Music Notes

Seasonally, January presents the season after Epiphany and in February the beginning of Lent. In both instances the music is glorious! In both seasons we also present two concerts. The wintry specter of these months is brightened with music!

Recently this month I offered two preludes composed by Heinrich Bach and J. S. Bach on the German Chorale, Christ ist Erstanden (Christ is Risen.) Seemingly not particular to the current season after Epiphany, the resurrection theme is particularly suitable for any Sunday, a day of Resurrection, even in Lent! Other than its glorious theme of our hope for eternal life, composers are often drawn to paint their picture of resurrection from the sorrow of personal experiences of tragedy.

J. S. Bach became an orphan at age ten. Bach lost a brother and a sister in early childhood, and his mother died when he was only nine years old. His father died nine months later in February 1695. That same Sunday, our offertory anthem was the serene setting of Psalm 122, O Pray for the peace of Jerusalem by Herbert Howells. In 1935 Howells suffered a personal tragedy through the sudden death of his nine-year-old son, Michael. For many months Howells felt unable to compose but the following year he began work on what was to become his masterpiece, 'Hymnus Paradisi,” completed in 1938 in memory of Michael.

These tragic events are not uncommon and many of us have suffered similarly. But sacred artists transform the darkness of tragedy into light. The hope of resurrection is the journey that begins with Christmas and takes us from darkness to light. With the help of the church’s great music, our journey is illuminated and our spirits uplifted. Sacred music leads a path to understanding God. Music is Theology!

Please come to our January Friends of Music concert on Sunday, January 31 at 4:00 pm. The West Liberty University Choirs led by Dr. Scott Glysson will present a concert of choral singing in our beautiful sanctuary. The program will include Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living as well pieces by American Composers. The concert will be around an hour. Please join us for an evening of exquisite choral music from our West Virginia neighbors! Suggested Donation at the door: $10

On Sunday February 21st at 4:00 we will have an outstanding organ artist recital by Justin H. Bischof of New York City. Justin will play works of Bach, Howells and other masters. His recital will include his artistic specialty in organ improvisation. Justin won first prize in the 2000 American Guild of Organists National Improvisation Competition held in Seattle. He is the founder and principal conductor of Modus Opera in Manhattan. He received his doctorate of musical arts from the Manhattan School of Music in 1998, and in 1999 he was appointed to the keyboard skills and theory faculty there. He will also be service organist that same morning and the choir ensemble will sing a work of Justin’s especially composed for us. This is a day to come to St. Paul’s bringing friends and family.