Transfiguration Sunday
After the Epiphany season where we have heard much about Jesus' healing ministry, we have finally arrived at the Sunday of the Transfiguration, when Jesus and three of his disciples travel to the top of a mountain, where Jesus begins to shine with rays of light. He is approached by the prophets Elijah (whose story we have been following in the OT readings), and Moses (whose epic tale we heard last fall while exploring Exodus), and a voice from the sky speaks down referring to Jesus as his "son," which everyone believed to be God the Father.
This is a wonderful story, and is a pivotal moment for the church in that it is the first (and only?) time in the Gospels where the human element meets God, with Jesus acting as the bridge between Earth and Heaven. Our music this Sunday will comment on the splendor and majesty of Jesus' transfiguration.
HYMNS AND SONGS
O Wondrous Image, Vision Fair (Opening Hymn- 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)
This hymn does a wonderful job of summarizing the Transfiguration story in the first two stanzas. The entire first stanza is one sentence. The "wondrous image" is eventually revealed at the end of the stanza as Jesus on the mountain shining brighter than the sun, something that all the church can envision and rejoice in. The second stanza delves deeper, referencing the prophets who are present and the pivotal moment when God speaks down from the clouds that Jesus is his son.
The third stanza brings us into the present and shows how Jesus manifests the love of God into something tangible for us; the glory that we will see and experience when we meet God in heaven. Stanza four continues with a statement of thanks, and the hymn concludes with a trinitarian statement of faith that we may one day see and experience exactly what Jesus did in his transfiguration.
The tune DEO GRACIAS is a 15th century tune characterized by its distinctive rhythms. It's difficult to describe in print, but as you look at the hymn, you'll see a lot of quarter note-half note rhythms. These may seem unnatural initially, but this style of rhythm is integral to this style of music and will be picked up rather quickly.
Beautiful Savior (Hymn of the Day- 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)
This hymn, much loved by Lutherans world wide, originally came from a late 17th century German choir book. In the 19th century, it was set to a Silesian folk tune and became the hymn we love today.
The transfiguration is reflected primarily in the third stanza. We first hear of the pastoral beauty contained in sunshine, moonlight, and stars, but then the hymn reveals that at the transfiguration, Jesus is shining brighter and purer than any angels heaven can boast.
At the 9:00 AM service, we will be using David Cherwien's arrangement of this hymn as the hymn of day. Featuring organ, flute, and SATB choir, it proclaims the majesty and splendor of this hymn in a truly profound way.
Jesus on the Mountain Peak (Communion Hymn- 9:00 AM)
This hymn is kind of an orphan. It seems that just about every hymnal has this text, but they are all set to a different tune. Brian Wren, one of the finest hymn writers of the 20th century, penned this hymn, and I would be very interested to know which tune he preferred for it. I personally enjoy the tune in the United Methodist Hymnal, but it is virtually impossible for any congregation to sing without a lot of practice.
The tune in the ELW was composed by Mark Sedio, who is Director of Music at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. While rooted in a minor key, each stanza ends with a major half cadence on the word "Alleluia."
Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (Communion Hymn- 9:00 AM)
This is a wonderful "past, present, future" hymn for the transfiguration. It addresses birth and baptism (past) in stanzas one and two ("...branch of royal David's stem in thy birth at Bethlehem."), ("Manifest at Jordan's stream..."), and the future acts of Jesus in stanzas two and three (Wedding at Cana, overcoming sin, etc..).
A key word in this hymn in the word "manifest." It is sung ten total times, including the short refrain-like phrase, "God in flesh made manifest." The adjective meaning that Jesus was, at the time, the empirical, undeniable presence of God on earth. Throughout the hymn, the birth, baptism, and actions of Jesus are all made manifest as well. This is especially evident on transfiguration Sunday, where one of the most important actions takes place and by the transfiguration, God in flesh is truly and literally made manifest.
The tune, named after the birthplace of Mozart and one of the largest cities in Austria (SALZBURG), was composed by Austrian composer Jakob Hintze. The harmonization we have in our ELW hymnal was created by J.S. Bach.
Be Thou My Vision (Communion Hymn- 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)
This hymn is an intriguing reaction to the transfiguration story. Now that Jesus is in fact God in flesh made manifest, this hymn asks that Jesus use his divine power to guide us through our times of trouble. The final stanza is most reflective of the transfiguration...
"Light of my soul after victory won, may I reach heaven's joys, O heaven's sun! Heart of my own heart whatever befall, still be my vision, of ruler of all!"
CHORAL ANTHEM
I already touched on the Chancel Choir singing David Cherwien's arrangement of Beautiful Savior, but the School Choir is also singing this morning. At the REJOICE service, they will be singing the hymn "Shine, Jesus Shine." As Jesus shines with the brightness of the sun in the Transfiguration, this hymn asks for Jesus to share the hope, love, and light with us.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Fairest Lord Jesus- Gerre Hancock (Prelude- 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)
This arrangement of Fairest Lord Jesus takes place in two main parts with an introduction and coda. The first section displays the tune clearly in the krummhorn stop, and the second is a large, expansive, chromatic interpretation that grows to a glorious crescendo. I feel that this particular section is a glorious representation of the Transfiguration in music.
Gerre Hancock (1934-2012) was one of the most respected and admired church musicians and organ improvisers in the United States. He passed away at the end of January, and it is an honor to be able to play one of his pieces this Sunday.
Preludium in D- Johann Pachelbel (Postlude- 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM)
This is one of Pachelbel's most expansive, colorful preludes he put out. Massive in scope and sound, it has many of the standard characteristics of Pachelbel's longer organ works, namely a large amount of figuration in the hands over a pedal tone. It takes us on an incredible journey, and again, it seem very reflective and indicative of the Transfiguration story.
This is our final week of Epiphany. Beginning next Wednesday, we start our 40 day and night long journey towards the Resurrection of our Lord.
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