Music Notes: January 13th, 2013

Baptism Of Our Lord

The Sunday following the celebration of the Epiphany is traditionally the Sunday when the Baptism of Jesus is celebrated as performed by John the Baptist.  Also of note this week is our continued exploration of 1 Thessalonians as a part of our visioning process for the SPARK Project.  The message this week is "Do not despise the words of the prophets."

There is Biblical evidence that Jesus considered John, his baptizer, a prophet.  As Jesus was unanimously considered the "last prophet," it could then be surmised that John the Baptist was the second to last prophet the world has ever seen.  Our words and music today celebrate him as a baptizer and a prophet, as well as all those prophets that came before him.

PRELUDE

Meditation on BEACH SPRING - Janet Linker

The BEACH SPRING tune (used this morning in the hymn "Wash O God, Your Sons and Daughters"), is a tune that is very frequently interpreted in various organ pieces.  Being so frequently arranged, one has to do something unique to stand out.  Janet Linker's arrangement starts simply enough, with the tune sounding over a string accompaniment.  One of the more striking features is the use of the Lydian mode, which involves a raised fourth scale degree.  It creates a very evocative, lovely sound that fits right in with the pentatonic melody.  The piece grows to a lovely climax near the middle, before it winds down and concludes with the tune sounding in a second key.

OPENING HYMN

Wash O God, Your Sons and Daughters

This service will begin with an affirmation of all of our baptisms, and in stanza one of this hymn, the "sons and daughters" of course refer to us.  As our baptisms are affirmed, they are done so in a way that has happened for thousands of years all the way back to Christ's baptism.  The same promise is made and the same blessings are bestowed.  Stanza two then looks ahead to the celebration of Eucharist which we will partake in later that morning.  The celebrations of baptism and Eucharist are so closely connected and tied throughout our church lives, and this hymn ties both together beautifully.

We will actually sing the final stanza at the closing of the service.  After receiving the gifts and being washed by water and fed by the spirit, we go out into the world being refreshed and fed. 

HYMN OF THE DAY

What Is This Place

The idea of a building that comes alive with the spirit of God and its congregants provides quite a moving, profound hymn.  Like our opening hymn, this text acknowledges the Eucharist as well.  This gift is received inside the four walls of the church, and we can bring it with us out into the world.

Musically, it is a sprightly, homophonic chorale from Denmark.  Unlike the German chorales of its day, there is far less interior movement an counterpoint.  Rather, the harmonies are quite simple, with a three part melody.  The first two parts are identical and the third extended section leads to the conclusion.

OFFERING

The Only Son From Heaven - arr. J.S. Bach

The Only Son From Heaven (Herr Christ, der einig Gottes Sohn), is one of the many hundreds of German chorales that Bach harmonized in his long career.  This arrangement of Bach's notes are supplemented by a keyboard harmonization in the style of Bach.  The first line of the chorale, "The only Son from heaven, foretold by ancient seers," references our message of the day of the words of the Prophets.  Those "ancient seers" are the prophets that we look upon this weekend.

COMMUNION HYMNS

We Are Baptized In Christ Jesus (7:45 AM and 9:00 AM)

This is most well known to me at St. Paul's as the opening hymn for the Baptismal Remembrance service held monthly throughout the school year for St. Paul's School.  The message is equally relevant whether it is sung from the voices of children or adults.  The first two stanzas, which are sung at the remembrance, tell us that as Jesus died and lived, so will we live with the gift of baptism.  The third stanza, which is omitted at the service but sung here, is a doxology praising glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Christ When For Us You Were Baptized

It is such an interesting metaphor in this opening stanza, where the spirit that came upon Christ after his baptism both as "peaceful like a dove" and as "urgent as a flame."  Comparing the Holy Spirit as both a dove and a flame show you just how all-encompassing and wonderful it is.  This hymn not only touches on baptism themes, but also the gift of that baptism, manifest in the journey Christ took so we no longer have to.

Baptized and Set Free

Where the first two hymns celebrate the baptism in Christ, this final one, which was used as one of the central hymns last year at the All Saints Festival, focuses on us and are baptisms.  The language also, is much different than the hymn immediately preceding this.  I haven't found many hymns that are more accessible, simple, and profound in its message than this one.

POSTLUDE

The Only Son From Heaven, BWV 601 - J.S. Bach

If Bach harmonized a chorale, it was likely that he wrote a chorale prelude on it as well for the organ.  They take many forms and many styles, but are always unified by a chorale that forms the center of the piece.  This chorale is in the highest voice of the organ and is decorated with a variety of sixteenth note figurations through the bottom half of the right hand, left hand, and the pedals.