Music at All Saints Parish Sunday, January 21, 2007
Epiphany III
From All Saints Music Director Donald Teeters
In the Gospel for this Sunday (Luke 4:14-21) Jesus quotes from a passage in Isaiah (61:1-3) as he is teaching in the synagogue in Nazareth. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
This text became a central element in an oratorio by Sir Edward Elgar, "The Apostles," and in a somewhat fuller extract from Isaiah provides the words for today's anthem, which is the way Elgar set them for use in that oratorio. This is a piece of noble solemnity, deeply felt, an elegant example of late Romantic choral writing. We have performed it several times in the past, and the choir joins me in welcoming any opportunity, as this Sunday provides, to revive it.
And since we're in an Elgarian mood, we will sing a short anthem at the communion by the same composer. "O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling," was composed for, and first performed at the Coronation of George V.
The hymns:
#616 - Hail to the Lord's anointed. This popular hymn picks up the anointing theme and makes frequent reference to Epiphany themes.
#443 - From God Christ's deity came forth. The tune here is by Boston composer/organist Ronald Arnatt and the words derive from 4th century Syrian sources. A fine addition to the Hymnal 1982.
#438 - Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord. This fine hymn is, of course, a paraphrase of the Magnificat, Mary's song of rejoicing at the Annunciation. Timothy Dudley-Smith wrote the words in 1961 and they quickly found a congenial companion in this joyous tune.