Opening Voluntary: “Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah,” (Omage to César Franck) Wayne L. Wold (1954)
The hymn, “Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah,” is based on a Yiddish folk tune, TIF IN VELDELE. The title means “Deep in the Forest” and comes from the first line of the love song that goes with this tune. This is the organ prelude that Wold composed, based on his own hymn tune. Written below the title in the organ score is "Homage to César Franck.” Mr. Wold, in his inimitable tongue-in-cheek way, has cleverly paralleled Franck's "Prelude, Fugue, and Variation in B minor," a well-known standard of the organ repertoire. Wold's piece uses Franck's composition as a stylistic template. Like Franck's, it begins with a "Prelude" section with its plaintive melody played on the oboe stop, accompanied by soft flutes on the other manual and pedals.
Offertory Anthem: “Comfort, Comfort Now My People” Michael Larkin (1951)
This text is a versification of Isaiah 40:1-5, the passage that opens the final large group of prophecies in Isaiah 40-66. Many of these prophecies express consolation and hope that Judah's exile in Babylon is almost over. That is certainly the tone of 40: 1-5: words of comfort forecasting a new reign but also words that call for proper preparation–that is, repentance. Johannes Olearius (1611-1684) originally versified the passage in German in honor of Saint John the Baptist Day and published it in his Geistliche Singe-Kunst (1671), a collection of more than twelve hundred hymns, three hundred of them by Olearius himself. Born into a family of Lutheran theologians, Olearius wrote a commentary on the entire Bible, published various devotional books, and produced a translation of the Imitatio Christi by Thomas a Kempis. In the history of church music Olearius is mainly remembered for his hymn collection, which was widely used in Lutheran churches.
Dr. Michael Larkin is chairperson of the vocal/choral department and an artist/faculty voice teacher at the Wilmington Music School in Wilmington, DE. He also is Director of Music Ministry St. Mary Anne's Episcopal Church in North East, MD and is founder and music director of the New Ark Chorale of Newark, DE. In addition, Dr. Larkin is Eastern Division Chairperson for Music and Worship for the American Choral Directors Association. He is known nationally as a clinician and adjudicator in various aspects of vocal/choral music as well as the church music profession, especially the subjects of liturgy, worship planning, and musical and professional concerns for the church musician.
“Comfort, comfort now my people; Tell of peace!” So says our God.
Comfort those who sit in darkness Mounrning under sorrows load.
To God’s people now proclaim That God’s pardon waits for them!
Tell them that their war is over; God will reign in peace for ever!
For the herald’s voice is crying In the dessert far and near,
Calling us to true repentance, Since the Kingdom now is here.
Oh, that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God alway!
Let the valleys rise to meet him, And the hills bow down before him.
Straight shall be what once was crooked, And the rougher places plain!
Let your hears be true and humble, As befits his holy reign!
For the glory of the Lord Now on earth is shed a broad,
And all flesh shall see the token That God’s word is never broken!
“Comfort, comfort now my people; Tell of peace!” So says our God.
Closing Voluntary: “Veni, Emmanuel” Robert J. Powell (1932)
Robert J. Powell was born in Benoit, Mississippi. Since 1958 he has published over 300 compositions for organ, choir, handbells and instrumental ensembles with leading American and English church music publishers. Robert Powell grew up in sacred music, beginning his training in the 5th grade and starting to compose in 7th grade. By age 18, he was providing piano and organ music for worship services, something he continued through his years in college and as a chaplain’s assistant in the U.S. Army. Mr. Powell holds a Bachelor of Music in Organ and Composition from Louisiana State University (1954) and a Master of Sacred Music from Union Theological Seminary in New York (1958), where he studied under Alec Wyton. He was Assistant Organist at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York from 1958 to 1960, Organist/Choir director at St. Paul’s in Meridian, MS from 1960 - 1965, and Director of Music at St. Paul’s School in Concord, N.H. from 1965-1968. He held the position of Organist and Choir Director at Christ Church in Greenville, SC from 1968 to 2003.