Music for the Transfiguration of Our Lord, March 3, 2019

Prelude Wie schön leuchtet   Niels Wilhelm Gade (1817-1890)

In these Sundays after Epiphany, the Transfiguration of Our Lord reminds us where we started – with Jesus being revealed as “a light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people, Israel.” It’s not surprising that this cycle of readings ends with even more images (and thus music) around the theme of light.

Niels Wilhelm Gade was an important musician from Denmark, a contemporary (and friend) of Felix Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann.

The hymn (O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright) is found at ELW 308.

Gathering Hymn Sing of God Made Manifest (Salzburg)

Carl P. Daw’s text recounts our readings from this cycle in the lectionary: Jesus’ birth, his baptism, the miracle of water turned to wine, and finally the transfiguration. The text paired with the hymntune Salzburg which was first published in Berlin in 1678. Alterations to the rhythm have been made over the years, but the harmonization is based on one by that great composer J. S. Bach.

A depiction of the Battle of Agincourt by Enguerrand de Monsrelet

Hymn of the Day Oh, Wondrous Image, Vision Fair (Deo Gracias) ELW 316

The tune for this hymn is also known as the Agincourt Hymn. It was written to celebrate the Battle of Agincourt, won by King Henry V in 1415. Today, rather than recounting the glory of an earthly king, we use it to proclaim the glory of our heavenly Christ.

Musical Offering Christ upon the Mountain Peak Paul Bouman (b. 1918)

Rafael's depiction of the Transfiguration

This text is by Brian Wren (b. 1936), a prolific writer of modern hymn texts. The text in this anthem was later modified by Wren to begin “Jesus on the mountain peak. . .” The change was made at the suggestion of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Hymnal Committee to distinguish between Jesus, the historical man, and the post-resurrection Christ.

Communion Hymns

This Little Light of Mine (This Joy) ELW 677

This popular African-American song was probably passed around orally before it was written down – accounting for the many variations in words and tunes. It’s easy to relate it to today’s reading, but it probably has its original basis in Matthew 5:16.

We Are Marching in the Light of God (Siyahamba) ELW 866

This song comes from Africa, probably originating as a Zulu folk song. Now it is known around the world.

Sending Hymn Alleluia, Song of Gladness (Praise, My Soul) ELW 318

Next Sunday we will be in the season of Lent. One tradition for Lent is to “bury the alleluia.” This last hymn for the day will be the last time we sing “Alleluia” until the Easter Vigil.

Postlude Deo Gracias  setting, Stephen Gabrielson

Sources:
Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Wikipedia
Agincourt: 

By Chroniques d’Enguerrand de Monstrelet (early 15th century) - Antoine Leduc, Sylvie Leluc et Olivier Renaudeau (dir.), D'Azincourt à Marignan. Chevaliers et bombardes, 1515-1515, Paris, Gallimard / Musée de l'armée, 2015, p. 18-19, ISBN 978-2-07-014949-0, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10026708

Rafael: 

By Raphael - Downloaded from Artist Hideout, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=379381

Music for the Seventh Sunday after Epiphany, February 24, 2019

Prelude: My Jesus, I Love Thee (St. Mark’s Ringers) arr. Brenda Austin

William Ralph Featherston (1848-1875) wrote the poetry for this hymn when he was between 12 and 16 years old. The story goes that his aunt sought its publication. Featherston never heard the hymn sung. He died at the age of 27 and it wasn’t until after his death that Adoniram Judson Gordon added the music.

My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;

for thee all the follies of sin I resign;

my gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;

If ever I loved thee, my Jesus ‘tis now.

Gathering Hymn: Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us (Hyfrydol) ELW 707

Hyfrydol is one of the most commonly used tunes in modern hymnals. The composer, Roland Prichard (1811-1877) was born in North Wales and was an advocate for assembly singing in a part of the country that, at that time, had no church choirs.

If you want to pronounce the tune name authentically, the “H” is voiced, the “y’s” are pronounced like “u” in “cup,” and the “f” is pronounced like an English “v,’ – “Huvrudol.” (Hymnal Companion, Evangelical Lutheran Worship)

I’ve been saying the name of this tune incorrectly all my life! In spite of that, I can’t help but sing with gusto and fervor. For me, it is one of the most satisfying tunes in all Christendom.

Hymn of the Day: Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive (St. Anne)

Rosamond Herklots (1905-1987) had an active life away from hymn writing – something she started later in life. Two decades of her life were spent as secretary for a neurologist in England. She also worked at the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus in London.

The text is paired with solid tune St. Anne, attributed to an English composer, William Croft (ca. 1678-1727).

Musical Offering (Festival Choir): Teach Each Other in Wisdom   Bradley Ellingboe

The text of Ellingboe’s anthem is drawn from Colossians3:16.

Communion Hymns:
In All Our Grief (Fredericktown) ELW 615

Charles R. Anders (b. 1929) wrote this tune and named it for the town of Frederick, Maryland where he was born. I also love to sing this tune with ELW 303 – “When in Our Music God is Glorified.”

Lord Jesus, Think on Me (Southwell) ELW 599

Sending Hymn: All Creatures, Worship God Most High (Lasst uns erfreun) ELW 835

Postlude: Now the Green Blade Rises Wayne L. Wold

The organ postlude is an arrangement of ELW 379 with the same title. It pairs nicely with the second paragraph of today’s second reading. Many churches associate the tune with Easter themes due to the popularity of this text, but it was first used as a French Christmas carol – thus the tune name Noel Nouvelet.

St. Mark's Zimmer/Colby organ

sources:
Wikipedia
Hymnary.org
Hymnal Companion, Evangelical Lutheran Worship

ELW = Evangelical Lutheran Worship,published by Augsburg Fortress 2006

Music for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, February 10, 2019

Prelude: A Memory Patricia DeWitt 

The prelude is an original composition by Patricia DeWitt for recorder and piano. Patricia DeWitt herself will play the recorder.

Gathering Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty (Nicaea) ELW 413)

Hymn of the Day: Risen Lord, We Gather Round You (Abbot's Leigh)

This hymn does not appear in ELW. The text is by Herman G. Stuempfle, Jr. Stuempfle, who died in 2007, was president of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg from 1976 to 1989. He began his time at Gettysburg as a professor in 1962 which means his total time in service to the seminary was 27 years. A prolific author of hymns, he has eight hymn texts in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.
Read more about his life here:
https://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/5876

Musical Offering (Festival Choir): Keep Silence John Helgen

This is a choral setting of "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" (ELW 490) with a musical atmosphere that evokes Isaiah's vision in today's Old Testament reading. The piano, recorder (Patricia DeWitt) and windchime accompaniment combine with the choir to create a mystical image of the throne of God and the beings who surround it.

Communion Hymns:
You have come down to the Lakeshore (Pescador de hombres) ELW 817

This hymn was a favorite of our beloved Viki Grzelinski who sang in the Festival Choir for many years. Every time we sing the hymn, we remember her for the faith she lived so well. Viki, a child of God, died in 2012.

Our friend Viki could often be found with a water bottle in one hand and Bach in another.

Here I Am, Lord (Here I Am, Lord) ELW 574

Sending Hymn: Rise, Shine, You People (Wojtkiewiecz) ELW 665

The hymntune name is a very interesting one. The composer, Dale Wood, is the son of Finnish-Polish parents. The tune is named for his Polish family.

Postlude: Trumpet Fanfare on "Rescue" Don Hustad

This piece (which features the Festival Trumpet stop on our organ) comes from a text and tune by Fanny Crosby, a prolific hymn writer (more than 8,000 hymns to her credit) and mission worker who was born in Brewster, New York in 1820.
In today's gospel reading Jesus tells the fishermen, ". . .from now on you will be catching people."
Fanny Crosby says it with these words:
"Rescue the perishing, Duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide.
Back the narrow way, Patiently win them;
Tell the poor wand'rer a Savior has died.
Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save."

sources:
Hymnal Companion to "Evangelical Lutheran Worship"
Wikipedia