The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost descends upon us this Sunday, and we begin our liturgy by singing the first five verses of Holy God, we praise thy name. Especially for those of a Catholic background, this hymn will be very memorable to you. The text and tune, in their current forms, find their origin in 18th and 19th century Germany. However, the lyrics may remind you of something else, a far older prayer stretching back to the roots of Christianity. The Te Deum is a Christian hymn from the 4th century and attributed to various authors from that time. It is the most demonstrative and jubilant song of praise generated by the early church and is still sung by many Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans in observance of special feast days and other important events. Throughout history, the Te Deum has accompanied coronations, victory celebrations, and public displays of thanksgiving to God. There was a fanciful legend in the 19th century that the melody of the Te Deum originated in ancient Greece. While this isn’t true, it shows the veneration and zeal people had for the hymn. Of course, the oldest tune is in the form of a chant pared with Latin words and not what we will sing on Sunday, but our processional hymn is a paraphrase of this ancient and venerable text. In its own right, Holy God, we praise thy name has perhaps surpassed the Te Deum in familiarity and accessibility for most modern Christians. This more modern hymn possesses a beautiful melody and poetic words, making the hymn more suitable for congregational singing (at least in most places). As you sing during the procession on Sunday, remember that these words are the successors to the chief hymn of praise of the church! We raise our voices, as so many have, in praise of God.
Our offertory anthem will be, I will lift up mine eyes, by Leo Sowerby (1895-1968). A Pulitzer Prize winning composer of American church music, Sowerby towered among liturgical musicians in the United States for most of his lifetime. It is remarkable that Sowerby was a largely self taught organist who rose to very prominent positions, namely, the Cathedral of St. James in Chicago and Washington National Cathedral. While he was chiefly an Episcopal church musician, his works are used in many branches of Christianity. Truly a composer of sacred music at heart, the majority of Sowerby’s vast opus of over 500 works is written for the church. Sadly, much of his work is too difficult for the average choir today, but it merits discovery by church musicians in our time. Sowerby stood at the end of one era and the beginning of another, like almost all church musicians of his generation. Reared firmly in the musical traditions of the 19th century, Sowerby lived to see unthinkable changes affect his world and the continuity of church music. His music is poetic, just a tad modern, a bit Romantic, and at its heart, very spiritual. Sunday’s anthem is one of his best known works, and we hope you enjoy its colorful musical texture.
Our offertory anthem will be, I will lift up mine eyes, by Leo Sowerby (1895-1968). A Pulitzer Prize winning composer of American church music, Sowerby towered among liturgical musicians in the United States for most of his lifetime. It is remarkable that Sowerby was a largely self taught organist who rose to very prominent positions, namely, the Cathedral of St. James in Chicago and Washington National Cathedral. While he was chiefly an Episcopal church musician, his works are used in many branches of Christianity. Truly a composer of sacred music at heart, the majority of Sowerby’s vast opus of over 500 works is written for the church. Sadly, much of his work is too difficult for the average choir today, but it merits discovery by church musicians in our time. Sowerby stood at the end of one era and the beginning of another, like almost all church musicians of his generation. Reared firmly in the musical traditions of the 19th century, Sowerby lived to see unthinkable changes affect his world and the continuity of church music. His music is poetic, just a tad modern, a bit Romantic, and at its heart, very spiritual. Sunday’s anthem is one of his best known works, and we hope you enjoy its colorful musical texture.
RSS Feed
