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.
Quodlibet
on "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus" and "Savior of the Nations,
Come" - Mark Sedio
A “quodlibet” is a musical composition that combines
several different melodies in counterpoint, and often in a light-hearted,
humorous manner. In this case,
Mark Sedio has combined parts of “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” and “Savior
of the Nations, Come”.
Charles Wesley wrote “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” and
printed it in his Hymns for the Nativity of our Lord (1744). Like
so many of Wesley's texts, "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus" alludes
to one or more Scripture passages in virtually every phrase. The double nature
of Advent is reflected in this text, in which we remember Christ's first coming
even while praying for his return. Stanzas 1 and 2 recall Advent prophecies in
the Old Testament; stanza 3 speaks of Christ's birth and kingdom, and stanza 4
is a prayer for Christ's rule in our hearts.
We express longing when we sing the words of Charles
Wesley’s beautiful Advent hymn, for though we know that Christ goes with us and
before us every day, we long for the day when we are with Him in all of the
fullness and glory He will bring. We long for the day when we are with Him in a
New Heaven and New Earth, when all things are made new. And just as a
four-year-old crawls into his father’s arms after an extended absence, so too
we long for the day when we will be at rest in Christ, enfolded in the embrace
of our Savior.
Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.
from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.
“Savior
of the Nations, Come”, by Martin Luther (1483-1546), was one of 37 hymns
composed by the reformer. The English translation that we sing is actually a
third-hand version from the German “Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland” in 1523 which
was, in turn, a translation of the Latin “Veni, Redemptor gentium” ascribed to
Ambrose of Milan (c. 340-397). The
music of this Advent chorale is an adaptation of a plainsong melody. Some
sources cite as many as six Reformation melodies derived from plainsong
sources. Plainsong is a body of melodies that developed in the Roman Catholic
Church throughout and beyond the medieval period. Therefore Luther’s composition is less an
original hymn than a reworking of an existing Latin text and plainsong tune.
While Luther did compose original hymns, he also borrowed hymns from his Roman
Catholic heritage, translating them into the vernacular German and making them
accessible for congregational use.
Luther’s translation was included in two volumes in 1524: Enchiridion
Oder handbüchlein and Johann Walther’s Geistliches Gesangbuchlein (“Spiritual
Songbook”).
This hymn establishes that the Savior of the
world came not only to Jews, but to “Heiden”—literally to the heathen. However,
“Heiden” does not carry a negative connotation; it is simply a reference to the
Gentiles. Stanza one begins as a petition for the “Savior of the nations…[to]
come” now! in the original German. The language of petition soon gives way to
amazement that God would be born of a woman on earth.
The original German hymn consists of eight stanzas and is essentially a reaffirmation of the article related to the Incarnation from the Nicene Creed: “We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.”
The original German hymn consists of eight stanzas and is essentially a reaffirmation of the article related to the Incarnation from the Nicene Creed: “We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.”
Savior of the nations, come; Virgin’s Son, make here Thy home!
Marvel now, O heaven and earth, That the Lord
chose such a birth.
Not by human flesh and blood; By the Spirit
of our God
Was the Word of God made flesh, Woman’s
offspring, pure and fresh.
Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child Of the
virgin undefiled!
Though by all the world disowned, Still to be
in heaven enthroned.
From the Father forth He came And returneth
to the same,
Captive leading death and hell High the song
of triumph swell!
Thou, the Father’s only Son, Hast over sin
the victory won.
Boundless shall Thy kingdom be; When shall we
its glories see?
Brightly doth Thy manger shine, Glorious is
its light divine.
Let not sin o’ercloud this light; Ever be our
faith thus bright.
Praise to God the Father sing, Praise to God
the Son, our King,
Praise to God the Spirit be Ever and
eternally.
Mark
Sedio serves Cantor at Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis. In
addition, he has held teaching positions both at Augsburg College and Luther
Seminary. Sedio is an active recitalist, clinician, conductor and composer,
having presented hymn festivals and workshops throughout North America and
Europe. Over 125 of his compositions for organ, piano, choral and instrumental
ensembles are available from a number of publishers. A number of his hymn
tunes, texts and harmonization appear in various denominational hymnals and
supplements. A love of foreign language acquisition and linguistics combined
with interest in folk music and styles has led to a keen interest in global
church music. He holds a B.A. in music from Augsburg College and an M.A. in
choral music from the University of Iowa. He has studied in the M.Div. program
at Luther Seminary and the liturgical studies program at St. John’s University.
A charter member of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, Sedio served
on the organization’s founding board and as its first Director of
Ecclesiastical Concerns. He chaired the worship committee for the 2008 national
convention of the American Guild of Organists.
Prelude
on "The First Noel" and "Dona Nobis pacem" - James F.
Konkel
"The First Noel" portrays in vivid narrative style the story of the birth of Christ. All stanzas are needed to complete the entire event when the hymn is sung. The sixth stanza, which has been omitted from our current hymnal, urges us to join together to sing praises to God for the marvels of His creation and for the salvation provided through Christ's shed blood and reminds us that Christ came to redeem the whole world.
The First Noel the angel did say Was to certain
poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields as they lay, keeping their sheep, On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel. (refrain)
They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night.
And by the light of that same star Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a king was their intent, And to follow the star wherever it went.
This star drew nigh to the northwest, O'er Bethlehem it took it rest,
And there it did both stop and stay Right over the place where Jesus lay.
Then entered in those wise men three Full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.
Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
That hath made heaven and earth of naught, And with his blood mankind hath bought.
In fields as they lay, keeping their sheep, On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel. (refrain)
They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night.
And by the light of that same star Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a king was their intent, And to follow the star wherever it went.
This star drew nigh to the northwest, O'er Bethlehem it took it rest,
And there it did both stop and stay Right over the place where Jesus lay.
Then entered in those wise men three Full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.
Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
That hath made heaven and earth of naught, And with his blood mankind hath bought.
“Dona nobis pacem” (Latin for "Grant us
peace") is a phrase in the Agnus Dei section of the Roman
Catholic mass. The origin of the melody is unknown. The phrase, in isolation, has been
appropriated for a number of works. The Agnus Dei from
the Roman Catholic Mass is the invocation to the Lamb of God to have mercy and
grant peace to the worshippers. It is said to have been introduced into the
Mass by Pope Sergius I in 687.
Agnus
Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus
Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus
Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis
pacem.
English
Translation:
Lamb of God, who takes away
the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away
the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away
the sins of the world, grant us peace.
The
Agnus Dei is said to be based on Based on John 1:29 (KJV): The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto
him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
James Konkel (b. 1961) studied at Western Michigan
University and is organist at Oshterno United Methodist Church in Kalamazoo,
Michigan.
Song 1 – Eric Thiman
The text of the Nunc Dimittis is given in full in the brief evening prayer found in the Apostolic Constitutions. In the Roman Office, the canticle is assigned to Complin. If St. Benedict did not originate this canonical Hour, he gave to it its liturgical character; but he nevertheless did not include the Canticle, which was afterwards incorporated into the richer Complin Service of the Roman Rite, where it is preceded by the beautiful responsory, "In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum" (Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit), with the Antiphon following, "Salva nos, Domine, vigilantes, custodi nos dormientes" (O Lord, keep us waking, guard us sleeping), all this harmonizing exquisitely with the spirit of the Nunc Dimittis and with the general character of the closing Hour of the Office.
Lord
God, you now have set your servant free
To go in
peace as promised in your word;
My eyes
have seen the Savior, Christ the Lord,
Prepared
by you for all the world to see;
To shine
on nations trapped in darkest night,
The glory
of your people, and their light.
About the Choral Music:
Peace,
Peace – Rick and Sylvia Powell
With
well over a million copies sold, this Fred Bock arrangement may be the most popular
partner song to “Silent Night” ever. This
lovely Christmas piece introduces a beautiful yet simple melody that is later
joined by the familiar Silent Night to create one of the most touching of Christmas
selections.
Peace, peace, peace on earth and good will to all.
This
is a time for joy, this is a time for love.
Now
let us all sing together of peace, peace, peace on earth.
Silent
night! Holy night! All is calm, all is
bright,
‘Round
yon Virgin Mother and Child!
Holy
Infant, so tender and mild;
Sleep
in heavenly peace.
About the Hymns:
Hail
to the Lord’s Annointed
James Montgomery (1771-1854) was a Moravian minister and
writer. In addition to his religious
writings and hymns, he was the editor and a writer for a newspaper, The Sheffield Iris. As such, he was
imprisoned twice, first for reprinting therein a song in commemoration of
"The Fall of the Bastille," and the second for giving an account of a
riot in Sheffield. The editing of his paper, the composition and publication of
his poems and hymns, the delivery of lectures on poetry in Sheffield and at the
Royal Institution, London, and the earnest advocacy of Foreign Missions and the
Bible Society in many parts of the country, gave great variety to his life.
After his death, a statue was erected to his memory in the Sheffield General
Cemetery, and a stained glass window in the Parish Church. A Wesleyan chapel
and a public hall are also named in his honor.
As a writer of hymns, he ranks in popularity with Wesley,
Watts, Doddridge, Newton, and Cowper. Of
Montgomery's 400 hymns (including his versions of the Psalms) more than 100 are
still in common use. His finest lyrics
are "Angels from the realms of glory," "Go to dark
Gethsemane," "Hail to the Lord's Anointed," and "Songs of
praise the angels sang." “Hail to
the Lord’s Anointed” is Montgomery's best psalm rendering. It is based on Psalm
72 and was written in eight stanzas for, and included in, a Christmas Ode which
was sung at one of the Moravian settlements, perhaps Fulneck, in the United Kingdom,
Christmas, 1821. It was published in the following year in the Evangelical
Magazine and entitled "Imitation of the 72d psalm (Tune: Culmstock)."
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
“Emmanuel, Emmanuel” was written by Bob
McGee in 1976.
Great
Is Thy Faithfulness
A native of the small Kentucky town of
Franklin, Thomas Obediah Chisholm (1866-1960) was born in a log cabin. He
lacked formal education. Nevertheless, he became a teacher at age sixteen and
the associate editor of his hometown weekly newspaper, the “Franklin Advocate”, at age
twenty-one. Though he was ordained a Methodist
minister in 1903, he served only a single, brief appointment at Scottsville,
Kentucky, due to ill health. He wrote
more than 1200 poems, 800 of which were published. They often appeared in
religious periodicals such as the “Sunday
School Times”, “Moody Monthly”,
and “Alliance Weekly”. Many of
these were set to music.
Chisholm had sent a number of his poems
to the Rev. William H. Runyan (1870-1957), a musician with the Moody Bible
Institute and one of the editors of Hope Publishing Company in Chicago. Runyan wrote of the hymn: "This
particular poem held such an appeal that I prayed most earnestly that my tune
might carry over its message in a worthy way, and the subsequent history of its
use indicates that God answered prayer.
It was written in Baldwin, Kansas, in 1923, and was first published in
my private song pamphlets." A
phrase in Lamentations 3:22-23 provides a basis for the refrain: "The
steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they
are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
George Beverly Shea (1909-2013), the
famous Canadian-born singer of the Billy Graham Crusades, introduced this hymn
to those attending the evangelistic meetings in Great Britain in 1954. It immediately became a favorite. This hymn appeared in many evangelical
hymnals and song collections, but was not chosen for an official Methodist
hymnal until The United Methodist Hymnal (1989), even though the
author was a Methodist. It was a very
popular hymn of the former Evangelical United Brethren Church and had been
included in their hymnals.
According to Carlton
Young, "Great is thy faithfulness" was second only to "In the
garden" as the most requested hymn for inclusion in The United
Methodist Hymnal. A survey conducted in 2000 by Dean McIntyre, Director of
Music Resources, General Board of Discipleship, revealed that "Great is
thy faithfulness" remains one of the favorite hymns among United
Methodists.
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