Review: Ruthie Foster, Let it burn

I am listening to this entire album once again this morning, and finding that I am nowhere near tired of listening to Ruthie Foster! Born in Texas and infused with a rich palette of musical influences, Foster's sultry, soulful, sensuous singing is a delight even on repeated listening.  This album was recorded in NOLA and includes some heavy-hitting back-ups on a couple of the tracks: George Porter, Jr., the Blind Boys of Alabama and William Bell.  This album features more covers and fewer original songs than her other releases, but all that has done is whet my appetite.  (My kids enjoy hearing Adele sing "Set Fire to the Rain" on pop radio, but Foster's take is incredible.)  The orchestrations could easily have overtaken the voice, so kudos to the producers who let the voice predominate.  + + + +

Pentecost 2012

We re-installed our cut-paper dove, but added with 

it with two red cut-paper flames.  The install went fine and the final effect was good.  I'd like to do more of the flames for next year, maybe from each light fixture and vary the heights.

Music for 052712 Pentecost

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
Wa, wa, wa emimimo

Opening Song
Spirit, Spirit of gentleness (PH 319)

Prayer of Praise Response
Spirit of the living God

Offertory
As the wind song

Communion
Responses by Leon Roberts
Distribution: Our God is here

Closing Song
Jesus Messiah
            
11AM
Hymns
129, Come, O Spirit, dwell among us (EBENEZER)
131, Wind who makes all winds that blow (ABERYSTWYTH)

Prayer of Praise Response
322, Spirit of the living God (LIVING GOD)

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

Music during Communion
Responses by Leon Roberts
Distribution:
314, Like the murmur of the dove’s song
316, Breathe on me, breath of God

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude:  Titelouze, Trio on Veni Creator Spiritus
Offertory:   David Ashley White, Come down, O love divine
Chancel Choir
Postlude:  Titelouze, Fugue on Veni Creator Spiritus

Music for 052012

FirstLight

Gathering Song(s)
Made me glad
Glorify thy name

Opening Song
All hail the power of Jesus’ name

Prayer of Praise Response

Glory to God whose goodness shines

Offertory
Jude Doxology

Closing Song
Fairest

11AM

Hymns
143, All hail the power of Jesus’ name (DIADEM)
379, My hope is built (SOLID ROCK)
441, I love thy kingdom, Lord (ST. THOMAS)

Prayer of Praise Response

2026, Halle, halle, halleuja (CARRIBEAN)

Anthem

Andre Thomas, When the trumpet sounds
Where shall I be when the trumpet sounds
When it sounds so loud till it wake up the dead.
Tell me, where shall I be when the trumpet sounds

Doxology

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

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: Ralph Vaughan Williams, O Clap your hands
Psalm 47: God has gone up with a shout, the Lord
                 With the sound of the trumpet.
Offertory: Healy Willan, Voluntary on MILES LANE
Postlude: Edward Elgar, Military March Number 1, in D

Not one, not two, but three

We'll be singing the hymn "All hail the power of Jesus' name" this week at both services.  We have a nice arrangement using CORONATION that our little band does nicely at FirstLight; we'll sing the standard hymnal arrangement of CORONATION at 11AM. 

I've done it before, but for kicks last night at choir rehearsal I had the singers waltz through DIAMDEM.  Though we have tried it before, most singers claimed to have never heard it before.  Of course, I told them that one of the best ways to get a roomful of Methodists excited is to sing this tune.  We also tried singing "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound" to DIADEM ("...was BLIND BUT..."), and explored singing "Amazing Grace" to the tune for the theme song for the old TV show "Gilligan's Island" (it really works). 

But more seriously, I mentioned that in the 1960's-era edition of the Methodist hymnal, there was a third tune associated with the text "All hail the power..."  MILES LANE didn't make it into the 1990's era book, but remains firmly implanted in my mind.  On festive days we'd sing this hymn text and wend our way, with the help of a gifted organist, through all three tunes!  The version of DIADEM in the Presbyterian Hymnal unfortunately is in B-flat, leading to a very high and scream-y F in the melody, making it not terribly feasible for congregational use. 

This Sunday I'll play a setting of MILES LANE by Healy Willian, we'll sing CORONATION, and I'll have some fond memories of of DIADEM while we sing and worship.

New CD

Our own Donna Marie Todd has been busy.  She is putting the finishing touches on a book, Butterfly Girl.  But musically she is preparing to release a music CD, a collection of favorite hymns, entitled Faith of our Fathers.  You can listen to a couple of samples here.  The CD includes the talents of Will Straughan.  Keep an eye out for it and get a copy of it when it's released!

Music for 051312

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
This is my commandment
Better is one day

Opening Song
Love the Lord

Prayer of Praise Response
We fall down

Offertory
Everlasting God

Closing Song
Blest be the tie that binds
            
11AM
Hymns
150, Come, Christians, join to sing (SPANISH HYMN)
335, Though I may speak (O WALY WALY)
438, Blest be the tie that binds (DENNIS)

Prayer of Praise Response
Glory to God whose goodness shines (VASILE)

Anthem
Arr. Dennis Allen, Come thou fount of every blessing

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

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude:  Arr. Wayne Kerr, The Shepherd’s Psalm
Offertory:  Arr. Barker, Voluntary on DENNIS
Postlude:  TBA Organ