May 15, 2016

Each week, you may find information here about the music 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.  


2016 is our church's Year of Jubilee!  Join us in our 3-week celebration as we burn our mortgage.  Our church is now debt free. 

About the Organ Music:

Komm, o komm du Geist des Lebens - Max Drischner

Heinrich Held (1620-1659) studied law at the Universities of Königsberg, Frankfurt a. Oder, and Leyden. He practiced law in Silesia until his death. One of the best Silesian hymnwriters, he suffered many hardships due to wars. His only extant poetical work is his Deutscher Gedichte Vortrab, Frankfurt a. Oder, 1643. Only one hymn from that volume came into German use. Much more important are his other hymns, which are known to us through Crüger's Praxis, and other hymnbooks of the period.

Komm, o Komm, du Geist des Lebens is a fine hymn of Invocation to the Holy Spirit. In Luppius's Andächtig singender Christen Mund, 1692, it is entitled "Devout Prayer and Hymn to God the Holy Ghost." It is sometimes erroneously ascribed to Joachim Neander.

Come, oh, come, Thou quick'ning Spirit, God from all eternity!
May Thy power never fail us; Dwell within us constantly.
Then shall truth and life and light Banish all the gloom of night.

Grant our hearts in fullest measure Wisdom, counsel, purity,
That they ever may be seeking Only that which pleaseth Thee.
Let Thy knowledge spread and grow, Working error's overthrow.

Show us, Lord, the path of blessing; When we trespass on our way,
Cast, O Lord, our sins behind Thee And be with us day by day.
Should we stray, O Lord, recall; Work repentance when we fall.

With our spirit bear Thou witness That we are the sons of God
Who rely upon Him solely When we pass beneath the rod;
For we know, as children should, That the cross is for our good.

Prompt us, Lord, to come before Him With a childlike heart to pray;
Sigh in us, O Holy Spirit, When we know not what to say.
Then our prayer is not in vain, And our faith new strength shall gain.

If our soul can find no comfort And despondency grows strong
That the heart cries out in anguish:  "O my God, how long, how long?"
Comfort then the aching breast, Grant it courage, patience, rest.

Holy Spirit, strong and mighty, Thou who makest all things new,
Make Thy work within us perfect And the evil foe subdue.
Grant us weapons for the strife And with vict'ry crown our life.

Guard, O God, our faith forever; Let not Satan, death, or shame
Ever part us from our Savior; "Lord our Refuge" is Thy name.
Though our flesh cry ever: Nay! Be Thy Word to us still Yea!

And when life's frail thread is breaking, Then assure us more and more,
As the heirs of life unending, Of the glory there in store,
Glory never yet expressed, Glory of the saints at rest.

Max Drischner (1891-1971) was a German composer, Kantor, organist, and harpsichordist.  Drischner was born in Silesia. After completing his secondary education, he pursued studies in theology in Leipzig and Breslau, beginning in 1910. By 1914, however, he had decided to quit his theological studies in favor of studying music. At this time, Drischner relocated to Berlin, and was enrolled in the Berlin University of the Arts, where he studied harpsichord.  In 1924, Drischner was named Kantor and organist of St. Nicholas Church in Brieg.  While in Brieg, Drischer built a reputation for himself as a choirmaster, as well, organizing and directing many successful events, and founding a youth choir. This earned him a renown that stretched beyond Brieg. His efforts earned him the title of Kirchenmusikdirektor ("Church music director"), a very high honor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Sprit of God, Descend Upon My Heart – Joe Utterback

The words of this sung prayer are among the most passionate in the history of hymnody.  This masterpiece of Christian devotional poetry is the work of George Croly (1780-1860), an Anglican minister born in Dublin, Ireland, but whose ministry took place in London. Having served a small parish in Ireland, he moved to London to pursue a literary career where he wrote in several mediums including poetry, novels, history and biography.  In 1835, Croly accepted the challenge to reopen a church in one of the worst slum areas of London  that had been closed for over a century. He was known among his peers as thoroughly conservative in theology with no tolerance for liberal views. Through personal charisma and dynamic preaching, he attracted large crowds to St. Stephen’s Church.  Croly prepared a new hymnal in 1854 for his congregation and published it as Psalms and Hymns for Public Worship. “Spirit of God, Descend upon my Heart” first appeared in that hymnal under the title “Holiness Desired.” It is the only hymn by Croly to have survived. Croly’s original text follows:

Spirit of God, who dwells within my heart, wean it from sin, through all its pulses move. 
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as you are, and make me love you as I ought to love. 

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies, no sudden rending of the veil of clay, 
no angel visitant, no opening skies; but take the dimness of my soul away. 

Did you not bid us love you, God and King,

Love you with all our heart and strength and mind? 
I see the cross there teach my heart to cling. O let me seek you and O let me find! 

Teach me to feel that you are always nigh; teach me the struggles of the soul to bear, 
to check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh; teach me the patience of unceasing prayer. 

Teach me to love you as your angels love, one holy passion filling all my frame: 
the fullness of the heaven-descended Dove; my heart an altar, and your love the flame. 

Joe Utterback (b. 1944) has been a compelling artist on the American jazz scene for more than fifty years, which have included European and American tours, as well as long-term gigs in the jazz centers of Kansas City, St. Louis, San Francisco, and currently New York City.  His piano style has been greatly influenced by Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, Erroll Garner, and Art Tatum.  Utterback’s nearly 400 published compositions reflect the energy, color, and moods of his improvisations. His many jazz-influenced works for piano, voice, chamber music, organ, and choir have been performed throughout the United States and in more than fifty foreign countries.

Komm, Gott Schöpfer, heilger Geist - Armin Knab

"Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist" ("Come, God Creator, Holy Ghost") is a Lutheran hymn for Pentecost, with words written by Martin Luther based on the Latin "Veni Creator Spiritus". The hymn in seven stanzas was first published in 1524. The melody is derived from the chant of the Latin hymn. 

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest, And make our hearts Your place of rest; 
Come with Your grace and heav'nly aid And fill the hearts which You have made.

To You, the Counselor, we cry, To You, the gift of God Most High;
The fount of life, the fire of love, The soul's anointing from above.

In You, with graces sevenfold, We God's almighty hand behold
While You with tongues of fire proclaim To all the world His holy name.

Your light to ev'ry thought impart, And shed Your love in ev'ry heart;
The weakness of our mortal state With deathless might invigorate.

Drive far away our wily foe, And Your abiding peace bestow;
With You as our protecting guide, No evil can with us abide.

Teach us to know the Father, Son, And You, from both, as Three in One
That we Your name may ever bless And in our lives the truth confess.

Praise we the Father and Son, And Holy Spirit, with them One, 
And may the Son on us bestow The gifts that from the Spirit flow.


Armin Knab (1881-1951) studied law at the University of Wurtzberg, while studying piano at the conservatory there.  He practiced law and became a judge while composing music until 1934.  At that time, he resigned his seat on the bench and joined the Berlin Akademie für Kirchen und Schulmusik as a teacher of theory and composition.  He won the Max Reger Prize in 1940.  Knab's most famous works was created for educational purpose and he become famous in the 1920s for his work with the German youth music movement.

About the Choral Music:

Spirit of God, Descend upon my Heart – Joan Pinkston

Joan J. Pinkston studied at Bob Jones University, the Hartt College of Music, and Westminster Choir College.  She is a member of several national and regional music organizations and is a Fellow of Melodious Accord.  Pinkston has published numerous traditionally styled sacred choral pieces. In 2002, Hymns of Grace and Glory was published and features more than seventy of her own hymn tunes. During her 40 years as a professional musician, she has published over 400 pieces of music, given over a hundred workshops on composing and arranging, and performed numerous sacred concerts. Her hymn arrangements for piano and orchestra are featured on the recording Our Great Savior.. A recording of her piano arrangements, Our Song of Praise, was released in 2010. Pinkston has taught music theory, hymn improvisation, orchestration and choral composition at Bob Jones University for more than forty-five years She serves as pianist at Faith Free Presbyterian Church of Greenville, SC.

            Spirit of Got, descend upon my heart;

            Wean it from earth through all its pulses move;

            Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,

            And make me to love Thee as I ought to love.

            Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love;

            One holy passion filling all my frame;

            The baptism of the heav’n descended Dove.

            My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

            Amen.

Little David, Play on Your Harp – John Leavitt

          God’s Project

“Little David, Play on Your Harp” is a traditional African-American spiritual of unknown authorship.  It is one of many spirituals which minimize issues of sadness and despair in favor of bold assertions of confidence, hope, and joy. 

John Leavitt (b. 1956) is a composer, conductor, teacher, and church musician. He received the Doctorate of Musical Arts from The Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Dr. Leavitt is a lifetime member of the American Choral Directors Association and is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, from which he has received annual recognition for his achievements in composition.  Currently, Dr. Leavitt serves on the faculty of MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, KS as professor of music and director of choirs. In 2010, Dr. Leavitt was the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts’s American Masterpieces which partnered with the Kansas Arts Commission and the Kansas Music Educators Association. He was commissioned by them to write a new choral work in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the State of Kansas.

            Little David, play on your harp, Hallelu, Hallelujah!

            David was a shepherd boy.  He slew Goliath and shouted for joy!

            David was a mighty king and all the people came to sing.

            Play that harp.  David, play that harp.  Play that harp again;

            Play on your harp, Hallelujah!

About the Hymns:

O Spirit of the Living God

Henry Hallam Tweedy (1868-1953) hailed from the northeast, born in Binghamton, N.Y. He was granted degrees from Phillips Andover Academy, Yale University, Union Theological Seminary and the University of Berlin.  A Congregational pastor, he served churches in New York and Connecticut, and later taught practical theology from 1909-1937 at Yale Divinity School.  He co-authored several books, including Training the Devotional Life (1919) and Religious Training in School and Home (1917). His most important contribution, however, was as editor of the hymnal Christian Worship and Praise (1939).  In addition to editing a hymnal, Tweedy published a practical volume, The Minister and His Hymnal, and won several hymn contests sponsored by the Homiletic Review and the Hymn Society of America.

Tweedy said he composed “O Spirit of the Living God” because “some of the old Pentecostal hymns were to me unsatisfactory, and I was eager to interpret the symbolism of the story in Acts in a way that modern men could understand and sincerely mean.”  The text is an exposition of Acts 2, a passage focused on Pentecost. The hymn was first published in the Methodist Hymnal (1935).

Spirit of the Living God

This is one of the most long-lasting and widely used choruses in Christian worship. Every aspect of the song embodies a simple sincerity.  The melody encompasses only five notes, and three of the four lines repeat the same nine words. Yet for many, the straightforward petitions of this song draw the singer into an attitude of prayer.

During January and February of 1926, the George T. Stephans Evangelistic Party conducted a citywide revival in the tabernacle in Orlando, Fla.  Daniel Iverson, a Presbyterian minister from Lumberton, N.C., spent several days in Orlando visiting with the Stephans team. The day he arrived, he was greatly impressed by a message on the Holy Spirit given by Dr. Barron, a physician from Columbia, S.C.  Later that day Iverson went to the First Presbyterian Church in Orlando, sat down at the piano, and wrote this song.  Miss Birdie Loes, the pianist for the Stephans team, wrote it out on manuscript paper.  E. Powell Lee, the team song leader, was immediately impressed and taught it to the people that evening in the tabernacle, and used it throughout the campaign.

While the inspiration for the hymn is not known for certain, it is likely that Iverson knew a hymn by Adelaide Pollard (1862-1934), “Have Thine Own Way, Lord,” based on Jeremiah 18:6: “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel” (KJV).  The first stanza of Pollard’s hymn uses similar language (“Mold me and make me”). The final stanza also contains a petition to the Spirit (“Fill with thy Spirit”).  Pollard’s hymn was written about 25 years before Iverson’s 1926 composition.

The authorship of “Spirit of the Living God” was lost for a time because the song could so easily be taught without music or even printed words. It first appeared in Revival Songs (1929) in a slightly revised version.  Southern Baptist gospel song composer B.B. McKinney made slight alterations and published it again in his Songs of Victory (1937).   E. Powell Lee, the song leader for the Stephans evangelistic team, brought Iverson’s name to light and his name was restored to the song in later printings of the Baptist Hymnal in the 1960s.

Lord, You Give the Great Commission

Jeffery W. Rowthorn (b. 1934) wrote this text in 1978 while he was Chapel Minister at Yale Divinity School, New Haven, Connecticut. The text was first published in Laudamus (1980), a hymnal supplement edited by Rowthorn and used at the Yale Divinity School.  This powerful text about the various ministries of the Christian church has two striking features: each stanza includes a quotation of Christ's words (usually from Matthew), and a concluding refrain line turns each stanza into a prayer. Christ's words are applied to the tasks of God's people in the world with a fervent prayer that the Spirit will equip the saints to carry out these ministries faithfully.

Rowthorn graduated from Cambridge and Oxford Universities, Union Theological Serninary in New York, and Cuddeson Theological College in Oxford. Ordained in 1963 in the Church of England, he served several congregations in England before immigrating to the United States, where he was chaplain at Union Theological Seminary and a faculty member in liturgics at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, which he helped to establish. He was then elected Suffragan Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut. The writer of several hymns, Rowthorn was also coeditor with Russell Schulz-Widmar of A New Hymnal for Colleges and Schools (1991). Rowthorn has since moved to Paris, where he is Bishop in Charge of the American Churches in Europe.