Music Notes for May 8

The Book of Common Prayer Collects are works of art and beautiful sources of text for choral anthems. One of the choir’s favorite collects is this coming Sunday after Ascension, “O God, the King of Glory.” We sing a setting of this Collect by Henry Purcell at the offertory. Every phrase of the text is musically repeated to give emphasis and, frankly, add length to an inherently short prayer. Even more fascinating is the life-giving musical language of Henry Purcell who Benjamin Britten notes as England’s greatest composer. Purcell sets the opening petition, “O God the King of glory” in B minor with dignity worthy of The King, then to give evidence of that worthiness, the text “who hast exalted thine only son Jesus Christ with great triumph into heaven” undergoes imitative entries followed by choral “Brass fanfares!” In amazing contrast what follows is five measures of sublime tenderness beseeching God to leave us a comforter (Pentecost is next week!) explicitly asking, “but send to us Thine Holy Ghost to comfort us.” - Then, an intriguing conclusion. It literally asks that we be sent to heaven “where Christ has gone before us” and, since we are currently in the human condition, the music stumbles forward full of musical cross relations- that is, sharps and naturals leading to the ambiguity of certain pitches. Returning to the dignity of the opening petition, such temporary confusion is fully resolved with a single, B major “Amen.”

Next Sunday, May 15, 2016 at 4:00 pm, Our Vocal Artist-in-Residence Katy Williams, Soprano presents, “A Tribute to Madeline Kahn!”
Come and listen to Katy singing the famous repertoire of the late and great singer/actress, Madeline Kahn. Her most famous roles were from the motion pictures Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein, but did you know she was a classically trained lyric coloratura soprano? Join Katy for a tribute Madeline’s musical repertoire and learn of her great gifts that we still enjoy today. Guest appearance by Rich Williams, her favorite tenor. Rebekah Hill accompanies with great delicacy and fervor. Suggested Donation at the Door is $10.