The organ prelude is a "partita" based on the hymn, "A mighty fortress is our God"; a partita is simply a set of variations. The composer is Andrew Clarke, American contemporary (b.1942), a graduate of Yale University and The New England Conservatory of Music with further organ studies in Holland. The well known hymn melody, as you may know, was composed by Martin Luther. The harmonization in our hymnal is by J.S.Bach, but you will hear great differences by Mr. Clarke.
Read MoreThis Sunday we will be fortunate to have Benjamin Smith on the cello and also two vocalists -- Becky Lowrey and Audy Walker. Our congregation is indeed full of talent! The prelude to the service will be J. S. Bach's "Arioso" with cello solo and organ accompaniment. Bach himself wrote numerous versions of the piece, for various instruments. I think everyone knows and loves the melody; it should also be conducive to meditation.
Read MoreThe 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!
Read MoreTwo chorale improvisations, "Ah, Jesus Christ With Us Abide", and "Rejoice Greatly, O My Soul", will comprise the prelude; they are both by the German composer, Sigfrid Karg-Elert, who during his lifetime (1877-1933) was probably more popular in England than in Germany. His talent was recognized when he was very young, by prominent musicians at the time and he was awarded a 3 year scholarship to the Leipzig Conservatory. Today his organ music is often included in recitals worldwide.
Read MoreBill Ross, who has played trumpet for many years at Calvary both for Christmas Eve services and Easter services, volunteered to play this Sunday (as he has generously done before). Since we are so close to the "Fourth" and also celebrating with our annual picnic, we will be playing arrangements of patriotic hymns, the prelude being an Amy J. Snyder (contemporary American) "combo" arrangement of both "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and "America the Beautiful". Please greet and thank Bill after the service!
Read MoreWith July Fourth coming this week, the organ prelude is in that spirit and is a setting of "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" (hymn 608), by the Lutheran and American contemporary, Jonathan Reuss, of whom I have written before.
Read MoreThe prelude Sunday is based on our hymn at the offertory, "God is love, let heaven adore Him" (379), from the 20th century as you may note. My feeling is that most people love this hymn. The setting is a set of variations by Austin C. Lovelace (1919-2010), who often was referred to as "the dean of American church music", and was a graduate of the Union Theological Seminary School of Church Music when it was in Manhattan. It happens that my older brother graduated from there also, and while he was a student wanted to "take a summer off", letting me stay in the apt. he and his wife had while I "subbed" for him at his church in the Queens.
Read MoreThe prelude is based on our communion hymn, "Father. we thank thee who hast planted thy holy Name within our hearts", which in turn relates to the Gospel reading from Mark. Note in the hymnal that the words date back to the 2nd century and the tune by Louis Bourgeois to the 16th century (we have an anthem of his). The setting of the hymn is by the American contemporary, Edwin T. Childs, who lives, teaches, and composes in the Chicago area and has a doctorate from the Eastman School of Music.
Read MoreOtho Hoyte will be our guest organist this Sunday, as I am recovering from very successful spinal surgery and not allowed to drive for one week...and let me add most sincere thanks for all prayers and best wishes! The organ prelude will be "Agnus Dei" (Lamb of God), by the famous French composer, Georges Bizet (short life- 1838-1875), who is best known for his final opera, "Carmen", but was a proficient pianist and organist also.
Read MoreThe organ prelude is a Gordon Young setting of hymn 488, "Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart". Mr. Young (1919-1998) was known as a formidable organist and prolific organ and choral composer. He was a graduate of the famed Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, having studied with Alexander McCurdy, whom I heard play a recital at the First Presbyterian Church in Philly (when I was a child!). I might add that my older brother studied with McCurdy while he attended the Westminster Choir School.
Read MoreThe Welsh hymn tune know as "Ar Hyd Y Nos" is the basis for a short set of variations by David Lasky (contemporary, American), which I will play for the prelude this Trinity Sunday. Several texts have been written using the familiar hymn tune, but the one this is based on was written in 1927 and is titled "God, Who Made the Earth and Heaven". It is unfortunate that this good tune is not in our hymnal!
Read MoreThe prelude is the Wilbur Held setting of "Veni Creator Spiritus", 504 in our hymnal. As you will note in the hymnal this is "plainsong", which was "the" church music for centuries, a single line, not sung in strict rhythm. Gregorian chant, which became so popular decades ago through recordings, grew out of plainsong. When a particular "mode" is indicated (in this case Mode 8), it simply means that it is based on a certain scale, or arrangement of whole and half steps, similar to what we all know as "major" and "minor".
Read MoreFirst, let me say that this Sunday we will be honoring Noah Henthorn, who will graduate from Christ School the following week. He has sung with us for 2 years and has impressed us with both his talent and his character. Please celebrate with us at the reception prepared by the choir. The prelude will be a Robert Powell (b. 1932) set of variations that I have played several times; they are on "If thou but trust in God to guide thee", the well known and loved hymn 635.
Read MoreThe organ prelude will consist of Dale Wood settings of 2 familiar hymn tunes: "This Is My Father's World", and "My Faith Looks Up to Thee". Both prelude and postlude music this Sunday will be by Mr. Wood (1934-2003), who was one of the most prominent American church music composers of the 20th century, and who also served the Episcopal church in San Francisco for many years, both as organist and choral director at the cathedral. "This Is My Father's World" is known well to most but not in our hymnal. It might be of interest that it was written by a 19th century New York minister but not published until 1901.
Read MoreFirst let me thank all those who offered prayers for my healing of what the spine specialist and I presume is an episode coming from L5/S1; I am due for an MRI 5/3 to be certain and to know if anything can be done to prevent future problems. Five days ago there was no way I could have driven the distance to Calvary, and, though I am not entirely out of pain, I can now drive and play the organ comfortably. God's healing continues.
Read MoreThe organ prelude is a meditative setting of the familiar hymn, "Morning has broken", and is by Franklin D. Ashdown (1942-2023), Texas born prolific composer -- and physician -- of whom I have written before. The setting begins in C Major (as does hymn 8 in our hymnal) and then modulates to D Major, then back to C Major, making it a sort of ABA form.
Read MoreThere will be two organ preludes Sunday, the first being Edwin T. Childs' setting of "Father, We Thank You". This tune, "Rendez A Dieu", is used 3 times in our hymnal, and happens to be the tune on which our anthem is based, using the text of 301. Dr. Childs (PhD, Eastman School of Music) is an active composer, 79, native of New England.
Read MoreAlthough there is important singing of hymns and chants at both our Maundy Thursday service and Good Friday, I will concentrate on our Easter Sunday celebration, which will have two trumpets as well as our choir to aid in the worship. The prelude music will consist of 3 pieces, the first being a setting of the familiar hymn "Thine Be the Glory", arranged for 2 trumpets and organ by the American contemporary, Nigel Williams.
Read MoreThere will be the traditional procession with palms, beginning in the parish hall, and upon arrival in the sanctuary the singing of "All glory, laud, and honor to Thee" (hymn 154), which as you may note is a tune that dates back to the 16th-17th centuries, and can also be used in Advent using a different text (hymn 74).
Read MoreThe original hymn, "O Man, Thy Grievous Sin Bemoan", is 23 stanzas long and dates back to the 16th century; it is attributed to Matthaus Greiter (also spelled "Greitter"), who was a monk and chorister at Strassurg Cathedral (he wrote many hymn texts); however, the author is uncertain and it is also attributed to Seybold Heyden. What we do know is that both the harmonization of the hymn and the setting that I will play as a prelude are by J.S.Bach.
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