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Saturday, October 19, 2013

Peace and Strength

BETWEEN THE LINES for Sunday, October 20, 2013

The two organ works that I will share this week at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church are musical ways to state the dual blessings in Psalm 29:11 ...
May the Lord give strength to his people! 
May the Lord bless his people with peace!

PEACE

The Prelude piece comes from the pen of a North Carolina composer, Dan Locklair. His work RUBRICS (1988) is a work with five movements. The introductory page of the score tells us, "The extra-musical impetus and subsequent titles for each movement of RUBRICS are found in
A Peaceful Scene at My Family Home
the instructions (rubrics) to the services for THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER."

Movement 4, "The Peace may be exchanged" is my Prelude selection. This movement was played at the funeral of President Ronald Reagan. Beautifully composed, it is a quintessential musical description of the kind of peace that the Christian church has embraced since Christ left us with these words:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.    John 14:27
This richly lyrical aria features a solo diapason stop accompanied by strings and double pedal throughout. The gentle pace and rich sonority are so arresting that the technical aspects required to produce this peaceful exchange are almost imperceptible. But not to the organist, at least not in the first encounter with the piece!

This graphic from measures 31-32 shows beat one divided into 2 in the pedals, 3 in the right hand and 4 in the upper part of the left hand; all of which takes a little practice. (For non-musicians, it's like patting your head, rubbing your tummy and skipping at the same time). Add the ties to this, the required legato, and double pedal, and its a challenging musical workout at the organ.


Excerpt from "The Peace may be exchanged." Measures 31-32.

And isn't this a wonderful picture of peace? So beautiful when it comes, but it often comes in the midst of, or following, difficulties and struggles. That's why Jesus says his peace isn't the kind the world gives, and follows that with the admonition not to be troubled or afraid. May this song be a gentle reminder to all of our own call to peace, not just in a kindly greeting on a Sunday morning, but throughout all the days of our lives.

STRENGTH

The Festival of the Reformation is nearly upon us, celebrated in many Protestant churches on the last Sunday of October each year. Since our sanctuary is undergoing renovations, I wanted to include a setting of "A Mighty Fortress" before the organ is buried under tarps!

The arrangement I share for the Postlude is a setting by Paul Manz. Wiki notes about this recently deceased church musician and composer:
His musical compositions are internationally known. His organ works are extensively used in worship services, recitals and in teaching. His choral music is widely used by church and college choirs here and abroad. His motet, "E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come" is regarded as a classic and has been frequently recorded.
Manz's partitas and chorale preludes are always engaging and always highlight the meaning of the text with assurance and honesty. This arrangement is no exception. A full registration, passages with double pedal work (a device Manz was fond of using), and baroque-like passage work, all combine to remind the listener that our God is indeed mighty, our refuge and our strength. What better instrument to sound out this message than the mighty pipe organ!

A section from "A Mighty Fortress" by Paul Manz.

The hymn "A Mighty Fortress" was composed by Martin Luther between 1527 and 1529. A fine "lay-musician", Luther penned both the text and the melody. If you read music, you'll note his rhythm is livelier than the string of steady quarter notes used in most modern hymnals. You might say Luther rocked this one! The original rhythm is found as an alternate option in modern Lutheran hymnals. I used it with the choirs singing some of the stanzas from that version at all my posts in Lutheran churches. (Other denominations often miss out on this musical gem from the past.)

One of only very few early printings of Luther's hymn: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God."

Whether we dress up for Sunday worship or "come as we are," we all come to worship each week with hearts that bear the stresses of life in a fallen world. Will we leave God's house renewed in His strength and peace?

It is my prayer that these organ selections compliment the other elements of worship and help you to draw near to God in worship. In a world where peace is the elusive prize and is often found in substitutes--entertainment, prosperity, power, education, and more--the church of Christ offers true strength and peace. May God grant us strength to find the Source of true peace through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

~ ~ ~
MUSIC LINKS

"The Peace may be exchanged."

A Mighty Fortress - This arrangement is by Charles Ore, with organist J. Marty Cope. Mr. Cope's parents are in the choir at my church. The organ in this recording is just down the street from me at Calvary Church in Charlotte NC.

 
Marble Colorado. A recent photo taken by my brother, Jerry Begly.





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