Music Notes: January 1st, 2012

Name Of Jesus Sunday

Omega and Alpha.  The end and the beginning.  This is the end of Music Notes for 2011, and it features information for the first Sunday of the new year.  Now that we are on the precipice of 2012, I cannot help but wonder whether we will all be here in a year's time.  I know it is cheesy, but it's still a thought that sneaks into the back of my mind every once in a while.  Anyway, on to the music...

This first week after Christmas at St. Paul's, we will be using the readings for Name of Jesus Sunday.  In Luke's Gospel, we pick up right where we left off on Christmas Eve/Morning, and we hear how Jesus is named and circumcised.  The music this week celebrates this act and pays homage to the glory of Jesus' name.

HYMNS AND SONGS

Let All Together Praise Our God (Opening Hymn: 9:00 AM)

Pastor Schneider was *quietly* disappointed that I did not include this hymn on either Christmas Eve or Morning.   I appeased him by pointing out that there were several other strong Austro-German hymns, and by promising we would do it on this Sunday.

Nikolaus Herman was an organist, choirmaster, hymn writer, and poet, mostly active between the years of 1520 until his death in 1560.  He was closely tied to the Reformation, and even acted as an adviser to Luther from time to time.

In reading the first stanza of Let All Together Praise Our God, it may seem inappropriate to use this hymn on any day other than Christmas Morning, but I beg to differ.  Though the translation does say "Today God opens heav'n again and sends the only Son," I don't think the word "today" has to be taken literally.  Looking at it another way, one could look upon it not necessarily in the eyes of Christmas, but that through the power of God, he opens the skies every day and sends his love down on to us.

The center of the hymn takes special care in emphasizing that though Jesus is a divine gift from God, he is still a baby, born in poverty to a lowly mother, and raised in the humblest of ways.  In the closing stanzas, we hear the reason of why Jesus was sent to us.  In exchange for our flesh and blood, he shows us the way to the shining realm of God.

In His Temple Now Behold Him (Hymn Of The Day: 9:00 AM)

One of the most loved and enjoyed Christmas hymns is "Angels From The Realm of Glory."  While we are not singing that hymn this year, this hymn is set to the same REGENT SQUARE tune.

This is a hymn that looks back on the miracle that we celebrated on Christmas Eve.  Stanza three touches on our message for this Sunday, where the baby Jesus is presented to us, so in turn he can bring us to salvation and present us to his Father.  Like many hymns in our hymnal, the concluding stanza ties Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together with a Trinitarian blessing.

Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming (Communion Hymn: 9:00 AM)

This beautiful German chorale is appropriate during Advent, at Christmas, and during the twelve days following.  Due to the change in the style of hymn composition in the 19th century, German chorales were altered from their "rhythmic" versions, and transformed into their "isometric" versions that we know today (see the two versions of A Mighty Fortress in the ELW.  The one we are used to singing is the "isometric" one.).

Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming is one of the few chorales that has remained in its "rhythmic" version.  This is evident by its mixed meter and syncopation throughout.  The text is based on Isaiah 6, which tells us a root will come out of the stump of Jesse, creating a beautiful fruit.  Stanza two makes direct reference to this prophesy.  The first two stanzas are the only two that are original to the carol.  In this ELW version, the closing two stanzas were composed later, but they provide a nice conclusion to the original stanzas.  Stanza four, in particular, again describes the contrast between a tiny baby born of Mary, who is to grow into the Savior of the world.

Cold December Flies Away (Communion Hymn: 9:00 AM)

Continuing from the previous hymn, Cold December Flies Away once again uses a metaphor of a flower to describe Jesus.  Jesus is the reddest flower on the blessed tree in love's own garden, which is full and strong in glory.  The bud blooms, the world awakens, and the fragrance of the flower spreads around the earth over us all.

This text and tune is an old Catalonian carol, which is a region in eastern Spain.  While it may appear deceptively difficult to sing, if taken at the correct tempo, it is a wonderfully rhythmic tune which fits beautifully with the text.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

Two Settings of ES IST EIN ROS'- John Leavitt and Dennis Lovinfosse (Prelude: 9:00 AM)

These two settings of Lo, How A Rose contrast each other very nicely.  The Leavitt setting has a pastorale-esque quality, with a swinging 12/8 meter.  The tune is heard clearly in a 4' principal, singing through the middle of the accompaniment.
 
The Lovinfosse setting is extremely interesting.  In 1974, Lovinfosse wrote a set of 12 chorale preludes, each written in a style that reflected newer compositional trends throughout the 20th century.  This particular setting demonstrates two styles, minimalism and pointillism.  By carefully weaving the tune in between rests, Lovinfosse creates a composition that is very reflective of these two styles.

REGENT SQUARE (Incorporating Handel's Messiah) (Postlude: 9:00 AM)

This is a setting of the tune used for our hymn of the day combined with the chorus "For Unto Us A Child Is Born" from the Messiah.  The two tunes compliment each other very nicely.  The steady, rhythmic nature of the hymn tune contrasts with the florid, melismatic writing of the Handel chorus, creating a well-rounded, interesting piece.

That is it for 2011!  If you're coming to worship this weekend, remember there is NO 7:45 AM service.