Music Notes: January 27, 2013

Third Sunday After Epiphany

This Sunday, the final Sunday of our visioning process, the theme of the service is "Hold Fast To What Is Good."  On this visioning journey, we are called to care for one another, overcome divisions, and bring healing into God's world.

PRELUDE

Fugue, BWV 552 "ST ANNE" (Part 1) - J.S. Bach

This short excerpt comes from a larger Prelude and Fugue in E-flat by J.S. Bach.  It is known as the "ST. ANNE" fugue due to its subject having a strong similarity to the hymn tune ST. ANNE, known to us as the tune for "O God, Our Help In Ages Past."  Though Bach would have likely known this tune, it is unlikely that this fugue is truly based off of the subject and is merely a coincidence, since it only uses the first seven notes, and is a common order for a fugal melody (5-3-6-5-8-8-7-8).  Regardless, the fugue is a lovely example of counterpoint.  The first part is the simplest of the three, and contains an older stile antico style of contrapuntal writing.  

OPENING HYMN

Open Now, Thy Gates Of Beauty

Benjamin Schmolck wrote a great deal of hymns for the early Lutheran church, but this is one of the few that survives and remains in use.  This translation by Catherine Winkworth gives us a text of joy and gratefulness for the space in which we gather and the actions we do in that space.  Whether it be prayer or praise, our souls become interlaced with God as he acts as our "guiding star through life."


HYMN OF THE DAY

The Church's One Foundation (7:45 AM)

This timeless text comes to us from Samuel J. Stone, who was a follower of Methodist founder Charles Wesley.  The text lives on the metaphor of Christ as the husband and the church, his bride.  Stanza two declares the first clause of the Apostle's Creed "I believe in one God, the father, the almighty."  Stanza three and its idea of schisms are just as applicable now as they were when the text was composed.

Stanza four is extremely important.  Despite the trials and tribulations, we wait with hope and expectation for the dust to settle and peace to reign.  Thanks to the "vision glorious" our great church will finally be at rest.

Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song (9:00 AM)


Founded in 1931, Les Petites Soeurs (The Little Sisters) is an all-female religious congregation centered in France, which contains about 1300 members.  Its doors are always open to people searching for a place to belong, companionship, togetherness, and fellowship.  With that context in mind, it is quite easy to see how the words of this hymn were born.  As we travel through our lives, with every step we take, Jesus is right there with us.

OFFERING

Two A Capella Canons (Dona Nobis Pacem and Jubilate Deo - Friends of the Lord

Friends of the Lord has spent January learning two important concepts: singing without a piano or other instruments (a capella) and singing in canon.  They will do both of these this Sunday across two songs.  The first, "Dona Nobis Pacem" is a traditional canon that translates as "Grant Us Peace."  The second, Jubilate Deo, is a shorter melody that will be repeated several times.  It is translated as "Rejoice in God," or "Praise God."

COMMUNION HYMNS

All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly (9:00 AM)

Sylvia Dunstan is one of the finest hymn writers of the 20th century.  She died in 1993 at the age of 38.  This hymn is all about unity; our unity as a congregation.  We come from far and wide, whether it be from wilderness, restlessness, or loneliness, we come to a table to share a meal together.  We who were all once and scattered come together around the Communion table.

Will You Let Me Be Your Servant (7:45 AM and 9:00 AM)

This is a late 20th century hymn of servanthood and mission.  This hymn, while also employing the themes of unity from the first communion hymn, is also ultimately a prayer for strength and guidance that we may be able to guide ourselves and each other on the paths of servanthood.

Blest Be The Tie That Binds (9:00 AM)

This is a third hymn in a series that focuses on unity.  If you are a frequent partaker in the theater, you may know that this hymn plays a very crucial part in Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize winning play, Our Town.  The words certainly are reflective of a small community with close ties.

John Fawcett, the author of this text, was a British pastor and theologan.  The story behind this hymn is both interesting and inspiring.  Pastor Fawcett was a much loved pastor in the very small English town of Wainsgate.  He had a growing family and his meager salary was hardly sufficient for supporting them.  In 1772 he received a call to one of the largest Baptist churches in London and chose to accept.  However, the reaction to his leaving was so strong and fervent that he elected to stay.  In commemoration of this, he crafted this hymn.

CLOSING HYMN

O God Our Help In Ages Past 

Isaac Watts, along with Charles Wesley, was one of the most powerful influences in modern hymn writing to come out of the 18th century.  An enormous amount of his 750+ hymns remain in common usage today, and have been translated into dozens of languages for use all over the world.

O God, Our Help In Ages Past is a psalm paraphrase based on Psalm 90.  It was originally a part of the collection called The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, published originally in 1619.  In it, Watts set all of the Psalms in this accessible poetry minus twelve of them.

POSTLUDE

Toccata on ST. ANNE- Gordon Young

Most organists know that the word Toccata is synonymous with the name Gordon Young.  Most toccatas contain florid passagework in the hands accompanied by the tune in the pedal.  This toccata alternates between the aforementioned passagework and the tune presented in joyous, full, sonorous chords.