November 9 2014 - Proper 27

Prelude on "Dundee" - Gordon Young

Psalm 100 - John Weaver

Pie Jesu - Charles Gounod

Marche Solennelle - Charles Gounod

Hymns: #709 Dundee, #324 Picardy, #57 Helmsley

The music this week is from three organists that also composed, the Americans John Weaver and Gordon Young, and French composer Charles Gounod. These pieces show some of the rich history and tradition of church musicians that also composed music for the groups that they served and added to the literature for their instruments.

John Weaver (b. 1937) is an American organist, choir director, teacher, and recitalist that has enjoyed an extensive career throughout the world. He was educated at the Curtis Institute where he later became a professor.  He has also served at Julliard, Westminster Choir College and the Manhattan School of Music. In addition to his academic positions he served as organist at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in NYC from 1970-2005. Although Weaver has few compositions to his credit the pieces all make use of the organ. This setting of Psalm 100 was dedicated to Dr. Ross H. Stover and the choir of the now closed Messiah Lutheran Church in Philadelphia. This psalm seems to be giving instructions to the listener. We are told to “make a joyful noise” the psalmist then goes on to remind us why we should praise God. Psalms like this are nice reminders for those of us that fall into the habit of church. It is easy to just do and not to think about why we do the things we do. We sing because we are his people, he hath made us. We sing because he is good and his mercy is everlasting. These reminders when viewed freshly can serve to rejuvenate even the most disenfranchised worshipper.

Gordon Young (1919-1998)was born in Kansas and like Weaver was educated at the Curtis Institute. Young has published more than 800 pieces and many of his choral and organ works have become standard repertoire. His Prelude on Dundee shows his straight-forward but tastefully artistic compositional style. The piece alternates between a clarinet solo on the hymn tune and the lush string celeste of the swell division.

Charles Gounod (1818-1893) was educated like most French musicians at the Paris Conservatoire. He served at the Church of the Foreign Missions. Gounod wrote two symphonies, operas, cantatas, works for choir and organ. The Marche Solennelle is dedicated to the pedal piano virtuoso Lucie Palicot and the piece can be played on organ or pedal piano. The piece is a fanfare like march with pedal flourishes that you could easily hear on the pedal piano as well as the organ. Pie Jesu is a part of the set Chants Sacres for solo soprano or tenor. This piece is beautiful for its simplicity. Beautiful rising and falling lines that are shaped by gentle subtle by the tenor and the organ are not showy but beautiful for their simple illustration of a simple text. Like the more well known Faure, this piece has a simple lyrical melody that is not overtly virtuosic but instead allows the text to be easily conveyed.