March 5, 2023

The Lenten prelude is a "Max" (shortened for several long names) Reger setting of a very melodious hymn tune "Come, Follow Me". Mr, Reger (1873-1916) was German and it was said about his music that "the counterpoint of Bach meets the harmonies of Schoenberg (1874-1951), who was famous for atonality and his "12 tone row" (which meant that a melody used every tone in the 12 tone octave. The harmonies and counterpoint of this prelude, however, are very easy on the ear! Our well-known opening hymn is 448 (first 3 verses), which as you will note is an 18th-century setting of a 15th-century Latin text.

I think everyone loves our Gospel hymn, 337, "And now, O father, mindful of the love that bought us, once for all, on Calvary's tree". We will sing verses 1 & 2.

Our anthem is a Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry setting of the beautiful hymn tune "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind". Parry (1848-1918) was English and known also as a teacher and historian of music, as well as a composer.

At communion, the choir will sing "God So Loved the World", from John Stainer's "The Crucifixion". This is a favorite of most people.

Our closing hymn is 473, "Lift High the Cross", a hymn written in the 20th century, and one that "took off" in popularity The postlude is an Alexander Matthews (1879-1973, American) setting of the well-known hymn "O God, Our Help in Ages Past".