January 25, 2015 - Epiphany 3

Toccata - Girolamo Frescobaldi

Sing to the Lord a New Song - Theron Kirk

Jesu, dulcis memoria - Tomas Luis de Vittoria

Hymns:#408 Mit Freuden Zart, #549 St. Andrew

             #569 St. Helena

The music this week is very two very old pieces and one less old piece about a new song. Even the piece with about a new song comes from ancient ideas and ancient texts. One of the refreshing things about our faith is the juxtaposition of ancient ideas with the sensibilities of today. Sometimes it works easily and sometimes it is a stretch but this is what our worship is about. Seeing how the ancient and mystical is still relevant today.

The gradual anthem is a setting of several psalms. Sing to the Lord a New Song was written by the American composer Theron Kirk (1919-1999). Kirk studied at Baylor, Roosevelt, and Eastman. He taught at San Antonio College from 1955-1986. After retirement he became a museum docent and became heavily involved with the San Antonio Museum of Art. He also served as president of the ACDA. This anthem in a fast three begins with the ladies and the men echo before all joining in together. The harmonies in this piece are very interesting for what opens with such a simple straight-forward theme.  Truly a new song.

Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643) is one of the most important keyboard composers of the late Renaissance. He was the organist of St. Peter’s Basilica from 1608-1628 and 1634-1643. His elevation toccatas were interesting commentary on the principle of transubstantiation. The pieces seem simple but are complicated in their harmonies. The tension and resolution which can also be seen in the Vittoria show the anguish that Christ went through in order to save our souls.

Jesu, dulcis Memoria is a text written by St. Bernard of Clairvaux and has between 42 and 53 stanzas. It is used for the Liturgy of the hours of the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus for Vespers and inspired many composers including J.S. Bach whose composition Jesu, Joy of Men’s Desiring is one of the most frequently used pieces of wedding music around the world. This setting was written by Tomás Luis de Vittoria (1548-1611) one of the most important composers of the Counter-Reformation. In 1565 he went to Rome where he may have studied with Palestrina. In 1571 he became a teacher at German college.  In 1574 he was ordained as a priest and in 1587 he returned to Spain. He served as a chaplain to the Empress of for seventeen years. This piece uses a great deal of suspension to create tension with the text “to fill our hearts.” The piece is a simple representation of this text and gives the singers a chance to sing a lovely unadorned version of the text that allows the intent of the text to shine forth. 

The music all supports the theme of the service this week, that which is old is made new. This is the week of the annual meeting which draws into question everything that is happening in the church but also draws in all that is happening in the world. The juxtaposition of ancient and modern texts leaves a greater sense of weight and meaning to the lessons for the day. It reminds us that we are not all that different from our ancestors but reminds us that we can learn much from them.