Grand Music Gracious Word - St. Olaf College · 2012-05-23 · Grand Music Gracious Word Sing For...
4
Grand Music Gracious Word Sing For Joy® is a production of St. Olaf College. by Pastor Bruce Benson, host J une. One of the Sing For Joy programs this month will conclude with a performance by the St. Olaf Cantorei, John Ferguson conducting. When I introduce that final musical selection, I am going to mention that Dr. Ferguson (“Ferg,” as he is affectionately known) is retiring this month from St. Olaf College. To be more precise, he is retiring from his professorial duties, but not from serving as consultant and music adviser to Sing For Joy. Even if I had not been his St. Olaf College colleague for nearly 30 years, I would want to make note of his retirement simply because he has been such a creative and influential leader in the world of Church Music for the past several decades. There is hardly a church organist in the country who has not played a Ferguson arrangement of something! And church choir directors know his work almost as well. But in my own decades long partnership with John, it has been his regular Sunday worship leadership that has seemed to me to be his greatest gift. You can think about this with an analogy from the world of sports. The athletes we most love to watch are those who are good enough to make what is difficult look easy; those who don’t just do what they do but love what they do; those who don’t lose their sense of play; and finally, those who make us appreciate the beauty of their sport- not merely their personal talent. That is the Sunday morning artistry of organist and choir conductor, John Ferguson. He plays for worship, he always makes it sound easy, he loves what he does, and in the end, all of us in worship with him experience a new appreciation of God’s grace and love. The church needs its gifted musicians like John. One could object to my use of the word “need,” I suppose, but anyone reading this newsletter is likely to agree. If the Gospel is a seed and the human heart is the soil, the arts are rain to soften the soil for life and growth. Or change the image if you like: imagine a human being as a seed which grows to its fullest potential when planted in the good soil of the Gospel; the arts can still be thought of as gentle rains that assist both the Gospel and the person to flourish. The church needs its gifted musicians for the good work of “farming” faith, hope, and love. And one of the great joys of my own pastoral ministry has been sharing worship leadership with John Ferguson. As organist, choir conductor, composer, hymn arranger, teacher, scholar, and more he has, inspired (and will continue to do so) thousands of people to “sing for joy.” Thank you, John. The peace of God be with you. Peace be with you, Pastor Benson has written eloquently about John Ferguson’s contributions to the world of church music and musicians. I’d like to also mention something of a personal note. “Ferg,” as he is known, is also a teacher - a teacher who has influenced and inspired over a thousand students through his tenure as Professor of Organ and Church Music and conductor of the St. Olaf Cantorei. Ferg’s musicality, patience, compassion and quick wit served as a perfect model for being a servant and leader to congregations. I met him for the first time as a young prospective organ student, and was drawn to his immediate understanding and encouragement of my vocation. I would not be the person I am today without Ferg being a part of my life, and I know I speak for countless others of his students who feel the same way. Thank you, Ferg. Jeffrey O’Donnell, Executive Producer, Sing For Joy JUNE 2012 / YEAR B J
Transcript of Grand Music Gracious Word - St. Olaf College · 2012-05-23 · Grand Music Gracious Word Sing For...
Grand Music
Gracious Word
Sing For Joy® is a production of St. Olaf College.
by Pastor Bruce Benson, host
June. One of the Sing For Joy programs this month will conclude with a performance by the St. Olaf
Cantorei, John Ferguson conducting. When I introduce that fi nal musical selection, I am going to mention that Dr. Ferguson (“Ferg,” as he is affectionately known) is retiring this month from St. Olaf College. To be more precise, he is retiring from his professorial duties, but not from serving as consultant and music adviser to Sing For Joy. Even if I had not been his St. Olaf College colleague for nearly 30 years, I would want to make note of his retirement simply because he has been such a creative and infl uential leader in the world of Church Music for the past several decades. There is hardly a church organist in the country who has not played a Ferguson arrangement of something! And church choir directors know his work almost as well.
But in my own decades long partnership with John, it has been his regular Sunday worship leadership that has seemed to me to be his greatest gift. You can think about this with an analogy from the world of sports. The athletes we most love to watch are those who are good enough to make what is diffi cult look easy; those who don’t just do what they do but love what they do; those who don’t lose their sense of play; and fi nally, those who make us appreciate the beauty of their sport- not merely their personal talent.
That is the Sunday morning artistry of organist and choir conductor, John Ferguson. He plays for worship, he always makes it sound easy, he loves what he does, and in the end, all of us in worship with him experience a new appreciation of God’s grace and love. The church needs its gifted musicians like John. One could object to my use of the word “need,” I suppose, but anyone reading this newsletter is likely to agree. If the Gospel is a seed and the human heart is the soil, the arts are rain to soften the soil for life and growth. Or change the image if
you like: imagine a human being as a seed which grows to its fullest potential when planted in the good soil of the Gospel; the arts can still be thought of as gentle rains that assist both the Gospel and the person to fl ourish.
The church needs its gifted musicians for the good work of “farming” faith, hope, and love. And one of the great joys of my own pastoral ministry has been sharing worship leadership with John Ferguson. As organist, choir conductor, composer, hymn arranger, teacher, scholar, and more he has, inspired (and will continue to do so) thousands of people to “sing for joy.” Thank you, John. The peace of God be with you.
Peace be with you,
Pastor Benson has written eloquently about John Ferguson’s contributions to the world of church music and musicians. I’d like to also mention something of a personal note. “Ferg,” as he is known, is also a teacher - a teacher who has infl uenced and inspired over a thousand students through his tenure as Professor of Organ and Church Music and conductor of the St. Olaf Cantorei.
Ferg’s musicality, patience, compassion and quick wit served as a perfect model for being a servant and leader to congregations. I met him for the fi rst time as a young prospective organ student, and was drawn to his immediate understanding and encouragement of my vocation. I would not be the person I am today without Ferg being a part of my life, and I know I speak for countless others of his students who feel the same way. Thank you, Ferg.
Jeffrey O’Donnell, Executive Producer, Sing For Joy
JUNE 2012 / YEAR B
J
creo
June 3, 2012The Holy Trinity — First Sunday after Pentecost (Year B)
(1R) Isaiah 6:1–8 (PS) Psalm 29(2R) Romans 8:12–17(G) John 3:1–17
Holy, Holy, Holy (NICAEA) – John B. Dykes, arr. John Ferguson (1R) / The St. Olaf Choir / Anton Armstrong(CD) Great Hymns of Faith, Volume II / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-2651 / © 2004 St. Olaf Records, St. Olaf College,1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Northfi eld, MN 55057 www.stolafrecords.com
In The Year that King Uzziah Died – David McK. Williams (1R) / The Choir of Grace Cathedral: San Francisco, Calif. /John Fenstermaker / (CD) The Worlds Above / GOTHIC / G 49098 / © 1996 Gothic Records, Everett, WA 98201 www.gothicrecords.com
Apostrophe to the Heavenly Host (Excerpt) – Healey Willan (1R) / The St. Olaf Choir / Kenneth Jennings / (CD) Choral Masterworks Series, Volume III / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-3355-56© 2011 St. Olaf Records, Northfi eld, MN 55057 www.stolafrecords.com
Holy God, We Praise Your Name (GROSSER GOTT) – Maria Theresa, Katholisches Gesangbuch, arr. John Ferguson (1R, 2R, G) / The St. Olaf Cantorei / John Ferguson(CD) The Song Goes On: A Sing For Joy Hymn Festival / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-2801 / © 2005 St. Olaf Records, St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Northfi eld, MN 55057 www.stolafrecords.com
Yes, there is still time.
As this newsletter goes to print, many of you have already generously contributed our spring fund raising request. Thank you! But there is still time. We welcome gifts at any fi nancial level. If you make a donation of $100 or more by June 30th, you can choose to receive the wonderful 2006 Sing For Joy hymn festival CD, “Songs of Grateful Praise,” featuring our own John Ferguson as conductor and arranger of many of these beloved songs. The 19 recorded songs and readings on this CD include:
From All That Dwell Below the SkiesFor the Beauty of the EarthAll Things Bright and Beautiful - English TraditionalAll Creatures of Our God and King When the Morning Stars Together Magnifi catThis is My Song- adapted from FinlandiaUbi Caritas: from Four Motets on Gregorian Themes, Op. 10 Lamb of GodChrist Has ArisenIn Thee Is GladnessWalk in the LightPraise God from Whom All Blessings Flow Rejoice, Ye Pure in HeartGod, Who Made the Earth and HeavenHow Can I Keep from Singing
June 10, 2012Time after Pentecost — Lectionary 10 (Year B)
(1R) Genesis 3:8–15 (PS) Psalm 130(2R) 2 Corinthians 4:13—5:1(G) Mark 3:20–35(BB) RC Feast of the Body & Blood of Christ
Eat This Bread – Jacques Berthier (BB)The Schola Cantorum of St. Peter the Apostle: Chicago, Ill. / J. Michael Thompson / (CD) O Bread of Life / THE LITURGICAL PRESS / LTP 7897-1© 1995 Liturgical Press, P.O. Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321 www.litpress.com
“Out of the Deep” from Requiem – John Rutter (PS) / Polyphony; Bournemouth Sinfonietta / Stephen Layton(CD) John Rutter: Requiem / MUSICAL HERITAGE SOCIETY / 515279X© 1997 Hyperion Records Ltd., London, England www.passionato.com
Built on the Rock (KIRKEN DEN ER ET GAMMELT HUS) – Ludvig Lindemann, arr. F. Melius Christiansen (1R, G)The St. Olaf Choir / Anton Armstrong(CD) Great Hymns of Faith, Volume III / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-2164© 2011 St. Olaf Records, St. Olaf College,1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Northfi eld, MN 55057 www.stolarecords.com
De Profundis – Graham Gordon Ramsay (PS)The Sacred Voice: Albany, N.Y. / Heinrich Christensen(CD) The Sacred Voice / ALBANY / TROY 1304© 2011 Albany Records, 915 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207 www.albanyrecords.com
Lead Me, Guide Me – Doris Akers (1R, G) /Sing For Joy Hymn Festival Congregation(CD) When in Our Music God is Glorifi ed / Sing For Joy Archives / NOT FOR RESALE© 2011 St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Northfi eld, MN 55057 www.singforjoy.org
All Creation! Sing Alleluia!
“…being human, made in God’s image, is a holy calling – though sometimes it seems that the rest of creation is ahead of us in praising God. Sometimes instead of the human family inviting all the other creatures of our God and King to lift up their voices and with us sing, it is the rest of creation that calls out to us to live lives of stewardship that honor and praise God the creator. In any case, Trinity Sunday invites all creation, human and other, to sing Alleluia.”
- Pastor Bruce Benson
creo
June 17, 2012Time after Pentecost — Lectionary 11 (Year B)
(1R) Acts 1:15–17, 21–26(PS) Psalm 1(2R) 1 John 5:9–13(G) John 17:6–17(A) Ascension of our Lord
God Is Gone Up – Gerald Finzi (A) / Choir of Clare College: Cambridge / Timothy Brown /(CD) Rejoice! British Choral Music / REGIS / RRC1040 / © 1995 Regis Records Ltd., Southover House, Tolpuddle, United Kingdom DT2 7HF www.regisrecords.co.uk
Alleluia, Sing to Jesus (HYFRYDOL) – Rowland Hugh Pritchard, arr. Noel Goemanne (A) / Schola Cantorum of St. Peter the Apostle: Chicago, Ill. / J. Michael Thompson / (CD) Praise to the Lord! / THE LITURGICAL PRESS / 7931-5© 1998 Liturgical Press, P.O. Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321 www.litpress.com
O Clap Your Hands – Orlando Gibbons (A)Cambridge Singers: Cambridge, England / John Rutter(CD) Faire is the Heaven / COLLEGIUM / COLCD 107© 1988 Collegium Records, Koch Entertainment, 22 Harbor Park Dr., Port Washington, NY 11050 www.kochent.com
Thee Will I Love – Kenneth Jennings (G) / National Lutheran Choir: Minneapolis, Minn. / Larry L. Fleming / (CD) A New Song / NATIONAL LUTHERAN CHOIR RECORDINGS / NLCA-92 / © National Lutheran Choir, P.O. Box 6450, Minneapolis, MN 55406 www.nlca.org
Jesus, My All, to Heaven Has Gone (NORTH PORT) – R.R. Osborne (A) / Word Of Mouth Chorus: Plainfi eld, Vt. / Larry Gordon / (CD) Rivers Of Delight: American Folk Hymns From The Sacred Harp Tradition / ELEKTRA-NONESUCH / 9 71360-2 / © 1979 Warner Communcations, Inc., 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10019 www.nonesuch.com
“Coelos Ascendit Hodie” from Three Motets, Op. 38 – Charles Villiers Stanford (A) / Princeton Singers: Princeton, N.J. / John Bertalot / (CD) All Creation Rejoices: English Cathedral Choral Music / PRINCETON SINGERS / PSACR93© The Princeton Singers, 33 Mercer Street, Princeton, NJ 08540 www.princetonsingers.org
Spiritual inspiration is like…
“Spiritual inspiration sometimes comes like a sudden gust of wind. Other times it is more like a slow, steady, gentle
breath on coals that encourages them to break into fl ame.”
- Pastor Bruce Benson
June 24, 2012Time after Pentecost — Lectionary 12 (Year B)
(1R) Job 38:1–11 (PS) Psalm 107:1–3, 23–32(2R) 2 Corinthians 6:1–13(G) Mark 4:35–41
Praise To The Lord (LOBE DEN HERRN) – Ernewerten Gesangbuch, arr. F. Melius Christiansen (G) / The St. Olaf Choir / Anton Armstrong / (CD) Great Hymns of Faith / ST OLAF RECORDS / E-2294 / © 1999 St Olaf College, St. Olaf College,1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Northfi eld, MN 55057 www.stolafrecords.com
Sounding Joy – Justin Morgan, adapt. Gwyneth Walker (1R) / The American Repertory Singers: Washington, D.C. / Leo Nestor / (CD) Sounding Joy / ARSIS / CD 105© 1996 Arsis Audio, 138 Ipswich Street, Boston, MA 02215 www.arsisaudio.com
“The Waves Of The Sea Rage Horribly” from O Sing Unto the Lord a New Song – George Frideric Handel (G) / Ian Partridge, tenor; The Sixteen Orchestra / Harry Christophers / (CD) Handel: Chandos Anthems, Volume 2 / CHANDOS / CHAN 0504 / © 1989 Chandos Records Ltd., 1 Commerce Park, Commerce Way, Colchester, Essex, England CO2 8HX www.chandos.net
Precious Lord, Take My Hand (MAITLAND) – Thomas A. Dorsey, arr. Arnold Sevier (G) / The Choir of Foundry United Methodist Church: Washington, D.C. / Eileen Guenther(CD) The Promise of Living: American Songs of Faith / ETHEREAL RECORDINGS / ER-118 / © 1998 Ethereal Recordings, 119 East 74th Street, Suite #4, New York, NY 10021
Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me (SO NIMM DENN MEINE HÄNDE) – Friedrich Silcher (G) / The Kapelle of Concordia University: River Forest, Ill. / Thomas Gieschen / (CD) Favorite German Hymns / DELTA DIGITAL / DRCD88-837 / © Concordia College, 7400 Augusta St, River Forest, IL 60305-1499 www.curf.edu
Eternal Father, Strong to Save (MELITA) – John B. Dykes (G)The Choir of St. John’s College: Cambridge / Christopher Robinson / (CD) Let All the World in Every Corner Sing / LINDENBERG / LBCD 58 / © Lindenberg Boeken & Muziek, Slaak / 4-14, 3061 CS Rotterdam, The Netherlands
My Life Flows on in Endless Song (HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING) – Robert Lowry, arr. Eric Nelson (G) / The St. Olaf Cantorei / John Ferguson / (CD) Songs of Grateful Praise / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-2880 / © 2006 St. Olaf Records, St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Northfi eld, MN 55057 www.stolafrecords.com
It’s so easy to give securely online at www.singforjoy.org
creo
Sing For JoySt. Olaf College1520 St. Olaf AvenueNorthfi eld, mn 55057
Non-profi t Org.U.S. PostagePAIDSt. Olaf College
Website: singforjoy.org Email: [email protected]: 507-786-8596
Sing For Joy staff :
W. Bruce Benson Host
John Ferguson Music Adviser
Jeffrey O’Donnell Producer and Music Director
Joshua Wyatt Associate Producer
Miriam Mueller Communications Coordinator
Address Service Requested
Sing For Joy® is a production of St. Olaf College.
Sukup Manufacturing Co.641-892-4222
sukup.com
St. Olaf College507-786-8596
stolaf.edu
and faithful listeners like you.
Sing For Joy® is sponsored by:
Visit singforjoy.org to fi nd out where you can hear Sing For Joy in your area. You can also listen to complete
programs online.JUNE 2012 / YEAR B
Thank you for your gifts!
In Honor Of:
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, to honor her birthday and her 60th reigning year
Reginald Evans, St. Olaf alum, birthday greetingsJennifer Anderson Koenig
Rev. Henry C. Mueller, faithful father
In Memory Of:
Mavis EllingsonMr. & Mrs. Robert Haugan
Rev. Thomas A. HerbonDale Horton
Adelbert MasonDavid Moe
Dr. Douglas J. OllilaArthur & Erna Raap
Rev. Christoph Rembold“Al” Rueter
Emil SymonikJinette L. Whitney,
dear daugher (dec. February 21, 2011)
creo
