Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost
This week, Jesus finds himself attempting to defend himself and his disciples against a rather trivial accusation. The scribes and Pharisees were notorious followers of their elders. They kept many of the old traditions alive, particularly the idea that they never ate with soiled hands. When they saw the disciples eating with soiled hands, they approached and questioned their true devotion to God.
Jesus flipped this accusation around immediately. Calling them hypocrites, he explained that these "traditions" were created by man, not by God. They are holding strong to these human commandments, but not God's commandments. He then adds that nothing outside of people can enter and defile, but that defilement comes from our own hearts.
PRELUDE
Ricercare on the First Tone- G.P. da Palestrina
The great myth about Palestrina is that he single-handedly saved the future of polyphonic music in the Catholic church in the 16th century. At the time, there was a worry that the recent complexities that had developed in composition would obscure the words of the mass ordinary. In response, Palestrina composed a mass setting for Pope Marcellus as part of the Council of Trent. The Missae Papae Marcelli has become one of the most widely performed and loved mass settings in the world, but it is not exclusively responsible for saving polyphonic music in the church. Many factors were involved.
That anecdote aside, Palestrina is still considered one of the greatest polyphonists of all time, having written dozens of mass settings and motets. His compositions for instrumental ensembles are far fewer in number. The work played today was probably not meant to be performed on the organ. Its original notation was in open score (that is, four lines of music), so it was probably meant for some form of wind ensemble. With careful registration on the organ, I can be able to mimic this renaissance wind sound.
Despite not being a vocal work, the contrapuntal style of Palestrina is one fine display here, with rich sonorities and soaring melodic lines.
OPENING HYMN
How Firm A Foundation
In a couple months, I am planning on giving a Sunday forum about text, music, and how the two relate to each other. While I will probably not use this hymn during that presentation, this is a wonderful example of a fantastic union of text and tune. The title itself, "How Firm a Foundation," is supported by an early American, pentatonic tune with a solid, rhythmic base.
The first stanza sets the tone for what is to come in the rest of the hymn. The "firm foundation" is laid by our faith in the words of Jesus. Stanzas two and three have Jesus speaking directly to us, saying that he will strengthen and guide us through trials and troubles. The stanza four that is listed in the ELW continues these words of Jesus, but I have elected to replace that stanza with what is known as the "traditional" final stanza for the hymn. This new stanza is a message from God, saying that those who put their souls in the hands of Jesus will never be forsaken.
HYMN OF THE DAY
Restore In Us, O God
Our hymn of the day today is written by Carl Daw, former president of the Hymn Society of the United States and Canada. Generally, his language in hymnody describes the impact that God has on the world. A good deal of his hymns are set in the corporate, congregational voice, and this one is no different, hence the title, "Restore in us, O God."
Set in the common meter of 6686 with one syllable per note, it creates a very short, succinct hymn. Each stanza has a direct focus. The first is love and renewal, second is power and rebirth, third is baptism and conquering death, and the final one is fulfillment of the covenant of Abraham. This may seem contradictory after Jesus called the "old" teaching hypocritical, but the intentions of this old covenant were a promise that someone else (Jesus) would come along and lead them.
OFFERING
Fugal Improvisation on BAYLOR
As I have said in this blog before, improvisation is one of those arts that is quickly becoming extinct. You've heard me do improvisations before, but I have never attempted to improvise a fugue. Counterpoint like that is difficult to write down, let alone come up with spontaneously. The first short phrase of this melody is clean and square, which is the first step to making the counterpoint easier to come up with. It can also easily be played in a variety of keys and is easily converted between major and minor keys. All these factors should (hopefully!) result in a successful improvisation.
COMMUNION HYMNS
Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil
Jesus focuses on the goodness of our hearts in the Gospel reading today. Our hearts are pure and good, but they also give birth to sin and evil intentions. This song mentions certain afflictions that can overwhelm our hearts (hard, cold, lost), and prayers to relieve these afflictions (break the stone away, warm it with the day, lead me on your way).
In Christ There Is No East Or West
As seen in stanza two of this hymn, the "true hearts" of people are the element that unites all of human kind together. This hymn focuses exclusively on the unity and community of Christ with his people. It is all set to an African American spiritual that has been adapted by Harry T. Burleigh. After being featured in the United Methodist Hymnal published in 1989, it caught on very well and has been included in many of the major denominational hymnals published since.
O That The Lord Would Guide My Ways
Just as the previous hymn calls us to unite with Christians on the road to God, this one asks for guidance to stay on the road. The first stanza begs a bigger question... what exactly is the will of God? Maybe a better question to start with is, is there a TRUE will of God? All we have to really go on is the scriptures and materials that derive from scriptures, such as hymns. Unfortunately, this hymn doesn't really answer that question, nor does it shed any light on an answer, but it does provide a good amount of encouragement and motivation.
Particularly striking is the confession in stanza three that our soul is in fact apt to stray, and that we keep a stricter watch over ourselves. Should we happen to stray, we can only hope that the reliability and steadfast love of God will guide us back to the path.
The fourth stanza will be used as a post communion canticle for today. As we are guided along this road, we go with clean hands, souls, and hearts.
POSTLUDE
Improvisation on FOUNDATION
One other thing about improvisation... it is very important to the success of the improvisation that the subject being improvised on is well known and well liked by the performer. I absolutely love the strength and rhythmic excitement of this tune. While I am dedicating most of my energy to a successful fugal improvisation, my knowledge and love for this tune will hopefully be enough to carry a spontaneous postlude on FOUNDATION.
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