As we celebrate the Third Sunday of Easter this week at Christ Church, there are four musical “highlights” of which to be aware. Firstly, we will hear a prelude and postlude by two composers from the United States – a rarity. While many composers from our country compose for the organ, most of the instrument’s repertoire is drawn from Europe (Bach, Widor, Couperin, Buxtehude, Dupré, Howells, etc.). Many American composers either write very challenging repertoire, or they compose hymn preludes that are quite simple – often replaceable by an improvisation. Of course, this is a generalization, but I feel it is accurate from a macro perspective. Sunday’s prelude will be the Aria by Craig Phillips (b. 1961). An aria is usually a solo vocal work that appears in an opera, cantata, or oratorio (think, Messiah), and so, when this title is given to instrumental music, it implies a lyrical, vocal style of writing. Phillips succeeds in creating a very beautiful piece that is at once simple and tender – perfect for startingSunday’s continuance of the Easter celebration. The postlude will be the Trumpet Tune in E Major by David N. Johnson (1922-1987), and it is a joyful, exclamatory piece! Using the “Trompette en Chamades” in the rear gallery of our space, this piece would be quite suitable for a wedding, but it is also a great tune to send us out into the world full of Easter joy. Hopefully, these two pieces will make you feel proud of our American organ composers.
At the offertory, the choir will sing Now the green blade riseth, a French traditional carol. While this tune was originally a Christmas carol in its native France, it was first paired with this Easter text, according to my research, in 1928 for the Oxford Book of Carols. The tune is one of my all-time favorites! With its jaunty, quirky melody, it fits the idea of “wheat that springeth green” quite well. The first three verses narrate the Christ’s Easter story while the third verse speaks directly about us.
“When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain,
thy touch can call us back to life again,
fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.”
- John Macleod Campbell Crum (1872-1958), alt.
Finally, during Holy Communion, you will hear a quartet from our choir sing perhaps the greatest Lutheran Easter chorale. While the text and tune are both by Luther, Bach provides wonderful harmony. This chorale, Christ lag in Todesbanden, is one of my favorites. You’ll notice that it is in a minor key. It is important to know that major doesn’t always mean “happy,” and minor doesn’t always mean “sad.” In this case, the minor key lends an air of nobility to this important text and deservedly so. Below, please find the first verse of this great Easter chorale. If you’re interested in further listening, look up Bach’s Cantata BWV 4 based on this chorale. It is worth hearing!
“Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands for our offenses given;
but now at God’s right hand he stands and brings us life from heaven;
therefore let us joyful be,
and sing to God right thankfully loud songs of alleluia!
Alleluia!”
- Martin Luther (1483-1546); tr. Richard Massie (1806-1887), alt.
At the offertory, the choir will sing Now the green blade riseth, a French traditional carol. While this tune was originally a Christmas carol in its native France, it was first paired with this Easter text, according to my research, in 1928 for the Oxford Book of Carols. The tune is one of my all-time favorites! With its jaunty, quirky melody, it fits the idea of “wheat that springeth green” quite well. The first three verses narrate the Christ’s Easter story while the third verse speaks directly about us.
“When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain,
thy touch can call us back to life again,
fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.”
- John Macleod Campbell Crum (1872-1958), alt.
Finally, during Holy Communion, you will hear a quartet from our choir sing perhaps the greatest Lutheran Easter chorale. While the text and tune are both by Luther, Bach provides wonderful harmony. This chorale, Christ lag in Todesbanden, is one of my favorites. You’ll notice that it is in a minor key. It is important to know that major doesn’t always mean “happy,” and minor doesn’t always mean “sad.” In this case, the minor key lends an air of nobility to this important text and deservedly so. Below, please find the first verse of this great Easter chorale. If you’re interested in further listening, look up Bach’s Cantata BWV 4 based on this chorale. It is worth hearing!
“Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands for our offenses given;
but now at God’s right hand he stands and brings us life from heaven;
therefore let us joyful be,
and sing to God right thankfully loud songs of alleluia!
Alleluia!”
- Martin Luther (1483-1546); tr. Richard Massie (1806-1887), alt.
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