Music in Worship

Slater Murphy, Music in Worship R&R Chair

When in Our Music God is Glorified

SATB

Words by Fred Pratt Green, Music by Charles V. Stanford

Arranged by Mary McDonald

Hope Publishing Company, C 5900, Orchestration available

This traditional text and tune is given a fresh new setting, by virtue of the formidable imagination of Mary McDonald.  You would expect the piano accompaniment to be expansive and interesting; it does not disappoint.  This anthem will work with a pretty skilled church choir, but it’s best usefulness may be for festival occasions or with senior high and university groups.  A few lines of Psalm 150 also are used as the song setting builds to its conclusion.

Forevermore (Psalm 145)

SATB

Travis Cottrell

Arranged by Phillip Keveren

LifeWay Worship, 6-34337-388922, Orchestration available

The text certainly is one of my favorite Psalms, and the original tune is extremely interesting.  I love the way unrelated keys are explored during the development section.  The music reminds me of a great John Williams film score; it has become one of my new favorites because of the masterful way this worthy text is supported throughout.  You will find Phillip Keveren’s orchestrations to be interesting and challenging.

Hine Ma Tov

SATB

Allan Naplan

Boosey & Hawkes, Hal Leonard, 48022844

This Hebrew text, Psalm 133, translates to “Behold, how good it is for brethren to dwell together in peace.”  The message is universal, crossing cultures, languages, and religions.  It is expertly composed in a traditional Klezmer style, incorporating lively syncopation with alternating sequences of major and minor modes.  Students love this piece.  The accompaniment is for piano and a pretty accomplished clarinetist.

Bach Among the Theologians

By Jaroslav Pelikan

Wipf & Stock Publishers

Okay, I confess that I am a Bach aficionado.  As an organist who has endured rigorous training for the purpose of experiencing the sheer joy of playing some of his major works, I am in awe of this composer.  Most musicians know of Bach’s devotion to God, but few understand how Reformation theology informed his musical output.  Pelikan delves into three main movements within the Lutheran theology of the 17^th and 18^th centuries as a framework for understanding Bach.  Specifically, he also demonstrates how Bach’s sacred music complements and illustrates these theological trends.  This text is not a light read, but it is only 140 pages in length, and in my opinion well worth the effort, the payoff being that the reader’s ears will be sharpened to hear and better understand the decisive undertones of Bach’s music.