November 17, 2024

The 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).

Our processional hymn you also will probably recognize, "Judge eternal, throned in splendor" (596).  As you may note, it is a very old German hymn tune.

Our short Gospel hymn is new, but is not only very easy to sing but is probably a tune you might "think" you had sung before.  It's "Lord, be Thy Word my rule", 626, from the 19th century.

The text of our "folk tune like" anthem is derived from Psalm 92, 1-4.  The contemporary, Robert Powell, who wrote both hymn 70 and the Sanctus S129, wrote this setting of the text.  Though the tune is simple enough, the arrangement is actually quite tricky!

Our communion hymn is a "staple"-- 598, "Lord Christ, when first Thou cam'st to earth", another tune that has stayed popular for almost 5 centuries!

And then for a closing hymn we will sing another well known tune that originally was a German folk song-- "O day of radiant gladness" (48).

The postlude is a setting of "The head that once was crowned" (tune- "St.Magnus), by the American contemporary, Wayne L. Wold, of whom I have written several times.