Music for April 9, 2017 + The Sunday of the Passion

10:15 Morning Service

Vocal Music

• Hosanna in the Highest – Anon (16th C.)
• Behold, the Lamb of God – G. F. Handel (1685-1759)
• Via Dolorosa - Billy Sprague (b. 1952) /Niles Borop (b. 1956)

Congregational Music (all hymns from the Hymnal 1982 with the exception of those marked “R” which are from Renew.)

• Hymn 154 - All glory, laud, and honor (VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN)
• Hymn 480 - When Jesus left his Father’s throne (KINGSFOLD)
• Hymn R235 - O sacred head, now wounded (PASSION CHORALE)
• Hymn R214 - Your only Son no sin to hide (LAMB OF GOD)
• Hymn R227 - Jesus, remember me (Taizé)
• Hymn 474 - When I survey the wondrous cross (ROCKINGHAM)

6:30 P.M. A Service of Passion Readings and Music

Vocal Music

• Into the Woods - Richard Shephard
• Wondrous Love - Steven Pilkington
• Hosanna in the Highest – Anon (16th C.)
• Behold, the Lamb of God – G. F. Handel
• When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - Alfred V. Fedak
• Christus Factus Est – Felice Anerio 
• Surely He Bore All of My Grief - Michael Guimont

Instrumental Music

• Wondrous Love - arr. Sondra Tucker

Congregational Music

• Hymn 168 - O Sacred Head, Sore Wounded (PASSION CHORALE)

Lots of Music this weekend, both for the morning service of the Palms and the Passion, and the evening service of music and readings for the passion. I hope you are at both.

At the early service, Bidkar Cajina will sing a song during communion from a genre that doesn't often make it into our services. From the realm of contemporary Gospel Music (whatever that means) comes the song Via Dolorosa.

For many Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem, one of the most meaningful things they will do while in the city is walk the Via Dolorosa, the route that Jesus took between his condemnation by Pilate and his crucifixion and burial. This "way of sadness" was the inspiration for the 1986 Dove Award winning song made famous by Sandi Patti. It was composed by Billy Sprague, an Oklahoma native who grew up in the Amarillo, Texas area. He earned a degree in English from Texas Christian University, did graduate work for two years in literature at the University of Texas, Austin, followed by twenty-five years of making music in Nashville, Tn. He is currently Worship Pastor (what we call a director of music) at Edgewater Alliance Church in Edgewater, Florida.

Going to the other extreme, the Good Shepherd Choir will be singing the dramatic chorus from Messiah, Behold the Lamb of God. This is the chorus that begins the 2nd part of Messiah (which is referred to as "Part the Second.") Part the Second is divided into two great sections – the first telling the story of the human suffering of Christ, interestingly set to words entirely from the Old Testament; and the second celebrating "His divine aspect spreading over the world with a crescendo of glorious righteousness:"1 it ends with Hallelujah (which you will hear NEXT weekend!)

We will also sing a short 16th century motet by an anonymous composer on the great Palm Sunday text, "Hosanna in the highest." It is an excellent example of polyphony, the musical form that combines a number of distinct vocal lines, each forming an individual melody and harmonizing with each other.

1. Dallas Bach Society, Messiah program notes, 02/12/2015