Music for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost: July 12, 2020

This week's service is on-line, so please join us on our YouTube channel on Sunday morning at 9:30. 

Find us here:

 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkaDHCDK26DaOTqxX21qiXA

Opening Voluntary Ensemble CCCXCVII (5036)    
William Schirmer, b. 1941

Eric Olson, oboe; Ellen Olson, viola

Dr. William Schirmer
courtesy of Bob Moore

Ellen and Eric Olson in a performance at St. Mark's

Dr. William Schirmer, Professor Emeritus at Jacksonville University, wrote this piece for the San Marco Chamber Music Society. It was debuted at the annual benefit for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund in 2014.

I’m excited to hear this piece again since Dr. Schirmer was one of my professors when I was a JU student in the 80s. Performing his Missa Universalis with the JU Concert Choir was one of the most thrilling moments of my college career. Andy Chopra studied composition with Dr. Schirmer.

Schirmer is a prolific composer – as evidenced by “5036” which is the opus number!

Visit the San Marco Chamber Music Society's web page: http://www.sanmarcochambermusic.org/

Gathering Hymn Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now (Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend)

ELW 527

I was surprised to realize we have not sung this hymn since ELW came out in 2006. The tune is predictable, but also rhythmic. The introduction is the straightforward chorale setting, but with echoes.  The statement is by the organ’s trumpets and the echo comes on the french horn.

This is the rhythmic style of the tune, but there is also an isometric version that loses the syncopated dance quality. For more about the difference between isometric and rhythmic, see my discussion of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” at : http://smljax.blogspot.com/2020/02/music-for-first-sunday-in-lent-march-1.html

I found a good recording on YouTube that will help if you would like to review it. Most Lutherans will find it familiar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xYXmIOQwcc

Hymn of the Day As Rain from the Clouds (Afton Water)

ELW 508

Ayrshire, Scotland is home to the small river called Afton Water. Robert Burns wrote about it in 1791 and 46 years later it was set to this gentle melody composed by Jonathan Spilman.

          Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes,

          Flow gently, I’ll sing thee a song in thy praise.
          My Mary’s asleep by thy murmuring stream,

          Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream.

          Thou stockdove whose echo resounds through the glen,

          Ye wild whistling blackbirds in yon thorny den,

          Thou green-crested lapwing, thy screaming forbear,

          I charge you, disturb not my slumbering fair.

Burns’ idyllic setting evokes a natural garden where things grow and birds flourish. Perhaps that is why this hymn text is so suitable for this tune.

Celtic Mist - from their Facebook page

Celtic Mist, a musical trio, has a recording you will enjoy:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPnfEMxK4wI

Sending Hymn The Spirit Sends Us Forth to Serve (Chesterfield)

ELW 551

Closing Voluntary Prelude in D Major

J. K. F. Fischer, 1656-1746

J. K. F. Fischer

Johann Kaspar Ferdinand Fischer was a Baroque composer known for bringing French influences to music in Germany. His own teacher had been the famous French composer Jean-Baptist Lully. Said to be one of the great composers of his day, his music is rarely heard due to the rarity of his musical scores.




A Fond Farewell

One of the voices you've been hearing on our prerecorded services belongs to St. Mark's member Cindy H. Cindy has received a job offer and will be relocating sooner than we'd like. We will miss her voice in our choir and her ringing in the St. Mark's Ringers. Farewell, Cindy, and thank you for all you have done in our music program at St. Mark's.