New Organ

A new organ has been installed at Jacob's School of Music at Indiana University (Alma mater of our own David Starkey). The dedicatory recital will be streamed on Friday 4/30. Check out the details here, and especially take a peek at the photo gallery of the installation at the bottom of this page. Enjoy!

Bell Festival II

Just a couple of additional pictures...

Obama Drama for real

The President and First Lady were in Asheville this weekend. Idle chatter at our house was along the lines of, "I wonder if he'll try to meet Billy Graham while he's here." Our usual source (KMS, Jr.) was remarkably tight-lipped, if indeed he had any line on POTUS' and FLOTUS' weekend plans.

The Obamas did all the "very Ashveille" things: lunch at 12 Bones (ribs) on Friday, dinner in the Village on Friday evening, a visit to the Biltmore estate, and a round of golf at GPI (Grove Park Inn) where they were staying.

Then came word early Sunday morning that a meeting in Montreat with Billy was in the offing. Word was that Montreat Road would be closed to traffic between 10AM and 1PM. YIKES! Throughout the morning the information became a little more refined. By 10AM there were cones along the street, but no closure. We got word at the beginning of 11AM worship that the streets would be closed at 1145AM and remain that way until 1PM. Shannon invited folks to do as they needed (including departing after the offering!! A couple of folks bolted then; a few darted out after the sermon and missed the lovely anthem and the offering). The hospitality ministry kicked into high gear and had a slightly beefed up offering available for the folks stuck after worship. There was a certain camaraderie that settled in as we waited.

The motorcade blasted through about 1230PM. We had a nice crowd (including those who had skipped all of worship in case the crew had passed through earlier in the time frame!!), and even some enthusiastic bell ringers showing their support!


I remarked to Shannon and others that the first family had indeed all the "very Asheville" things on their short weekend, the only item they'll have to do to next time to make the Asheville experience complete is visit with us at BMPCNC for Sunday worship!

Thanks to Kent Patton for the photos.

Bell Festival

Above: Lucy D, ever the bell diva, assiduously reviews her music between rehearsals.

Our handbell ringers were in Flat Rock, NC this weekend for the 17th Blue Ridge Handbell Festival. This was the second year the event was held under the aegis of AGEHR Area III and the second also at the Bonclarken Retreat facility. Our ringers had a nice time. They were blown away by the tempi. Luckily we're not required to use the same speeds at home when we perform the music! The weather held clear until, of course, load out. The people and the equipment didn't get too wet, but it slowed things down a bit. We're now looking forward to a joint concert (with the bell ringers at Black Mountain UMC) this fall. More on that later.

Below: Mary V, Faith B and Wilma L pause between a classroom session and rehearsal.

Temperament and Tuning

Here is a very helpful article that is part book review and part introduction to tuning theory.

The author is Jan Swafford (b. 1946) who is an American composer and author who teaches compostion, theory and musicology at the Boston Conservatory and writing at Tufts University.

The book under review is How Equal Temperament Ruined Harmony (and Why You Should Care) by professor Ross W. Duffin. Swafford pretty quickly leaves behind a real review of the book, and concentrates on explaining some of the issues involved in tuning and temperament in very readable language. Here's an excerpt:

There have been some 150 tuning systems put forth over the centuries, none of them pure. There is no perfection, only varying tastes in corruption. If you want your fifths nicely in tune, the thirds can't be; if you want pure thirds, you have to put up with impure fifths. And no scale on a keyboard, not even good old C major, can be perfectly in tune. Medieval tunings voted for pure fifths. By the late Renaissance the tuning systems favored better thirds. The latter were various kinds of meantone temperament. In meantone, most of the accumulated fudges were dumped onto two notes, usually G# (aka A flat) and E flat. The shivery effect of those two notes played together in meantone temperaments earned it the name "wolf," which, like its namesake, was regarded with a certain holy fear.

Enjoy the article.

And FYI: the choir anthem for Sunday: it's in A-flat major. But nary a howl to be heard anywhere!

Music for 042510

FirstLight
Gathering Songs
Come let us worship and bow down
Here I am to worship
Come, now is the time to worship

Prayer of Praise Response
Alleluia, alleluia (Sinclair)

Offertory
Savior, like a shepherd lead us (Barker, piano)

Doxology
Give thanks

Closing Song
You are my all in all

11AM
Hymns
Easter people, raise your voices (REGENT SQUARE)
The King of love my shepherd is (ST. COLUMBA)
Savior, like a shepherd lead us (BRADBURY)

Introit
Jikelele (God is everywhere)
Emily Wasser, soloist

Prayer of Praise Response
Fishell, Alleluia, give thanks

Anthem
Allen Pote, The Lord is my shepherd

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow (with Alleluias) LASST UNS ERFREUEN

Benediction Response
Danish, Three-Fold Amen

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: Gaither, Because he lives, Libby Barker, flute
Offertory: Lee G. Barrow, Festive Bell Flourish, Adult Handbells
Postlude: JS Bach, Today the son of God has Triumphed

The Gospel in Six Stanzas

The choir began working on the Charles Wesley hymn “And can it be” last week. One of our astute resident theologians asked about a phrase in the second stanza (the whole stanza is below):

In vain the firstborn seraph tries

Who is the “first-born seraph,” he asked? I had no answer. Consulting the 1983 Complete Works of John Wesley (edited by Hildebrandt and Beckerlegge), volume 7, which is “A Collection of hymns for the use of the people called Methodists" I found no help.

I did find this sermon excerpt by Archbishop Rowan Williams (but still no answer to the question):

And so as we give thanks for Charles' life, we give thanks not only for the words of the hymns, granted that they are an irreplaceable and inexhaustible treasure of classical Christian wisdom. We give thanks for what he saw, and for the fact that he has enabled us to be drawn into his seeing. Not only his seeing that the God of glory has made him free, the God of glory who died for him, the God of glory into whose purposes the 'firstborn seraph' seeks to penetrate in vain. (How Charles loved those firstborn seraphs! They appear more than once.) But also we give thanks for Charles' vision of his tiresome, beloved brother. Because the vision of tiresome, beloved brothers and sisters is, I'm afraid, what Christians are condemned to! They will sustain it and make something of it, insofar as they retain the joy of that first fresh unsurpassable vision into which the firstborn seraph seeks to look: the vision of glory and of grace.

I found a second hymn text by Charles Wesley with the same image (it's included in the hymn collection mentioned above, but I discovered it here:

Till added to that heavenly choir
We raise our songs of triumph higher,
And praise thee in a bolder strain,
Out-soar the firstborn seraph's flight,
And sing, with all our friends in light,
Thy everlasting love to man.

But still no help.

I also found this:

Wesley identifies the problem that is created by attempting to understand God's love in human terms. He does not seek to resolve it however, instead he lets it stand as a mystery. The mystery of divine suffering calls attention to this wonderful love of God which we cannot help but respond to with praise. Perhaps it is this realization which overcomes our emotions when we sing,

'Tis mystery all: th' Immortal dies!
Who can explore his strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
to sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
let angel minds inquire no more.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
let angel minds inquire no more.

With no clear answer to be found, but upon more reading and praying the text, I think the reference is to a hypothetical uber-angel. Seraphs are the topmost category of angelic beings. Firstborn may simply be the eldest or similarly top-ranking seraph, closest to God, and offering purest praise in the heavenly realm. The point of the stanza is ultimately the the most-wise individual or even heavenly being cannot fathom the why nor the how of the gift of salvation. We each simply are invited by grace to graciously perceive and enter into the gracious act that God has accomplished in Christ Jesus.

I’ve blogged it before, but here is a delightful rendition of the hymn. Sadly the video-audio syncing is a little off. But you’ll enjoy it nonetheless.

Here is the complete hymn text at CyberHymnal. Most hymnals include five of the six stanzas, leaving out what was #5 in the original poem.

Divas and Drafts

White Horse Black Mountain, the spectacular music and arts venue in historic Black Mountain, will host a new series of classical music concerts, beginning with an exciting program called "Divas and Drafts" on Sunday, April 25 at 2:00 featuring sopranos Jennifer Smith and Kim Hughes, tenor Richard Eugene, and pianist Daniel Weiser. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for students/children. The program will include music from Rossini to Puccini, Mozart to Schubert, and Kurt Weill to Andrew Lloyd Weber. Tickets are available online at www.whitehorseblackmountain.com or at the White Horse Box Office Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings after 6:00. Tickets will also be available at the door or by calling 828-669-0816. White Horse Black Mountain is located immediately next door to BMPCNC in the heart of Black Mountain.

Music for 041810

FirstLight
Gathering Song
Open our eyes, Lord

Opening Song
I give you my heart
My life is in you, Lord
Cry of my heart

Prayer of Praise Response
He is Lord

Offertory
Lead me to the cross

Doxology
Give thanks

Closing Song
Lord, you have come to the lakeshore


11AM
Hymns
108, Christ is alive (TRURO)
377, Lord, you have come to the lakeshore (PESCADOR DE HOMBRES)
369, I’m gonna live so God can use me (I’M GONNA LIVE)

Introit
Matsikenyiri, Jesus, we are here

Prayer of Praise Response
Traditional, He is Lord

Anthem
James Chepponis, Go forth and preach the gospel
…to all who live in fear. And share the joyful message that God is always near.
The Spirit is upon us, and sends us forth in peace to bring the poor glad tidings
that justice may increase.

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow (with Alleluias)
LASST UNS ERFREUEN

Benediction Response
Stainer, Seven-Fold Amen

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: JS Bach, Christ ist erstanden
Offertory: Beethoven, Variations on a Theme by Handel (Carolyn Konnert, ‘cello)
Postlude: Lefebure-Wely, Sortie in B-Flat

Travels

As one might expect, with three kids under foot, international travel is pretty much out of the question for me for any number of reasons. So I have to travel vicariously through family and friends. Jane C. from choir was in Spain over Holy Week. Mindful of her home-bound choir director, she took a picture of this instrument. She thinks it's Barcelona, but can't quite remember. (Anyone know for sure?) Jane didn't hear anyone play this organ and was appropriately bummed about that. Thanks Jane for the photo, and also the post card with the pretty stamp!

Easter Reflections

We enjoyed a tremendous Lenten and Easter observance this year. One of the new additions was a flowering cross for Easter Day. Gene Schimpf built the cross from verbal design plans from Mike Barker. We covered the cross with chicken wire. On Holy Saturday Leila Cox and Mike Barker laid a base of Palm Sunday fronds on the mesh. Folks from our worshiping congregation brought flowers from home on Easter and added them to the cross. This was the final product. Amazing.
This is a view of the overflow crowd a the second service. Between the two services we estimate about 600 folks worshiped with us. About 100 more than last year. Every once in a while we have to add some chairs outside the sanctuary doors. On this day we added nearly 75 extending straight back, but then had to add another 30 or so turned 90 degrees! We're already strategizing how to handle the crowd more effectively next year.

Resurrection Sunday de-brief (an open letter)

It was a glorious morning, thanks in no small measure to your leadership. I am deeply grateful for your talents and dedication to our church and its worship. I hope folks were as effusive with you as they were with me about the music for the day and the whole service. Rumor has it that there were about 600 persons in worship, between the two services.

At 830AM: "Our God is here" rocked. I don't need to say anything else. It rocked. And it was so fun to have drums back! "Mighty to save" also rocked. 'Nuff said. I think we found the right tempo for everything when we got down to it in the service!

At 11AM: The choir nailed the anthem. Russ would have been proud! It peaked right on time. The bell piece was quite nice. I was nervous and so played the fugue with you. The end result was great, as you heard from the congregation. They don't know or care I played along where it wasn't written; they only know the joy you conveyed (and none of the nerves!). The cumulative effect was exactly what we would hope for: an expression of utter joy on Easter Day. I was so delighted to be able to have brass today. They lent drama and power that was icing on the cake for all they participated in. The communion responses, especially, were awesome thanks to the addition of brass. I had a nice worship moment when so many joined in the refrain for "Up from the grave he arose"! Thanks to Susan H for getting us in and in the right places; and to David S. for stepping in and conducting the introit from the rear. You sounded awesome for that piece, and I knew then that the rest of the service was going to take wing!

(In case you noticed me scouring the organ top during the benediction, I was looking for the volume that contained my postlude, there at the end of the service. It was long gone! Probably just as well: it would have been too long, and poor denouement for a tremendous musical worship experience.)

Thanks again for your hard work leading up today, including your leadership on Palm-Passion Sunday, Maundy Thursday and your presence and encouragement on Good Friday.

As a reminder, I am on vacation this week (in town, but laying low). No Tune Weavers rehearsal; no Chancel Choir rehearsal. Andy and Perrin will make the call on Prophets practice TU evening. Music stands are in the sanctuary. (M Banzhoff will be in town, and is planning to sit in on practice and worship next Sunday.) I'll be tidying up bell equipment and re-setting the chancel probably on Wednesday. Next Sunday at 11AM N Allen will sub for me, and Susan B will be singing a solo for the anthem.

I think that's it. Thank you again. Have a blessed Easter!

Christus vincit, Christus regnat; Christus imperat.

Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ rules.

Music for worship 040410

FirstLight

Opening

That's why we praise him

Forever

Halle, halle, halleluja

Offertory

Mighty to save

Communion Liturgy

Responses by Leon Roberts

Distribution: Our God is here

Closing

Jesus Christ is risen today

11AM

Jesus Christ is risen today (EASTER HYMN)

Thine is the glory (JUDAS MACCABEUS)

Halle, halle, halleluja

Introit

Palestrina, The strife is o'ver

Benediction (choir, organ and brass)

Handel, Hallelujah (from Messiah)

Anthem (choir, organ & brass)

Russ Nagy, Now, O Death, where is thy sting

Communion

Responses by Elise Eslinger

Distribution, Hillert, This is the feast

Prelude

Improvisation on LAUDES DOMINI

Offertory

Doug Wagner, Rondo jubilate (bells & brass)

Postlude

Guilmant, Paraphrase (Fanfare and Fugue) on JUDAS MACCABEUS