Music list for choral services (11:00 AM unless otherwise noted)
Mar. 6 – 4th Sunday in Lent
Saint Hildegard Choir
Introit: Hanacpachap (anonymous Peruvian, 17th century)
Offertory: Agnus Dei, from Missa Tribus Vocibus (Christoph Dalitz, b.1967)
Mar. 13 – 5th Sunday in Lent
Chancel Choir
Introit: Thou Judge of Quick and Dead (Kevin Dill, 2016)
Anthem: Only Love Can Answer Why (John Carter, b.1930)
Mar. 20 – Palm Sunday
Liberty Bells
Prelude: Fanfare (Mary McCleary, b.1924)
Offertory: Ride On, King Jesus (Spiritual, arr. Sharon Rogers, b.1953)
Mar. 24 – Maundy Thursday Communion Service (7:30 PM)
Women of the Chancel Choir
Introit: Agnus Dei, from New Plainsong (David Hurd, b.1950)
Anthem: He Was Despised, from Messiah (G. F. Handel, 1685-1759)
Mar. 27 – Easter Sunday
French Creek Brass Quintet & Chancel Choir
Preservice Music: Chanson (Maurice Ravel, 1875-1937)
Introit: O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing (arr. John Ferguson, b.1941)
Gloria Patri: George Dyson (1883-1964)
Offertory: Easter Hymn Medley (arr. Arthur Frackenpohl, b.1924)
Postlude: Allegro Spiritoso (G. P. Telemann, 1681-1767)
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
March newsletter article: 'A Time For Silence'
A TIME FOR SILENCE
(Originally published in the March 2016 church newsletter)
Seeing as how my life’s work revolves around music, you may be surprised to hear that the topic of this month's article is silence. Isn't music the opposite of silence? Well, that’s up for debate: there are many different ways one can define music. One of the definitions I like best holds that music is a judicious mixture of both sound and silence. Consider the theme of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, a timeless work I’m sure everyone can recognize:
What is it that makes this opening statement so powerful? I submit to you that it's not just the four-note motives themselves that create drama, but also the silence between them: Beethoven deliberately uses it to heighten the tension and so draw the listener in. Indeed, one of my favorite moments of a symphony concert is that brief silence after the orchestra has finished its last note, but before the audience begins to applaud. In that split second, the air buzzes with a kind of electric energy that is beyond words.
The Hebrew scriptures frequently encourage silence as an appropriate response to the overwhelming majesty of God:
▪ ‘It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord’ (Lam. 3:26)
▪ ‘The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him’ (Hab. 2:20)
▪ ‘To everything there is a season…a time to keep silence, and a time to speak’ (Eccl. 3:7)
▪ ‘Be silent, all people, before the Lord; he has arisen from his holy dwelling’ (Zech. 2:13)
Some Christians do embrace communal silence: Quaker worship includes long periods in which believers wait for messages from the Holy Spirit. By contrast, Presbyterianism has always focused on teaching and explaining the scriptures. That in itself is a good thing, but its side effect is that our worship tends to be 'wordy', in that the congregation is not allowed much space to simply be in God's presence and listen for that ‘still, small voice’. As Rev. Jensen noted in his sermon on the first Sunday in Lent, prayer is defined as conversation with God...and it’s not much of a conversation if we do all the talking.
For this reason, the Worship & Music Committee has requested that during Lent we replace the choral call to prayer with time for silent personal prayer. And what if, instead of praying, your mind starts to wander? That's okay! Silent prayer is a discipline: just as with bodily exercise, one must attempt it over and over in order to become proficient. The important thing is that we start somewhere. After all, what do we have to lose?
Until next time,
Kevin
(Originally published in the March 2016 church newsletter)
Seeing as how my life’s work revolves around music, you may be surprised to hear that the topic of this month's article is silence. Isn't music the opposite of silence? Well, that’s up for debate: there are many different ways one can define music. One of the definitions I like best holds that music is a judicious mixture of both sound and silence. Consider the theme of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, a timeless work I’m sure everyone can recognize:
What is it that makes this opening statement so powerful? I submit to you that it's not just the four-note motives themselves that create drama, but also the silence between them: Beethoven deliberately uses it to heighten the tension and so draw the listener in. Indeed, one of my favorite moments of a symphony concert is that brief silence after the orchestra has finished its last note, but before the audience begins to applaud. In that split second, the air buzzes with a kind of electric energy that is beyond words.
The Hebrew scriptures frequently encourage silence as an appropriate response to the overwhelming majesty of God:
▪ ‘It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord’ (Lam. 3:26)
▪ ‘The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him’ (Hab. 2:20)
▪ ‘To everything there is a season…a time to keep silence, and a time to speak’ (Eccl. 3:7)
▪ ‘Be silent, all people, before the Lord; he has arisen from his holy dwelling’ (Zech. 2:13)
Some Christians do embrace communal silence: Quaker worship includes long periods in which believers wait for messages from the Holy Spirit. By contrast, Presbyterianism has always focused on teaching and explaining the scriptures. That in itself is a good thing, but its side effect is that our worship tends to be 'wordy', in that the congregation is not allowed much space to simply be in God's presence and listen for that ‘still, small voice’. As Rev. Jensen noted in his sermon on the first Sunday in Lent, prayer is defined as conversation with God...and it’s not much of a conversation if we do all the talking.
For this reason, the Worship & Music Committee has requested that during Lent we replace the choral call to prayer with time for silent personal prayer. And what if, instead of praying, your mind starts to wander? That's okay! Silent prayer is a discipline: just as with bodily exercise, one must attempt it over and over in order to become proficient. The important thing is that we start somewhere. After all, what do we have to lose?
Until next time,
Kevin
Friday, February 5, 2016
February music list
Music list for choral services (11:00 AM unless otherwise noted)
Feb. 7 – The Transfiguration of the Lord
Saint Hildegard Choir
Introit: Awake Up, My Glory (Michael Wise, c.1647-1687)
Anthem: Bound For the Promised Land (Southern Harmony, 1835, arr. K. Dill)
Feb. 14 – 1st Sunday in Lent
Chancel Choir
Introit: Out of the Night (Russian Orthodox Chant)
Anthem: Call To Remembrance (Richard Farrant, c.1525-1581)
Communion: Adoro Te Devote (plainsong, mode V)
Feb. 21 – 2nd Sunday in Lent
Liberty Bells
Prelude: Poor Wayfaring Stranger (Spiritual, arr. Doris Alman)
Offertory: I Ring My Praise to God (Howard Starks, b.1928)
Feb. 28 – 3rd Sunday in Lent
Chancel Choir
Introit: Let My Prayer Arise As Incense (Dmitri Bortnyansky, 1751-1825)
Anthem: What Wondrous Love is This (arr. William Witherup, b.1945)
Feb. 7 – The Transfiguration of the Lord
Saint Hildegard Choir
Introit: Awake Up, My Glory (Michael Wise, c.1647-1687)
Anthem: Bound For the Promised Land (Southern Harmony, 1835, arr. K. Dill)
Feb. 14 – 1st Sunday in Lent
Chancel Choir
Introit: Out of the Night (Russian Orthodox Chant)
Anthem: Call To Remembrance (Richard Farrant, c.1525-1581)
Communion: Adoro Te Devote (plainsong, mode V)
Feb. 21 – 2nd Sunday in Lent
Liberty Bells
Prelude: Poor Wayfaring Stranger (Spiritual, arr. Doris Alman)
Offertory: I Ring My Praise to God (Howard Starks, b.1928)
Feb. 28 – 3rd Sunday in Lent
Chancel Choir
Introit: Let My Prayer Arise As Incense (Dmitri Bortnyansky, 1751-1825)
Anthem: What Wondrous Love is This (arr. William Witherup, b.1945)
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
January music list
Music list for choral services (11:00 AM unless otherwise noted)
Jan. 3 – 2nd Sunday after Christmas
Liberty Bells Quintet
Prelude: Laudes I (Kevin Dill, 2014)
Offertory: Laudes II (Kevin Dill, 2014)
Jan. 10 – The Baptism of the Lord
Gentlemen of the Chancel Choir
Motet: Veni Sancte Spiritus (Jacques de Bournonville, c.1675-1750)
Communion: Adoro Te Devote (plainsong, mode V)
Jan. 17 – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany
Liberty Bells
Prelude: Let My People Go (Spiritual, arr. Doris Alman, b.1944)
Offertory: Carillon for a Joyous Day (Douglas Wagner, b.1952)
Jan. 24 – 3rd Sunday after Epiphany
Chancel Choir
Introit: O Come, Let Us Sing (Hal Hopson, b.1933)
Anthem: Bless the Lord, O My Soul (Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov, 1859-1935)
Jan. 31 – 4th Sunday after Epiphany
Chancel Choir
Introit: Come, Let Us Worship (Dmitri Razumovsky, 1818-1898)
Anthem: Benedictus (Brian Lewis, b.1970)
Jan. 3 – 2nd Sunday after Christmas
Liberty Bells Quintet
Prelude: Laudes I (Kevin Dill, 2014)
Offertory: Laudes II (Kevin Dill, 2014)
Jan. 10 – The Baptism of the Lord
Gentlemen of the Chancel Choir
Motet: Veni Sancte Spiritus (Jacques de Bournonville, c.1675-1750)
Communion: Adoro Te Devote (plainsong, mode V)
Jan. 17 – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany
Liberty Bells
Prelude: Let My People Go (Spiritual, arr. Doris Alman, b.1944)
Offertory: Carillon for a Joyous Day (Douglas Wagner, b.1952)
Jan. 24 – 3rd Sunday after Epiphany
Chancel Choir
Introit: O Come, Let Us Sing (Hal Hopson, b.1933)
Anthem: Bless the Lord, O My Soul (Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov, 1859-1935)
Jan. 31 – 4th Sunday after Epiphany
Chancel Choir
Introit: Come, Let Us Worship (Dmitri Razumovsky, 1818-1898)
Anthem: Benedictus (Brian Lewis, b.1970)
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Friday, December 11, 2015
Christmas Organ Recital
Kevin Dill, organist
with guest soprano Sonya Eagles-Dill
Tuesday, December 15, 11:45 AM
Zipoli Prelude & Canzona
Bach Nur Ein Wink Von Seinen Handen (Christmas Oratorio)
Leavitt A Christmas Suite
Frost Introduction & Variations on 'Mendelssohn'
admission to the recital is free; a $5 lunch is available in the fellowship hall following the program
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Lessons & Carols
the Chancel Choir of First Presbyterian Church
and the French Creek Brass Quintet present
A Service of Lessons & Carols for Advent & Christmas
Sunday, December 13, 11:00 AM
featuring traditional carols plus choral music by Praetorius, Dyson, and Dill
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