Music for Sunday, January 31, 2021 +The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Vocal Music

• O Give Thanks Unto the Lord – Joseph Corfe (1740-1820)
• Hymn 493: O for a thousand tongues to sing (AZMON)

Instrumental Music

• Suite Breve – Craig Phillips (b. 1961)
• Prelude (for the Foundations)
• Impromptu (for Flutes and Mutations)
• Fanfare (for the Reeds)
• Lament (for Strings)
• Epilogue (for Full Organ)
• Deck Thyself, My Soul, With Gladness – Mark Knickelbein
• Toccata Pontificale – Gordon Young (1918-1998)

This Sunday a trio sings an English anthem from the Classical period, and I play an organ Suite and a piano chorale prelude by two living American Composers.

First is the anthem by the English composer Joseph Corfe. He was born at Salisbury where he received his early musical education from the organist of the cathedral, and was for some time one of the choristers. In 1783 he was appointed one of the gentlemen of the Chapel Royal but returned to Salisbury in 1792 as the cathedral organist there. In 1804 he resigned his post in favour of his son, Arthur Thomas Corfe, and died in 1820. Another of his sons, John David Corfe, was for many years organist of Bristol Cathedral, and his grandson, Charles William, (son of Arthur) was organist of Christ Church, Oxford. 

Joseph Corfe's best known compositions are in a volume of church music, containing a well-known service in B flat, and eleven anthems. Today's anthem was originally for two equal voices, but the editor of this edition added a bass part and changed the text from "I will magnify thee" to "O Give Thanks unto the Lord."

Craig Phillips

Far more prolific is the composer of the opening voluntary. Craig Phillips is the Canon for Music at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was born in Louisville, Kent., in 1961. He received a B.M. from Oklahoma Baptist University, and a M.M. and D.M.A. and the Performers Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, N.Y.

Phillips is a noted composer, having received numerous commissions, including this work Suite Breve, which was commissioned by the American Guild of Organists' Boston 2009 Convention.

Suite Breve is a suite of five movements that demonstrates all the primary colors, or sounds, of the organ. The first piece, ‘Prelude,’ explores textures for foundations; the second, ‘Impromptu,’ flutes and mutations; the third, ‘Fanfare,’ uses the reeds; the fourth, a plaintive ‘Lament,’ is scored for strings; and the last section, ‘Epilogue,’ employs the full organ.

Mark Knickelbein

The piano piece played during communion is a setting of the Eucharist hymn Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness, which is found in our hymnal at hymn 339. It is arranged by Mark Knickelbein, editor of music and worship at Concordia Publishing House and an active composer and church musician. He has a Bachelor of Science in education from Martin Luther College, New Ulm, MN, and a Master of Arts in music from Concordia University Chicago. He previously served Trinity Lutheran in Kaukauna, WI, as principal organist and choir director.