September 25, 2022

Sunday's organ prelude is a very meditative setting of the hymn, "Cheshire" (581, "Where charity and love prevail..."), by Gordon Slater (1896-1979), who was organist for several prominent English cathedrals. It is worth meditating on the text of the hymn (581).

Our opening hymn is another "Christmas" tune with different text-- 546, "Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve...", music by Handel.

Our Gospel hymn, 24 (verses 2-4), tune "St. Clement", was sung at the Queen's funeral on Monday. The first verse (omitted) would make it an "evening hymn". It is to me one of our most beautiful 19th century hymns.

The anthem, "Canon of Praise", everyone will recognize as a setting of the most famous "Pachelbel Canon". The arrangement is by the Amerucan contemporary, Hal Hopson (b. 1933), one of the most prolific church music composers of our day.

The communion hymns are also familiar -- 552 (Fight the good fight with all thy might), and 437 (Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord).

Another great and most familiar hymn, our closing is 494, "Crown him with many crowns", also 19th century as you may note.

The postlude is a David Lasky (contemporary American) setting of "Christ is made the sure foundation" (tune "Westminster Abbey").