“Bist
du bei mir” is a classic in the solo singer’s repertoire. The song, by J. S. Bach,
is equally at home in the setting of a wedding or a funeral.
This
Sunday the Festival choir sings “Oh Lord, My God, You Are My Refuge,” a choral
setting of Bach’s melody with a different text. It will be accompanied by the
prominent keyboard of Bach’s time – the harpsichord.
St.
Marks’ harpsichord was built in 1977 while Brian Stout was the Music Director.
The instrument, assembled from a kit, took about 2,000 human hours to build and
cost about $1,000.00. The heaviest work was the sanding of the legs and
stringing the instrument.
Artwork
by Saralyn Landquist, Fran Oglesby, and Connie Smith gave the instrument an
authentic finish – making it look more like an instrument from the time of Bach
than one built from a kit in 1977.
The
artwork includes a bouquet of flowers on the soundboard with Luther’s rose in the
center and delicate flowers along the edges of the music stand. The Reformation
principles of “Sola Fide” (faith alone), “Sola Gratia” (grace alone), and “Sola
Scriptura” (scripture alone), are boldly inscribed on the inside cover.
A
nice finish is a listing of the names of those who helped build the instrument painted
above the keyboard. Many of these persons have since joined the church triumphant,
but their dedication and talent still inspire us.
Money
was obtained from a memorial fund in honor of the late Hugh Alderman who was
the Music Director at St. Mark’s for 24 years. This was certainly an
appropriate way to honor his legacy.
Why
a harpsichord? According to a quote in the Jacksonville Journal, Brian Stout
gave this explanation:
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| J. S. Bach, also called the "fifth evangelist" |
“First
of all, the music in the (early) Lutheran church was written for chamber-type
instruments. Bach wrote much of the music we use and much of what he did was
for the harpsichord.”
Harpsichords
are very different from pianos. With pianos the strings are struck by hammers. Harpsichord
strings are plucked by a small device called a “plectrum.” This gives the
instrument a delicate, almost tinny sound, that has more in common with a guitar
than with a piano.
Today our harpsichord is nearly always heard at our Bach Vespers service (a
tradition that started in 1990). It is also often used by the San Marco Chamber
Music Society for their chamber music concerts.
In fact, it will be used in service to the music of Antonio Vivaldi in
their next concert on February 10th at 7:00 p.m.
The
harpsichord is closed when it’s not in use, but if anyone wants to see it, I am
happy to open it after church services. It
can also be viewed by appointment during the week.
Thank you to Eric Olson who does the tuning - and it has to be tuned every time it is used.
This
harpsichord is a beautiful gift to the people of St. Mark’s and to the
Jacksonville community. We are indebted to Brian Stout and all who helped build
this beautiful instrument. May it always remind us that our music is “Soli Deo gloria”
– for the glory of God alone.
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| Bach Vespers 2013 with the harpsichord in the center. |
