April 23, 2023

We are pleased to welcome Otho Hoyte as guest organist this Sunday. The prelude will be a set of variations on the 15th-century Easter hymn, "O Filii et Filiae" (O sons and daughters), which is both 203 and 206 in our hymnal. The tune is known to most people. The variations are by the English composer and organist, John E. West (1863-1929), who grew up in a very musical family and, among other musical accomplishments, founded the Northeast London Academy of Music.

The opening hymn, which compliments the day's reading from Acts, is the familiar "The head that once was crowned with thorns" (483), a centuries-old tune with slightly more recent text.

The Gospel hymn is an old favorite of many, "Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless thy chosen pilgrim flock" (343). Note in the hymnal that this harmonization is more modern, by Richard Prouls (b. 1937), who composed some of our service music.

The anthem, "The Strife is O'er", by the English Henry Ley (1887-1962), is a different tune than 208 in our hymnal (which is actually by Palastrina); this is by the 16th-17th century Vulpius, a German singer, cantor, and composer. One of his best-known works is a setting of "The St. Matthew Passion".

The first communion hymn, "Come, risen Lord, and deign be our guest" (305), is known to everyone, I think, and is by the distinguished 20th-century American, Leo Sowerby. The second hymn is "Now the green blade riseth" (204), the beautiful and easily singable tune originally being a French carol, as you may note.

Closing will be hymn 180, an Easter hymn known to all-- "He is risen, he is risen! Tell it out with joyful voice".

The postlude, titled "An Easter Alleluya", is based on the familiar hymn "Lasst uns erfruen", 400 in our hymnal and loved by all. This setting is by Gordon Slater (1896-1979), who was organist at both Leicester Cathedral and Lincoln Cathedrals.