Music In the Mountains: A Summer Worship Event

Musicians from the Episcopal Church have been gathering for 62 years at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee for the purpose of continuing education, fellowship, and inspiring worship. I first attended this conference in 2000 when I was the organist-choirmaster for St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, FL. Why would someone who is now a Lutheran attend an Episcopal conference? First, our manner of worship is not that far removed when you consider our common lectionary. The words that we say and the prayers that we pray sound very much alike. Second, Sewanee always attracts a knowledgeable faculty – leaders in the field of church music. Third, it’s a chance for me to sing in a choir, a choir of about 150 singers. Most of the singers are music directors and/or organists in their home churches, but some are not. The literature that is sung is quite difficult. That said, this is not a place for beginning singers! As in the past, this year’s focus was on two worship services: Evensong on Friday Evening, and the Sunday morning Festival Eucharist. Father Matthew Moretz was our preacher for the week. He also gave lectures on the use of social media. He is the creator of “Father Matthew Presents,” a series of videos that seeks “to present the treasures of Christianity one video at a time.” I encourage you to check them out on YouTube. Just search “Father Matthew presents.” I recommend the one on the Ascension.

Our choral leadership was provided by Huw Lewis, an internationally known choir director and organist. He is the College Organist at Hope College (Holland, MI) and the Director of Music at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Detroit. His warm teaching style and (sometimes maddening!) attention to detail must be two items that put him at the top of his field - those and the fact that he is a consummate musician! Bruce Neswick, Associate Professor of Music in Organ and Sacred Music at the Jacob School of Music (Indiana University), was our organist for the week and he was inspiring to hear! His improvisations on the mighty 70 rank Casavant organ at All Saints Chapel (University of the South) did not disappoint! He accompanied both services where his playing inspired glorious singing.

No conference is complete without workshops! I attended sessions on training volunteer voices, hymn playing, and organ improvisation. I also attended a master class where several organists played and then received private instruction from Huw Lewis and Bruce Neswick – well, as private as it can be with 70 other organists listening and picking up pointers for their own playing. The Lois Fyfe music display was wonderful! I was like a kid in a candy store – an expensive candy store! Evensong is the Episcopal version of the Luther Vespers service. The choir sings quite difficult music and essentially prays on behalf of the congregation whose participation, except for the hymns, is mostly active meditation. We sang the Preces and Responses (prayers) by Robert W. Lehman, a setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Henry Smart, and Edward Bairstow’s setting of “The King of Love My Shepherd Is.”

Lutherans would have felt right at home with the Sunday morning worship since we share much of the format and texts in common. Our choral music for the morning was two pieces by Gary Davison: “My Song Shall Be Alway,” and “Hymn of Praise.” The latter, commissioned for the conference and thus a world premiere, featured changing meters, solos, and singing throughout the dynamic spectrum. The psalm at both services was sung in the Anglican Chant style. More complicated that what we typically do at St. Mark’s, this style of psalm singing is usually sung by a trained choir. I am fortunate that St. Mark’s permits me two weeks of continuing education per year. At Sewanee, I found fresh inspiration and new ideas that will find their way into my own directing and playing this year. Thank you to all of my “full communion” brothers and sisters who welcomed me as a fellow Christian musician. May God bless our ministries as we were blessed on the “holy mountain.”