MUSIC NOTES
For All Saints Sunday on November 3rd, the Chancel Choir will sing We Are Blessed, by Patricia Mock and Richard A. Nichols. Bruce Goody will play the flute obbligato, and Rachel Hassinger will play the piano accompaniment. The text reminds us that we are blessed by those who have gone on before us. The centerpiece of the anthem is the Doxology in a different meter, which causes us to pay closer attention to the words of the familiar response.
Bruce Goody and Jonathan Moretz will play Quicksilver, by Beaser, for the Prelude, and Nocturne No. 2, by Burgmuller, for the Offertory.
On November 10th, the Chancel Choir anthem will be I Will Give Joyful Thanks, by Douglas Nolan, who also wrote last year's Christmas Cantata, A Song Is Born. After a vigorous piano introduction, the Choir sings of gratitude and joy for God's great mercy and love as we prepare for Thanksgiving. "Come and give thanks to the Lord!"
Barbara Beard will sing a lovely solo by Antonin Dvorak that is a paraphrase of Psalm 23 entitled God Is My Shepherd. Barbara's Offertory solo will provide an alternative interpretation of this very familiar Psalm.
The Chancel Choir's November 17th anthem will be Simple Gifts, the familiar American Shaker Song arranged by Jay Althouse. This arrangement adds to the familiar text:
'Tis the gift to be loving, 'tis the gift to be kind,
'tis the gift of grace we know that we will find.
And when we see the light at the break of day,
we'll know that the truth will show us the way.
Aaron will conduct this anthem, and Rachel Hassinger will play the piano accompaniment. PS 96 will be with us on November 17th, and hey will present The Church, by Austin French,
for the Prelude, and Grateful For, by Natalie Layne, for the Offertory.
November 24th is a Sunday when we celebrate our young people. We will invite the young people in our congregation to join with the Chancel Choir in singing Deo Gratias (Thanks Be to God), by James J. Cheppponis. This anthem has a recurring refrain of thanks to God that the young people will sing. The Chancel Choir will sing several verses that reference the text of the familiar hymn, For the Beauty of the Earth, set to a different melody. We celebrate our youth!
The Joyful Ringers will play Great Is Thy Faithfulness, by William M. Runyan, for the Offertory. This is a delightful setting of the familiar hymn that utilizes the handbells, melody chimes, and mallets on suspended bells. The centerpiece has the melody played on the low chimes for a unique rendition of this beloved hymn.
Millie Beane
Director of Music
