March 2, 2014

Each week, you may find information here about the organ music and hymns in the traditional worship services at First United Methodist Church in Lewisville, Texas.  Some of this information is original; much of it is "borrowed" from other sources such as Wikipedia, GBOD, and hymnary.org.  It is my hope that this information will enhance your understanding and enrich your worship experience.  

About the Organ Music:

Elevazione – L. Dollhopf

An “Elevation” is part of the music for the Roman mass.  In the time prior to Vatican II, the familiar chant portions of the mass were sung: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, Benedictus.  There was a practice known as “asternatum”, which referred to organ music which was played between these sung portions of the mass.  Some of these are still familiar to us today: a declamatory piece was played at the beginning and ending of the service; an offertory; and communion.  The Elevation was music that was played during the liturgy for consecration.  It was so named because this is the portion of the service where the priest elevates (holds up) the elements.  Prior to Vatican II, all of this was performed in Latin while facing the altar with the priest’s back toward the congregation.  The could neither see what was being done nor understand what was being said.  Organ music was played to cover this time.  After Vatican II, the altar was “turned around” so that the priest faces the congregation and speaks in English, so that all can see and understand the liturgy, just as you are accustomed to seeing in our church today.

L. Dollhopf, a German organist and composer, wrote this Elevation in 1910.

Eucharistic Hymn – Sandra W. Jarrell

Written by Reginald Heber, "Bread of the World" was first published posthumously in his Hymns written and adapted to the Weekly Church Service of the Year (1827); it was subtitled "Before the Sacrament."  Heber indicated it was to be sung as part of the service of confession and forgiveness or during the communion liturgy as a substitute for the traditional singing of the Agnus Dei. The text is a prayer asking Christ to look on us with mercy and to feed us with his grace. Though written in two stanzas, it is one continuous thought. A devotional text with strong poetic images–"bread of the world" and "wine of the soul"–this hymn invites confession of sin and the acceptance of divine grace.

Reginald Heber (1783-1826) was a bright youth, translating a Latin classic into English verse by the time he was seven, entering Oxford at 17, and winning two awards for his poetry during his time there. After his graduation he became rector of his father's church in where he remained for 16 years. He was appointed Bishop of Calcutta in 1823.  Most of his 57 hymns, which include "Holy, Holy, Holy," are still in use today.

Sandra Jarrell (b. 1944) studied at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is organist at Mars Hill Baptist Church, Mars Hill, North Carolina.

Prelude for Transfiguration – Matthew H. Corl

Today is Transfiguration Sunday on the liturgical calendar.  The feast of the Transfiguration of Christ celebrates the revelation of Christ's divine glory on Mount Tabor in Galilee (Matthew 17:1-6; Mark 9:1-8; Luke 9:28-36). After revealing to His disciples that He would be put to death in Jerusalem, Christ, along with Peter, James, and John, went up the mountain. There, Matthew writes, "he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow."  The brightness was not something added to Christ but the manifestation of His true divine nature. For Peter, James, and John, it was also a glimpse of the glories of heaven and of the resurrected body promised to all Christians. As Christ was transfigured, two others appeared with Him: Moses, representing the Old Testament Law, and Elijah, representing the prophets. Thus Christ, Who stood between the two and spoke with them, appeared to the disciples as the fulfillment of both the Law and the prophets.  the voice of God the Father was heard to proclaim that "This is my beloved Son".  The Transfiguration is a chance to reflect upon the glorious divinity of Christ made manifest in the material world.

This contemporary setting by Matthew Corl presents the wonder and mystery of the Transfiguration.  Corl is a graduate of Westminster Choir College and Peabody Conservatory. Since 198,  Matthew has been organist and associate director of music at First United Methodist in Lakeland, FL, and a published composer of works for organ, choir, handbells and instrumental ensembles.

About the Hymns:

Morning Has Broken

"Morning Has Broken" was first published in 1931 in Songs of Praise. It was written by English author Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965) and  set to a traditional Scottish Gaelic tune known as "Bunessan".  . In Songs of Praise Discussed, the editor, Percy Dearmer, explains that as there was need for a hymn to give thanks for each day, English poet and children's author Eleanor Farjeon had been "asked to make a poem to fit the lovely Scottish tune". A slight variation on the original hymn, also written by Eleanor Farjeon, can be found in the form of a poem contributed to the anthology Children's Bells, under Farjeon's new title, "A Morning Song (For the First Day of Spring)", published by Oxford University Press in 1957. English pop musician and folk singer Cat Stevens (known as Yusuf Islam since 1978) included a version on his 1971 album “Teaser and the Firecat”. The song became identified with Stevens when it reached number six on the US “Billboard” Hot 100 and number one on the US easy listening chart in 1972.

You Satisfy the Hungry Heart

This hymn unites the work of composer, Robert Kreutz, and hymn text writer, Omer Westendorf.  It was among 200 texts submitted for possible use at the 41st International Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia in 1976. "You Satisfy the Hungry Heart" was selected as the official hymn of that gathering.  First embraced by Roman Catholics, this hymn has since become well-known and a favorite in many denominations.  The hymn was first published in We Celebrate with Song (1979).

Go Make of All Disciples

Leon McKinley Adkins (1896-1986) was a Methodist pastor, serving congregations between 1921-1955, and an administrator, serving at the Board of Education of the Methodist Church in Nashville from 1955-1966.  His hymn, “Go Make of All Disciples” was first sung at the commissioning of teachers and church school officials during Christian Education Week, 1955, at University Methodist Church, Syracuse, where the author was pastor.  The hymn was printed in the February 1956 issue of Church School and first appeared in a hymnal in the 1966 Book of Hymns.  This hymn begins with the Great Commission: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20, KJV)