The prelude is based on the hymn "Awake, awake, for night is flying" (tune name, "Wachet auf"), and is a set of variations by the American Lutheran composer of organ and choral music, Paul Manz (1919-2009). This is a very popular hymn from the 16th century, and we will sing it before the Gospel reading. Note this harmonization is by J. S. Bach. Depending on time, I will play 2 or all 3 of the variations by Manz as a prelude to the service.
Read MoreJ. S. Bach wrote not only a cantata (for the first Sunday of Advent) based on "Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland" (Now come, Redeemer of mankind) but also several organ settings of this hymn, 54 in our hymnal. The prelude is one of these settings; the postlude is his setting from his "Orgelbuchlein", which contains 45 chorals for the liturgical year.
Read MoreThe hymn "People, Look East" is the basis for the organ prelude; it is a setting by Robert Hobby (American, b. 1985), whose music I play quite often. The hymn, not in our hymnal, is based on a poem by Eleanor Farjeon, and of course refers to looking in the direction of the rising sun, which signifies Christ's coming. Years ago we performed a cantata based on the hymn.
Read MoreIt's been my opinion that for organ preludes what helps people meditate and prepare for worship is settings of hymns appropriate for the day. If I am wrong, please tell me! In any case this might be most true during Advent and Christmas. So....for this first Sunday of Advent the prelude will be a Wilbur Held setting of "Come, thou long-expected Jesus", 66 in our hymnal, but this is a different tune. The tune name is "Jefferson", and will probably sound familiar whether it really is or not!
Read MoreThe prelude is a Lynn L. Peterson setting of the "Shaker" tune "Holy Manna", which is used for both hymns 580 and 238 in our hymnal. Lynn Peterson, b. 1962, has her doctorate from Concordia College, and has composed organ and choral music all her life.
Read MoreThe hymn tune on which the prelude is based ("Dundee") is used 3 times in our hymnal: 125, 526, and 709. You will recognize it and may also note that it is very old, from "The Psalms of David", 1615. Stephen Gabrielsen, best known for writing "Carol of the Bells", wrote this set of short variations on the hymn tune. He was a prominent American performer and composer (1940-2013).
Read MoreMany hymn tunes are used for different texts, as is the one on which the prelude is based; that is "Kingsfold", which 480 in our hymnal is "When Jesus left his Father's throne". It is also used for 292, "O Jesus crowned with all renown". Charles Callahan (1951-2023), American, graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and prominent organist and composer, wrote a short set of variations on the tune, which I'll play.
Read MoreOne of the many hymns appropriate for "All Saints Sunday" is "Jerusalem, my happy home", and the prelude will be a Robert Hobby (b. 1962, American) set of variations on the tune. Although we are not singing the hymn, it is 620 in our hymnal-- also 304 with another text. We often sing both. I haven't played much of Hobby's music recently, but have played a lot in the past; as far as I know, he, along with composing and conducting workshops, is still music director at a large Lutheran church in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Read MoreThe prelude is a setting of a hymn tune I think everyone knows and loves, but one not in our hymnal; it is "When love is found" (tune name, "O Waly Waly"). The setting is by a female composer I had heard a lot about in my Penn State days, Emma Lou Diemer (1927-2024), who received 2 degrees from Yale and a doctorate from the Eastman School of Music. Besides hymns, she wrote chamber and orchestral music also-- a very talented woman!
Read MoreThe prelude is a Dale Wood setting of the Scottish hymn tune "Come, O Traveler Unknown", unfortunately not in our hymnal but one of those tunes that "sounds familiar". Mr. Wood (1934-2003) also might be familiar, as I have written about him before. His body of works is most extensive and widely used. Our processional hymn is "Ye servants of God, your master proclaim", a text by Charles Wesley (1707-1788) set to a melody very familiar to us at Calvary but from the same period.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreRobert Powell's set of variations on "If You But Trust God to Guide You" is the prelude Sunday for our "combined" service at 9:30. The tune by Georg Neumark (1621-1681) is that of hymn 635. Mr. Powell (b. 1932) composed the Sanctus (S129) that we use sometimes; I have written about him several times and, as far as I know, he is still living in Greenville, SC.
Read MoreThe prelude is a Dale Wood setting of "Fairest Lord Jesus", hymn 383. Mr. Wood (1934-2003) was a prolific American composer and choral director of whom I have written before. Many organists depend on his compositions, which are simple but of high quality. Our processional hymn is a favorite of many, hymn 390, "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation". Note in the hymnal notes that the melody is over 400 years old!
Read MoreThe organ prelude is J. S. Bach's setting of Martin Luther's 16th century hymn, "We all believe in one true God", which of course is the Nicene Creed. I will first play Bach's harmonization of the chorale (or hymn) itself, then his fugue like setting, which is only one of several by different composers of the era.
Read MoreOrlando Gibbons (1583-1625), last of the "English Virginalists" (the virginal being a string instrument) wrote many sacred songs which wound up being hymns. Our prelude is based on "Song 13", the number in that hymnal. Percy Whitlock (1903-1946), English organist and composer, wrote this prelude based on that hymn tune.
Read MoreSunday's prelude will be "Cantilena" by Josef Rheinberger (1839-1901), very prolific and prominent Bavarian organist and composer who, after Mendelssohn had begun the revival, made it a mission to revive the popularity of the organ. He was an internationally known teacher and composer. A "cantilena", used in both sacred and secular music for centuries, is simply a piece with a very lyrical melody.
Read MoreThe organ prelude is simply titled "Aria", and is by the American organist and composer, Charles Callahan (1951-2023). His education was extensive, including a degree from the Curtis Institute of Music (Philadelphia); he served many churches and often conducted his own choral works. This piece fits right into what the Washington Post described as his "gentle, confident lyricism" and is, in my opinion, very supportive of meditation.
Read MoreOtho Hoyte will be our guest organist this Sunday. We are very grateful for him and also Peggy White, and I am also grateful for all prayers made on my behalf as I recover from last week's surgery (hernia repair). I expect to be "back on the bench" 8/25. Having had spinal surgery earlier this summer, I am hoping this is the last "repair"!
The prelude will be "Andante Religioso" by Francis Thome (1850-1909), a French composer who wrote mainly for the piano.
Read MoreThe organ prelude is a "partita" based on the hymn, "A mighty fortress is our God"; a partita is simply a set of variations. The composer is Andrew Clarke, American contemporary (b.1942), a graduate of Yale University and The New England Conservatory of Music with further organ studies in Holland. The well known hymn melody, as you may know, was composed by Martin Luther. The harmonization in our hymnal is by J.S.Bach, but you will hear great differences by Mr. Clarke.
Read MoreThis Sunday we will be fortunate to have Benjamin Smith on the cello and also two vocalists -- Becky Lowrey and Audy Walker. Our congregation is indeed full of talent! The prelude to the service will be J. S. Bach's "Arioso" with cello solo and organ accompaniment. Bach himself wrote numerous versions of the piece, for various instruments. I think everyone knows and loves the melody; it should also be conducive to meditation.
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