November 24, 2024

The 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.

Processing, we will sing the well known 19th century tune "Lead on, O King Eternal", 555. You might note that Henry Thomas Smart, the composer of this tune, also composed a number of other tunes in our hymnal, some very famous, like 93 and 368.

At the Gospel, we will sing 483, "The head that once was crowned with thorns", another familiar hymn, I think.  The tune, you may note, is much older than the text we use.

The anthem uses verses 1, 3, & 4 of hymn 405, "All things bright and beautiful", but is a setting by the English composer, Richard Shephard, of whom I have often written.  

During communion we will sing the beautiful John Ireland tune,"My song is love unknown", 458, which text is 17th century you may note, though the tune was probably written in the 20th century unless he wrote it when he was very young. 

Closing, we will sing the famous Ralph Vaughan Williams tune, "At the name of Jesus" (435, vs's 1-3), which uses the 19th c. text by Caroline Maria Noel.

The postlude is a setting of the hymn tune "Ein feste Burg" ("A mighty fortress is our God"), by Franklin D. Ashdown (1942-2023), the American composer/physician of whom I have written before.  Of course the hymn tune is by Martin Luther.