Hear Our Harpsichord Twice in February

“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:

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 10^th 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.

Bach Vespers 2013 with the harpsichord in the center.