Festival of Hymns “The Song Goes On . . . ” IN CELEBRATION OF THE 75 TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RED RIVER VALLEY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS First Presbyterian Church – Fargo, ND Saturday, 18 September 2021 7:00 pm WHAT IS A HYMN FESTIVAL? Singing together in community is a powerful, life-shaping activity. The deep breathing required massages our inner bodies and quiets the brain. The resonance causes us to vibrate together, forming a community out of diverse people. And when we are singing holy stories together, holy thoughts together, we are lifted into a different way of seeing and being. Hymn festivals are offshoots of worship: occasions of prayer and community where the central activity is singing. We know music-centered worship offshoots by different names and models. An old-fashioned hymn sing may consist of a pianist and a leader who says, “Call out your favorites!” At this event speech may be mostly titles and page numbers and the musical activity is almost entirely congregational. In December, by contrast, many communities offer another kind of hymn event, known as Lessons and Carols. This service centers on storytelling and leans more towards listening. Readings are central to its structure and while congregational singing occurs, musical responses may favor choral offerings. A hymn festival generally falls somewhere between these two types. A hymn festival is a special event focused on congregational song, with intentional creativity and variety. It is usually sixty to seventy-five minutes of congregation songs, most often linked by readings, narrations, or prayers, typically organized around a central theme, idea, or occasion. Strong musical or scholarly leadership is often a featured element. Festivals often involve choirs or other musical ensembles of a church or churches. The amount of singing at a hymn festival is usually greater than at worship and spoken elements may be different in character of broader in range. As at worship, though, these elements work together. At best, these different elements are chosen, created, and arranged so that they complement each other, sharing common themes less by simple re-statement and more through their unique qualities.
Transcript
Festival of Hymns “The Song Goes On . . . ” IN CELEBRATION OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RED RIVER VALLEY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS
First Presbyterian Church – Fargo, ND Saturday, 18 September 2021 7:00 pm WHAT IS A HYMN FESTIVAL?
Singing together in community is a powerful, life-shaping activity. The deep breathing required massages our inner bodies and quiets the brain. The resonance causes us to vibrate together, forming a community out of diverse people. And when we are singing holy stories together, holy thoughts together, we are lifted into a different way of seeing and being. Hymn festivals are offshoots of worship: occasions of prayer and community where the central activity is singing. We know music-centered worship offshoots by different names and models. An old-fashioned hymn sing may consist of a pianist and a leader who says, “Call out your favorites!” At this event speech may be mostly titles and page numbers and the musical activity is almost entirely congregational. In December, by contrast, many communities offer another kind of hymn event, known as Lessons and Carols. This service centers on storytelling and leans more towards listening. Readings are central to its structure and while congregational singing occurs, musical responses may favor choral offerings. A hymn festival generally falls somewhere between these two types. A hymn festival is a special event focused on congregational song, with intentional creativity and variety. It is usually sixty to seventy-five minutes of congregation songs, most often linked by readings, narrations, or prayers, typically organized around a central theme, idea, or occasion. Strong musical or scholarly leadership is often a featured element. Festivals often involve choirs or other musical ensembles of a church or churches. The amount of singing at a hymn festival is usually greater than at worship and spoken elements may be different in character of broader in range. As at worship, though, these elements work together. At best, these different elements are chosen, created, and arranged so that they complement each other, sharing common themes less by simple re-statement and more through their unique qualities.
F E S T I V A L O F H Y M N S 2
F E S T I V A L O F H Y M N S 3
…joining in glad adoration…
prelude All Creatures of Our God and King Hal H. Hopson, b. 1933
Sally Harmon, ORGAN
welcome Dillon J. Swanson Dean, Red River Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
opening hymn
“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
WORDS: Joachim Neander (1650-1690) translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878)
MUSIC: Lobe den Herren. Ernewerten Gesangbuch, Part II, Stralsund, 1665. 1 All, in unison 3 Choir 2 All, in harmony 4 All, in unison
F E S T I V A L O F H Y M N S 4
the song goes on… in creation
meditation
“God is Praised in Creation” Susan Palo Cherwien, b. 1953
SETTING BY: Chad Fothergill ( b. 1984) 1 Choir 3-4 All 2 In two-measure canon; lower (tenor, bass) voices begin
F E S T I V A L O F H Y M N S 6
the song goes on… in solitude
hymn
“God, When Human Bonds are Broken”
WORDS: Fred Kann (1929-2009) MUSIC: New Orleans. Paul D. Weber (b. 1949)
1 All 2 Treble (soprano, alto) voices 3 Organ 4 Lower (tenor, bass) voices 5 All
poem “ In early morning we awaken from…” Wendell Berry, b. 1934
F E S T I V A L O F H Y M N S 7
hymn “Unlock, O God” WORDS: Jennifer Baker-Trinity (b. 1976)
MUSIC: Reserare. Chad Fothergill (b. 1984) 1 Soloist 2 All, in harmony 3 All, in harmony 4 All, in unison
F E S T I V A L O F H Y M N S 8
the song goes on… in community
reading
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Response: Thanks be to God.
hymn
“What Joyous Song Unfolding”
WORDS: Susan Palo Cherwien (b. 1953) MUSIC: Den Blomstertid nu kommer. Koralpsalmboken, Stockholm, 1597.
1 All, in unison 3 All, in unison 2 All, in harmony 4 All, in harmony
F E S T I V A L O F H Y M N S 9
poem “When music wakes my sleeping heart…” Delores Dufner, OSB, b. 1939
hymn
“Voices Raised to You” WORDS: Herman G. Stuempfle, Jr. (1923-2007)
MUSIC: Song of Praise. Carolyn Jennings (b. 1936)
1 All, unison 3 All, in harmony 5 All, unison 2 Treble (soprano, alto voices) 4 Lower (tenor, bass voices)
F E S T I V A L O F H Y M N S 10
the song goes on… in faith
hymn
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
WORDS: Charles Wesley (1707-1788) MUSIC: Hyfrydol. Rowland H. Prichard (1811-1887)
1 All, in unison 2 All, in harmony 3 All, in harmony 4 All, in unison
F E S T I V A L O F H Y M N S 11
F E S T I V A L O F H Y M N S 12
poem “I know that I have life…” Wendell Berry, b. 1934
hymn “Now to the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray”
WORDS: Medieval German Leise (st.1), and Martin Luther (1483-1546) sts. 2-4, transl. composite. MUSIC: Nun bitten wir. ed. Johann Walter (1496-1570)
Geistliche Gesangbüchlein, 1524
Introduction: setting by Dietrich Buxtehude, ca. 1637-1707 1 All 2 Duet: setting by Johann Staden, 1581-1634 3-4 All
F E S T I V A L O F H Y M N S 13
the song goes on… in peace
meditation
“God is Praised in Justice” Susan Palo Cherwien, b. 1953
hymn
“Let Streams of Living Justice”
WORDS: William Whitla (b. 1934) MUSIC: Thaxted. Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
All stanzas sung in unison
F E S T I V A L O F H Y M N S 14
…lord, with me abide…
installation of officers & closing prayer
closing hymn “Abide with me” WORDS: William Whitla (b. 1934)
MUSIC: Eventide. William H. Monk (1823-1889) 1 All, in harmony 3 All, in harmony 5 All, in unison 2 All, in unison 4 All, in harmony
postlude
Symphony for Organ No. 5 in F minor, Op. 42, No. 1 Charles-Marie Widor, 1844-1937 V. Toccata Dillon J. Swanson, ORGAN
F E S T I V A L O F H Y M N S 15
SERVING TODAY
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR
Dillon J. Swanson Dean, Red River Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists Cantor, Campus Ministry of Concordia College- Moorhead, MN Cantor, Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church – Moorhead, MN House Organist, The Fargo Theatre – Fargo, ND
ORGANISTS & PIANISTS
Alex Swanson Secretary-Treasurer, Red River Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists House Organist, The Fargo Theatre – Fargo, ND
Dr. Jean Hellner Archivist & Webmaster, Red River Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists Organist, Peace Lutheran Church – Fargo, ND Executive Director, Community Orchestra Academy of Fargo-Moorhead Vice President-Treasurer, Edvard Grieg Society of the Dakotas Choral Accompanist, Minnesota State University - Moorhead
Sally Harmon Music Coordinator & Organist, First Presbyterian Church – Fargo, ND
Susan Clambey Organist, First Congregational United Church of Christ – Moorhead, MN
READERS Pastor Mary Jo Dahlberg-Holtey
Interim Head of Staff and Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church – Fargo, ND
Michael Olson Past-Dean, Red River Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists Minister of Music, First Lutheran Church – Fargo, ND
SOLOISTS Peter Halverson Associate Professor of Voice, Concordia College – Moorhead, MN
Rachel Horan Instructor of Piano and Aural Skills, Concordia College – Moorhead, MN CLC Worship Director, Trinity Lutheran Church – Moorhead, MN
Breanna Breidenbach Organist, Saints Anne and Joachim Catholic Church – Fargo, ND
INSTRUMENTALISTS Dr. Greg Post – TRUMPET Gene Okerlund– TROMBONE
Mike Wavra – TRUMPET Steve Hammel – TUBA (BASS TROMBONE) Peter Schiefelbein – HORN Thomas Christianson– TIMPANI Peggy Hammerling – FLUTE Allison Sterling – VIOLA Jane Linde Capistran – VIOLIN Tim Nelson – VIOLA Vanessa Hellner-Born – VIOLIN Mary Osterlund – CELLO Jacob Shay – VIOLIN Elise Nelson – CELLO
BELLS Gracia Fulwiler Lhonda Lewis Tammy Olson Sue Reinhardt Sally Harmon Jeff Olson Jill Post Alex Moe
F E S T I V A L O F H Y M N S 16
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, SOURCES, AND PERMISSIONS
praise to the lord, the almighty
Text: Joachim Neander, 1650-1680; Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878, transl. composite, alt. Music, LOBE DEN HERREN: Ernewerten Gesangbuch, Part II, Stalsund, 1665. Reprinted from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Hymn 858.
