Rejoice!

The Third Sunday of Advent
December 16, 2018
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)

Today is the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday. The name comes from the ancient Latin introit for this day, which begins with the word "Gaudete," meaning "Rejoice." We are reminded that scripture calls us to wait for Emmanuel with joyful expectation, and that the coming of the Lord is near. We light the third, rose-colored candle on the Advent wreath, and beautiful rose-colored vestments are worn on this day.

We continue to sing the great hymns and anthems of the Advent season. One of today's anthems has become a modern classic: "E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come" by Paul Manz (1919-2009). A well known Lutheran composer and professor, Manz is best known for this anthem composed in 1953.

 The words were adapted from the book of Revelation by Ruth Manz, spouse of the composer. The couple's three year old son was critically ill and hospitalized, and Paul Manz composed the anthem while praying at his child's bedside. The boy recovered, and the poignant prayer became one of the best known American choral compositions of the 20th century.

 "E'en So, Lord Jesus" has become a standard in the Advent repertoire of choirs around the world. Listen to a recording here: E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come

 Peace be to you and grace from him
Who freed us from our sins,
Who loved us all and shed his blood
That we might saved be.

Sing holy, holy to our Lord,
The Lord, Almighty God,
Who was and is and is to come;
Sing holy, holy, Lord!

Rejoice in heaven, all ye that dwell therein,
Rejoice on earth, ye saints below,
For Christ is coming, is coming soon!

E'en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come,
And night shall be no more;
they need no light nor lamp nor sun,
For Christ will be their all.

                               -Revelation 22, adapted by Ruth Manz

In addition to singing the anthem this morning, the Cathedral Choir will offer it again this afternoon at the Requiem Eucharist of a beloved parishioner. Every time we sing it, we are moved by the power of the words and music. May it fill your hearts with the joy and expectation of the Advent season.

Music for the Third Sunday of Advent
December 16, 2018

Hymns
640 Watchman, tell us of the night     Aberystwyth
54 Savior of the nations, come     Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
56 O come, O come, Emmanuel     Veni, veni, Emmanuel
72 Hark! the glad sound! the Savior comes     Richmond
57 Lo, he comes with clouds descending     Helmsley

Service Music
Trisagion S-102     Alexander Archangelsky
Canticle 9: The First Song of Isaiah     Simplified Anglican Chant, Jerome Webster Meachen
Sanctus S-130     Franz Schubert/arr. Richard Proulx
Fraction Anthem: My flesh is food indeed     Ray W. Urwin

Anthems
E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come  -Paul Manz
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus  -Marty Wheeler Burnett

Organ Music
Hark the Glad Sound! The Savior Comes  -Wilbur Held
Organ chorale: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland  -Andreas Nikolaus Vetter





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Composer Michael McCabe

Image
The Third Sunday of Easter April 15, 2018 Sing to the Lord a new song!    -Psalm 96 Easter - a celebration of new life in Christ - serves as the perfect season for the creation and offering of new music. Our cathedral celebrates Nebraska composers, and we're blessed by a wealth of talent in this state. Today, our Cathedral Choir sings an anthem by Omaha composer and organist Michael McCabe. McCabe began his study of piano and organ as a child. As a student at Creighton University, McCabe was appointed university organist and choir director. During a 20 year military career, various assignments provided McCabe with unique opportunities to study with leaders in the field of Anglican church music, including Leo Sowerby, David McK. Williams, Thomas Matthews, and Dale Wood. McCabe has served numerous churches, including Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. As a published composer, McCabe was elected to ASCAP in 1972, and his ASCAP credits include NBC Television, ...
Read more

Come, Holy Spirit

Image
The Day of Pentecost May 31, 2020 We celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Today, we will hear organ settings of two classic Pentecost hymns. " Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist " ("We pray now to the Holy Spirit") is a German hymn. The first stanza dates to the Middle Ages, and additional stanzas were added by Martin Luther in the 16th century. The tune appears in organ chorales (organ compositions based on Lutheran chorale tunes) and cantatas by several Baroque composers, including this setting by Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707). Hear the authentic sound in this video recorded on a Silberman pipe organ built in  1721:  Nun bitten wir The organ postlude is a setting of the great plainsong hymn, Veni Creator Spiritus ("Come Holy Ghost, our souls inspire"). This hymn dates from the 9th century and is typically sung on Pentecost and at ordinations. Originally in Latin, the hymn is found in an English translation in The Hymnal 1982...
Read more

"Praying Twice" Says Farewell

Image
Trinity Cathedral's Praying Twice blog has ended. Thank you, faithful readers! I am moving to a new position as Associate Professor of Church Music at Virginia Theological Seminary.  I will be writing more in the future, and I'll share a link when my new blog is up and running. Marty Wheeler Burnett, D.Min.
Read more