Music for July 12, 2020 + The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Vocal Music

• Seek Ye The Lord – Richard DeLong (1951-1994), Jade Panares, soprano 

Instrumental Music

• My Great Savior – Carolyne Taylor (21st C.)
• A Festal Fanfare – J. S. Bach (1685-1750)

Congregational Music (from the Hymnal 1982)

• Hymn 440 - Blessed Jesus, at thy word (LIEBSTER JESU)

Richard DeLong was a friend of mine from my SMU days. At the time I was there, he had been out of school for several years and had developed an outstanding choral program at East Dallas Christian Church. At the time, EDCC was one of the largest Disciple of Christ Churches in America, but even then, I am sure the choir would surprise most visitors, as it was decidedly Anglican in its sound and in its repertoire. After leaving East Dallas Christian, he served as Director of Music for St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Plano, Texas where his choir had been chosen to perform dozens of world premiere performances.

Jade Panares

It was during this time that he gained a national reputation as a choral composer with a wonderful gift for creating fresh and appealing melodic lines. The solo this week is one of his works, a setting of the words from Sunday's Old Testament reading. I have asked Jade Panares, a former staff singer at Good Shepherd, to sing it for us. Jade is a recent graduate from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. I know you will love hearing her sing.

I am took some time off this summer, and my friend Rob Carty, who has played for us before, recorded two pieces for the opening and closing. The prelude is what the kids call a "mash-up," a musical composition that combines several different melodies in counterpoint, and often in a light-hearted, humorous manner. Carolyne Taylor has taken the hymntune HYFRYDOL and combined it with the beautiful accompaniment of Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" to craft a lovely, pleasing piano prelude.

Carolyne McGougan Taylor is a graduate of Florida State University School of Nursing. During her husband's Bible college and seminary days, she was able to pursue her interest in music with professors at both schools. She is actively involved in piano instruction and serves a church pianist and choir director.