Music Notes: September 18, 2011

Hello again!  Before we dig into the music for this week, I wanted to share a word or two about last Sunday, September 11th.  Simply put, I am going to remember that Sunday for a long, long time.  The Chancel Choir made their wonderful season debut in singing John Ferguson's arrangement of "Joyful, Joyful," and the combination of the telling of the triumphal story of the Israelites combined with our remembrance of 9/11/2001 was something very special.  And the conclusion of the 11:15 service... a packed house joining and singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing," was something that I will never forget.  The spontaneous applause and Amen's! that rang out were clear indications that the Holy Spirit was shining down on us, and it is a moment that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

As comforting and fun as it is to look back on that, we have to look forward as well.  After the Israelites escaped from slavery, they were lost.  Hungry.  Weak.  Confused.  They were confused that God would grant them freedom, but would then have them all starve.  The Israelites were beginning to turn on Moses... saying they would have rather remained as slaves and have a meal to eat each day than to be lost in the wilderness starving to death, despite having their freedom.  God then spoke and said that he would rain bread from Heaven, feeding the Israelites and sustaining them through the tough times.

In our Gospel reading, we hear the parable of Jesus telling the story of an employer promising his employees a denarius for working in his vineyard.  Later in the day, the employer sees men standing idle.  He asks them why they are doing nothing, and they reply that no one has hired them.  The employer instructs them to begin working, and when the end of the day comes, he pays all the men a denarius.  The workers who had been laboring all day were upset by this, but the employer clearly explains that he paid them exactly what he promised at the beginning, and that it is no business of theirs what he decides to pay anyone else.  

Our music this week consists mainly of thanksgiving to God for giving the Israelites, and by extension, all of us, the gift of food to nourish our bodies.

HYMNS AND SONGS

The Trumpets Sound, The Angels Sing (Opening Hymn- 5:30 PM, 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM, Praise Song- 11:15 AM)

This joyful tune and text by Graham Kendrick are suitable for both traditional and contemporary worship, hence their use at both services this week.  The beginning of stanza two really rings true this week... "Tables are laden with good things; oh, taste the peace and joy he brings."  Musically, this tune is very easy to sing, despite all of its complexities.  Though the entire tune is in 4/4, there are three different patterns that can be found.  Your standard 4/4 pattern (1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and) can be found in some of the measures, but others are broken up into three bigger, un-even beats (1 and-a 2 and-a 3 &).  Going a step further, there are measures that consist of quarter note triplets, which are best counted in two (1-trip-let 2-trip-let).

Sounds complicated, I know.  But when sung, it rolls off the tongue in a natural, fluid way, and creates an infectious rhythm that will have you tapping your toes all day!

For The Fruit of All Creation (Hymn of the Day- 5:30 PM, 7:45 AM, Scripture Song, 11:15 PM)

This hymn of thanksgiving was penned by Fred Pratt Green (1903-2000), who was a British Methodist pastor and hymn writer.  While a majority of his most famous texts appear in the United Methodist Hymnal, we were lucky enough to have this lovely hymn spill over into the ELW.  While the majority of the hymn is thanking God for the gifts we have received (and the beginning of stanza two references the Gospel beautifully, "In the just reward of labor, God's will is done."), there are some very profound thoughts that close the hymn.  "For the wonders that astound us, for the truths that still confound us..."  Wow.  How true, yet how interesting it is to be thankful for things that are either too large or too awe-inspiring to comprehend.

Golden Breaks the Dawn (Hymn of the Day- 9:00 AM)

It is not often we sing a Chinese folk song in worship.  This beautiful hymn talks about the dawning of a new day and the power it holds for us to do good in the world.  We ask God for strength, to live justly, act kindly, and serve with truth.  In the closing stanza, we ask for a few simple things... daily bread (like that which was given to the Israelites), bright skies, gladness in our hearts, and the power to resist evil.  The hymn concludes with the words "till the day is done," which takes us all the way from dawn until dusk.

Musically, this will be led with just flute accompaniment, provided by Jennifer Wipperman.  Being a Chinese folk song, it's not necessarily idiomatic to the organ.  Accompanied simply by flute (mimicking a Chinese wind instrument), makes the tune much more authentic.

Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service (Communion Hymn- 5:30 PM, Closing Hymn: 9:00 AM)

Here the gifts that we are given by God are shown in parallel with the gift that Christ gave to all of us, dying for all our sins so that we may have eternal life.  As we depart on this Sunday, we ask for God, the God who "...in deep compassion, healed the sick and freed the soul," to "send us power and make us whole," so that we can go out and do good works to our community at large.  The Israelites needed comfort, care, compassion, someone to watch over them.  Many people in our world today need that.  The closing stanza implores us to depart from the sanctuary into the world and do good things, so that all of the beneficiaries may experience the love and mercy of God.

This Holy Place and Glory Be To God (Opening Song and Offering Song- 11:15 AM)

This duo of tunes by John Ylvisaker are the first set of two groups we're singing at the 11:15 AM service this week.  The first, "This Holy Place," will open worship this week.  As we gather together, this song reminds us that God's presence is always and forever around us, and that the angels are singing not just here, but throughout the entire universe.  In "Glory Be To God," we are grateful to the God "who made everything we need," the bread that we eat, the air that we breathe, and the water that we drink.

Speak O Lord and Spirit of Heaven (Communion Song and Closing Song- 11:15 AM)

The second of our duos today comes from yet another duo, the hymn writing team of Keith Getty and Stuart Townend.  Getty and Townend have dedicated themselves to writing hymns that are rich in theology and deep in meaning, cast in a contemporary style that is appealing to all.

Speak O Lord is a very interesting text... one that can be used pretty much anywhere throughout a worship service.  We are using it as preparation for the Eucharist (Speak O Lord as we come to you to receive the food...), but can also be used for preparation for the sermon (...food of our Holy Word), or as a closing song, (And by faith we'll walk as you walk with us).  The overall message is that of both preparation and reaction to the Word of God.

Closing our worship this week is Spirit of Heaven, also by Getty and Townend.  While this song would be particularly appropriate around the feast of Pentecost, I feel it is certainly applicable to any general occasion.  Similar to the ending of the traditional services this week, this song asks for the love and guidance of Christ to come down on to us so we can go out into the world and accomplish the good works.  Importantly, this song does not neglect our shortcomings ("Breathe your forgiveness when darkness falls and my heart is heavy with sin,"), and acknowledges that though God is guiding our way, we are often prone to stumbling.  As long as we keep our faith, God will light our pathway through our lives.

CHORAL ANTHEM


Whoever Will Be Great Among You- Ron Nelson


The text of this anthem picks up where our Gospel reading left off.  Matthew 20:26-28 consists of three couplets of text.  "Whoever will be great among you, must be called your servants, and whoever will be first among you must be a slave of all," is sung by the baritones throughout.  "For the son of man came not to be served, but to serve," is sung by the altos, and the third couplet, "And to give his lift as a ransom for many," is sung by the sopranos.  Each of these phrases is sung to its own independent line.  You will hear them separately in the beginning, and they will join together as we reach the conclusion.  Completing the musical picture is Don Meyer guiding us beautifully on his classical guitar.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

The Feast Is Ready- Aaron David Miller (Prelude: 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)

Aaron David Miller is organist and music director at House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, MN.  His organ output is very large and very versatile.  This arrangement takes the catchy tune and rhythms of our opening hymn and lays them through a three part structure.  The opening and closing segments feature snippets from the hymn tune cast in a slightly different rhythmic foundation.  The middle section consists of an ostinato pattern in the bass which travels through the keys of G minor, C# minor, and C minor, before finally arriving back in G major for the conclusion.

Improvisation on BEACH SPRING (Postlude: 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)

Thanks to its flexible harmonies, pentatonic melody, and its versatility of line, the tune BEACH SPRING is a very appropriate choice for an improvisation.  As it is an improvisation, I'm not entirely sure what I'll be doing yet, but the tune is so beautiful, I can't imagine it will be anything avant garde.  At least I hope not... :)

MUSIC RECOMMENDATIONS

1. In Christ Alone- Keith and Kristyn Getty


This nice collection features a handful of songs by the Irish husband and wife duo, 1/2 of which, along with Stuart Townend was featured heavily in our 11:15 service today.

2. Celebration! Boe Memorial Chapel- John Ferguson and the St. Olaf Cantorei


This double disc set was recorded on the weekend that the new organ in Boe Memorial Chapel was dedicated.  Disc one features a hymn festival led by the St. Olaf Cantorei, featuring "Golden Breaks the Dawn," our Hymn of the Day, and disc two is an organ recital done by St. Olaf faculty member Catherine Rodland, as well as a demonstration of the organ by Dr. Ferguson.

I cannot wait to see everyone again this Sunday!  Until then, have a blessed end of the week.