Music Notes: Febrauary 3rd, 2012

Fourth Sunday After Epiphany

The winter storm on Wednesday has unfortunately forced us to alter our worship services for this weekend.  Both Bells of Praise and Cherub Choir were scheduled to be featured this weekend, but since there were no rehearsals yesterday, both of those performances have been delayed.  After the ice on Sunday that cancelled the REJOICE service, this has been a difficult week for us, but hopefully the worship services this weekend will be just as fulfilling and meaningful as they would have been with their original components.

PRELUDE

Be Thou My Vision - Paul Manz

As an organist, Paul Manz was most well known for his hymn arrangements and improvisations.  They would range from the simplest representations of a tune to an amazingly complex rendition requiring the highest levels of organ virtuosity.

Be Thou My Vision is the former.  After a brief ritornello, the tune presents itself plainly and clearly.  With a clear separation between melody and accompaniment, the accompaniment frequently travels around, over the top, and back underneath the melody, a technique especially suited to the organ.  

OPENING HYMN

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Anyone who reads Music Notes regularly knows that I think of this hymn as more of a hymn of praise, rather than something meditative or contemplative.  My evidence is right in the first stanza, "Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise."

This hymn has been oft criticized as being archaic or antiquated, due to its use of words like "ebenezer," "hither," and "fetter," among others.  There have been many revisions that have been done to this hymn over the years, but none of them have stuck.  There is something that rings so true with this passionate text that no alteration or change is able to capture.  That's why, despite the continued evolution of hymnody, this text has remained tried and true.

HYMN OF THE DAY

Be Thou My Vision

This wonderful poem traces back to 6th century Ireland, but wasn't used as a hymn until the early 1900's, where it was married to the Irish folk tune SLANE (a marriage that is one of the strongest in hymnody).

This weekend, Pastor Sandberg will be preaching that the Good News of the Bible must be more than just talked about... they have to be lived.  The verses of this hymn call for the strength to have the devotion necessary to live the Good News that is talked about in the Bible.

OFFERING

Love is Patient, Love Is Kind (St. Paul's School Choir)

School Choir this week will be performing a song that sings the praise of the 2 Corinthians scripture that will be read earlier in the service.  Biblical education for children of that age is something that is frequently overlooked, and this type of song is such that they will remember for the rest of their lives where to find this scripture and what it is about.

COMMUNION HYMN

O God Of Mercy, God Of Light (7:45 AM only)

I feel the key to this hymn is the phrase "in you."  Each stanza ends with a petition of something we can do for God as thanks for all he gives us.  Whether we live our lives, do our work, rest our hope, or love them all in the name of God, it all exists because God sent his son to save us all.

CLOSING HYMN

God's Word Is Our Great Heritage

I've used this brief stanza several times as a Gospel Acclamation, but it will serve the purpose of sending us out from worship as well.  It's the Good News of God's word that is our great heritage, it shall be ours forever, and we will share this Good News not just with our words, but with our actions as well. 

POSTLUDE

A Mighty Fortress - Charles Ore

This is probably the most fun setting of this chorale that I have ever found and played.  After the opening measure, it settles into its rhythmic base which travels in parallel motion up and down the keyboard.  It occasionally breaks off into the tune itself, but only briefly.  The motor rhythm is what truly defines the piece. 

In a second section, the constant driving sixteenth notes punctuate a trumpet fanfare that continually modulates upward.  The piece grows to a glorious conclusion with a strong statement of the last line of the tune.  The rhythmic motive from the beginning briefly returns before the fiery conclusion.