Naming, Remembering, Reclaiming ...
"Inherited Riches"
Just as Ephesians 1: 11-23 is the Epistle Lesson for this "All Saints' Day" Thursday, November 1, 2007, it was the "All Saints' Day" lectionary text in the year 2001 (Cycle C of the Common Lectionary), and the theme text that year for my choral-symphonic work, “Inherited Riches.” But, this composing was not simply a rudimental setting of music to text. It was a spiritual, reflective process dating back to Memorial Day, May 28, 2001.
That Memorial Day, in addition to observing the national holiday, I was finishing the worship design for the upcoming Pentecost Sunday, and also completing an eighteen-month planning calendar for the Worship & Arts ministries. As part of that planning process, I began focusing on special observances throughout the year. As I read the opening passage of Ephesians 1: verse 11 for All Saints’ Day 2001, I began to wonder about this promise of divine inheritance. The Apostle Paul was teaching a struggling church at Ephesus in Asia Minor that they had obtained an inheritance and were marked with the “seal of the promised Holy Spirit.” As I read Paul's account, I believed I could claim this inheritance for myself. It was as if someone had placed in my hands a precious package containing the greatest of gifts; a limitless source of wealth ... enough not only for the present, but for all eternity. I realized that just as Apostle Paul wanted the Ephesians to know the hope to which Christ Jesus has prepared, all persons are called to receive these riches of Christ’s glorious inheritance among the saints.
I paused from the scriptures momentarily to redefine that word “inheritance.” Assuredly, the dictionary confirmed what I already knew: "inheritance - an ownership by virtue of birthright.” My birthright, our birthright, is through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are to know “the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe.” As Christians, we believe this power was revealed through Christ when God raised him from the dead and “…seated him far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.”
On "All Saints' Sunday" 2001, I shared with the congregation Paul's words, followed by this admonition:
"Friends, I encourage you to claim these words of Paul as your own. I pray for you to rejoice in your birthright ... own it, use it, and love it ... because Christ intends you to receive a piece of this inheritance (this "kingdom") even now! We are marked not only with the seal of the Holy Spirit, but also with the grace of Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross."
Today, Sunday, October 28, 2007 … nearly six years after the premiere of “Inherited Riches” (and my words of admonition) … I pause to reflect on the resurrection life, the joy of knowing that Christ's spirit dwells within, the assurance of believing that God’s love is everlasting, and the promise of receiving a rich inheritance through the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ. I pray that I may awaken each day, affirmed as a member of the family of God and rightful heir to God's abundant blessings, an inheritance recorded in Ephesians 1: 11-23. Just as Memorial Day in America helps our nation name and remember the men and women who gave their lives for their country, “All Saints' Day” helps the Church name and reclaim its inherited riches with the saints. Hopefully, my music is a reflection of the inherited riches we own through Christ, an ownership by virtue of our birthright as children of God. Here is the anthem text I adapted from Chapters 1 and 2 New Revised Standard Version of The Apostle Paul's Letter to the Ephesians:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. For in Christ we have inherited riches. We are marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, Christ's glorious inheritance among the saints. For by grace are you saved through faith, not by works but by the grace of God. For we are created in Christ for good works which God prepared for the saints."
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Blessings,
Bob
This is the time of year I devote to preparing my annual composite Christmas tape/CD for gifting. I just found some very-free Swift piano variations on "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" that I think would work well as the first piece on the album. Sorry, I don't see a date on this recording. From the sound of the audience, it must be from one of my 1980s or '90s concerts. Enjoy!
As we approach mid-November and the Thanksgiving holiday, my thoughts turn to "giving thanks, giving song, giving praise" to God. Let me share a recording of my choral-symphonic "paraphrase" of Psalm 95 "O Come, Let Us Sing Unto the Lord." During my three-month church sabbatical ... January, February, and March of 1996 ... I devoted part of my time to composing this setting of the following text: "O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand."
I composed the music for 8-part chorus and full orchestra in about a month. The difficult and time-consuming part was entering the notes into my newly purchased music software. Later in the year, I summoned the forces of my church orchestra and chorus and with only one dress rehearsal premiered the work on Sunday, June 2. At the conclusion of this recording, I include the pastor's words of appreciation.
It's November; can Advent be far away? But, of course! As Minister of Worship & Arts, I used to have my advent plans together (and music ordered) back in June or July. In October 2004, I decided to supplement my purchased music by composing this simple advent anthem (choir-congregation "antiphon"). Later, I arranged the melody for "The Great Thanksgiving" responsorals. My intent was to create a haunting, mysterioso, modal piece for vocal soloists (cantors) and choir (or congregation), accompanied by 2 violins, clarinet, bassoon, and piano. Each verse concluded with a vocal octet treatment of the text. Here is the full text:
We pray, Lord Jesus come.
Bring justice and peace to all the earth.
Bring hope, love, and joy through your holy birth.
We pray, Lord Jesus come.
Come Jesus, King of Kings.
Send forth your light, your truth unseal.
Your bountiful grace, your wisdom reveal.
Come Jesus King of Kings.
Also, the first verse was sung as a cantor/congregation responsoral each week during the advent wreath candle lighting. Here is an example of me leading the congregation with use of two handbells for accompaniment.
On this All Saints' Day 2006, I include this premier recording of my November 2000 setting of The Beatitudes.
"The Beatitudes"
Text: Matthew 5: 1-13
Music: Bob Swift (November 2000)
Blest are the poor in spirit
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blest are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Rejoice, be glad
for great is your reward in heaven.
Alleluia!
Blest are the meek
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,
for they will be filled with righteosness.
Alleluia!
Blest are the merciful
for they will receive mercy.
Blest are the pure in heart
for they will see God.
Blest are the makers of peace
for they will be called children of God.
Alleluia!
Blest are the pursecuted for righteousness.
for theirs is the kingdom of God.
Blest are you when people revile you and say all evil against you.
Rejoice be glad for great is your reward in heaven.
Alleluia! Amen.
With joy for all creation, I share my singing of the Ralph Vaughan Williams "Let All The World in Every Corner Sing" from his "Five Mystical Songs."
Since I'm making some progress in converting these old analog tapes into MP3 files, let me experiment one more time.
Once again, I'm singing duet with my soprano friend, Melissa O'Connor, but this time, "with an accompanist." Sadly, I seem to have lost all recordings of a major 1997 St. Cecelia Festival featuring our duets of Bach, Handel, Purcell, Mendelssohn, etc. This one piece was saved on a Psalm Festival composite tape. Finally, I was free to concentrate on singing rather than multi-tasking voice with piano. I don't have the text in front of me now, but here are a few phrases: "In thine hands are all the ends of the earth, and the high towering mountains thou hast made. Come let us worship and kneel before the Lord. For in thine own hands are the ends of the earth, Come let us adore; let us worship and kneel before the Lord." [Now, if only I could increase the volume recording "gain" from the original source. Sorry, once again, you will need to "turn up the volume."]
"Self-Accompanied" Vocal Works
It’s official! I’ve been asked to sing my 2001 setting of “The Lord’s Prayer” in church on Sunday. This time the pastor wants me at both 8:30 & 11:00 services. I'm honored to share a sampling of this Psalm setting. I say “sampling” because, originally, the music was composed for a multi-voiced choir and orchestra. Hopefully, I can provide at least a “flavor” of my music’s intent.
To simplify matters (and to avoid multiple rehearsals), I will accompany myself on piano. This isn't the first time for such singing without an accompanist. Here is a recording of "O Divine Redeemer" (Charles Gounod) with me playing the piano and singing baritone with a soprano from choir one Sunday. Even without the "real" pianist, "the show must go on." Enjoy!
I'm reminded that "Reformation Sunday" is drawing near. Here's my free improvisation on "A Mighty Fortress" played as a postlude (sometime back in the 90s). Once again, I had misplaced the printed music score and could only remember some snippets of the first page. I played a few motifs and then "made up" the rest. [The congregation surprised me with applause.]
Welcome ...
to Experiment #3 in an ongoing project of archiving my "live" concert performances as organist, pianist, harpsichordist, and baritone vocalist. Actually, today I am expanding the scope of work to include some "Swift-Cotrone Duo" recordings. The excerpt recording (above) is the J.S. Bach "Fugue from the C Major Double Clavier Concerto" performed in March of 2003. Enjoy! (You may need to "turn up the volume".)
