An Artifact Goes Home

One of my long term projects is entering all of the choral anthems in our library into an Excel spreadsheet. This should make it easier to find anthems by title, composer, season, biblical citation, ELW number and many other ways.

As I was working last week, I came across Ralph Vaughan Williams' "O Taste and See." Across the folder was written "July 20, 1970," which I am assuming is the last time this anthem was sung at St. Mark's before it was filed away just like any other piece of music is filed after being sung.

This one, however, was not like any other anthem for stamped boldly across each copy were the words "Hendricks Ave Baptist Church / Jacksonville, 7, Florida." Had this piece of music been on loan to St. Mark's for forty years? It would be kind of embarrassing to try to return it now. Maybe I could just sneak over there, under cover of darkness, and slide it under the choir room door. Maybe they wouldn't even want it back.

Another important piece of this story: just over two years, A fire started in the choir room at HAB, made its way to the sanctuary, and the church burned to the ground just before Christmas. They have since rebuilt a beautiful new worship space with a 60+ rank Schleuter pipe organ.

I sent an email to Tommy S., Minister of Music at Hendricks and asked him what he would like for me to do. What to me was a folder of yellowed anthems, so old they cost 20 cents a piece, was something to treasure. You see, the fire had destroyed the choral library. This piece of music was an artifact of the not-so-distant past, an artifact that will soon be going home.

The Butterly Effect

Today, as I've been making final preparations for the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians Region 2 biennial conference, the butterly effect has been coming to my mind. According to Wikipedia, the butterfly effect is something like this: The way that a butterfly flaps its wings could alter the air around it, and then the atmosphere, in such a manner that the path of a tornado could be altered. That seems a litte far-fetched to me but here is something that doesn't. The more we take the time to learn from each other, and the more we take time to teach each other, we alter the world in which we live.

It's not hard to see how this would happen at a music conference. A conferee may go home with one idea on improving congregational hymn singing that takes such hold in her home church that it changes that community's singing culture forever! A singer in her children's choir grows up to become a church music director and teaches the same method in his churches for years.

A vocalist might hear something about vocation that changes the way he sees his singing completely. Instead of pure art or entertainment, it becomes true worship that draws others in to a closer relationship with God.

You can see where I'm going with this. We are all students and we are all teachers. We all have the potential to be life altering butterflies.

Maybe someday I'll write about how this could have an adverse effect, but for now, I'm excited about what I will learn in the next few days that will change the way I think and work. No matter what your profession is, take time to be a student and a teacher.

We Welcome the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians Region 2

St. Mark’s is hosting region 2 of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians through Thursday of this coming week. About 45 organists, choir directors, singers, instrumentalists, educators, etc. are expected to be here through Wednesday. There are several events to which you are invited.

Sunday, June 20 at 7:00 PM
A concert by the San Marco Chamber Music Society featuring Eric and Ellen Olson along with pianist/harpsichordist Christine Clark. A reception, sponsored by the St. Mark’s WELCA will follow.

Monday, June 21st at 9:00 AM
Opening Eucharist in the nave at St. Mark’s

Monday, June 21st at 7:00 PM
An organ concert by our conference organist Florence Jowers of Lenoir-Rhyne University. She will play the brand new Schleuter pipe organ at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church.

Tuesday, June 22nd at 8:30 AM
Morning Prayer with organ and handbells at All Saints Episcopal Church.

Wednesday, June 23rd at 10:30
Closing Eucharist with the conference choir under the direction of Dr. André Thomas from Florida State University.

I hope that you will be able to come to some of these events.

Music for a Funeral

Many of you reading this blog know that my brother Adam recently died. His passing was sudden and unexpected. One morning, while jogging, he collapsed and never regained consciousness. Needless to say, my entire family was (and still is) devastated. When I was asked to serve as the organist for his funeral, I hesitated, but only for a second. Finally, I was grateful to have something to do – something I actually knew about!

The first order of business was to choose the hymns. I had already thought of this and had a few suggestions – three of which were used.

There is a saying in the organist world. If you don’t specify the hymns before you die, you’re going to get “Amazing Grace,” “In the Garden,” and “The Old Rugged Cross.” (Let me stress, there is nothing wrong with ANY of these, especially if they are what someone has requested.)
So these are the hymns and why they were chosen.
First, “Amazing Grace.” I know that conflicts with the last paragraph; but, I chose it because we sang it around Adam’s hospital bed during an intensely moving prayer service. Also, I know that Adam is in God’s care and keeping and that one day, we will all be with Adam “bright shining as the sun” and singing God’s praises together.

The second hymn was “It Is Well With My Soul.” Google the history of this hymn and you’ll learn that the author wrote it in response to the dreadful news that his wife and children had perished when their ship sank en route to America. Adam left three sons behind aged 16, 10, and 6. The first verses speak of sorrow with each one giving away to a refrain of a simple but solid statement of faith. The final verse speaks of the resurrection!

Finally, I chose “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Adam spent some time in the Lutheran Church, but was baptized in a non-denominational (though Christian) service. At the time he died he was a member of a Presbyterian church. I have to admit I was thinking of Adam’s ancestors when I chose the hymn – hardy Norwegian Lutheran stock they were. If our loved ones meet us when we die, I know that some of those Lutherans were there waiting for him on the other side.

There was other music: Eric and Ellen Olson played the oboe and viola during the prelude, my niece Jessica played a guitar solo that Adam taught her, and Jessica accompanied another niece, Maya, who sang and made us all proud of her voice and poise. Finally, my brother and sister and I sang “Steal Away.”

I guess if this story has a moral, here it is. If you know what hymns you want to have sung at your funeral, then tell someone. I’m sure Adam, being only 37, never thought it was anywhere near the time to share that information. I hope he likes the ones we picked. Rest in peace, dear brother. We love you.

Church Music Celebration: Sunday, May 30th at 3:00

Our annual church music celebration features all of the St. Mark's musical ensembles singing, ringing, and playing their favorite pieces from the past year. That adds up to quite a variety of music for all of the liturgical seasons and includes offerings by the Festival Choir, St. Mark's Ringers, Alleluia Ringers, Kingdom Choir, members of the San Marco Chamber Music Society and the Behind the Pulpit Ensemble.

In this informal setting, you'll hear works by Paul Manz, William Billings, Arnold Sherman and many more. A reception will follow.

This event is free and all are welcome! We hope that you will join us.

Holy Week and Easter Sunday at St. Mark's

Holy Week began on Palm Sunday with our Procession of Palms and our neighbors: Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church and All Saints Episcopal Church. Here are the details for the rest of the week:

Wednesday (3/31/10): Lenten devotion in the nave at 10:30 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. The topic is Holy Communion with readings from scripture and Martin Luther's Catechism.

Maundy Thursday (4/1/2010) at 7:00 p.m. The Festival Choir sings On the Passion of Christ by David H. Williams. Communion follows and then the Stripping of the Altar.

Good Friday at 12:00 noon(4/2/2010): A traditional service from Evangelical Lutheran Worship that we have not done before. (This is NOT the three-hour-long service that many Lutherans will remember from their growing-up years.) The service is devotional in nature, with hymns, prayers, and the Solemn Reproaches.

Good Friday Evening at 7:00 p.m. Our Living Stations of the Cross service combines pageantry, prayers, readings and hymns of Our Lord's Passion by the Festival Choir to create a unique service that you won't want to miss. The Stations of the Cross are depicted in tableau (see the picture above of Jesus Meets His Mother). Invite a friend to experience this with you!

Easter Vigil (Saturday, 4/3/10 at 7:00 p.m.) For centuries Christians have used candlelight, prayers, hymns, and Old Testament readings that tell of God's grace from the time of creation to build anticipation for the cry of "Alleluia!" Our service includes music by the St. Mark's Ringers, Festival Choir, and Kingdom Choir. This is a much abbreviated version of the traditional Easter Vigil which, I'm told, used to last into the wee hours of the morning.

Easter Sunday (Sunday, 4/4/2010 at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.) "The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!" will be our cry as we remember the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Alleluia Ringers play "Alleluia! Give Thanks!" The Festival Choir sings William Billings' "The Lord Is Risen Indeed" and Eric and Ellen Olson provide selections from Vivaldi's Gloria with the oboe and viola.

All are welcome! Come and See!

Newberry College Singers at St. Mark's on March 7th at 6 PM

Founded in 1932, the Newberry College Singers are a premier auditioned choral ensemble with a rich tradition of singing through excellent performances of choral mastersworks that range from repertoire of the Middle Ages through the 21st century. They will be performing a free concert at St. Mark's on Sunday, March 7th, at 6 PM.

An offering will be taken and all are welcome!