July 21, 2024

The organ prelude is "Meditation" by Alec Rowley (1892-1958), an English composer, organist, educator, whose work was highly respected in it's day.  It is a large body of works which include both many organ and piano compositions.  This work -- which I do find "meditative" wanders through many keys, which adds significantly to the interest. I find that even hymns which modulate, even briefly, to other keys are more interesting musically.  You are welcome to let me know if the work helps prepare you for worship!

Our familiar processional hymn, "Give praise and glory unto God" (375), you will note dates back to the 17th century for both music and text.  The Gospel hymn jumps forward a couple of centuries and is perhaps even more well known-- "Dear Lord and Father of mankind" (652, first 3 verses).

The offertory hymn is a paraphrase of Psalm 23 (The Lord my God my shepherd is), 663, using a 19th century melody which I think is known to you as a congregation.

Continuing  in the same time period, and also familiar, is "Savior, again to Thy dear name we raise with one accord our parting hymn of praise" (345), which we will sing during communion.

Closing we will sing Christopher Dearnley's "Sing ye faithful, sing with gladness".   You will note that the text is 19th century, but Mr. Dearnley was 20th century (1930-2000) and was well known as organist of Salisbury Cathedral and then St. Paul's Cathedral.  I do believe you know this hymn well.

The postlude, "Postlude on a theme of Orlando Gibbons", is by Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924), the famous Anglo-Irish composer and teacher whose students include Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Charles Wood, and John Ireland.   Orlando Gibbons (1582-1625) was a famous composer and keyboard player-- maybe the most famous-- of what became known as the "English Virginalist School".