Watts concert

This Nov. 24, the last Sunday before Advent, I led a concert focused on Isaac Watts (1674-1748)  hymns.  He's pretty much captured the high ground of global hymnody with Joy to the World, Jesus Shall Reign, When I survey, Alas and Did, The Lord my Shepherd Is, et. al.

Supporting the congregational voices I had the Bravura Brass Quintet, a select vocal ensemble, me on the organ a few times, and Patricia Martin on piano for three songs.  The brass preluded and interluded the event with pieces written by contemporaries of Watts (e.g. Bach, Handel, Albinoni) and one piece by me, the third of the offertory.  I also wrote all the brass parts accompanying the hymns.  If you want to hear the 52 minutes of just the music, click here.  Here's one view of the event.

the song leaders' song

On August 25, nine Neffsville song leaders presented "Fairest Lord Jesus."  I call them  the Canticles.  I arranged the hymn which is  #117 in Hymnal: A Worship Book.  I had the challenge of balancing five male voices with four female and only with a 20-minute "run-through" before the morning service.  One expects good voices and musicianship with song leaders and we got exactly that!  Enjoy!  Click this or the "box" below:  https://app.box.com/s/c4pwn03b7qswqq6ua9e3

"let the chldren come"

The children did come, mostly elementary school age but some older.  The event was one of the classes in the week called "Created 2 Praise."  My part of that was "explore the organ."  Eight kids and one older helper went through exercises of listening, singing, rhythm, imitation and actual playing the organ for each other.  Here's the happy group!

trumpet Palm Sunday

Last Sunday at Neffsville, Palm Sunday, a trumpeter added music to a service full of singing and choral music.  I wrote the trumpet part on the hymns.  The file is 17 minutes long or so, but if you want to sample the sounds:

singers at singing

Harmonies held its annual hymn sing at Blossom Hill Mennonite Church Sunday, March 24, 2013.  A choir of select singers from Berks and Conestoga Christian high schools added choral sounds.  The hymns sing itself featured a set of newer hymns from "Sing the Story" on the theme of season of spring (Passover, Pentecost, etc.) and a set on season of prayer, 19th and 20th century traditional hymns on prayer.  Here are the singers warming up.