They don't write them like this anymore...

I was sorting through some choir music the other day and came across an anthem c. 1926 - original price: 22 cents, but that was stamped over with "25 cents". Goodness knows how long ago that music was purchased! The title is: In Joseph's Lovely Garden, words by Helen A. Dickinson.

In Joseph's lovely garden
The Lord Christ's tomb was made,
And there His broken body
To rest was gently laid.
A great rock strongly sealed it,
That Death might have full sway;
But God sent down His angel,
To roll the stone away.

When dawn was faintly breaking
Across the garden fair,
Three women entered weeping,
Bearing spices rare.
Then spake the guardian angel,
In shining raiment bright,
He whom ye seek is risen,
And Death is vanquished quite!

O angel of the garden,
Descend to us today,
And comfort all our sadness,
And drive death's fear away.
We all are sorrow laden
Speak to our hearts we pray,
"He whom ye love is risen,
And lives with Christ alway!"

O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
All praise to Thee we bring;
No power of death could hold Thee,
Our Saviour, Lord, and King!
As Thou has ris'n all glorious,
May we one day arise,
O'er sin and death victorious,
In Thy blest Paradise.

I dare say that 80+ years ago when this was written, the language used in it was much closer to 'everyday' than it is now. Although the use of Thee, Thou and Thy is very poetic, it's not used much in literature or church today. I also find it interesting that Death is capitalized in places, almost as if it is a person (the grim reaper?). One thing that I wish was done today that I see in this anthem is capitalizing him, or his when it refers to Christ. I'm not sure why that isn't done anymore... Does anyone out there know?

Victoria Day

Up here north of the 49th we are approaching the first long weekend of 'summer'. (I write this with tongue in cheek as the temperature at 9:40 a.m. is only 2C (36F) - so far below normal it's disgusting!) We still observe Queen Victoria's birthday, which is actually May 24th, although the holiday is designated as the Monday preceding the 24th. In researching her well known connection with Felix Mendelssohn, I learned a little more about her husband Prince Albert. I knew that he was a musician of sorts and that he played the organ. Organists know this kind of thing! What I learned was that he also wrote music. You can read a little more about that here. I don't know that I have ever heard any of Prince Albert's compositions although apparently they are performed from time to time. So, happy Victoria Day; enjoy the fireworks!

Dreaming in Music

Last night I was dreaming in music. Sunday's anthem was floating somewhere in my subconscious - maybe in the state of "This music is so glorious, I can't let it go, even when I'm asleep!" I rarely accompany the choir on the organ, but this week I am and maybe that is part of what makes the music so wonderful. It's also the fact that it is written by John Rutter and I've never met a Rutter anthem I didn't like.

"So what is this glorious music?" you may ask. The title is Eternal God, c. 1999 by Collegium Music Publications. I have an edition printed by Hinshaw Music, Inc. All the verses have great lyrics, but a few lines in particular stand out for me.

Eternal God, we give you thanks for music,
Blest gift from heav'n to all your servants here on earth...

and

As we are blest, so may our gift bless others:
May hearts be touched and spirits lifted up anew.

I hope you, my reader, will have an opportunity to hear this piece sometime.

Not My Favourite Hymn

Not too long ago I posted about one of my favourite hymns. On Sunday the choir sang a hymn for the anthem. This is not our usual practice, but it was necessary as I had cancelled choir rehearsal due to a late spring blizzard (the driving was treacherous!) and the anthem we had been working was not far enough along to sing. When I choose a hymn for the choir to sing on days like that, I try to find one that is not well-known to the congregation and that was indeed the case. It was a hymn that I knew well and one that I'm not particularly fond of. Two things happened: 1) God spoke to me about my role as leader. 2) The whole situation made me reflect on why it is a hymn I don't enjoy.

About the first - as a leader, it would be easy to always/only choose music which I enjoy. God reminded me that, even though I don't particularly like a certain hymn/song, it may very well speak to someone else in the congregation. There are times when I must set aside personal bias in favour of the whole community. All of that led me to reflect on why I don't really like that hymn. It came down to association with a certain time and place. My dislike has nothing to do with the text itself.

My guess is that the same would hold true for others too. I've heard people say, and likely you have too, "I can't stand that song!" Do they take theological issue with the words? Or is it, as it was with me, that they associate that song with something long past which brings back memories? God gently reminded me that each of us is unique. What speaks to me may not speak to you. We have different tastes and preferences yet we can worship God together.

Lead me, Lord

For a few weeks now, Christians have been journeying through Lent. This season of reflection and penitence mirrors 2 Biblical events - the wandering of God's people through the wilderness (40 years) and Christ's 40 day fast in the wilderness. In the first example, God's leading is obvious in hindsight. The people had the cloud by day and the fire by night to show them where to go. I'm guessing I would have been among the complainers had I actually been there, wandering around for 40 years! In the second example, Christ shows us the importance of scripture in our battles with temptation. We can rely on God's word to give us the guidance we need to persevere in our Christian walk.

The anthem the choir sang last Sunday has been running through my thoughts all week, and has become a prayer for me. Part of the piece is by Samuel S. Wesley (1810-1876) and I quote it for you here:

Lead me, Lord, lead me in your righteousness;
Make your way plain before my face,
For it is you, and you, God only,
Who makes me to dwell in safety.

Words based on Psalm 4:8 and Psalm 5:8

The Music of Black History Month (3)

Traditional spirituals are the songs that come to my mind when I think of music representing Black History Month. In reality, this one style of music has, over many decades, grown, evolved and definitely influenced a lot of other music. Jazz and gospel are 2 styles that can claim roots in early spirituals.

Choirs all over the world have traditional spirituals in their repertoire. One very moving experience I had a couple years ago was hearing a recording of the Men's choir from the Theological Seminary in Cluj, Romania. This choir is led by Canadian Brian Johnston who is sponsored by the Presbyterian Church in Canada, and teaches English and Music at the seminary. The choir toured eastern Canada from Sept. 20-Oct. 10, 2006 and the recording was made during their visit to PCC offices in Toronto. You can listen to it by going to: www.choir.tk/. You will find the video clip under "Table of Contents - Choir Tour 2006". I hope you enjoy their rendition as much as I do.

The Music of Black History Month

Over the last few years, it has become a tradition to celebrate Black History Month in the music during worship at St. Andrew's. This happens in different ways. Sometimes the choir presents a significant piece; other times the congregation is involved. The anthem sung on Feb. 1st was Amazing Grace, probably one of the best known hymns around the world, in a wonderful gospel arrangement by Jack Schrader. The words were written by John Newton (1725-1807) and are one of the reasons why we still recognize his name today. His mother died when John was only 6 years old and by age 11 he had followed his father to sea where John gradually rose through the ranks to become a slave ship captain. 'Through many dangers' he eventually came to faith in God and, over time, was ordained to ministry in the Anglican church. He supported William Wilberforce in his efforts to abolish slavery in Britain.

The poem we now sing as the hymn, Amazing Grace, was originally titled "Faith's Review and Expectation" and has as its subtitle the reference I Chronicles 17:16-17.

Some info from Out of the Depths, an autobiography of John Newton which was originally published in 1764. Portrait of Newton from Wikipedia.

Prepare the way of the Lord!

On Sunday the choir sang a moving arrangement of text from Isaiah 40:1, 3-5 and 7:14 in a setting by Lloyd Larson (pub. 1993 by Providence Press under the title: A Voice Cries Out, "Prepare the Way of the Lord"). I would guess these verses to be some of the most commonly used for Advent anthems. It brought 2 streams of thought to mind.

1. How do we prepare the way for the Lord? In the Bible, we have examples like Isaiah who proclaimed the coming of the Messiah many years before the promise was fulfilled. He didn't know that at the time, of course; he was relaying the message God gave him. The other example that came to mind was John the Baptist. His proclamation was perhaps more desperate, and definitely more immediate as he knew that Christ, the Messiah, was on earth. So, back to my question. We prepare the way for the Lord by proclaiming that He has come, and that He will return and we must be ready for that day.


2. There are 3 musical settings of this text that pop into my head - probably more if I really stopped to think about it.

• The first is from Handel's Messiah - the tenor, assuming he does it well, boldly proclaims "...make straight in the desert (rest) a highway (rest) for our God. (chord, chord)."
• The second is the one I mentioned above by Larson. The part I find especially moving comes after a quiet section of "Comfort, comfort my people" when the choir builds on the phrase "The glory of the Lord shall be revealed!" - then moves right into "A voice cries out, 'Prepare the way of the Lord,'" etc.
• The third one, which I'd love to use at the beginning of a Christmas Eve service (maybe next year?!) is the version from Godspell. Wouldn't that be an exciting way to herald the birth of our Lord?