Lutheran Kantor

Issues Etc. – Top 5 Hymns

Chris — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 05:53:35 +0000

Over the last few days I’ve been getting caught up on some of the Issue Etc programs that have been diligently downloaded to my iPod. In particular, I have especially appreciated the 5-part series on the Top 5 hymns voted by Issues Etc listeners. I anticipated that “Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heart” would make it, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that the top hymn was “God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It.”

These are all well worth listening to. And if you haven’t decided to have “God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It” sung at your funeral service, I think you’ll be convinced that you might want to add it.

Here are the links to each part of the Issues Etc series.

God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It (Pastor Wil Weedon)
Thy Strong Word (Dr. Arthur Just)
Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heart (Rev. Paul McCain)
The Church’s One Foundation (Dr. Arthur Just)
My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less (Pastor Bill Cwirla)

J.S. Bach: The Music Lives On

Chris — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:12:53 +0000

Each year on July 28, the church commemorates Kantor J.S. Bach. It was on this date in 1750 that Bach — musician, composer, and servant of the church — entered into eternal rest.

When I think of Bach and his death, the first thing that comes to mind is the closing chorale to his St. John Passion. He closes this Passion with the final stanza of Martin Schalling’s hymn text “Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart.” (Starts at 8:58 in the YouTube video).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD5N0Ubpvns

Lord, let at last Thine angels come,
To Abr’hams bosom bear me home,
That I may die unfearing;
And in its narrow chamber keep
My body safe in peaceful sleep
Until Thy reappearing.
And then from death awaken me,
That these mine eyes with joy may see,
O Son of God, Thy glorious face,
My Savior and my fount of grace.
Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend,
my prayer attend,
And I will praise Thee without end. (LSB 708, st. 3)

Bach’s setting has endeared me more and more to this hymn. It is a hymn of trust, of hope, of comfort, and of joy for the Christian who looks to the gracious face and work of Christ in the midst of their own death and eventual resurrection. For good reason, this hymn has accompanied many on the journey to their Savior. At nearly every funeral I’m the organist for, I’ll play either the Walther or Krebs (usually both) organ settings of this hymn as pre-service music (along with pieces by Bach).

So today I thank God for the work and faith of Bach and the treasures he left behind that have enriched us (for me particularly the organ chorales and sacred choral music). Here are several posts from the archive vault on Bach and a few of my favorite musical pieces. Soli Deo Gloria.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=md5lDmPbX8Y

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mlb0cr-k8PY

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Soundtrack of Life

Chris — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 05:47:23 +0000

Imagine watching Star Wars or some other favorite movie with one big change: no music. The plot and characters would still be there, but we would miss that familiar music that moves the story forward.

Movie soundtracks are not random bits of music to cover dialogue or video sequences, but are often composed specifically to complement the action on the silver screen. John Williams, the movie composer, (not John Williams, the classical guitarist) is a master of this, weaving themes and variations throughout the two or so odd hours of film and then providing the continuity between the prequels and sequels. Who can forget the opening to Star Wars or the menacing Darth Vader theme? (Side note: If you happen to be a fan of movie soundtracks, the classical radio station in Portland, OR has a weekly program devoted to the music behind the movies — The Score.)

And yet, do Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader even know that there is a soundtrack backing up their lives? In the case of Darth Vader, it was a soundtrack that accompanied his entire life from birth to death. What is your soundtrack?

If you read Pastor Peters’ blog Pastoral Meanderings, you may remember his post from last week on the Liturgical Life in Leipzig and Clarksville. If you don’t read his blog, you should. Pastor Peters briefly compared the time of Bach when the music of the church was literally their accompaniment to daily life to today when “Lutheran” music (if even used) could be limited to an hour or so on Sunday morning. While Pastor Peters didn’t specifically state the question like this, I think he would concur with asking, “What is your soundtrack the rest of the week?”

Why does it matter, you ask? (That kind of sounds like Yoda, don’t you think?) It’s not an academic question. It turns out to be very practical. What we hear, just like what we read and see, influence and teach us. Does what we listen to help to sustain us in our journey from birth to death or does it conflict, muddle, or provide little value? In “Hymnody as Teacher of the Faith” Kantor Richard Resch emphasizes that music is not harmless or innocent or just entertainment. It is a powerful teacher for both good and bad, especially theology in the church. This article is particularly interesting as it discusses children and music and teaching the faith through the use and teaching of our hymnals.

I think there is merit in centering our daily soundtracks with our hymnals. As a church musician and Lutheran, next to the Bible and catechism, Lutheran Service Book is a constant companion. Whether it be singing hymns, reading hymns, humming hymns, playing hymns, playing pieces based on hymns, or listening to choral or instrumental hymn based recordings — most of it all comes back to the hymnal. The words and tunes become hardwired to the soul so that even when I don’t have a hymnal, iPod, CD, or computer, my soundtrack still works. The words of comfort, the words of reproof, the words of joy are always there. And I hope they remain fixed in my life as long as I live.

I understand that musicians may have an unfair advantage in this respect since we can read the notes on the page and create/play our own music. Yet, whether or not we are musically inclined, there are a number of edifying gifts that we have in both hymn and non-hymn based choral and instrumental recordings.

If you’re looking for some suggestions to build (or supplement) your soundtrack, here are a few suggestions. Pastor Peters alluded to some of his favorite recordings: the Paul Manz CDs and collection of Bach. Nathan at Southern Lutheran Kantor compiled a list of recommended church music recordings (with a few of my suggestions). While I can’t say my CD collection is the definitive or even complete collection for a Lutheran soundtrack, it might be of interest to those wanting to start one. If you’re interested, you can find my list here. You can also find a list of several online streaming sacred music programs here.

I’d like to end with one last thought: My intent isn’t to be legalistic and demand that we only listen to sacred music. I also listen to and support my local classical radio station and I enjoy classical, folk, Celtic, and Nordic music. What I would encourage, though, is an intentional choice in what we listen to and a recommendation to have sacred music at its core.

What is your soundtrack?

On New Music

Chris — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:47:00 +0000

Of making many books there is no end . . . Ecclesiastes 12:12

And so goes the publishing industry. Now don’t get me wrong: I love books. I’m eagerly anticipating the FedEx delivery truck dropping off a box from CPH on Friday with the new edition of Walther’s Law and Gospel, a volume of Sasse, and two volumes of essays by Robert Preus.

As a church musician I get excited (or at least a bit interested) when music publishers, primarily CPH and MorningStar Music, release their new music (which CPH has been doing over the last few weeks). Is there a new treasure waiting to be found? A new (or old) text just waiting to burst in song? Did any of the composers on my short list compose anything new?

For those of you who have watched and studied Singing the Faith: Living the Lutheran Music Heritage from the Good Shepherd Institute, you may remember Kantor Kevin Hildebrand’s presentation in Section 4. In his segment he answers the question “Why is there a need for new compositions when there are already so many well written pieces to draw from?“ His answer: Composers, influenced by the past, have an inner compulsion to create well crafted expressions of the church’s song to nurture the faithful. It is a privilege for the composer to hand down these texts and tunes to the next generation.

We shouldn’t toss out or turn our backs on the treasures of the past. But neither should we ignore the quality treasures being created now. But with all the publishing houses, it is overwhelming to digest, let alone skim, their frequent musical output. And so out of necessity, both for the wallet and sanity, I focus on a limited number of publishers and composers UNLESS someone I know/respect makes a compelling case for something else.

In the ideal world, all sacred music would be of high quality (both musically and theologically) and every musician could play and/or sing it. In the real world, the musical and theological quality is inconsistent and musicians vary widely in their skill set. Looking at publisher’s websites can be mind numbing with so many choices and limited preview options. But I’m glad to discover that both CPH and MorningStar Music are becoming more “musician friendly”.

Most music publishers offer partial PDF previews of their newer musical pieces and books. CPH has recently gone a step further with their new choral and handbell resources. You can download the complete score to preview as a PDF, BUT it is not printable. That seems like a reasonable compromise to protect their copyright interests, while allowing an ample opportunity to preview the piece. For the organists out there, we are still limited to a PDF with a few pages from the music book. As usual, most items have an accompanying MP3 recording.

The ability to do a music search on a music publisher’s website is often hit and miss. For the life of me, I can’t find the “old” music search form on the CPH website. However, kudos to MorningStar Music on their advanced search functionality for organ and choral music with drop down menus. Their search criteria is slick and easy to follow. This is how I’d like to catalog my own music library.
- Composer, tune name, difficulty, and liturgical season for organ music
- Composer, voicing, instrument, scripture search. liturgical season, special service/occasion, and topics for choral music

With all the published music available, it can be a daunting task for the church musician to sort through and select quality music on a limited budget. Each musician and parish have unique circumstances, but it seems that publishers, musicians, and worship commissions could band together to create suggested repertoire lists to build from. A few organists had a foray into this last summer.

I’ll end this post with one final thought: Thank you to all the composers who create those well crafted expressions of the church’s song. Your music enriches the lives of our congregations.

Fellowship & Church Musicians

Chris — Thu, 13 May 2010 07:00:18 +0000

Put a group of church musicians in a room and you’ll probably see this: camaraderie. Whether it be old friends or new faces, a fellowship develops from a common musical bond and shared experiences.

Over the last few summers I’ve had the opportunity to attend the Organist Workshops at Concordia Theological Seminary. It’s frankly amazing to see how a group of strangers from across the country, young and old, newbies and experienced, quickly become friends. The sheet music starts coming out. Music recommendations are bantered back and forth. Stories are told. Advice is sought. We find that we are not alone.

To a certain extent, I think church musicians can get isolated in the parish. Yes, the musician is usually well integrated in the life of the church, but he sometimes yearns for the collegiality of the fellow musician that understands things only another musician can fully understand.

There are a number of groups that helps foster these relationships like the American Guild of Organists and Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. I think it would be great if the LCMS local Circuits and Districts would intentionally bring their musicians together to study, to sing, and to fellowship on a regular basis. Some may already be doing this, but it isn’t widespread.

For me, this blog is a way to share my thoughts and experiences on my journey as a church musician. Perhaps some of these things might resonate with you. I’d welcome any thoughts and suggestions you might have in your journey. God’s richest blessings to you.

This post was partly inspired by my reminiscing about the past workshops and also an e-mail from Steve, a fellow reader and musician with an organ music recommendation for Ascension. I’ll leave you with Steve’s recommendation -- Festival Alleluia by Dan Miller based on Lasst Uns Erfreuen. Happy Ascension Day.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL9w3MQsxz8

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The Struggle of Daily Prayer

Chris — Tue, 11 May 2010 04:54:44 +0000

I have a confession to make: it is a struggle to daily be in the Word and prayer. It is not for lack of resources — my bookshelves have a number of good devotionals and prayerbooks. The issue is my sinful self can always find leeches that suck the time out of the day.

Rather than wanting to feast on and be spiritually nourished in Word and prayer, Satan entices us with “worthy” opportunities to occupy our day and distracts us from the good things of God. I’m reminded of the traditional reading for Compline – “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.” Sometimes the roaring is more like a sweet purring.

Through no intentional planning of my own, I opened up a devotional book this past Sunday morning that I haven’t used for awhile – God’s Word for Today by O Hallesby – and this was the reading I stumbled upon. The words were not earth shattering; they were simple words that I needed to hear that day. Perhaps they resonate with you as well.

Many believers leave the nurture of their souls to chance. They read the Bible and pray if they “get time.” Satan sees to it that they do not “get” time.

In the morning they lie a-bed a little too long, and the many duties of the day begin to press for attention; they decide to do their praying a little later in the day.

At noon their minds are full of the many things they have to do. Then, perhaps, they do not even think of feeding their souls.

In the evening thy are so deathly tired that, as a rule, they go to sleep before they have prayed at all.

No, we do not get time to read and pray. We must take time for that. We must arrange our daily program in such a way that we have time. We must arise early enough in the morning to have the time and peace of mind to be still before the Lord before daring to go out into the labors, temptations, struggles, and sufferings of the day. Those who begin the day with a quiet season before the face of the Lord receive something that will stand them in good stead throughout the whole day, something which will help them to maintain a holy poise.

We all recognize the necessity of bodily nurture. For that we make provision thoroughly and regularly. Three or four meals a day.

Brother and sister! Care just as regularly for your soul. No one will be more surprised at the results than you. You will see that there is nothing magical about living a rich and vital life in God.

The simple and regular use of the means of grace will impart to the sincere soul exactly the thing which the Lord has promised: life, yea, life abundant. (Reading for May 9 – God’s Word for Today by O Hallesby)

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Johann Walter – Composer and Poet

Chris — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 03:55:17 +0000

On April 24 the church commemorates Johann Walter, the first Lutheran kantor (brief bio). This year I’m sharing a selection of his poem “In Praise of the Noble Art of Music” that Carl Schalk included in Music in Early Lutheranism. Schalk notes that Walter’s musical “work was clearly related to the theology of the church and his understanding—which he derived from Luther—that the role of music in the church was to proclaim the Word rather than to interpret it.”

That such unmerited free grace
(Which God from love for all our race
Had promised in His Word) might be
Kept fresh in human memory
And move the heart to high delight
In praising God both day and night—

This is the weightiest reason why
God music did at once supply.
Then too, since sin acquired at birth
Would bring to Adam’s seed on earth
Much woe and—earth itself now spoiled—
Small joy in all for which they toiled,
As antidote against that blight,
To keep man’s life from wilting quite,
And also to rejoice the heart,
God soon supplied sweet music’s art.
——
I have just named two reasons why
God gave us music from on high.
These reasons teach us we must use
The gift from heaven as God would choose:
By it let God be glorified;
Then let it be our help and guide.

Manz Harmonizations for Lent & Easter

Chris — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 07:33:23 +0000

As I was filing away some of the Lenten and Easter music, I realized Paul Manz’s Varied Hymn Accompaniments for Lent and Easter got a lot of use this year. I particularly appreciate that these collections are accessible for organist and congregation alike. The tunes are clearly brought out with interesting harmonies and rhythms that don’t tonally stray too far from what is expected while still providing the necessary support for congregational singing. One of my favorite harmonizations is Manz’s adaptation of his prelude on Jesus Christ is Risen Today for hymn singing with initial accents on the 2nd and 4th beats.

Morningstar Music is offering these at bargain prices of $8.00 and $7.50 respectively. They are valuable resources that can add some variety to your hymn playing while not provoking your congregation to cast stones at you. Yes, metaphorical stones can be cast if the harmonization ceases to support the singing.

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Seeing Christ in Word and Sacraments

Chris — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 06:46:14 +0000

Seeing is believing. Those were the words Thomas essentially said when the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” Thomas had not seen, so the skeptic in him did not believe. As I reread the Gospel lesson for this past Sunday (John 20:19-31) I am reminded that we do see Christ in Word and Sacraments and there receive all the benefits of His death and resurrection — forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. We hear the Word read and preached. We put on the baptismal waters that made us His. We touch the bread of life that was wounded for us. We taste the blood of Christ poured out for us. Like Thomas, our faith is strengthened by the word of the Lord and we respond with a joyous “My Lord and my God!”

A wonderful choral selection that my iPod reminded me of for the 2nd Sunday of Easter is “Although the Doors Were Closed” by James Clemens. I know it from the Concordia Theological Seminary’s Kantorei CD “Te Deum”. You can hear another choir singing it by listening to an episode of Sing for Joy produced by St Olaf College. Go here, click on the April 19, 2009 link, start the episode, and scroll to 10 minutes 50 seconds into the episode. Easter blessings to you.

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Easter Joy!

Chris — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 11:50:54 +0000

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! A blessed Easter to you all.

“Joy to the Heart” by K. Lee Scott is one of my all time favorite Easter anthems. (The piece starts 39 seconds into the video). After that, you’ll find an Issues Etc show with Pastor Will Weedon discussing the piece and an organ setting of Christ Has Arisen, Alleulia (LSB 466).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRUCME9Clvk

Issues Etc -- Joy to the Heart

Christ Has Risen, Alleluia (Mfurahini Haleluya -- LSB 466)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qjp4_M7saE

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