Music for March 3, 2019 + The Last Sunday after Epiphany

Vocal Music

• Christ, the Glory – Jean-François Lallouette (1651-1728)
• Alleluia, Song of Gladness – plainsong arr. Richard Proulx (1937-2010)

Instrumental Music

• Prelude and Fugato on “Crusader’s Hymn” – Gordon Young (1919-1998)
• Prière – Noel Rawsthorne (1929-2019)
• Processional – William Mathias (1934-1992)

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

• Hymn 460 - Alleluia! Sing to Jesus (HYFRYDOL)
• Hymn 383 - Fairest Lord Jesus (ST. ELIZABETH)
• Hymn 135 - Songs of thankfulness and praise (SALZBURG)
• Hymn R90 - Spirit of the living God (Daniel Iverson)
• Hymn R102 - The Lord is my light (Jacques Berthier)
• Hymn R201 - Be still, for the Spirit of the Lord (BE STILL)
• Hymn R291 - Go forth for God, go to the world in peace (GENEVA 124)
• Psalm 99 - simplified Anglican Chant by Jerome W. Meachen

The Last Sunday after Epiphany, which observes the Transfiguration of Christ, is like one big final "Hurrah" before we enter the quiet, contemplative season of Lent (Ash Wednesday is March 6.) The Gospel tells of the time Christ reveals his true Glory upon the mountain just before his own passion begins. We remember that glory this Sunday.

We also say "farewell" to our alleluias. The liturgy of the medieval church forbade the use of alleluias from a period before Lent until Easter, a practice which we observe in our own Lenten discipline. Therefore, this Sunday the choir will sing a hymn with roots from the medieval church and tune from the 16th century which is often called “Farewell to Alleluia.” Here is a beautiful meditation on this hymn from the Lutheran blogger Marie Greenway

My communion voluntary is a quiet piece by the English organist Noel Rawsthorne, who died in January at the age of 89. Rawsthorne was Organist of Liverpool Cathedral for twenty-five years from 1955-1980 before becoming Organist Emeritus. After study at the Royal Manchester College of Music (now The Royal Northern College of Music), he won scholarships to study with on the continent with both Fernando Germani & Marcel Dupré. 

From 1980-1984 he was City Organist & Artistic Director at St. George’s Hall, Liverpool, and travelled widely as a recitalist in U.K. Europe and USSR. In recognition of his many achievements, he was awarded a D.Mus from the University of Liverpool in 1994.

Music for Sunday, July 23, 2017 + The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Vocal Music

• Finlandia – Jean Sibelius, Margie VanBrackle, Soprano

Instrumental Music

• All Glory Be to God on High– Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
• Let Us Break Bread Together – Richard Proulx (1937-2010)
• Psalm XIX: The Heavens Declare the Glory of God – Benedetto Marcello (1686-1739)

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

• Hymn 290 - Come, ye thankful people, come (ST. GEORGE’S, WINDSOR)
• Hymn 686 - Come, thou fount of every blessing (NETTLETON)
• Hymn 424 - For the fruit of all creation (EAST ACKLAM)
• Hymn  - We are climbing Jacob’s ladder (JACOB’S LADDER)
• Hymn 344 - Lord dismiss us with thy blessing (SICILIAN MARINERS)
• Psalm 139:1-11, 22-23 Domine, probasti – Tone VIII.a

Thanksgiving in July? - Why are we singing "Come, ye thankful people, come?"

The Gospel this Sunday contains the parable of the weeds, where one person sows good seed, but another comes in the night and sows bad seed. (Who would do this? Is this the fore-runner of the modern internet virus?).  It's also known as the tares among the wheat. And here is where the opening hymn becomes relevant. Hear (or read, or SING) stanza two:

All the world is God's own field,
fruit as praise to God we yield;
wheat and tares together sown
are to joy or sorrow grown;
first the blade and then the ear,
then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we
wholesome grain and pure may be. 

So there you have it!

I am back from my two week pilgimage to England and Wales, studying and listening to the Cathedral Choir music of the Anglican Church, and being edified in the faith by prayers and preaching. I will not bore you with it here, but if you would like particulars, ask me! I'll try to make it brief!

Music for November 27, 2016 + The First Sunday of Advent

Vocal Music

• Advent Processional – Richard Proulx (1937-2010)

Instrumental Music

• “Sleepers, Wake!” A Voice Astounds Us – Wayne L. Wold (b. 1954)
• “Sleepers, Wake!” A Voice Astounds Us – Jacobus Kloppers (b. 1937)
• “Sleepers, Wake!” A Voice Astounds Us – Emma Lou Diemer (b.1927)

Congregational Music (all hymns from the Hymnal 1982.)

• Hymn 57 - Lo! he comes with clouds descending (Helmsley)
• Hymn 56, st. 1-2 - O come, O come, Emmanuel (Veni, veni, Emmanuel)
• Hymn 73 - The King shall come when morning dawns (St, Stephen)
• Hymn 59, stanzas 1, 2, 5 - Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding (Merton)
• Hymn 324 - Let all mortal flesh keep silence (Picardy)
• Hymn 61 - Sleepers, wake!” A voice astounds us (Wachet auf)
• Psalm 122 - Lœtatus sum (ToneVIIIa)

There are two hymns which are usually sung on the first Sunday of Advent, and we will sing both of those today. One is a hymn which I introduced to Good Shepherd 19 years ago during my first Advent Season here. That is number 57 - Lo! he comes with clouds descending. (You can listen to it here, and you should, because it is just a grand way to start Advent. )The other is one that we have rarely sung, so I am going overboard on the tune in that I am playing three different contemporary settings of the tune. (I also play J. S. Bach's chorale setting of the tune, which, in my opinion, is one of the most perfect organ and choral pieces ever written. I often play it on this first Sunday of Advent, and I am giving it a bye this Advent, though, honestly, it is so perfect, I think it could be played every year. But I digress.)

Jacobus Kloppers

All three of these organ pieces are by living organists (no dead poets today!), and two of them are no strangers to these pages. (You can click on the names at the bottom of this post to see what other music we have done by Emma Lou Diemer and Wayne Wold.) The name that is both new to this blog and to me is Jacobus Kloppers. At first glance, I assumed this was another German organist - probably from the 18th century. I was wrong.

Jacobus Kloppers is a Canadian organist and composer in Edmonton, Alberta, where he's lived since 1976, when he moved from his native South Africa. He is organist/choirmaster at St. John the Evangelist (Anglican) in Edmonton. He served on the faculty of the Music Department at The King’s University College (currently The King’s University) in Edmonton until his retirement in 2013. He is also an Adjunct Professor in Keyboard at the University of Alberta (a position he has held since 1997). His compositions (around 70) include organ solo works for liturgical and concert use, an organ concerto, alto-saxophone concerto, as well as various anthems and choral music.

His setting of "Wachet Auf" (the German title of the choral, which basically means "wake up!" is much more lyrical than both the opening and closing voluntaries. The melody is presented in the right hand, using the oboe sound on the organ, accompanied by a flowing flute accompaniment in the left hand.