The Hymn Olympics

My thoughts on comparing the recent Olympic games with hymn singing and my experiences at "The Meeting Place" conference in July can be read by clicking here.

But what will it look like?

I have always loved making puzzles.  One of my early memories is just that:  making puzzles on the living room floor in Meaford, Ontario.  I indulge this 'obsession' about 2 or 3 times a year.  I'm calling it an obsession because once I start a puzzle, I have a hard time doing anything else until it's finished.  There have been a few puzzles over the years that were really tough.  I remember, in college, working on one that was all yellow with a small Dole banana sticker image in one area.  Even though it was a group endeavour, it took quite awhile, as I recall.

One day last week I stopped in at the Salvation Army thrift store.  I think I went in to look for a lamp, but I came out with a puzzle!  You may have guessed from the photo that this is a Clue puzzle which means there is a brief story included giving the facts of a murder.  All the characters from the board game play a part, and the puzzle, once completed, is supposed to give me the clue I need to solve the mystery.  There's a catch though.  There is no picture to follow to make the puzzle - just the challenge this girl needs!

By now you may be wondering how this has any connection to the conference I recently attended. In my previous post I made reference to some of the resources I acquired.  What I didn't mention is that I sang 54 hymns and songs I had never seen or heard before.  I sang 15-20 that I either knew, thought I had sung before or just the text was new (used with a familiar tune).  In trying to think through what might be appropriate and/or practical to use, I feel a little (actually a lot) as if I'm trying to create a new picture without knowing what that picture will actually look like.  It's not impossible, but it will take awhile.  As one song or idea gains credibility, another seems less useful and is set aside. 

Will a clear, complete picture ever emerge?  I hope not - because that would mean that worship, at least musically, is stagnant - not moving forward, just sitting there, finished and in the past.  And that, my reader friends, would be sad.

What are you going to try in worship in order to create a new picture?

Task: Summarize "The Meeting Place: Sharing Our Song"

 
 Remember that song from the early 70's - "There's got to be a morning after..."?  Well, today is the morning after the conclusion of the annual conference of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada.  How can I possibly articulate what a wonderful impact the last five days have had on me? 

I think more time is needed to digest what I took in; the most I'm capable of today is a brief overview:

• 2 brand new, hot off the press, hymnals.
• 3 very thought provoking plenary speakers:  Alice Parker, Andrew Fullerton and Stan McKay.
• 4 hymn festivals - all included lots of sight singing, often in 4 parts, with 200+ people.
• 5 great workshops covering a variety of topics including Canadian hymn writers and finding and using hymns on YouTube.
• innumerable new friends and colleagues, all enthusiastic about music for worship in its many forms!

As I write, the sending song/benediction of our closing hymn festival is running through my head.  I'm sure that was the intent of the organizers - that we go out singing something joyful and energetic which would propel us back into everyday life with the inspiration such a conference provides to those who attend.  The song's tune name is GIPGIL - Go in peace, go in love!

Exciting news!

I love how a figurative door can open and I suddenly realize there was a room on the other side I didn't know existed until that moment.  That's what happened last week when I was asked to blog for the Presbyterian Record's online presence.  The website has been renovated and now, under the "Blogs" tab on the main page, you will find a sub-heading "Affiliated blogs".  That's where you will find my pieces as well as those of other affiliated bloggers.  I am grateful for this opportunity that has come my way!  I haven't quite figured out the best way to post.  Should I write one post for both places?  Maybe it would be better to write separate entries for here and there.  Whatever way I work it out you can be sure that I will continue to invite (and welcome!) your comments in either place.  I will continue to express opinions on music - worship music most of the time - and hopefully relate life to faith and music. 

So what song has been going through my head today?  The song it seemed I dreamt all last night:  By faith we see the hand of God, a new hymn (2009) by Stuart Townend, Keith Getty and Kristyn Getty.  If I had to summarize it, I'd say the text was Hebrews chapter 11 set to a very singable tune which is exactly what I've come to expect from this writing team.  You can read the text and download the music by going here.  Better yet, you can hear it at Gettymusic.

October 24, 1954

First of all, let me say, I wasn't around in 1954! But the bulletin I found in the cantata book pictured below was dated October 24, 1954. The cover has a photo of Norwood Presbyterian Church on it. It's the only photo I've ever seen of that building (although I've since learned that the building is still standing at the corner of Kitson Street and Traverse Avenue here in Winnipeg). Norwood is the 'mother' church of St. Vital Presbyterian and in the mid 1970's the 2 congregations merged to become St. Andrew's. They worshiped in the building St. Vital had built at 709 St. Mary's Road. I suppose you could say that finding this photo was a little like discovering a portrait of a grandmother I never knew.

Other bits of trivial information gleaned include:

• Norwood was still its own municipality at the time; it wouldn't become part of Winnipeg until almost 20 years later.
• Rev. M.E.R. Boudreau was the minister.
• Mr. Carl Heddesheimer was the organist and choirmaster.
• Phone numbers were still only 5 or 6 digits long.
• The bulletin has 2 orders of service, a.m. and p.m. Sunday School followed morning worship.
• Apparently, it was anniversary weekend as the anniversary supper was announced for the following evening in the church hall.
• The young lady listed in the directory as the leader of the young people's society recently retired as an active elder after many years of service.
• The church was a busy place! In addition to the regular Sunday services and Sunday school, there was a French Mission that met at 3:00 p.m. Sundays, Women's Missionary Society Tues. afternoons, Jr. Young People's Tues. evenings, Sr. Young People's Weds. evenings, choir practice Thurs. evenings, and Wolf Cubs, Boy Scouts, Brownies and Guides also meeting weekly.

Now that I've blogged about said bulletin, I'll be giving it to the 'young lady' mentioned above!

Advent 1 - Anticipation!

Each year, during this busy season of Advent and Christmas, I try to attend one event where I can sit, listen, and sing unencumbered by the responsibilities of playing. You, my reader, can appreciate that as a church musician, I don't get such an opportunity all that often. For many years I attended the Advent Lessons and Carols service at All Saints Anglican here in Winnipeg. They had (it was said) the best men and boys choir in all of western Canada. Don Hadfield was the organist then, and I looked forward each year to hearing him play. His prelude was always the same: various settings of "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" (Come, Saviour of the heathen), each one building in intensity. This was followed by Brahms' setting of "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen" (Lo, how a rose e'er blooming). The postlude was Bach's great Toccata in F major (still on my learn-it-someday list). Those days sadly came to an end but several of those choir members are still very active and involved in Winnipeg's music scene in different ways.

One of these is Blair Anderson who is now the Organist/Choir Director at St. Luke's Anglican and yesterday I went to the Advent and Lessons there. It would have been easy to stay home. I'd already been out Friday and Saturday nights. I like to nap Sunday afternoons. It was Grey Cup Sunday and I'd probably miss the first part of the game on TV. In spite of all that, I felt compelled to go. Parking in the older part of town is often a challenge; yesterday was no exception. Two churches in two blocks, both with something going on - you get the picture. I finally got a spot, close to the church, parked the car, and got out. As I scurried across the street, I realized how excited I felt to go to worship! The anticipation of God's presence through music and scripture was almost overwhelming. I have found before that when I begin worship by anticipating that I will hear from God, it almost always happens. I was not disappointed:

Haggai 2:6-7
This is what the Lord Almighty says:
"In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth,
the sea and the dry land.
I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come,
and I will fill this house with glory, "
says the Lord Almighty.

The Lord is my Light

Last week when I turned one of my calendars over to June, the verse that greeted me was Psalm 27:1 - The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Coincidentally, or not, I had just heard Frances Allitsen's great setting of this psalm at the women's conference I attended. It was sung during Sunday morning worship by baritone, Peter McGillivray, and I've been singing it in my head periodically ever since. I first heard this piece during my college days and have accompanied a couple vocalists singing it over the years. In fact, when I stop to think of it, I don't know of another setting of these words! Does this overshadow all the others? Or have composers after Allitsen's time (1848-1912) not even tried to write something more compelling? Or (more likely) there are other versions in less formal styles.

This got me thinking about why I find this piece so powerful.

1. One reason is that the words are scripture. My Dad always encouraged me to listen to the words; are they sound theologically? do they contain mindless repetition? do they speak to me?
2. The music rises and falls with the text. The joyous arpeggios underpinning "The Lord is my light..." give way to a martial feel when we hear "Though a host of men were laid against me, yet shall not my heart be afraid..." The quiet chords under "For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His tabernacle..." sound to me like waves lapping on the shore - a comforting sound.
3. Could it be a physical connection to the piece because I've played the accompaniment? I have felt the strength required to land those notes in the right place and because of that I respond when I hear the piece.

No matter the reason, I enjoyed hearing McGillivray's interpretation and, judging by the response, I was not the only one. Also, because I've been on the bench at the piano for this one, let me add that his accompanist was no slouch either!

A glimpse of heaven

Before too much more time goes by, I'd like to write a little about the music at "Look In, Shout Out!" - the first ever national gathering of Presbyterian women in Canada. This event took place May 20-23, 2011 in Richmond Hill, ON and attendance exceeded initial expectations with registration around 540 people. Our worship leader was Glen Soderholm, ably assisted by a 4 piece band and a few others on occasion.

It's hard to know where to begin! The music was well-presented both in format and selection. I enjoyed participating without having to play. There is joy and strength in worshiping in such a large group - an opportunity I rarely have. We learned some new pieces together, which is always a joy to me, and sang old ones in an updated way, breathing new life into them.

Sunday morning worship began with a processional hymn, the traditional "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty" led by Glen and the band. The procession was led by Rev. Margaret Mullin, Thundering Eagle Woman, director of Winnipeg Inner City Missions, who joined the band playing her Indian drum. She was followed by women from many parts of the world - our international guests - from Hungary, India, Guatemala, Malawi, Scotland, Korea and Japan. (I've probably missed a couple countries.) As we got to about the third verse and I watched these women of God come forward, I suddenly had a glimpse of heaven with people from all nations gathering around God's throne singing and praising God with words very much like this hymn. It was an extremely meaningful moment in worship which I think will stay with me for a long time to come.

Refreshing Winds

February has flown by! You might think that since I haven't posted anything about the conference, Refreshing Winds, that I didn't get anything worthwhile out of it. I did! It just seems that once that was finished, life kept on rolling at a crazy pace. Nearly 3 weeks have passed, and I guess it's now safe to say that the things I'm still thinking about are the things that made an impact on me.

The workshops were the highlight for me. I attended 2 given by Doug Gay - both very thought provoking and informative. The Saturday one gave me good insights into the emerging church movement and how it is shaping worship and, I believe, how it will continue to have an influence on the church.

Another great workshop was the one called "Improv-ing Worship" led by Marilyn Houser Hamm. She worked with other musicians, including CMU profs and students, to challenge us with breaking out of the traditional re: accompanying for worship, and into the improvisational. The Celtic flavour was strong with the use of fiddle, bodhran and pennywhistle. However, I'd have to say the most unusual twist came with a tango-like accompaniment and beat used for the German chorale "Jesus, priceless treasure" (Jesu, meine Freude). It really did work!

Last but not least, and perhaps leaving the most lasting impression on me, was the panel discussion with 4 CMU students who talked about their worship experiences. They each related the type of congregations they were nurtured in growing up (if any), and where they worship today. A wide range of experiences was revealed. The phrase that has been echoing in my mind ever since, that lasting impression articulated by one of these 20-somethings is this:
"We are ready to be ecumenical."

...For our wants to be supplied.

Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada. There are many wonderful hymns for harvest thanksgiving and the one that opened St. Andrew's worship yesterday was Come, Ye Thankful People, Come. I always think of my Dad when we sing this because he told me once that he had heard Alberta farmers sing "All is safely gathered in ere the winter storms begin" when their crops were buried under snow and still out in the fields. At choir practice on Weds. that came up in conversation and a couple of the guys figured it was in 1959. That storm hit the whole prairies it seems.

Funny how you can sing a hymn time after time and something new will grab you on a certain occasion. I did remember Dad's story this year too, but what really got my attention was the line, "God, our Maker, doth provide for our wants to be supplied." - Not just our needs, but our wants! We have so much to be thankful for!

High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art

One of the reasons I began this blog is that I enjoy writing. When I was a teenager, I made a little money writing poetry and short, inspirational pieces and it was always so exciting to get that cheque in the mail! I might have pursued writing as a career except that the passion of making music took over and I knew I couldn't do without music in my life.

On my recent trip to Calgary, it was a thrill to meet an author whose work I've read and learned from . Pictured below (L-R) are author Donna Fletcher Crow, me and Donna's daughter, Elizabeth who lives in Calgary.


Donna lives in Idaho and arrived in Calgary around the same time as I did for a family visit and a book signing this coming Saturday. My sister, Sharon, told Donna about my concert at Grace Presbyterian and I was excited to learn that Donna, Elizabeth and a friend were able to come hear me play. There's much more to it than meeting this author whose work I enjoy. Donna writes historical fiction and I learned when reading The Fields of Bannockburn and Glastonbury (the history of Christianity in Scotland and England respectively) that the Celts had many small kingdoms whose monarchs would come together to elect one to be King over all. His title was "High King". Applying this knowledge to the hymn "Be Thou My Vision" gave the words a whole new meaning for me! Donna came to me after the concert and thanked me for my words and shared that she too would never sing this hymn the same way again.

I believe that when we learn more about the hymns and songs we sing in worship, we strengthen and enrich their meaning and our own praise as well.

A Weekend in Calgary

I thought it would be fun to post a few photos on my blog from my weekend in Calgary, Alberta which was Sept. 17-19, 2010. For those who were at one of the events, you can share the memories with me. If you weren't there, maybe this will whet your appetite to come to a concert in the future!



The picture above was taken at Grace Presbyterian Church, Calgary where I played on Friday evening. What great acoustics to play in!



I believe this is the first selection after intermission, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel". The second half of the program was a musical journey through the church year. It began and ended with Advent.


On Saturday, my friend, Jean, took me out to Canmore to the mountains. It was glorious!

Do you see those Rockies in the distance?

We're getting closer now!

The Three Sisters

Sunday morning I played at Trinity Church of the Nazarene in Calgary. They meet in the Orpheus Theatre on the campus of Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). It was a blessing to me to be part of the worship service, to learn a new worship chorus, and to teach the congregation there something new as well.

Here I am speaking about the 2 solo pieces I played: You Are My Hiding Place and a medley of Open the Eyes of My Heart and Be Thou My Vision.

All in all, a wonderful weekend filled with good music, good friends, and God's creation!