Musical Notes for May 26 2019

Musical Notes for May 26 2019

Prelude                                Priere à Notre Dame      Léon Boëllmann

Introit

(Isaiah 48:20b,c) With the voice of singing declare ye, tell this: utter it even to the end of the earth. Hallelujah. The Lord hath redeemed His servant Jacob. Hallelujah. (Psalm 66:1-2) Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honor of His name: make His praise glorious.

The Fifth (and final) Sunday of Easter is known as Rogation Sunday. The term comes from the Latin word “rogare” (“to ask”), relating to asking or praying to God as stated in the Gospel reading for today. Also including three Rogation days before Ascension Day (40 days after Easter occurring this Thursday), this period is a time of prayer and fasting asking God for a good harvest, protection against natural disasters and forgiveness of sins.

Offertory

(Psalm 66:8-9)  O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of His praise to be heard: which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.

Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren   J. G. Walther

Johann Gottfried Walther (1684-1748) was an organist in Erfurt, in the region of Thuringia in central Germany. A cousin of J. S. Bach, he was the author of the first German music encyclopedia (1732). His setting of the 17th century hymn “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” (#279 in The Hymnal 1940) places each phrase of the melody in the pedals preceded by melodic fragments in the hands.

Postlude              Choral and Menuet Gothique    Léon Boëllmann

Léon Boëllmann (1862-1897), Parisian organist/composer at St. Vincent de Paul church, composed his Suite Gothique (1895), reflecting the Gothic architecture and space of churches, such as Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.