Music Notes
Hymn of the Day: “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” ELW 634
TEXT: Edward Perronet (1716-1792) sts. 1-4, John Rippon (1751-1836) sts. 5-6
TUNE: CORONATION, Oliver Holden (1765-1844)
The first stanza of this hymn was printed anonymously in the Gospel Magazine (November, 1779). Six months later the same magazine printed it again, this time with seven more stanzas by Edward Perronoet. The hymn appeared once more in A Selection of Hymns (London, 1787) by John Rippon. There some stanzas were altered or completely changed. The ELW uses as its first four stanzas the first four of Perronet and as its last two the last two from Rippon.
Edward Perronet came from a family of Huguenots who fled from France and eventually made their way to England where his father was an Anglican priest who ympathized with the Wesleys. For some time Edward was an intimate associate of the Wesleys.
John Rippon began to study for the Baptist ministry at the age of seventeen. He became one of the most influential Baptist pastors of his generation.
There are three main tunes for this hymn: CORONATION is found in most American hymnals along with DIADEM, which is also found in hymnals from Great Britain along with MILES LANE. CORONATION features a sturdier marching feel, while DIADEM is more ornate and includes elaborate harmonies. MILES LANE has a wide melodic range, and a climax in the refrain. CORONATION is the oldest American hymn tune still widely used, and has been printed and sung more often than any other eighteenth-century American tune.
Oliver Holden, one of the pioneers of American psalmody, was born in 1765, and was brought up as a carpenter. Subsequently he became a music teacher and music-seller.
Musical Meditation “Old Hundredth”, Piet Post (1919-1979)
Dutch Organist and Composer Piet Post spent his entire life in or near Amsterdam. Other than the church organist and teaching positions he held, little in known of his life. He mainly composed music for organ and choir.
One of the most famous melodies in all of Christendom, the Protestant doxology known as the Old 100th, is commonly attributed to Louis Bourgeois.
Choir Anthem: “He, Watching Over Israel” from the Oratorio “Elijah”, Felix Mendelssohn
“He, Watching Over Israel” based on Psalm 121:4 and Psalm 138:7, is Movement #29 of the 42 Movement Oratorio, ELIJAH, written by Felix Mendelssohn. This great work was premiered in its English version in Birmingham, England in 1846 and later in its German version in Leipzig, Germany on February 3, 1848, a few months after Mendelssohn’s death.
Felix Mendelssohn was born into a prominent Jewish family, a grandson of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, on February 3, 1809, in Hamburg, Germany. He was raised without any religion until the age of seven, when he was baptized as a reformed Christian. Mendelssohn was recognized as a musical prodigy, becoming a composer, pianist, organist and conductor. Aside from Elijah, he wrote symphonies, concerti, oratorios, piano music and chamber music such as; the Italian Symphony, the Scottish Symphony, Incidental music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the overture The Hebrides.
ELIJAH is an oratorio that depicts events in the life of the prophet Elijah. The text is taken from Psalm 121:4 "He, watching over Israel, slumbers not nor sleeps," and Psalm 138:7 "Shouldst thou, walking in grief, languish, He will quicken thee.” These two phrases are interwoven to great effect in Mendelssohn's soaring style.