Music for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost: September 1, 2019

Opening Voluntary Prelude on “Nettleton”

setting, John Carter

Time out from a composition lesson for
a selfie with John Carter

If you feel like singing along to this piano setting of the well-known tune, you might be tempted to start singing “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”; however, when this tune comes up later in the service, we’ll be using a different text. Read more about that later in this post.

The composer of the tune is not known, but the composer of this lively setting is well-known in the world of church music. John Carter’s large catalog of piano and choral music is heard weekly in American churches.  I was honored to have some private composition lessons with him while attending Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio.

Gathering Hymn Gather Us In (Gather Us In)

Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) 532

This hymn is a part of our gathering rite and acknowledges the Holy Spirit’s gathering in of believers for communal worship.
Marty Haugen wrote the text and the tune of this hymn. His work is widely known in the church at large and at St. Mark’s. Not only have we sung his hymns, but we’ve also sung his liturgies including Now the Feast and Celebration, Holden Evening Prayer, Beneath the Tree of Life, and Unfailing Light.

Read more about how we use Unfailing Light here: http://smljax.blogspot.com/search?q=unfailing+light

Hymn of the Day As We Gather at Your Table (Nettleton)

Six hymn texts by Carl P. Daw, Jr. are included in ELW. He is an Episcopal priest and Executive Director of the Hymn Society in the United States of America.
“As We Gather at Your Table” is in ELW (522), but I decided to sing it with a different tune this week – Nettleton. (See the opening voluntary.)

Jacksonville Composer Bob Moore

Musical Offering All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly (sung by the Festival Choir)

Bob Moore

Bob Moore is the Director of Music Ministry at the Episcopal Church of Our Savior in Mandarin. He is a prolific composer of liturgical music. I discovered this piece a few years ago in our choir library. Since that time, we have also used it as an assembly hymn.  Not very long ago, Bob rearranged this tune (Grace Eternal) as a more complex anthem for choir. It’s already in our choral library and I’m looking forward to singing it with the Festival Choir.

Communion Hymns

The Trumpets Sound, the Angels Sing (The Feast Is Ready)

ELW 531
Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ (Linstead)

Sending Hymn Sent Forth by God’s Blessing (The Ash Grove)

ELW 547

Closing Voluntary Gather Us In

setting, John Behnke

Somebody walked into the nave while I was practicing the postlude earlier this week and asked, “Irish?”
It certainly has a Celtic feel thanks to Behnke’s open fifths and grace notes in the left hand. There’s even a middle section that could easily be taken for a “jig.” Actually, this is a reprise of Haugen’s tune “Gather Us In.”

Happening This Week

The St. Mark’s Ringers and the Festival Choir begin their regular rehearsal schedule this week on Wednesday, September 4th – weather permitting. (Hurricane Dorian is making its approach to the Bahamas as this post is being written.)

All singers are welcome in the Festival Choir which rehearses from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

We have one opening in the St. Mark’s Ringers. Please contact Tony Cruz right away if you would like to join this hard-working group of musicians.

Music for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost: August 25, 2019

Opening Voluntary Two Settings of “Bunessan”

Richard Proulx

Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) 456, 556, 586, 689

Most people, when they hear this tune, will automatically think of the text “Morning Has Broken,” but there are actually four texts paired with this Scottish tune in ELW. Next to New Britain (aka “Amazing Grace”) it is probably the most famous tune from Scotland to appear in American hymnals.

Eleanor Farjeon

The “Morning Has Broken” text has incorrectly been credited to Cat Stevens who brought the song some commercial success in the early 70s. But, ELW has correctly credited the English writer Eleanor Farjeon.

Before it was paired with her text, the tune was a Christmas hymn titled “Child in the Manger, Infant of Mary.”

Bunessan has proven to be a useful tune indeed.

Gathering Hymn O Day of Rest and Gladness (Haf trones lampa färdig)

Today’s text reminds us to remember the sabbath day and this hymn does exactly that. If someone ever asks “Why do Christians worship on Sunday?” you can respond with verse 2!

This hymn appears in ELW with the tune Ellacombe but I’ve never felt that was a good pairing and we sang Ellacombe last week. The Episcopalians sing it with a tune that I adore – Es flog ein kleins Waldvögelein – but I don’t like to use unfamiliar tunes during the Hymn of the Day in summer months. A perfect solution seemed to be Haf trones lampa färdig, the Swedish folk tune that we sing with “Rejoice, Rejoice Believers” in Advent.

Hymn of the Day Glories of Your Name Are Spoken (Austria)

Haydn

Lutheran Book of Worship 358

There isn’t a lot of controversy in the realm of church music, but this hymn is a reminder that it does exist.

Many people remember singing this hymn to the tune Austria, composed by Franz Josef Haydn (1732-1809). In modern times the tune often brings Nazi Germany to mind, indeed the text has been paired with Blaenwern in ELW – which is how we usually sing it.  We sing it today not to remember Hitler’s era, but to remember the composer Franz Josef Haydn.

Musical Offering Come, Ye Sinners (sung by the Festival Choir)

Ronald Turner

Communion Hymns

Bread of Life from Heaven (Argentine Santo)

ELW 474
The refrain is a traditional Argentine melody usually sung with a text that calls the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) to mind. The stanzas contain new melodic material by Marty Haugen with words by Susan Briehl.

Summer, like the time after Pentecost, is a season of growth.
I'm happy to have these Plumeria growing in my yard.

Sending Hymn How Firm a Foundation Cry (Foundation)

ELW 796

Closing Voluntary Ein Feste Burg

Setting, Kevin Hildebrand

ELW 504

Sources:
Wikipedia
Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship

Five Not-To-Miss Music Events for the Fall at St. Mark's

As summer comes to an end, our Festival Choir and St. Mark’s Ringers are getting ready to resume their regular rehearsal schedule.

We have plenty of room for singers in the choir. All voice parts are welcome, but we have a special need for sopranos and altos.  This year the Festival Choir is changing its rehearsal time from 7:30 to 7:00. Rehearsal will be over at 8:30.

On Wednesday night we work on choral singing skills, music for the liturgy, psalms and hymns, and music for the musical offering.  The ability to read music is helpful, but not required. (As you become a regular in the choir, you’ll find this skill will improve!)

If you have any questions, please contact Tony Cruz or any choir member.

One of our most popular events each year is the San Marco Chamber Music Society’s annual benefit for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund. Eric and Ellen Olson, artistic directors, plan a varied program of composers and musical styles.

In these concerts, Eric and Ellen are joined by an assortment of seasoned professional musicians.

Each year the players change, but the top-level playing does not. Don’t miss this concert!

It has been five years since St. Mark’s organ was expanded. Since the expansion, we have been able to present a number of concerts by very fine organists – and this year is no exception!

Zach Klobnak is the former Music Director of our neighbor, All Saints Episcopal Church. His concert bio follows:

Dr. Zach Klobnak is College Organist and Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. He is also Director of Music and Organist at the Presbyterian Church of Danville, where he directs the music program, administers the “Music on Main Street” concert series, and plays the church’s Taylor & Boody pipe organ.  A native of Iowa, he holds degrees from Luther College (BA), the University of Florida (MM), and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (DMA), where he held the Brownson Fellowship for organ studies.  His principal organ teachers include Dana Robinson, Laura Ellis, and Gregory Peterson; he has also studied harpsichord with Kathryn Reed and choral conducting with Donald Nally, Fred Stoltzfus, and Timothy Peter.  Zach is an active recitalist, a member of the American Guild of Organists and the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, and studied French organ literature and design in Paris and in the Alps region of France.  He has previously held church music positions in Illinois, Florida, and Iowa.

We love doing events with our full communion partners at All Saints Episcopal

Church. This year we have been invited to join with them in a celebration for All Saints Day.

All Saints Day, every November 1^st, is a celebration of remembrance for all the saints, known and unknown, that we have lost. In All Saints’ beautiful, candlelit sanctuary, the choirs and clergy of St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and  All Saints Episcopal Church offer a variety of hymns, anthems, and spirituals to lift up and inspire. All are invited to light a candle, offer prayers, and take part in this special service of outstanding choral music.

St. Mark’s long-standing tradition of Bach Vespers continues. All experienced choral singers are welcome to participate! Please contact Tony Cruz for further information.

Music for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost: August 18, 2019

Opening Voluntary I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light (Houston)

setting, John A. Behnke 

See the text at Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) 815

Today’s second reading reminds us that we should be “looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” The reading from Hebrews names many of our spiritual ancestors who have already run the race and walked as children of the light.

It may be hard not to sing along with this organ voluntary, but don’t worry. We’ll sing the hymn later in the service during communion.

This popular song, written in the 1970s, now appears in most modern hymnals.

Gathering Hymn Lead On, O King Eternal (Lancashire)

ELW 805

This hymn, like many others, could be criticized for its military language. The tune also has a martial quality. But the text also points to grace and peace, reminding us the heavenly kingdom comes with our “deeds of love and mercy.”

Pastor H. Alfred Weltzin

Hymn of the Day How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord (Weltzin)

Fred Pratt Green (1903-2000), a Methodist minister in England was a prolific hymn writer. He has 12 texts in ELW! This text was written for the tune Repton (see ELW 580), but this Sunday we’ll be using a tune I wrote called Weltzin. I named it for Pastor H. Alfred Weltzin (1915-2001) who confirmed me at Bad Axe Lutheran Church. Read more about Bad Axe here: http://smljax.blogspot.com/2019/06/what-kind-of-lutheran-am-i.html

Musical Offering As This Broken Bread (sung by the Festival Choir)

Wayne L. Wold

The text of this anthem comes from the Didache, an ancient Christian text that may date to the first century CE. It is also known as “The Lord’s Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations.”

Communion Hymns

Here Is Bread (Here Is Bread)

ELW 483

I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light (Houston)

ELW 815

Sending Hymn Let the Whole Creation Cry (Salzburg)

ELW 876

Closing Voluntary Ellacombe

Setting, J. Wayne Kerr

The tune seems to be of German origin and we’re not sure how it came to have a title that is, apparently, English. A snippet of the tune was used to craft the refrain for this morning’s psalm.

In many churches, this tune is paired with the text “I Sing th’ Almighty Power of God.”

The organ console at St. Mark's

Curious about the role of the choir in our worship service and wondering how you can participate? Read more here: http://smljax.blogspot.com/2019/08/four-things-to-know-about-festival-choir.html

Four Things to Know About the Festival Choir

Our Festival Choir works hard every week to support our liturgy, enliven our hymn singing, and to add beauty to our worship. It can be easy to take their presence for granted so that it feels like part of our Sunday routine. The truth is that hard work and commitment (attending rehearsals, practicing, regular attendance) are indispensable in our weekly proclamation of the gospel.

I am grateful for each voice in our choir.

Choirs enliven liturgical worship. Here are four reasons why.

1.       Liturgical worship works best when a core group practices the hymns and liturgy with special intent.
          The Festival Choir’s primary reason for being is to support and embolden the assembly’s song. Since the Reformation began, Lutheran churches have claimed congregational song as the pre-eminent music of the church. As the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians Statement on Worship and Music makes clear: It is not enough that people are merely present at worship. Faith inevitably erupts in song.
          The choir meets each week to prepare liturgy, anthems, and hymns so that the assembly, even when something is brand new, is encouraged in its singing.

2.       Choral and instrumental music (including handbells) sweetens the assembly’s song.
          The Festival Choir also rehearses more artistic, complicated music that the assembly couldn’t possibly sing without intensive rehearsal time. The musical offering doesn’t exist for the purpose of performance; rather, it is a gospel-proclaiming vehicle that enriches and elevates our worship.

3.       Choirs preserve our musical heritage and encourage the voices of new composers.

          The rich musical heritage of Lutherans deserves to be heard a remain active in the church’s song today. Bach cantatas, sacred renaissance polyphony, and choral motets weren’t written for college choirs in grand concert halls. They were written to be the “living voice of the gospel.” They remind us that our faith has a vibrant history and is connected to a tradition the predates us.
          At the same time, church choirs like ours give living composers and poets cause to add to the church’s song. If their works weren’t purchased and performed, they would have to make their livelihood by some other means. Also, choirs enjoy the challenge of new music.

4.           Church music promotes Christian formation.

                Hymns and liturgy echo and support the readings for the day. Carefully selected hymns remind us of the church’s teachings and affirm the promises we made in baptism.

 

2006 Dedication of Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Photo by Bill Daugherty.

One more important point!

          The success of a church choir depends on regular participation.    Without a sufficient number of singers, a choir cannot flourish. That’s why we need more singers in our choir. All voice parts are welcome, but we have a special need for sopranos and altos. If you enjoy singing, we invite you to lift your voice with ours in ministry to people of St. Mark’s and our praise of God.

          Contact Tony Cruz or any choir member for more information.

          Please join us.

Learn to Play Handbells!

Looking for a Good Time? Learn to Play Handbells!

The St. Mark’s Ringers has a couple of open slots for the fall, and it would be awesome if we could start a second handbell choir at St. Mark’s. Any ringer will tell you that playing bells is a great way to stay active. Playing bells is also an enjoyable fellowship activity. Most important, handbells add to the beauty of our worship and are an important part of the church’s song at St. Mark’s.

Commitment

Just like in team sports, honoring the time commitments for a musical ensemble is important.

The St. Mark’s Ringers rehearse one hour per week and play in church 10-12 times per year September through May. We also have a short rehearsal on the Sunday mornings we play.

A new group would rehearse about the same amount of time, but probably not play in church as frequently.  As our skills increase, we would play more.

We have historically rehearsed on Wednesday evenings.  The St. Mark’s Ringers will continue with that schedule, but a new group may choose another time to rehearse.

Of course, things come up and everyone must be absent at one time or another.  Having more bell ringers makes filling in the gaps much easier. 

Who can ring?

St. Mark's Ringers
Lutheridge Handbell Weekend 2012

All adults and youth from 12 years old are eligible.  Youth members would need reliable transportation to and from rehearsals.  If a parent is unable to accompany a minor child, two adults need to help with transportation. (See “Protection and Prevention – Working with Youth Under Age 18” in St. Mark’s Policies and Procedures”).

Handbell ringing is a great family activity! I have seen many instances with one or two parents and their child (or children) ringing in a handbell choir.

Ringers do not need to be members of St. Mark’s to be part of our choirs. Do you have a friend who might be a good fit? Bring them along – but we do ask that non-members have the same level of commitment to our schedule as any member of St. Mark’s.

Do I Need to Be Able to Read Music?

Yes. . . but not right away!  We will teach you. (It’s easier than you think!)  If we have a lot of true music newbies in the beginning choir, then we can start right at the beginning with everyone. If we have a mix of musicianship levels, then we may have a couple of “private lessons” before bringing the whole group together.

Did you play an instrument in high school? Can you still name the lines and spaces on the musical staff? Do you remember how to clap rhythms with eighth notes, quarter notes, and half notes? Then you already know a lot! We can easily fill in the rest. This might be the perfect time to make use of those piano lessons you had as a child!

How many spaces are there?

We need 11 ringers to form a new three-octave handbell choir, one or two more for a four-octave choir. (An octave equals eight notes.) Advanced ringers in this group may even be eligible to serve as subs for the St. Mark’s Ringers – and vice versa!

Are there other activities?

Yes! We often attend a Handbell Workshop at Lutheridge in North Carolina. This three-day event is a fun way to work on our skills, learn new music, and meet lots of ringers from other churches.

Our annual Christmas party features an ornament exchange and great food!

  

I’m intrigued. Now what?

Contact Tony Cruz as soon as possible either via email (cantortonycruz@gmail.com). The schedule will be announced as summer comes to an end.

St. Mark's Ringers in Concert!
2017 at Riverside Park United Methodist Church

 

Music for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost: July 14, 2019

It has been said the Sundays after Pentecost are green to suggest growth;
 hence, the background of lush ferns in this graphic.

Opening Voluntary Ubi caritas et amor     

setting, Gerald Near (b. 1942)

See the tune and text at ELW 653.

This Sunday’s gospel lesson has an important reminder for us:
You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27 NRSV

The Good Samaritan
Aimé Morot (1880)

This piece is based on a hymn that comes to us from Gregorian chant. It was first sung between the 4^th and 10^th centuries of the common era. It is often sung on Maundy Thursday during the foot washing part of the service. The text that accompanies this gentle melody calls us to “love the living God,” and tells us that where we find true charity and love, we also find God.

Hear the chant sung as it might have sounded in an ancient monastery by following the link. As a bonus, this YouTube recording allows you to follow along with the Gregorian chant notation. Notice the antiphon is sung by the assembly while soloists sing the verses. You might also notice a slight change in the text: Ubi caritas est vera. . . is what is sung here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_QEP-RHYLY

In this organ setting we hear the melody on an oboe stop accompanied by some of the organ’s softest flute sounds. (The latter were added to organ in 2013.) Later, the melody moves to the manuals and the sound fills out so that the pedals take on a supportive, rather than solo, role.

Gathering Hymn Great God, Your Love Has Called Us (Ryburn)

Evangelical Lutheran Worship ELW 358

Brian Wren (b. 1936) is one of my favorite writers of modern hymn texts. He drew this text from the following scriptures: Genesis 1:27, Isaiah 43:12, John 13:1-17, Romans 3:21-26, and II Corinthians 3:17 and 5:10.

Wren has a total of five hymns in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, but my favorite Brian Wren text, Bring Many Names, is not in ELW. Hear Bring Many Names, sung at First Plymouth Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the following link. It has subtitles, so you’ll be able to understand the text. The tune, Westchase, is by Carlton Young.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTP85GwoE88

Hymn of the Day Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life (Walton)

ELW 719

The author of this hymn, Frank M. North, was ordained in the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1872. He advocated for women’s rights, child labor laws, and for the rights of workers to organize. His passion for social justice is clearly reflected in this hymn. May we truly rise above “the cries of race and clan” and lift ourselves above the “noise of selfish strife” so that we can hear Christ’s call to love, and serve, our neighbor.

Communion Hymns

Christus
by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1533)

When the Poor Ones (El camino)

ELW 725

Will You Let Me Be Your Servant (The Servant Song)

ELW 659

Sending Hymn Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Hymn to Joy)

ELW 836

I probably don’t have to tell you this infectious tune was written by Beethoven for the fourth movement of his Ninth Symphony. Our final hymned petition to God in this worship service is “teach us how to love each other.”

Closing Voluntary Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow (Old Hundredth)

setting, Michael Burkhardt

See the tune and the text at ELW 885.

This tune is probably in every hymnal! Many people call it “The Doxology,” but the actual name of the tune is Old Hundredth because it was first paired with a metrical setting of psalm 100.

Burkhardt has set it as a toccata, a term that comes from an Italian word meaning “to touch.” Usually the keys are meant to be touched lightly – but the registration from the organ is often anything but light!

Sources:
Wikipedia

"The Good Samaritan" painting via Wikipedia

Discipleship Ministries (The United Methodist Church)

https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-where-cross-the-crowded-ways-of-life

"Christus" woodcut via Wikipedia

Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Paul Westermeyer