Music Notes: October 16th, 2011

Moses and God had a little bit of an argument last week.  Moses was really able to talk God down from unleashing his wrath on the Israelites because they made a Golden Calf to worship as an empirical representation of God.  


This week, Moses has a bit of a bone to pick.  He feels that God has burdened him with this responsibility for leading the Israelites, but that he is not getting the support from God that he felt he was promised.  Eugene Peterson's translation of this passage from The Message Bible gives a lot of clarity to the conversation...


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Moses said to God, "Look, you tell me, 'Lead this people,' but you don't let me know whom you're going to send with me. You tell me, 'I know you well and you are special to me.' If I am so special to you, let me in on your plans. That way, I will continue being special to you. Don't forget, this is your people, your responsibility."

God said, "My presence will go with you. I'll see the journey to the end."

Moses said, "If your presence doesn't take the lead here, call this trip off right now. How else will it be known that you're with me in this, with me and your people? Are you traveling with us or not? How else will we know that we're special, I and your people, among all other people on this planet Earth?"

God said to Moses: "All right. Just as you say; this also I will do, for I know you well and you are special to me. I know you by name."

Moses said, "Please. Let me see your Glory."

God said, "I will make my Goodness pass right in front of you; I'll call out the name, God, right before you. I'll treat well whomever I want to treat well and I'll be kind to whomever I want to be kind."

God continued, "But you may not see my face. No one can see me and live."

God said, "Look, here is a place right beside me. Put yourself on this rock. When my Glory passes by, I'll put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with my hand until I've passed by. Then I'll take my hand away and you'll see my back. But you won't see my face."

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The line that usually gets extracted and interpreted here is "I'll treat well whomever I want to treat well," which, in the NSRV translation says, "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious.  In addition, this passage is intriguing in its language of whether or not God is represented in human form.  Moses wants to speak with God face to face, but God will not allow it.  According to God, no human can look upon God and live.  At the end of the reading, God allows Moses to see his back, but not his face.


HYMNS AND SONGS


Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (Opening Hymn: 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)


I never really understood the message of this hymn until reading this Exodus passage.  I was always skeptical of the idea that the vision of God was "inaccessible" to us.  Ultimately though, as much as many of us desire to lay our eyes on God for whatever reason, whether it be for justification, assurance, or even curiosity, it shouldn't be necessary.  Faith should be able to overcome all and provide all of the justification we need.  The Israelites wanted to see God, so they made a golden calf.  God clearly wasn't happy with this, and we shouldn't make the same mistake.  This hymn is a tribute to a God that is perpetually providing, comforting, and defending us, despite being hidden amongst the splendor of light.


All My Hope On God Is Founded (Hymn of the Day- 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)


This is another hymn contrasting the splendor and majesty of God along with the mystery surrounding God's aura.  Lines such as "Who through change and chance will guide me, only good and only true," contrast with lines such as, "God unknown, from thy throne, call my heart to be thine own."  


The music for this hymn was composed by Herbert Howells, one of the greatest composers of English cathedral music in the early 20th century.  In 1935, his son Michael died very suddenly from polio and meningitis.  Several of Howells' works came out of this tragedy, most notably his Hymnus Paradisi.  This hymn tune, named MICHAEL, after his son, was extracted and now finds a home here.  It is characteristically Howells, with lots of harmonic color and a complex, yet very singable tune.


Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Communion Hymn: 7:45 AM, Closing Hymn: 9:00 AM)


Unlike many hymns that take years and years to compose the poem, music, and finally be published, Great Is Thy Faithfulness took less than a year to go from preliminary thought to publication.  Thomas Chisolm composed this poem in 1923, describing the faithfulness of God through his (and by extension, our) life/lives.  He sent the completed poem to composer William Runyan who set it to music and it was published shortly afterwards by Hope Publishing Company.  Thanks to exposure from various church groups, the Moody Bible Institute, and televangelist Billy Graham, Great Is Thy Faithfulness has gone on to become one of the most beloved hymns in the repertoire.


Beautiful Savior (All My Days) (Opening Song- 11:15 AM)


This song by Stuart Townend takes two phrases from two famous sources (Beautiful Savior, of course, from the hymn "Fairest Lord Jesus," and Wonderful Counselor being from the Book of Isaiah, made famous in Handel's Messiah), and uses them as a framework for a reflection of these two ideas.  The point of view is switched between verse and refrain, where the verse is sung in the first person, "I will sing this song of gladness," or "I long to be where the praise is never ending," and the refrain is in the second person addressing God, "You're the way, the truth, the life," or "You're the risen one, heaven's champion."  It is reflection, testimonial, prayer, and a song of praise all in one.


Stand in the Congregation (Praise Song- 11:15 AM)


This joyful song by Bill Batstone is all about the encouraging of intergenerational, interdenominational, and international worship.  Worshipers of all ages and nations can enjoy the message delivered here ("Let the children of your salvation..." "Let the people of every nation...").  I know that sometimes we sit during this portion of the service, but we obviously have to stand for this one!


Cry Of My Heart (Scripture Song- 11:15 AM)


I feel like this song incapsulates all that Moses wants from God.  This is Moses' testimonial to God, his promise.  In our scripture reading this Sunday, Moses needs a sign of faith from God.  He said what he did to try and get it, but I feel like he could have sung this song as well.  Not only is it his testimonial, but it's ours as well.  You notice in verse two... we sing, "Open my eyes so I can see the wonderful things that you do."  We don't need to see God himself, but it is important to recognize his good works in the world.


You, Lord (Offering Song- 11:15 AM)


This is our second Handt Hanson song in as many weeks.  He has a great gift for writing both words and music that can widely appeal to many styles of worship, which is what he did at Prince of Peace in Burnsville, MN for years.  Much like in our previous songs, this professes the love and gratefulness that we have for God, and in addition, describes the offering that we give back.


Seed, Scattered and Sown (Communion Song- 11:15 AM)


The refrain of this song describes the path of the bread from the seed to the plant to the bread as the living bread of God, and the path of the wine from the vine, to the fruit to the living cup.  Written by Dan Feitman in 1987, this is a rarely sung, but beautiful testimony to the Living bread and cup of the Holy Eucharist.


Thanks Be To You (Closing Song- 11:15 AM)


Many of you may recognize this as the post communion canticle from the liturgy "Now The Feast and Celebration," by Marty Haugen.  This liturgy was originally written for the Holden community, and many pieces of it can be extracted and used independently, including the Kyrie, Song of Thanksgiving, and this piece we're singing this morning.    This is a joyful, spiritual ending to our worship this morning.


INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC


Two Fugues by Johann Pachelbel (Prelude and Postlude- 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)


The fugue for the prelude is in D minor, recognizable by the descending theme of the fugue which can be heard in all voices.  Like many of Pachelbel's slower organ works, there is a large variety of harmonic twists and turns, which are really ahead of the time.  The postlude is in C major, and has an unusually long subject comprised of mainly 8th and 16th notes.  


MUSIC RECOMMENDATIONS


1. Howells: Choral Music- Wells Cathedral Choir


This is my only recommendation this week, but it is an outstanding one.  Minus the Requiem and the Hymnus Paradisi, this CD contains most of Herbert Howells output as a choral composer.  There are services, hymns, and anthems for all portions of the church year.