal.  

Our familiar Gospel hymn jumps to the 20th century, and is "Come risen Lord, and deign to be our guest", 305, and is by the well known Leo Sowerby.

The anthem has a text as simple as one can get-- it's just "Alleluia", appropriate in the Easter season!  It is by the English composer, William Boyce (1710-1779), who knew Handel, Arne, Gluck, J.C. Bach, and a young Mozart, and was respected by all.

The first communion hymn is 417, "This is the feast of victory for our God", from the 20th century, and if you are walking, etc., you might still join in on the refrain, which you know well.  The second hymn is another favorite, "Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless" (343), one of the great 19th century hymns.

Another great hymn, this from the 20th century, by Christopher Dearnley, "Sing, ye faithful, sing with gladness" (492), is our closing.  

The postlude is based on the hymn tune, "Deo Gratius", also known as the "Agincourt hymn", 449 (also 218), and is by the 20th-21st century American, Charles Callahan (1951-2023). The choir sometimes sings an anthem based on this tune, and the congregation sometimes sings the hymn.