From the Organ Bench - October 2009

Greetings Friends! Rather than a topic this month, I thought that I would highlight some of the choral music that the Sanctuary Choir is preparing. My hope is that this might give you additional inside into what you will be hearing each week. As always, if you have a question about anything musical, feel free to ask me. Here is the choral “lay out” for October.

October 4, 2009 Anthem - “ABBA” - lyrics by Susan Bentall Boersma, music by Craig Courtney
On this Sunday we observe World Communion Sunday and as such it gives us the chance to concentrate of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. This anthem takes the perspective of God the Father observing and even participating in the Passover Meal with Jesus and his disciples. The anthem so “communion-centric” that Pastor Bob and I have moved it for this week, to a position just before the Invitation to the Lord's Supper. There will be a note from the lyricists in the bulletin that week explaining her thoughts on the God the Father role in the as she wrote the anthem. Listen for a trio part sung by the Soprano, Alto and Tenor sections, against a “Basso Profundo” line sung by the basses. This occurs a the beginning and the end of the anthem. One final note: This anthem has nothing to do with the rock group from Sweden. Abba is an Aramaic word that roughly translates into English as “Daddy”.

October 11, 2009 Anthem - “Simple Gifts” - traditional Shaker Tune arranged by John Coates, Jr.
This is a nice simple arrangement of the Shaker tune, made famous by Aaron Copeland when he included the it in his orchestral work, Appalachian Spring. The melody starts out in with a soli by the men and then bounces between the sections on succeeding verses. When ever I read through this text, I think that we might learn a lesson from it that is applicable to our hectic modern lives; “'Tis a gift to be simple, 'Tis a gift to be free, 'Tis a gift to set down where you ought to be”.

October 18, 2009 Anthem - “Who Will Be A Witness?”
This is a traditional African-American spiritual set to new words in an arrangement by Donald Moore. The lyrics ask the question “Who will be a witness to my Lord?” Ponder the question as you listen to this anthem. The tune has a driving beat, even though is written in a minor mode. I must admit that this is one of those pieces where the piano accompaniment is just plain fun to play! Feel free to toe tap along.

October 25, 2009 Anthem - “If Thou But Suffer God To Guide Thee”
On this Sunday we observe the anniversary of the posting of Martin Luther's “95 Theses of Contention” with Reformation Sunday. The tune for this weeks anthem is “Wer nur den Lieben Gott”, written by George Neumark in 1657. The lyrics were translated from the original German by Catherine Winkworth in 1863. You can find this hymn on page 282 of the Presbyterian Hymnal. We again find ourselves with a melody in a minor mode, but the arranger Jody W. Lindh has thrown some major “curves” into the mix. The piece starts out simply enough with Tenor and Bass singing the melody in unison against a simple accompaniment. In the second verse, all caution is thrown to the wind as the Tenors and Basses take on a syncopated accompaniment to the Soprano and Alto melody. The final verse is a bit tamer as it is becomes a grander four part setting of the chorale.

Peace,
Tim Tarantino

Past messages from the Director of Music:
September 2009: From the Organ Bench - September 2009
July 2009: From the Organ Bench - July 2009
April 2009: From the Organ Bench - April 2009
November 2008: From the Organ Bench - November 2008