The prelude's longest piece was from Bach's prelude and fugue in D major. The offertory was a piece I prepared based on "My faith has found a resting place," related to the receiving of members immediately before that. You can find that hymn in the green spiral, #43. Hymn watchers are noticing a bit of a comeback for this one by Eliza Edmunds, a Philadelphian from the cradle to the grave. Her years are 1851-1920. She is also known as the author of: More about Jesus would I know; When we all get to heaven; and Will there be any stars in my crown. The music comes from a Belgian opera composer, Andre Gretry (1741-1813)--we're talking powdered wigs and Haydn and Mozart and Thomas Jefferson. Never mind the composer, the words seem appropriate to affirming membership and faith.
Interwoven with that were musical quotes from a hymn Ray Denlinger called to my attention the other day: In heaven above, where all is love, where God the.... I was surprised to find that it was written in Swedish for the author's wife's funeral! I've heard it sung by men's quartets.
Showing posts with label offertory. Show all posts
Showing posts with label offertory. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Sunday, October 24, 2010
special music offering
The offertory today, Oct. 24, was played on the piano by Carolyn North, who presented a Jos. Martin arrangement of "Nothing But the Blood," a Gospel song by Robert Lowry. Click and see the words and hear a computer play the tune. Details: Lowry wrote the words and music, published in 1876. If you follow hymns, you recognize the name Lowry. He was one of the long-lasting composers and lyric-writers of the 1800s.
Go figure: Our blue hymnal has six works of his. He wrote the music for #14, Come We That Love the Lord. He wrote words and music for #124, O Worship the Lord. He wrote words and music for Low in the Grave, to give three examples.
Lowry's hymn is not found in as many hymnals as early in the 20th century. The Church Hymnal of 1927 includes it. The words imitate a catechism, with a series of questions and answers, and then a chorus of adoration: "O, precious...."
If you can't sing very high or very low, this is the tune for you. It packs all its catchiness and beauty and rhythm in four notes of the scale: do, re, mi, sol. It can be played on the black notes of a piano. Go to the piano and start on F#. What a feat! With merely four notes, you try to write a whole song that people sing 134 years later!
The arrangement chosen by Carolyn North was not easy. It was beautiful. Thank you Carolyn!
Go figure: Our blue hymnal has six works of his. He wrote the music for #14, Come We That Love the Lord. He wrote words and music for #124, O Worship the Lord. He wrote words and music for Low in the Grave, to give three examples.
Lowry's hymn is not found in as many hymnals as early in the 20th century. The Church Hymnal of 1927 includes it. The words imitate a catechism, with a series of questions and answers, and then a chorus of adoration: "O, precious...."
If you can't sing very high or very low, this is the tune for you. It packs all its catchiness and beauty and rhythm in four notes of the scale: do, re, mi, sol. It can be played on the black notes of a piano. Go to the piano and start on F#. What a feat! With merely four notes, you try to write a whole song that people sing 134 years later!
The arrangement chosen by Carolyn North was not easy. It was beautiful. Thank you Carolyn!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
titl for 4.25.2010
For the offertory today (Apr 25th) I used "Jesus the very thought of Thee." Words are much more ancient than most hymns--from the pen of Bernard of Clairvaux, a real happening churchman of 12th century France, it appears. Find the hymn as #588 in our blue hymnal.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
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.
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.
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