Music for 082811

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
Be still
Holy ground

Opening Song
Holy is the Lord

Confession
Halle, halle, hallelujah

Scripture/Proclamation
Speak, O Lord

Offertory
Yesterday, today and forever

Closing Song
Knowing you

11 AM
Hymns
488, The God of Abraham praise (LEONI)
Whom shall I send (DEUS TUORUM MILITUM)

Confession
2026, Halle, halle, hallelujah (HALLE, HALLE)

Doxology
592, OLD HUNDREDTH

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: Arr Callahan, Voluntary on Deus Tuorum Militum

Offertory: Pitoni, Cantate Domino
Cantate Domino, canticum novum,
laus ejus in ecclesia sanctorum.
Laetetur Israel in eo,
qui fecit eum,
et filii Sion exsultent,
in rege suo.

Sing to the Lord a new song,
God’s praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let all of Israel rejoice now,
in the One who made them,
and children of Zion be joyful,
in God their Sovereign.

Postlude: Lefebure-Wely, Sortie in E-Flat

Music for worship 081411

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
Sanctuary
Seek ye first

Opening Song
I will call upon the Lord

Confession
Cares chorus

Offertory
On Jordan’s stormy banks (Andy Gwynn, Lisle Gwynn)

Doxology
Give thanks

Prayers
On Jordan's stormy banks (instrumental)

Closing Song
I have decided

11 AM
Hymns
416, Christ is made the sure foundation (WESTMINSTER ABBEY)
339, Be thou my vision (SLANE)
408, Where cross the crowded ways of life (GERMANY)

Confession
579, Glory be to the Father (GREATOREX)

Anthem
Arr. Hal Hopson, Come, thou fount of every blessing

Doxology
592, OLD HUNDREDTH

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: Brethren, We Have Met to Worship Setting by John Carter
Offertory: Be Thou My Vision Setting by John Carter
Postlude: Prelude in B Flat J. S. Bach

Remember, worship at 915AM at BMPCNC this Sunday, and 11AM worship at Anderson Auditorium in Montreat (call time for choristers is 1030AM).

Crossover

NPR had an article this morning on cross sounds in country music. Big names like Eric Church and Blake Shelton were mentioned as was this song by Jason Aldean:



Yeah, he breaks into rap after about a minute! Of course what comes to my mind is Charlie Daniels and "The Devil went down to Georgia" and what amounted to rap for each verse (he did sing the refrain).

Several years ago when I was putting together bluegrass events at church as bridge events, I had a note by post after one event. "I don't know what you would call it, " referring to Old School Freight Train's set, "but it certainly wasn't bluegrass music." It was definitely bluegrass, but just not your grandfather's bluegrass. OSFT opened shortly thereafter for a major, major act in Nashville, their big breakout performance.



I heard of Mumford and Sons right after they were in Asheville on tour back in spring. Rock + Celtic. This version leaves out (it's just a dead gap) the "dirty word." It's easy enough to find versions of the video that include the complete lyric.



Then the youth used this song by Ben Harper in their photo montage for Summer Mission Sunday last week. African percussion, vocal harmonies, and a little bit of plinky piano, that screamed section about 3/4 way through, a little bit of Delta blues guitar work. Of course, he kind of gives it away in the opening of the video when he walks into a world musical instrument store!



I think one of the best things happening in music these days is the cross-fertilization, or synthesis, or fusion or whatever you want to call it. There's plenty of room for "pure" examples of a genre, but I think growth is happening where the edges blur together. It's been said that JS Bach himself didn't "create" anything new in the baroque sound, he merely synthesized (incredibly) strands that were in the air so to speak. Enjoy!

New piano

I've put a short recording of two Chopin preludes in the Music sidebar. Nick Murphy was one of three performers who helped us break in the new Yamaha piano on the day we dedicated it. The performance is first-rate, and the new piano sounds wonderful!

Music for 080711

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
Blessed be your name
Mighty to save

Opening Song
Prince of Peace (You are holy)

Confession
Celtic Alleluia

Offertory
All creatures of our God and king (M Barker, keyboard)

Doxology
Give thanks

Prayers
Cambodian Lord’s Prayer

Closing Song
Here I am, Lord

11 AM
Hymns
465, Here, O Lord, your servants gather (TOKYO)
Lonely the boat (BAI)
525, Here I am, Lord (HERE I AM)

Confession
2043, Celtic Alleluia (CELTIC ALLELUIA)

Anthem
Gounod, Sanctus (from St. Cecelia Mass)
Dr. Kenneth M. Scott, piano

Doxology
592, OLD HUNDREDTH

Prayers
Cambodian Lord’s Prayer

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: Arr. Donald Wrytzen, All creatures of our God and king
Offertory: Chopin, Prelude in E Minor
Chopin, Prelude in C Minor
Nick Murphy, piano
Postlude: Pachelbel, Toccata in E Minor

Review: A sacred place (CD)

Rufino Zaragoza has written a very nice set of music that makes for a deeply contemplative album, "A sacred place" published by Oregon Catholic Press. The pieces feature primarily piano and flute, with 'cello, guitar and percussion (including handbells) on various of the songs. Most of the pieces are idiomatic, but one set is based on "historic melodies." With titles in Spanish, one assumes they are Hispanic in origin, though the liner notes don't provide details. The music doesn't range too far in it's harmonic language nor its technical demands of the performers. As such it is well-suited as contemplative music. + + +