Choir Anthem Connection: Fall, 2014

The choir is learning a fairly new setting of "O God our help in ages past" by Rhonda Woodward. It's a really nice a capella setting in D major, with a flatted seventh. Altos begin, followed by tenors and sopranos and finally basses. The piece is in two large sections with fairly closely-related thematic material. Both sections have that flatted seventh thing going on. Last night at rehearsal, one of the singers remarked that it reminded her of "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." It does indeed have that similar folk-y sound, characterized by the flatted seventh, without the rhythmic drive of the popular song. The Woodward setting is remarkable for how it works with a very confined musical theme, but does so much with it. While I can't really call it a perfect piece of choral music, a distinct category in my imagination, it really is commendable. Woodward's setting has been recorded by the BYU choir in 2003. Luckily the publisher provided a demo recording of the complete arrangement at the time of publication, which I still have. (Don't tell anyone, but I dubbed it onto my personal "great choral music" compilation!) Woodward herself, according to the bio on the musical score lives nearby in SC; I don't know if she is still there. So here are some links to listen to and compare and contrast.

Woodward, "O God our Help in Ages Past" (excerpt), Brigham Young University Choir ("The Road Home")
(scroll down the playlist and click on the title to hear the excerpt)
Gordon Lightfoot, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

Music for 100514

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
Made me glad

Opening Song
Shine, Jesus, shine

Prayer of Praise Response/Confession
Glory to God whose goodness

Communion
Responses: Leon Roberts Great thanksgiving
Distribution: Jesus Messiah

Offertory   
The church’s one foundation

Closing Song
Refiner’s fire
            
11AM
Hymns
321, The church’s one foundation (AURELIA)
516, For the bread which you have broken (KINGDOM)

Confession Response
582, Glory to God whose goodness (GLORY TO GOD)

Doxology 712.3
In Gratitude and Humble Trust (FOREST GREEN)

Communion
Responses 556, 557, 558
Distribution: 515, 529

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: Voluntary on Kingdom
Offertory: Mark Miller, I believe  
The story goes that these words were found scratched on the walls of a church basement in Koln, Germany during the Holocaust, having been written by Jewish people trying to escape to safety. It lies in the same category of texts as those assembled by Charles Davidson into his children's cantata, "I never saw another butterfly." More precise determinations of the origins of the poem are impossible, and probably not necessary.
"I believe in the sun, even when it's not shining
I believe in love, even when I don't feel it.
I believe in God, even when God is silent."
Postlude: Michael Camidge, Gavotte in G Minor

Music for 092814

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
Shout to the Lord
Shout to the north

Opening Song
Lord, I lift your name on high

Prayer of Praise Response/Confession
Jubilate, everybody

Psalmody/Canticle
Jesus Christ is Lord (Canedo)

Offertory   
Cornerstone

Closing Song
In Christ alone
            
11AM
Hymns
263, All hail the power of Jesus’ name (DIADEM)
215, What wondrous love is this (WONDROUS LOVE)
264, At the name of Jesus (KINGS WESTON)

Confession Response
394.4, Laud and honor to the Father (WESTMINSTER ABBEY)

Prayer for Illumination
455, Listen to the word (LISTEN)

Psalmody/Canticle
Canedo, Jesus Christ is Lord

Doxology
In Gratitude and Humble Trust (FOREST GREEN)

Benediction Response
Three-Fold Amen (DANISH)

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: Samuel Barber, Wondrous love
Offertory:   Dan Goeller, Hear my cry
Nick Murphy, piano, Scott Roy, guitar, David Hekking, bass, Eli Barker, drums
Postlude: Marko Hakanpää (b.1970), Trumpet Tune (Trumpettisävelmä)

I learned of the organ postlude, by a young-ish Finnish composer, via Facebook! A video of the composer playing the piece popped up on an organist page I subscribe to, and I got the music via Lulu.com, the self-publishing site. Pretty cool!

Music for 091414

FirstLight

Gathering Song(s)

            No higher calling

Opening Song

            Standing on the promises

Prayer of Praise Response/Confession

            Surely it is God who saves me (STF 2030)

Psalmody/Canticle

            Old Testament Canticle: Exodus 15: Miriam’s Song (Barker)

Offertory        

            Jesus, firm foundation

 Prayers

            Lord’s Prayer (STF 2278)

Closing Song

            My hope is built

             

11AM

Hymns

            838, Standing on the promises (STANDING)

            353, My hope is built

            463, How firm a foundation (FOUNDATION)

Confession Response

            71.R. Surely it is God who saves me

Psalmody/Canticle

            Old Testament: Exodus 15: Miriam’s Song (Barker)

            Image
Doxology (FOREST GREEN)

In gratitude and humble trust...

Benediction Response

            Vaughan Williams, God be with you (GTG 541)

Instrumental/Organ Music

Prelude: John A. Behnke, Aria on My hope is built

            A setting of an alternate tune for the familiar hymn

Offertory:   Handel, Halleujah, Amen

Postlude:  Handel, Allegro from Concerto in F

Music for 090714

FirstLight

Gathering Song(s)

Praise, praise, praise the Lord

 

Opening Song

Bwana asifiwe and Praise to the Lord the Almighty

 

Prayer of Praise Response/Confession

You are my King (Amazing love)

 

Psalmody/Canticle

Psalm 149, Hallelujah, sing to God

 

Offertory        

Children of light

Closing Song

Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love (in D)

 

11AM

Hymns

612, We praise you, O God (KREMSER)

377, I want to walk as a child of the light (HOUSTON)

203, Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love

 

Confession Response

This is my commandment (image)

 

Psalmody/Canticle

Psalm 149: GtG #550, Give praise to the Lord (LAUDATE DOMINUM) 

Doxology 
OLD HUNDREDTH

Benediction Response 
Natalie Sleeth, Go now in peace

 

Instrumental/Organ Music

Prelude: singing: GtG 390, Praise, praise, praise the Lord 
(LOUEZ LE SEIGNEUR) 

Offertory:   Guiseppe Pitoni, Cantate Domino

Cantate Domino canticum novum

Laus eius in ecclesia sanctorum
           Laetetur Israel in eo qui fecit eum
           Et filiae Sion exultent in rege suo.

          Sing to the Lord a new canticle:

          let his praise be in the church of the saints.

          Let Israel rejoice in him that made him:

          and let the children of Sion be joyful in their king.

Postlude:  Arr. Charles Callahan, Fugue on Laudate Dominum

Music for 081714

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
Turn my heart, O God
He knows my name

Opening Song
Here I am to worship

Prayer of Praise Response/Confession
El Shaddai

Psalmody/Canticle
Psalm 133, O look and wonder (MIREN QUE BUENO)

Offertory  
More love, more power

Prayers
Goodness is stronger than evil (STF 2219)

Closing Song
Let us build a house (GtG 301)

11AM
Hymns
305, Come sing, O church, in joy (DARWELLS 148TH)
301, Let us build a house (TWO OAKS)
318, In Christ there is no east of west (ST PETER)

Confession Response
El Shaddai

Psalmody/Canticle
Psalm 133, GtG #397, O look and wonder (MIREN QUE BUENO)

Doxology
OLD HUNDREDTH

Prayers
750, Goodness is stronger than evil (GOODNESS IS STRONGER)

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: William Harris, Pastorale-Prelude
Offertory:   Dan Locklair, Adagio (“…hallowed be thy name…”),
from Salem Suite
Postlude:  Léon Boëllmann, Final-Marche, from Second Suite for Organ

Music for 071314

FirstLight
Gathering: Jubilate, everybody; Praise to the living God
Opening: Dayenu
Confession: El shaddai
Illumination: Open your ears, O faithful people
Offertory: Thy word
Communion Responses: Great Thanksgiving by Leon Roberts
Communion Distribution: You are my all in all
Closing: You shall go out with joy (STF)

11AM
49. The God of Abraham praise (LEONI)
459, O Word of God incarnate (MUNICH)
Confession: El shaddai (image)
Illumination: 453, Open your ears, O faithful people (TORA ORA)
Communion Responses: Leon Roberts: #556 557, 558
Communion Distribution: 509, All who hunger, gather gladly (HOLY MANNA)
        520, Taste and see (TASTE AND SEE)
Benediction Response: 80, You shall go out with joy (THE TREES OF THE FIELD)
Prelude: Hermann Schroeder, Intermezzo IV
Offertory: Marcel Dupre, Communion Antiphon V
Postlude: Pachelbel, Toccata in E Minor