The prelude is a David Lasky setting of the hymn "That Priceless Grace", which is not in our hymnal, and it is my understanding this originated in Ghana. One can check out the text as well as the tune on You Tube, of course. Mr. Lasky resides in New England and is involved in the Catholic Church, and has become quite popular as a composer in the world of church music.
Read MoreFor this Season of Lent, today's prelude consists of 3 contemplative hymns: 'St Flavian' (Lord, Throughout these 40 Days), Horsley (There is a Green Hill Far Away), and ' Beecher' (There's a Wideness in God's Mercy). These hymns have been arranged by Charles Callahan, who is an American composer, organist, choral conductor, pianist, and teacher.
Read MoreThe prelude for the second Sunday of Lent is titled "Canticle of Grace", and is based on the hymn tune "New Britain", which is probably the most well known hymn of all time-- "Amazing Grace". The setting is by the American composer, Franklin D. Ashdown (b.1942) who passed away Jan. 30th, 20223. You will remember from previous notes that he enjoyed a very long career in both medicine and church music.
Read More"Lord Jesus, think on me" (hymn 641) is the basis for the organ prelude for our first Sunday in Lent. The pleasant setting is by J. Bert Carlson (1937-2017), who was an American pastor and respected composer. I haven't found any significant details other than that, but I see that he wrote a number compositions based on hymn tunes. This one seemed to be appropriate for a Lenten meditation.
Read MoreFor the last Sunday after Epiphany the organ prelude will be a David Cherwien setting of "Fairest Lord Jesus", hymn 383. Dr. Cherwien (b. 1957) is a prominent midwestern organist, composer, and choral director in the Lutheran Church, and is the Artistic Director of the National Lutheran Choir. After receiving his doctorate he studied further in both Germany and France with several well known organists and composers.
Read MoreFor the organ prelude Sunday I will play 2 hymn settings; the first is "O Bread of Life from Heaven" (46 and 309 in our hymnal), and the second is "Now We Join in Celebration", which we know as "Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness" (339), which we sang last Sunday. Dr. Childs (b.1945), as I have mentioned before, is a professor in the Chicago area and has his doctorate from the Eastman School of Music (one of the more prestigious music schools in the country).
Read MoreThe organ prelude Sunday is a very meditative setting of the hymn "Fairest Lord Jesus" (also known as "Beautiful Savior"), by Dale Wood. The well known and loved hymn is 383 in our hymnal, and is also known by the tune name "St. Elizabeth". I use a lot of Mr. Wood's settings, as he was incredibly prolific and very talented. He lived and worked in California (b. 1930), and died there in 2003. Listening to a quiet meditation on such a hymn is a good time to focus on the text!
Read MoreFor those who will brave the cold Sunday morning (or listen on line), the prelude will be an Edwin T. Childs setting -- actually a set of short variations -- on hymn 645, "The King of love my shepherd is". Dr. Childs (doctorate from The Eastman School of Music) is a professor of music in the Chicago area. Processing we will sing "Give praise and glory unto God" (375), a 17th century hymn we sing every so often, and one easy to sing! It also has very nice harmony.
Read MoreThe organ prelude Sunday will be short settings of 2 familiar hymn tunes, 587, "Our Father, by Whose Name", and 339, "Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness". Both arrangements are by the young contemporary American Jacob B. Weber, who along with concertizing and composing, serves as an editor of Concordia Publishing House, known to all organists. I think that what helps congregants best prepare for worship is arrangements of known hymn tunes; if not, do let me know!
Read MoreThe prelude is a set of variations on the hymn "Puer Nobis" (What star is this, with beams so bright), which also is our final hymn (124). This is a well known tune by Michael Praetorius, dating all the way back to the 16th-17th centuries. The variations are by the contemporary American, Michael Burkhardt, of whom I have written before.
Read MoreThe prelude for this Sunday's Lessons and Carols service is a simple arrangement by Willard Irving Nevins of a Cesar Franck tune entitled "Noel Angevin". Mr Nevins, American, was active in the first half of the 20th century and part of what was known as the "Guilmant School", which was neo-romantic and leaned to the French influence (which included Cesar Franck, of course).
Read MoreThe organ prelude for Sunday morning (Advent 4) is a Wilbur Held setting of "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus", although the tune base is not the one in our hymnal (66). You will find that it has the same feeling, however. Mr. Held (1914-2015) had a very active and distinguished musical career, eventually becoming head of the keyboard department at Ohio State University. During communion we will sing this text from our hymnal.
Read MoreThe basis for the prelude Sunday is the hymn "People, Look East", a tune I think familiar to most; at one time we did a special program in the Parish Hall that used the tune throughout. The hymn originated as a French carol, "Shepherds, Shake Off Your Drowsy Sleep", but was adapted by the English in the early 20th century with another Advent text and inserted into the Oxford Book of Carols. The setting is by the contemporary American, Robert Hobby, of whom I have written before and whose arrangements I often play.
Read More"My Lord, What a Morning", a tune known to most, is an African American Spiritual often associated with Advent; a setting of this hymn by Richard Billingham (20th century, Chicago native, trained there) is the basis for the organ prelude. Among other compositions, Mr. Billingham wrote arrangements of a number of other spirituals also.
Read MoreThe hymn basis for the prelude Sunday is an example of how many tunes have been used for different texts. Robert Powell's inspiration for the prelude was the text "He came to us as one unknown" (not in our hymnal), but the tune was used as an alternative for "Dear Lord and Father of mankind" (hymn 653). You will remember that Mr. Powell (b.1932) lives in Greenville, SC, and, beside all his composing-- which is extensive, and even in our hymnal-- and organist-choir positions, tuned organs on the side and even worked on our organ in the early 90's.
Read MoreSunday's organ prelude is based on a very popular anthem, and one our choir sings from time to time-- "Draw Us in the Spirit's Tether" by Harold Friedell (1905-1958), who taught at both The Julliard School of Music and Union Seminary's department of sacred music. This setting is by the contemporary American organist, James Biery.
Read MoreThe basis for the organ prelude is a Welsh folk song melody called "The Ash Grove", a very popular and recognizable tune which has been used for several hymn texts; our choir every so often has sung one of the Easter texts using the tune. This setting, by the contemporary American, Wayne L. Wold (b. 1954, Lutheran, retired professor from Hood College in Frederik, Maryland) theoretically uses a text called "Let All Things Now Living Praise God".
Read MoreThe prelude is a set of variations on our processional hymn (436), the tune known as "Truro", which actually is used for several different texts; they are by the contemporary Jonathan Reuss, who is most active in the Lutheran church as organist and composer.
Read MoreDo come and help celebrate All Saints Day at Calvary! Since I will be out of town, Otho Hoyte will be playing the organ and all prelude music and hymns will be most familiar. My wish is that the service be a joyful celebration!
Read MoreThe organ prelude is a setting of the Irish tune "St. Columba", by Henry G. Ley (1887-1962), an English composer and teacher. The hymn is well loved and is 645 in our hymnal. Our processional hymn is the 20th century hymn (including text), "Father eternal, Ruler of creation", 573. We will sing verses 1, 2, and 5. The tune for our Gospel hymn is an old -- but very familiar -- German tune, 596, "Judge eternal, throned in splendor". You will note perhaps that the text is more recent.
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