MusicNotes
The Most Holy Trinity, June 2-3
Anthem- Hymn to the Trinity, Michael Burkhardt (b. 1957)
The St. Mary's Choir will sing this short piece during the Offertory. This hymn gives exuberant praise to God, the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit, focusing especially on our three-in-one understanding of God. The melody is infectious, and rings in the ears of the listener long after the two minutes of music come to a triumphant close. Written with a simple accompaniment that varies from verse to verse, the final verse is a doxology with tenors and sopranos singing a descant, or upper melody. Because of the brevity of the piece, the end will lead into an organ improvisation on the melody, as the gifts are brought forward. Michael Burkhardt is the Director of Worship and the Arts at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Livonia, Michigan. A well-known leader of hymn festivals, his music celebrates the importance of hymns in liturgical music.
Communion Antiphon- Abba, Father, William Buthod (b. 1981)
At the beginning of Communion, a trio will sing this Sunday's appointed communion antiphon. The text, found below, comes from the Book of Galatians 4:6. A colleague is celebrating the end of her nine-year music ministry this Sunday at a parish outside of Washington, D.C., and I just composed this antiphon for the occasion. The texture is simple and reverent, and the use of three voices is meant to reflect the Triniarian imagery found in the antiphon. This will feature dedicated choir members and cantors, Cindy Spitza and Nancy Trujillo.
Since you are children of God,
God has sent into your hearts the Spirit of his Son,
the Spirit who cries out: Abba, Father.
Postlude- Toccata (from Symphonie V), Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)
This piece may be one of the most recognizable compositions in classical organ literature. Echoing the Gospel's message to go out and make disciples in the world, the momentum of this toccata is unstoppable. Written as the final movement of Widor's fifth symphony for organ solo, (the organ symphony was, at the time, a popular kind of large-scale composition or improvisation for organ), this movement is often requested for weddings, played at Easter, or at other triumphant moments during the year. Besides being a technically-demanding piece, it exudes the joy of the Spirit, the joy that comes with the assurance that God is with us "always, until the end of the age." (Mt.28:20). Widor, one of France's most celebrated organists and composers, was a driving force in the school of French Romanticism, a highly influential teacher, and the organist at the Church of St. Sulpice, in Paris, where he served for nearly 64 years. It was here that Albert Schweitzer once traveled to study with him in 1899, resulting years later in a collaborative Widor-Schweitzer edition of all the works of Bach, still commonly used today.
Will Buthod
Director of Music
Church of St. Mary
(918) 749 2561, ext 120
1347 E. 49th Pl.
Tulsa, OK 74105
will, the music sounds fantastic,, I love Widor's toccata... thank you so very much for all you do for and with us.jeannie.
ReplyDelete