Music Notes: October 23rd, 2011

This week, we finally reach the end of the journey of Moses and the Israelites.  After continuing to lead his people and preach the word of God for years and years, he was taken by God to Mount Nebo, and was shown the land that God swore to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all his descendants.  Moses then died on that mountain top, at the age of 120.  According to Deuteronomy 34:7, his eyes were still bright and his youth was still there.  After Moses' departure, the people wept for thirty days and then looked towards Joshua, who was blessed by Moses by the laying of his hands upon him.  It then became Joshua's call to lead the people as they continued their journey towards the Promised Land.  Ultimately, it would be Joshua, not Moses, who would finally achieve this goal (more on that next week).

HYMNS AND SONGS

The God Of Abraham Praise (Opening Hymn: 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)

The story behind this hymn is one of the most historically rich tales that comes out of the hymnal.  The version that we have was created by Thomas Olivers in 1770.  It is based on a 14th century text called the "Yigdal," which translates from Hebrew as "Magnify."  It is a Jewish hymn used as both a morning and evening ritual, based off the 13 Articles of Faith (essentially the Jewish Creed).  The thirteen articles are as follows...

1.     Exalted be the Living God and praised, He exists - unbounded by time is His existence;

2.     He is One - and there is no unity like His Oneness - Inscrutable and infinite is His Oneness;

3.     He has no semblance of a body nor is He corporeal - nor has His holiness any comparison;

4.     He preceded every being that was created - the First, and nothing precedes His precedence;

5.     Behold! He is Master of the universe to every creature - He demonstrates His greatness and His sovereignty;

6.     He granted His flow of prophecy - to His treasured, splendid people;

7.     In Israel, none like Moses arose again - a prophet who perceived His vision clearly;

8.     God gave His people a Torah of truth - by means of His prophet, the most trusted of His household;

9.     God will never amend nor exchange His law - for any other one, for all eternity;

10. He scrutinizes and knows our hiddenmost secrets - He perceives a matter's outcome at its inception;

11. He recompenses man with kindness according to his deed - He places evil on the wicked according to his wickedness;

12. By the End of Days He will send our Messiah - to redeem those longing for His final salvation;

13. God will revive the dead in His abundant kindness - Blessed forever is His praised Name.

 If you compare these with the text we have in the hymnal, you'll see that it is not a straight paraphrase, but rather the poem was inspired by them.  Moses is referenced in number six, in fact, that is a direct quote from Deuteronomy 34:10.  In the hymn, stanzas three through six are in the voice of Moses.  We will be singing stanzas four and six this Sunday, which consist of Moses' passage into heaven, as well as his vision of the Promised Land that Joshua has been called to lead his people towards.  In stanza eight, which we will also be singing, we again see Moses reacting to his joining into heaven, where he will give endless praise to God for all of eternity.

The tune we have today in the ELW is listed as being titled as YIGDAL, after the source of the original text.  Most hymnals call this tune LEONI, as it was brought to prominence by the German hazzan (Jewish cantor) Myer Leon (who often went by the stage name Michael Leoni).  The actual source of the melody is unknown, but is believed to have come from at least the 17th century, if not earlier.

This is a remarkable statement of faith.  If time were not an issue, we would sing all eight stanzas, but since it is, I have trimmed it to four, keeping the most relevant ones for this specific Sunday.

O Christ The Same (Hymn of the Day: 9:00 AM)

We go from one of the greatest older poems in the hymnal to what I hope will become one of the greatest new hymns to lead us through the next era of hymn writing.  Timothy Dudley-Smith, a retired bishop of the Church of England, is much more well known across the pond as a hymn writer, but several of his poems have made it across the ocean and into the mainstream, including "He Comes To Us As One Unknown (see ELW 737)."

"O Christ The Same" is symbolic of God as a universal being, always present and always among us.  In, stanza one, he is "through all our story's pages," "unchanging still amid the passing years," and "the source of all creation," who "spread the skies, and set the stars ablaze."

Stanza two discusses the person that everyone thinks of when they hear Christ, which is Jesus himself.  In a very powerful metaphor, Smith compares our secrets and pains to the marks of the body of Christ at the crucifixion.

A very important theme of this hymn is that of "past, present, future."  You will see, in the closing line of each stanza... "we bring our thanks for 1) all our yesterdays. 2) this the present hour. and 3) all that is to be."

The tune is by American composer, cantor, and Hymn Society mainstay Carl Schalk.  This tune is very characteristic of his style, a flowing, step-wise melody, not constrained by a time signature or meter.  Interestingly, this is the only hymn in the hymnal, that I can recall, that has a modulation (key change) in the middle.   Brief theory lesson alert !!!... starting in D major, the tune uses what is called a "pivot tone" or "common tone" in order to change the key to F major. The note A is the common tone between the keys... it is the 5th scale degree in D major and the 3rd in F major (Beethoven was well known for using common tone modulations in the middle and later portions of his career).  After staying happily in F major for a few lines, it uses the exact same common tone to head on back to D major to conclude the tune (theory lesson over).  

My Shepherd, You Supply My Need (Hymn of the Day: 7:45 AM, Communion Hymn: 9:00 AM)

I envision the next two hymns as being two possibilities for what Moses may have been thinking as he died and crossed over to heaven.  They are both cast in the first person, and I feel they could certainly be envisioned as prayers of Moses.

A couple of weeks ago, I talked about Isaac Watts (the father of English hymnody), who was known for two main types of hymns, one of which was a complete psalter of paraphrases from the book of Psalms.  This hymn is Watts' paraphrase of Psalm 23.  Of all of the Psalm 23 paraphrases in the hymnal, I feel that this one captures the best balance between text and tune.  The tune here is RESIGNATION, which is an early American traditional tune which was born out of the Sacred Harp tradition.

Day By Day (Closing Hymn: 7:45 AM, Communion Hymn: 9:00 AM)

Though the words to this poem were written over 120 years ago, this is a prayer that is still relevant and worthwhile today, and I feel that it would have been very meaningful for Moses on top of the mountain as well.  Anyone that embarks on a journey this wrought with potential peril needs to hear these words.  There is really nothing I can add to further clarify and enlighten this poem, so I think I will just include the entire third stanza below, and hope that this can be a verse you may some day choose to commit to memory and pray to yourself during times of trial.

Oh what joy to know that you are near me
when my burdens grow too great to bear;
Oh, what joy to know that you will hear me
when I come, O Lord, to you in prayer.
Day by day, no matter what betide me,
you will hold me ever in your hand.
Savior, with your presence here to guide me,

I will reach at last the promised land.     

I Love You, Lord (Opening Song- 11:15 AM)

I am envisioning the 11:15 AM service as almost a funeral for Moses.  His story has been an integral part of our worship for many weeks now, and I feel it is fitting that we sing some songs, either to Moses or for Moses, all in the honor of God.

"I Love You, Lord" is a very short text with a simple message, "I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship you."  Moses said things similar to this his whole life, and even though he and God would sometimes argue and disagree, there was definitely a mutual love between the two.

You Are Holy (Praise Song- 11:15 AM)

This "Swedish praise song" by Per Harling has become a standard in both traditional and contemporary worship.  It is in a verse and refrain format, with a general text speaking of the greatness of God and the presence within the Eucharist.  Both halves can be sung simultaneously, which is a rare feat in the hymnal.

O Lord, Now Let Your Servant (Scripture Song- 11:15 AM)

The first verse of this text is commonly known as both the Nunc Dimittis and the Song (or Canticle) of Simeon.  It comes from Luke 2:29-32.  Simeon was a devout follower of God, who was told by the Holy Ghost that he would not die until he saw the Savior.  When Jesus was born and brought to the temple in Jerusalem, Simeon saw him, took him into his arms, and said the words that became this song, as he knew that this was the Savior that he had been waiting to see.

As the general theme of this Sunday is Christ through all the ages, these words can be equally applied to Moses as he crosses over to heaven.  The second verse, composed in the 19th century by Ernest E. Ryden, applies to all  of us.  When the time comes, we'll be able to join Moses, Simeon, and all others with the Saints in glory.

Taste and See (Communion Song- 11:15 AM)

This song by Catholic James E. Moore is based off of Psalm 34:8, "Taste and see that the Lord is good."  The verses, with original texts, are set in a very syllabic style, and thus are best to be sung by a soloist, with all of the congregation joining in on the refrain as we share the Eucharist together.

Still, My Soul, Be Still (Closing Song- 11:15 AM)

No matter what happens in the world, God is always with us.  That's the general message of this song, written by the team of Keith Getty and Stuart Townend.  Though things are constantly changing around us, and the world is in turmoil, we can always trust in God and not be shaken.  Musically, we are ending on a calmer note this week, which I think is appropriate for the nature of this service.  

SPECIAL MUSIC

He That Keepeth Israel- Adolphe Schossler (Offering- 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)

Stephanie sings this text this week, which has been set in a variety of ways by many composers over the years.  The source is Psalm 121:4, and is drawn from that whether it is Moses, Joshua, or all the other watchers over Israel, God is the ultimate watcher over everybody, and he neither slumbers nor sleeps.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

Interlude on RESIGNATION- Gilbert Martin (Prelude- 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)

This setting of the early American hymn tune travels through several keys and several textural changes.  Through most of the piece, the tune is supplemented by a pulsing 1-2 rhythm underneath.  

Toccata on LEONI- Gordon Young (Postlude- 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)

Gordon Young has certainly found a niche in writing modern day toccatas based on famous hymn tunes.  Like many of his others, this toccata on LEONI features a rapid figuration in the right hand, supplemented by statements of the tune in the left and and pedal.  The piece grows to a conclusion and culminates with a glorious picardy third cadence.

Unfortunately, my linking to Amazon.com doesn't appear to be working this week, so I will digress from the music recommendations for this week only.  I hope you enjoy the music this week as we continue building towards the week after, REFORMATION SUNDAY!