Jan 3 off

First Sunday of 2010 I'm enjoying family time. A big thanks to Carolyn North and Morgan Hess who share leadership of the keyboard support of the worship.

let it snow...

...and snow some more. Dean's email comes just as I check the computer. No church tomorrow. I was all prepped. Here's one of the two lighted shrubs in front of our house.

...to sound a lot like Christmas

Behind those smooth organ tones are two tuners: one at the keys with the tools spread out close by; the other tuner behind the closed door, in the pipes. All part of getting ready for Christmas Eve.

quartets--back in the day

Ray Denlinger gave me this CD of a quartet he sang first tenor in in the 1960s--The Heraldaires. Ray sang first tenor. Ken Sensenig (my cousin, by the way) second. Dick Weber, baritone, and Harold Rohrer, bass. Songs include "A Wonderful Savior is Jesus My Lord," "Let the Lower Lights Be Burning," "My Lord's Gonna Move," "I Need the Prayers of Those I Love," and "Abide With Me, 'Tis Eventide."

Quartets used to be an essential ingredient of our church music infrastructure. And this one was a good one. Ray, thanks a lot. Let's hear that voice again. And let's put this CD in the library.

festival of hope, Dec. 6

Here's a chance to sing in a choir and help out the cause of our Lancaster City food bank. The event is called the Festival of Hope. It will be held on Sunday, December 6th at Grace Lutheran Church, 517 North Queen Street (parking is available in adjacent lots, including LGH- north on Queen Street and follow the signs). The service will begin at 3:00 P.M. WGAL’s Katelyn Smith will be this year’s Worship Host.

Local artists performing include F & M’s Voices of Praise Gospel Choir and Voices of Cecilia Children & Women’s Choir.

Here's your chance to sing...the mass choir will rehearse from 1:30 to 2:30 on the 6th; they are to meet in Grace's Fellowship Hall. Refreshments and fellowship will follow the service.
Offering to Benefit LCCC’s Food Ministries. Please contact the Council of Churches at (717)291-2261 if you have any questions.

thanksgiving still on my mind

I'm working on the music for the first Sunday of Advent. But "The God of Harvest Praise" is still running through my mind. When I exited the church campus the other day, the sunshine on this stand of ornamental grass stopped me. I grabbed the camera. Can you tell where I was standing for this shot?

the preludes 11.22.2009

Preludes for Nov. 22--Mennonite Hymnal (yes, the old rusty red 1969 book) # 521 and 522. Two traditional harvest/thanksgiving hymns--"We Plow the Fields and Scatter,"and James Montgomery's "The God of Harvest Praise." Montgomery was one of America's great hymn writers. The 1969 Menno Hymnal carried 14 of his hymns. Our current blue hymnal has 7 of his.

What is a prelude? How do you say it? Do people need quiet music to prepare for worship? Or loud?

I keep asking the questions even though the answers are a work in process, I believe. With this being the Sunday before Thanksgiving Day I pulled out some big stops and made some noise. What is a stop in organ talk? Let me show you.

Here is the console of the organ. See the two keyboards? Right above those are a row of tabs. Flip one of those and you activate a certain set of pipes. This photo looks funny because I pulled the bench out of the way .

a pastor favorite

You probably recognized the preludes last Sunday: Praise to the Lord, and, O Lord How Majestic. So I won't give any more details on them.

I want to say that for the first time I put the title of the offertory in the bulletin: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. Or, let's say "our desiring." If this is all the John Bach had written we would probably still remember him. It happens to be one of the instrumental favorites of Linda, who was installed.

Who is this John Bach? The dictionary tells me that German Johann is English John.

titles for 10.18.09

I forgot to give titles for last Sunday. I played three preludes totalling eight minutes.

The first prelude was just called "Prayer" by Lemens. The second was an arrangement of the hymn tune we know as "Jesus Calls Us O'er the Tumult." Then bringing us up to the call to worship was "A Little More Faith," a spiritual.

The offertory was an arrangement of "My Shepherd Shall Supply My Need." The postlude was a fast, punchy allegro by Buxtehude, from way back in history, about 1700 in northern Germany.

Pass along your suggestions to me.

musical wound

Okay, kind of dumb and kind of funny. Working at the organ last week, working from a new piece of music, I slid my thumb down the crease of the booklet to keep it open. A staple was sticking out and it drew a little blood. A quick trip to the office and Julie finds the first aid kit and I'm soon good to go with this bandage. The funny part? Well, it was kind a joke in the office that an organ player entails occupational hazards such as this. Thanks to Julie for finding the bandage!

thanks for thanks

How would you like to get this when you arrive at church? I had that privilege yesterday. It was lying on the organ console. Inside, the text reads: Thank you for leading us in heartfelt worship of our amazing Lord. God bless you as you bring us the beautiful sounds from the organ that prepare us for worship. And then signed. Since this blog is public I won't mention names.

A big thanks for the thanks. I'm not talking about applause in worship. But here someone bought a card and wrote inside it. That means a lot.

titles for 10.11.09

A lot of the organ repertoire is relatively unknown to the average person. Last Sunday some of the pieces were easy to recognize. During the preludes I played a version of Twila Paris's "Lamb of God." Right before the service began, I played Malotte's version of "The Lord's Prayer." That's the melody most people would think of first. It was first published in 1935, during the Great Depression.

When singers sing it they usually belt out the final section, "...for thine is the kingdom...." I kept my registration the same, trying to set a time of quiet reflection as we prepare for worship.

The postlude was used by previous organists--"Highland Cathedral." The offertory was a hymn tune arranged by former Neffsville organist Daryl Hollinger. It was published by Augsburg Press (not Augsburger, just Augsburg) a few years ago. The unique sound was the high (4 foot) flute.

AGO plays and sings

One way we organists stay sharp and in touch is through a group called the Lancaster Chapter of the A. G. O. (American Guild of Organists). The A.G.O. (people just say Ay-Gee-Oh) held its monthly meeting at our church last evening. The program was organ pieces based on hymns and then singing the hymn. Six organists played and the chaplain, front right, Tim Craven, introduced the hymns--Now Thank We All Our God, Holy God We Praise Thy Name, Be Thou My Vision, What God Ordains Is Good Indeed, God Whose Giving, and Praise to the Lord the Almighty.

The beaming-faced organists in the pic are, l to r, Joy Ide, Margaret Marsch, Peter Brown, David Gross, Carl Tobias, and Peter Omundsen.

A dozen or two of our Neffsville people came out and helped raise up the glorious sound of congregational singing. Thanks to them all.

The AGO is not new to us. Former organist Janet had been a member for many years.

AGO hymn sing

Come and enjoy. Hear six different organists play hymns and sing along with these assorted local church music persons of leadership--organists, choir directors, music ministers, etc. Mark it down--Monday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.

titles for 9.13.2009

Before the service yesterday I played three pieces. First was a fairly modern piece, as classical music goes, by Marcel Dupré, who died in Paris at age 85, in 1971. The 3-minute piece is a meditation on Ps. 133:1, "Behold how pleasant and good it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." That is its title, too.

Next I played the piece whose tune most people recognize as "Glorious things of thee are spoken." (Blue hymnal #619). The tune is known as Austrian, by Haydn. I included the trumpets on chamade (the loud pipes high up above the exit doors) on a phrase during one of the high moments.

Then a short piece called meditation by Nicolas Lemmens. This is quite soft, and called simply "Meditation." I think everyone was listening because of the loud Austrian piece just before.

Linda Helmus was with us. As a courtesy, I had called her and asked if she had a favorite hymn I might use as postlude. She suggested either "Be Thou My Vision" or "We walk by faith," a 1983 Marty Haugen tune, which is the one I chose to improvise on. A few people said they recognized it and appreciated it. It was a new tune to me.

titles for 9.6.2009

It's Labor Day. I can't resist bringing the hymn "Work For the Night Is Coming" into the service. I'll put it in as the last prelude. Special thing about it--words written by an 18-year-old English girl, Anna Coghill (1836-1907).

The offering piece is "Jesu Joy Of Our Desiring" by J. S. Bach. The postlude is a final excerpt from Bach's most famous Toccata.

titles for 8.30.2009

Yesterday I played the traditional "Lord's Prayer" as the last prelude before the service began. During the offering I played "Simple Gifts," the song written by the Shakers. The postlude was Highland Cathedral.

Let me know what you like to hear.

tuning up

Last weekend two weddings both used the Steinway in the sanctuary. I wanted it to be in tune, so I called the tuner at the last minute. She agreed to fit us in and I met her at the church at 6 a.m. Oh, yes, 6! A big thanks to her. By 6:30 I got this pic.

See that stick top center? Well, a lot of the notes on a piano have two or three strings each. You use that to separate out one at a time.

The organ will need a tuning this fall.

titles for 8.23.2009

Yesterday the first, and longest prelude piece was an alla breve from Bach's D major prelude and fugue. I ended the prelude with an arrangement of the famous hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."

The music during the offering was an arrangement of "Jesus Calls Us O'er the Tumult." This hymn is still very much alive, but it doesn't happen to be in the blue hymnal. It does appear in the 1969 red Mennonite Hymnal as #229. Find the entire original here and even listen to it. Her photo above.

If you you want a woman hymn writer for the ages, you have one with Cecil Francis Humphreys Alexander, 1818-1895, a prominent Irish Church of England figure. She wrote 400 hymns in her life. We know her also by "Once in Royal David's City," and "All Things Bright and Beautiful."

The postlude was a take-off of the Westminster chimes, with a lot of bubbly fast notes in the hands and a few large and low pedal notes.

outside music

Here's a news release from Karen Fretz, director of music at Stumptown. It's the first one in which I am described as organist at Neffsville. Hey, I'm feeling a little pride in that.

Community Hymn Sing at Stumptown Mennonite Church will take place on August 30 at 7 p.m. Featured music: Singing Men of Praise with approximately 30 singers. Guest songleaders from the men's chorus will be Glenn Lehman, director of Harmonies Workshop and organist at Neffsville Mennonite and Elvin Boll of Elizabethtown Mennonite. The offering will benefit The Potter's House, a Christian rehabilitation ministry providing transitional housing for men re-entering society after prison incarceration.

I like that they call the event a "community" hymn sing. That's reaching out and missional. Although the chorus was begun some 30 years ago, I only directed it for two years about the year 1997. It has not been together (except for this reunion) for some ten years.

pipes in Montreal

I went to Montreal for my vacation. Three days there and two days on Amtrak's Adirondak. Impressed with the old city section of Montreal. One visual delight was the old church. In the front lots of tourists were looking at the elaborate backdrop to the altar. I turned around to the back and saw the pipes of the organ in the loft. It is made by Casavant-Freres. Unfortunately, I did not get to hear the organ. Unfortunately, I was away from Neffsville, but I will be back this Sunday.

title for 8.2.2009

The postlude yesterday was an except from a passacaglia by Buxtehude. The whole piece is almost eight minutes long. I played a one-minute episode from it. A happy, major, get-up-and-go section. If you play it on you tube (click on it above) the section I played begins at 3:35. It seems that one minute is about the right length for a postlude.

Let's break this down a bit. A passacaglia is a piece of music where a simple melody is played on the pedals and repeated over and over and the keyboards do a lot of fancy stuff on top. Buxtehude was born about 1637 and died 1707 (12 years before the Herr House was built in Lancaster County). Both Handel and Bach visited him to study with him.

check out library

I had a little down time last Sunday and checked out the library. Here's the book I got. I heard of Robert Kreider when I worked for Mennonite Central Committee. What's that got to do with the organ? The first time I played an organ for a worship service was in Belgium, when I was sent there by MCC for language school. The organ was a little electronic. A big thanks to the librarian who graciously helped me check it out.

titles for 8.26.2009

Yesterday, July 26, I played six pieces. Three of them were instrumental pieces, not based on words. Just nice music to fit the occasion.

The other three were based on hymn tunes.

1. Prelude. "I will sing of my Redeemer," Vs. 3 goes...I will praise my dear Redeemer, His triumphant power I’ll tell, How the victory He giveth Over sin, and death, and hell. Click here to hear the tune.
2. Another prelude. "Take my life and let it be consecrated..." Blue hymnal #389.
3. Offertory. "Sweet hour of prayer," an arrangement by Wood that I like. I hope you heard it. I had the organ set as almost as quiet as possible because I wanted the single flute to be heard.

more than just hi

In the bulletin, the Sunday when Dorcas and I were introduced, these nice words about my coming to Neffsville appeared. Here they are if you did not see the bulletin.

Neffsville Mennonite Church has invited Glenn Lehman to be organist. He has accepted and begun his service with us. "When I subbed here this spring, people were so encouraging," Glenn said. "I felt like this was a natural fit. I'm so glad to be connected with Neffsville in this new way.

blog continuity

Until yesterday's post, this blog was called SingZion. All those previous posts derived from my work at Zion Mennonite Church, Souderton, Pa. I was interim music and worship director there for a year and a half.

Now I'm working as organist at Neffsville Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pa., and I'll continue the blog under the Pipe Praise title. If you used the old URL, you'll have to change singzion to pipepraise. I hope you come along for the ride and sights and sounds

and a nice hello

June 15 I became organist at Neffsville Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pa. Here are some of the pipes of its organ.

perfect good-bye

The perfect good-bye would be sad and happy. I was surprised with joy. A beautiful care shawl and so many cards and nice expressions. This was so good. God bless. (my photo by Joel.)

end near--Eric's last lesson

Last lesson with me, that is. We spent half the lesson recording the three hymns he played for the service last Sunday. Here's the music. Click play or download. He's playing the C. B. Fisk Opus 51 organ.

end near--eat

Next to last day on the job. The staff takes me out to lunch. I choose where. And I choose Souderton Family Restaurant, downtown, across from the new Java joint which I'd prefer but which doesn't have real lunches. This image is what comes up on google images for Souderton Family Restaurant, but it's really the logo for a hair salon across the street from the restaurant.

Iraqi song

One of my final jobs--going over the Iraqi song with Barb Musselman. Here a link to where the news note appears in The Mennonite.

sunset time

This is a sunset in time-lapse from the west window of my house last evening. But with my last day on the Zion staff being February 15, it's kind of a poetic statement of the end of my time here.

snow art

Barb stopped by for a photo of her playing the Iraqi song I arranged. She suggested a pic of the topping of snow that had fallen overnight. Look carefully at the window (near bottom) and see the snow.

art after church

What to do on a clear day after church? Yesterday Dorcas and I drove down the Schuylkill Expressway and stopped in at the Philadelphia Art Museum for lunch and some good art.

Felix doing Mendelssohn

Remember Felix Hell in March last year? He played an organ concert at Zion. His name made it in yesterday's New York Times. Check out the link .

He's doing the complete organ works of Mendelssohn at the Church of the Transfiguration.

Check out the photo of the Emerson String Quartet above the article. The stuffiness of classical music is more and more a thing of the past.

taxes and music

The February newletter, Noiz, carried this musical note from me. A reader said to me, You sound like Obama. Then I read it again and figured it out.

Tax season is coming. Everything from Souderton to Caesar will take something from our personal account to strengthen the common life we live together. Why not a church music tax while we’re at it?

I’d slap a tax on every Sunday you miss church without good reason. And add a fiver for every unkind gripe you’ve aired this past fiscal year, and for every hymn you didn’t even try to sing.

Capital gains? Why not. If you benefited in your youth from a wonderful teacher or choir director or song leader, that’s capital gains you can enjoy the rest of your life. This nasty tax can be cancelled if you are passing along the same benefits you enjoyed to the next generations.

Now, deductions. This is church and there should be lots of grace to go around. If you sing in the choir or regularly belt out the hymns, take a deduction. You can take one for each time you said thank you to someone who put out musically for your benefit. Make that two deductions if that compliment went to a young person. Triple deduction if you give a bundle to the music program and say, “Let’er rip. Open all the stops. We cannot give something too good to God.”

I’d let you have deductions, too, for each time you went to Tuesday With God or a concert of Christian music. Popular, commercially successful concerts just get you a half deduction. Do the math, and expect a good musical year.

after hours

I'm dreaming of lazier summer days. After work on Tuesday I looked up Oakleaf Pottery in Bally. Roy Yoder had this sign on his door. Maybe church music pressure will lighten up a bit. But then Easter will be on the horizon. I'll just wait until summertime.

the holly and the ivy

"The holly and the ivy..." we sang just weeks ago. I don't have ivy at home, but here's the holly bush on inauguration morning. It's red berries are covered in blueish snow. It's singing a different tune today.

choir member at inauguration

What a great picture! It's from a wrinkled front page of The Reporter, but it's our very own Katie Clough, an alum of our choir currently on college leave.

Congrats, Katie! I'll attend the inauguration in my living room, via TV. I'll see if the camera ever pans you.

laurelville keeps me out

Oh no. Two Sundays in a row missing worship at Zion!

This time it's work. Kara and I along with Barb, Darlene, and Barry are taking in a weekend music and worship conference at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center. This link will show you what's happening. http://www.laurelville.org/Program/MusicWorshipJan.htm

stomach bug keeps me out

New Year's Day I got the stomach bug. No appetite and in bed for two days. Here he is, making life miserable for me. Eating and activity slowly coming back. As a result of the bug, I had to call in sick for the first time on Sunday. I missed the marimbas which I really wanted to hear. I'll look at the video.

Monday, now, I'm eating and feeling okay and will be in Tuesday and Wednesday as usual.