A sonata is a multi-movement instrumental work, occasionally through-composed, meant to express a composer's creativity and highlight the solo instrument in question. Originating from the archaic Italian word "sonare" ("to sound"), it is meant to provide a clear musical distinction from the cantata ("to sing"). This Sunday morning we hear excerpts from two beloved sonatas of the violin and organ repertoires: the I. Andante and II. Allegro from Handel's "Sonata No. 1 in A Major" with violinist Harmony Tucker and the closing fugue from Mendelssohn's "Organ Sonata No. 2."
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From the organ this Sunday, two distinctive settings of tunes from the African-American tradition on this Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend. Composer William Bolcom's collection of "Gospel Preludes" for the organ are a celebrated and artful ode to the African-American songbook. At the Prelude, we'll hear "Jesus Calls Us;O'er the Tumult", a 19th century hymn beautifully illustrating how Jesus beckons us over "life's wild, restless, sea" inviting us to find solace in his presence. Bolcom sets the work in a traditional Baroque ornamented chorale prelude form while employing harmonies based in the blues, gospel, and jazz idioms. Composer Richard Elliott, well-known as Principal Organist for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Temple Square, offers a sprightly and exuberant setting of the spiritual "Every Time I Feel the Spirit" at the Postlude. An accessible work that also references the chromatic characteristics of French organ composers such as Vierne and Widor, the piece joyfully exclaims the excitement and wonder of the Spirit at work. With the guidance of the Light of Epiphany, we follow our own road home in this New Year of 2022.
At the 9:00 a.m. "eclectic" service, we join in singing Carols of Light on this Epiphany Sunday along with a few songs from the road home. Bassist Peter Strening, Staff Singer Blair Carpenter and I lead the music this Sunday morning. Three carols of the Epiphany in inspired creative settings will be prayerfully offered at the 11:00 a.m. service. From the organ, the German 16th century chorale "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" (How lovely shines the morning star) begins worship in a revered sectional setting by Baroque composer Dietrich Buxtehude. If you listen carefully, you may even hear the star in the opening measures...:) J.S. Bach's bold and energetic setting of the new year chorale "In dir ist freude" (In thee is gladness) brings the service to a joyous close. The Chancel Choir offers "What Star Is This?" arranged by David Ashley White. Based on the 15th century tune "Puer Nobis" by Michael Praetorius, the Charles Coffin text relates the journey of the Magi to our own quest for the inner light of God. The music of the Christmas season occupies a special place in our collective musical palette—beautiful expressions of our faith and a deep nostalgia. Come join us this Christmas Eve for a blessed worship experience as we celebrate the
gift of the Nativity. At the Prelude, the Plymouth Ringers offer two Catalan carols: "Ríu, Ríu, Chíu" and "Fum, Fum, Fum." Two German chorale settings ("From Heaven Above to Earth I Come" and "In dulci jubilo") by Johann Sebastian Bach will be heard from the organ. Frank Martin's contemporary "Three Christmas Carols" will be offered by vocalist Blair Carpenter, flutist Aaron McGrew, and myself on piano. The Chancel Choir sings a paraphrase of the medieval poem "Yes, Indeed!" in a delightfully quirky setting by Daniel Pinkham. An intimate rendering of "In Bethlehem Town" by Robert Lau follows the evening's Christmas Meditation. A warm and playful organ setting of the French carol "Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella" by Keith Chapman closes our Christmas Eve celebration. And join us for the 11:00 a.m. service on the Sunday after Christmas for a casual service of carols selected by...you! Vocalist Lucas Jackson joins us for a few holiday classics from Vince Guaraldi and John Lennon as well. Let's "gather around the piano" with some yuletide cheer! At 9:00, the hopeful message of freedom and perseverance is heard in Paul McCartney's "Blackbird" as we gather. Advent carols bring this season to a close with bassist Peter Strening, staff singer Blair Carpenter, and guitarist Alan Skowron joining.
At 11:00, Marian expressions are heard through a setting of "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" by Johannes Brahms, the Marian antiphon "How Fair and How Pleasant Art Thou" by Marcel Dupré, and a setting of the "Magnificat" by David Ashley White offered by the Chancel Choir. And please join us at 6:00 p.m. for the annual Longest Night Service with beautiful musical offerings of this fleeting Advent season by harpist Alaina Bongers, flutist Rebecca Quillen, and a vocal quartet including Blair Carpenter, Janet Hanlon, Lucas Jackson, and Aaron McGrew. Songs of expectation, longing, and joy this Third Sunday of Advent
At 9:00 a.m., eclectic sounds from the folk, country, and jazz idioms and a moment from the organ round out the morning's musical offerings. Bassist Peter Strening, Resident Ukulelist Stuart Yoshida, and cantor Lucas Jackson join us. At 11:00 a.m., the Plymouth Ringers offer the classic Advent carol "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus" to the early American tune "Jefferson" from Southern Harmony (1835). A riveting and contemporary toccata on the hymn tune "Helmsley," associated with the Advent text "Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending," closes the service with a joyful musical exclamation point. The Chancel Choir sings the gentle "A Carol for Advent" by well-known hymn writer and composer Carl Schalk. The message of patient waiting in this fleeting season is beautifully expressed with a text by Rae E. Whitney. Violinist Harmony Tucker plays the accompanying descant. A service of eclectic musical offerings at 9:00 with a jazzy take on the Gregorian Chant melody "Rorate caeli" (also referred to as the Advent Prose), a renaissance romp on "Psalm 42" from the Genevan psalter, and a dash of the Baroque from a Handel violin sonata. Violinist Harmony Tucker, bassist Peter Strening and cantor Blair Carpenter join us.
From the organ at 11:00, select variations from the chorale partita "Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele" (Rejoice Greatly, O My Soul) by German Baroque composer Georg Böhm will be offered. The tune (also called "Psalm 42" in Reformed traditions) is commonly associated with the Advent hymn "Comfort, Comfort Ye My People." Böhm was influential in the development of the chorale partita of which this work is a fine example. Also at 11:00, the Chancel Choir offers the Advent carol "People Look East" in a delightful setting by notable American composer Craig Phillips. On this First Sunday of Advent, letters of hope and promised returns from this day and days of old will be shared through the medium of music.
Cantor and cellist Lucas Jackson joins me in an intimate offering of Advent carols for the 9:00 a.m. service. We reprise our setting of the ancient tune "Veni Emmanuel" at the 11:00 a.m. service as well. The organ speaks at the 11:00 a.m. service with the closing voluntary on the tune "Morning Song." Most closely associated with the Advent text "The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns," this majestic imagining of the tune resonates with the assured triumphal return of Jesus' reign on earth. The Chancel Choir brings us yet another "Advent Message." Written by British composer Martin How, this work implores the heavens for Jesus to live in our hearts featuring John the Baptist's cries in the desert presented by Plymouth's Staff Singer Blair Carpenter. As we near the end of this liturgical year, we remember the promise of love's reign in the ministry of Jesus the Christ and of the new kingdom on this very earth.
At 9:00, bassist Peter Strening and ukulelist Stuart Yoshida join in for songs of light, love, and thanks. At 11:00, the Plymouth Ringers bring us an arrangement of "For the Beauty of the Earth" by Patricia Cota. The Chancel Choir offers up a setting of the Horatius Bonar text "O Love of God, How Strong and True" in a hymn by noted organ and choral composer Calvin Hampton. At the organ, a rousing setting of the German hymn tune "Lasst uns erfreuen" by my former CCM colleague Brenda Portman to close. At 9:00 a.m., an eclectic blend of life-affirming songs steeped in folk, jazz, the Taizé tradition, and the music of Coldplay. Bassist Peter Strening and flutist Aaron McGrew join us.
At 11:00 a.m., two organ works from nineteenth century-born British composers. First, the bold and stately "Allegro ben Moderato" from Frank Bridge at the Prelude with Samuel Sebastian Wesley's classic gem "Choral Song" sending us out triumphantly into the world at service's end. The Chancel Choir offers "Every Generation," an anthem by Carson Cooman based on his hymn tune "Sulak." The text by John Core sings the praises and life-giving support of the Church on earth. Organist Linda McGinn accompanies. |
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