Music for May 6, 2018 + The Sixth Sunday of Easter

Vocal Music

• Thanks be to God – Andreas Hammerschmidt (1611–1675)
• The Peace of God – John Rutter (b. 1945)

Instrumental Music

• Prelude on Dunedin – David Dahl (b. 1937)
• Communion – Richard Purvis (1913-1994)
• Finale and Fughetta in C– Johann Kaspar Ferdinand Fischer (1656 – 1746)

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

• Hymn 8 - Morning is broken (BUNESSAN)
• Hymn 455 - O love of God, how strong and true (DUNEDIN)
• Hymn 705 - As those of old their first fruits brought (FOREST GREEN)
• Hymn R249 - Great is thy faithfulness (FAITHFULNESS)
• Hymn 400 - All creatures of our God and King (LASST UNS ERFREUEN)
• Psalm 98:1-6 Cantate Domino – Tone IIa

We have two totally different choral offerings this morning. The first is an extroverted, almost bouncy anthem of thanksgiving by the German Bohemian composer and organist Andreas Hammerschmidt. Musicologists regard Hammerschmidt as the most representative composer of middle 17th century German church music, but his works are hardly known today, as he is overshadowed by the towering figure of Heinrich Schütz, whom he greatly admired and who once wrote a laudatory poem for one of Hammerschmidt's publications.

Hammerschmidt was born in Brüx in Bohemia, where his family belonged to the Protestant community. During the Thirty Years War Bohemia became Catholic again, and Hammerschmidt's father decided to move to Freiberg in Saxony. Very little is known about his musical education.

This happy looking man is Andreas Hammerschmidt. He's still mad that Schutz gets more attention.

In 1635 Hammerschmidt was appointed organist at the Petrikirche, and in 1639 he moved to Zittau, where he became the organist of the Johanniskirche. It was his last position, and here he composed the largest part of his music. The position of organist was increasingly important, as he was responsible for composing and performing all church music and directing the soloists from the school choir and the instrumental ensemble of town musicians. His activities as composer and performer not only made him a man of reputation, but also brought him considerable wealth.  His tombstone calls him the Orpheus of Zittau.

The other anthem which will be sung at communion is the lovely, lyrical The Peace of God by the English composer John Rutter. His gift of melody and captivating harmonies is evident in this quiet little peace based on a prayer from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.

The peace of God which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.

The opening voluntary is the Chorale Prelude on DUNEDIN, by Washington composer David Dahl. I'm playing it because this is the tune of the hymn prior to the Gospel this morning. This work was commissioned in 2016 by the Houston American Guild of Organist's National Convention, and had its premier at Christ Church Cathedral in  Houston.

David P. Dahl

You'll hear the tune three times. First, it is played on the oboe stop (left hand) against a obbligato on the flute (right hand.) Then the tune is heard in canon (like a round) with the right hand playing on a combination of flute sounds at different pitches, and the left hand coming in a measure later using the principals. The third and final reiteration combines the melody, this time played by the feet on a loud trumpet sound, while the hands play bold, fanfare-like interjections.

David P. Dahl is Professor of Music and University Organist Emeritus from Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA, retiring in 2000 after thirty-five years of teaching. In August, 2010, he retired as Director Emeritus of Music Ministries at Christ Episcopal Church, Tacoma, where served for forty years. 

Here's a NERD ALERT. When I was a teenager, and first interested in the organ, my grandmother had a Reader's Digest Record Collection called "The Organ Plays Golden Favorites," four LPs of four well-known American organist of both the legit (classical) and theatre organ worlds. One of the artists I was introduced to was Richard Purvis, the long-time organist of Grace Cathedral in San Franciscon. One of the things that intrigued me about Purvis was the story on the album sleeve that, years ago, as a high school boy, he was well known as a theatre organist under the name "Don Irving." Don Irving dissappeared, but Richard Purvis went on to study at the Curtis Institue of Music in Philadelphia. It also said he was well known as a composer, particularly famous for two compositions, his setting of "Greensleeves" and "Communion." I've heard several people play "Greensleeves" over the years, but the only person I know that plays "Communion" is me!

"Communion" is a quiet, contemplative piece, with a melody in the style of Gregorian Chant, accompanied by sustained chords played on the strings. This work was no doubt written for the organ at Grace Cathedral, an Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ with over 7000 pipes, with a string division larger than most normal-sized church organs!