Music for Michael and All Angels: September 29, 2019

Opening Voluntary I Know That My Redeemer Lives

St. Mark’s Ringers

arr. Kevin McChesney

Gathering Hymn Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones (Lasst uns erfreuen)

Evangelical Lutheran Worship (424)

Psalm Psalm 103:1-5, 20-22

The refrain comes from the Taizé Community, an ecumenical religious community in Taizé, France. Music from this community is known for its brevity and contemplative flavor. This music is sung throughout the world during Christian worship services.

The tone is a standard ELW tone.

Hymn of the Day Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (Picardy)

ELW 490

The haunting melody of this hymn is a seventeenth century French folk tune.

Original artwork by Laurie Zody Aurand. When I first saw this, I thought it was the "host arrayed in white," but it could just as easily be a choir of angels.

Musical Offering O Come and Dwell in Me (sung by the Festival Choir)

Arlen Clarke

A Scottish melody called “The Parting Glass” is paired with a text by Charles Wesley. Angels sing a song of praise lifted from the book of Revelation 7:10 -

Salvation to our God, salvation to the Lamb.

This arrangement features a viola obligato played by Ellen Olson.

From a stained glass window at Christ Lutheran Church in Bexley, Ohio.

Communion Hymns

Jesus, Lamb of God ELW 199

Holy, Holy, Holy ELW 190

On Eagle’s Wings ELW 787

The first two pieces are movements from Deutsche Messe by Franz Schubert (1797-1828). Schubert composed the work to be sung for Roman Catholic masses. Unfortunately, it was rejected because the original text was in German rather than Latin. Fortunately its beauty and reverence won the day so that it enjoys wide popularity.

“On Eagle’s Wing” is a contemporary metrical setting of biblical texts from Psalm 91, Exodus 19, and Matthew 13. In addition to being a composer (with many liturgical works beyond “On Eagle’s Wings” to his credit), Michael Joncas is a Roman Catholic priest and a liturgical theologian.

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Gainesville, Florida

Sending Hymn God Who Made the Earth and Heaven (Ar hyd y nos)

ELW 564

Evangelical Lutheran Worship is now 13 years old, yet somehow we have managed to avoid singing this hymn. Don’t worry, you’ll recognize this traditional Welsh tune immediately! We usually sing it with the text “Go My Children, with My Blessing.”

Closing Voluntary Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones (Lasst uns erfreuen)

setting, Roberta Rowland-Raybold

ELW 424

 If you are taking our Revelation class led by Lynn Marlowe, you’ll notice three things  about this blog post and Sunday’s worship service:

First the painting at the top – William Blake’s “Angel of the Revelation.” Second, the second reading in today’s service comes from Revelation. Third, a quote from Revelation in the choir’s musical offering.

Do you see something in today’s music that excites you or sparks a specific memory? Comments on my blog are always welcome!