Musical Poetry

We received a delightful poem from Jeanette Reynolds of Erie, who won first prize in our 2009 hymn text competition with her text "At The Table". Jeanette wrote the following after attending our Bach concert last month.


CONCERT

for Kevin Dill



With shoes as soft as rabbits’ ears,

he pedals lightly,

his toes dancing,

bringing Bach,

born these 325 years ago,

to life again,



while in the pews,

glistening prisms

like tiny searchlights,

arise from the heads of listeners:

St. Lucia’s rainbow crown of music;



and clouds of quarter notes

massage hearts

like raindrops on parched ground

now wet with melody;



and then the ending crescendo

pulses through our bodies

purifying us with vibrations of life

from one long dead,



each note an echo

of the stained-glass window.





© 2010 by Jeanette Reynolds Keenan

No part of this poem may be published, reproduced, scanned or distributed in any printed or electronic form without my written permission

April music list posted

Music list for choral services (11:00 unless otherwise noted)

Apr. 11 – Second Sunday of Easter
Chancel Choir
Introit: I To the Hills Lift Up Mine Eyes (Jean Berger, 1909-2002)
Anthem: Saints Bound for Heaven (arr. Robert Shaw & Alice Parker)
Postlude: March (Henry Purcell, 1659-1695, arr. C.H. Trevor)

Apr. 18 – Third Sunday of Easter
Chancel Choir
Introit: This Joyful Eastertide (arr. Alice Parker, b.1925)
Anthem: Jubilate Deo in C (Leo Sowerby, 1895-1968)
Postlude: Postlude in g minor, op. 50 no. 1 (Denis Bédard, b.1950)

Apr. 25 – Fourth Sunday of Easter
Liberty Bells & Women of the Chancel Choir
Introit: Psalm 23 (Srul Irving Glick, 1934-2002)
Offertory: Prelude & Minuet, from Petite Suite (A. Torovsky, 1894-1967)
Postlude: Finale, Concerto in G (Prince J. Ernst, 1696-1715, arr. Bach)

Holy Week music list posted

Apr. 1 – Maundy Thursday Communion Service (7:30 PM)
Chancel Choir; Audrey Slote, cello
Introit: Christus Factus Est (José Maurício Nuñes García, 1767-1830)
Communion: Andante, Gamba Sonata in D (J. S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Anthem: He Was Despised (Karl Heinrich Graun, 1704-1759)


Apr. 2 – Good Friday Tenebrae Service (12:00 noon)
Sponsored by the Meadville Area Ministerial Association
Audrey Slote, cello
Introit: Kyrie Orbis Factor (plainsong, mode I)
Interlude: Andante, from Gamba Sonata in D (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)


Apr. 4 – Easter Sunday (9:00 & 11:00 AM)
Liberty Bells & Chancel Choir; Jennifer Dearden, trumpet
Preservice Music: Toccata in C, BWV 564 (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Prelude: Peal for 13 Handbells (Richard Proulx, 1937-2010)
Anthem: Most Glorious Lord of Life (William H. Harris, 1883-1973)
Offertory Interlude: Festival Interlude (Kevin Dill)
Choral Response: Alleluia (Andrea Gabrieli, 1510-1586)
Postlude: Finale, from Symphony II (Charles-Marie Widor, 1844-1937)

Bach 325: an anniversary celebration

Sonatas, Suites, and other instrumental works

Juanita Shutsa, flute
Audrey Slote, cello
Jennifer Dearden, trumpet
Kevin Dill, organ and piano

Sunday, March 28, 3:00 PM
First Presbyterian Church
890 Liberty St, Meadville

free admission

March music list posted

Mar. 7 – 3rd Sunday in Lent
Chancel Choir
Introit: Try Me, O God (James Nares, 1715-1783)
Anthem: What Wondrous Love is This (arr. William Witherup, b. 1945)
Postlude: Pater Noster (Denis Bédard, b.1950)

Mar. 14 – 4th Sunday in Lent
Liberty Bells & Chancel Choir
Introit: Richard de Castre’s Prayer to Jesus (R. R. Terry, 1864-1938)
Offertory: Interlude (Eugene Butler, b.1935)
Postlude: Fugue in G (Felix Mendelssohn, 1809-1847)

Mar. 21 – 5th Sunday in Lent – music director on vacation

Mar. 28 – Palm Sunday
Junior Choir & Gentlemen of the Chancel Choir
Introit: Pueri Hebraeorum (plainsong, mode i)
Anthem: On Humble Beast Now Rides the King (Hal Hopson, b.1933)
Postlude: Valet Will Ich Dir Geben (J. S. Bach, 1685-1750)

Ash Wednesday Service

First Presbyterian's annual Ash Wednesday service takes place on February 17th at 6 PM in the Fellowship Hall. The deacons will serve a simple meal of bread and soup. Following the meal, the service will include the sacrament of Holy Communion and the imposition of ashes (for those who choose).

Parents of children in the junior choir: please remember that the children are singing at this service. Please have your child at the church by 5:45 for a warmup in the music room.

February music list posted

Music list for choral services (11:00 unless otherwise noted)


Feb. 7 – 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Women of the Chancel Choir
Introit: Dulcis Christe (Michaelangelo Grancini, 1605-1669)
Anthem: Wir Eilen Mit Schwachen, Cantata 78 (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Postlude: Finale, Concerto in a minor (A. Vivaldi, 1678-1741, arr. Bach)

Feb. 14 – The Transfiguration of the Lord
Chancel Choir
Introit: Oculi Omnium (Charles Wood, 1866-1926)
Anthem: Thine, O Lord, is the Greatness (James Kent, 1700-1776)
Postlude: Te Deum Laudaumus (Dietrich Buxtehude, 1637-1707)

Feb. 17 – Ash Wednesday Communion Service (6:00 PM)
Junior Choir
Anthem: Jesus, Refuge of the Weary (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)

Feb. 21 – 1st Sunday in Lent
Chancel Choir & Liberty Bells
Introit: O Salutaris Hostia (Alexandre Guilmant, 1837-1911)
Kyrie Eleison: Mass for Four Voices (William Byrd, 1540-1623)
Offertory: Sweet Hour of Prayer (arr. Sondra Tucker)
Postlude: Prelude in g minor, BWV 535 (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)

Feb. 28 – 2nd Sunday in Lent
Junior Choir
Prelude: Improvisation, from Suite Médiévale (Jean Langlais, 1907-1991)
Anthem: Christ Went Up Into the Hills Alone (Roberta Bitgood, 1908-2007)
Postlude: Fughetta in d minor (Healey Willan, 1880-1968)