The Shepherd's Song


Psallam spiritu et mente.
I will sing with the Spirit and with the understanding also.
--Motto of the Royal School of Church Music (I Corinthians 14:15)
  
10 April 2014
In This Issue

14 April 2014 - Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

7:45am Eucharist, I

      John Linker, Organist

            Organ improvisations before the service, at the Offertory and at Communion

 

9:00am Eucharist, II

      Training Choir / Canterbury Choir

      John Linker, Organist/Choirmaster

            Bedford / Hosanna to the Son of David Training Choir

            Robinson / Improperium

            Hymns

            154*                   All glory, laud, and honor          Valet will ich dir geben

            168* (st. 1-3)     O sacred head, sore wounded     Herzlich tut mich verlangen

            172*                   Were you there                                       Where You There

            311*                   O saving Victim, opening wide Verbum supernum prodiens

            171*                   Go to dark Gethsemane                                              Petra

 

11:15am Eucharist, II

      Treble Choir / Parish Choir

      John Linker, Organist/Choirmaster

            Plainsong / Psalm 31:9-16

            Plainsong / St Matthew Passion

            Bruckner / Christus factus est

            Robinson / Improperium

            Hymns

            154*                   All glory, laud, and honor            Valet will ich dir geben

            168* (st. 1-3)     O sacred head, sore wounded      Herzlich tut mich verlangen

            311*                   O saving Victim, opening wide  Verbum supernum prodiens

            171*                   Go to dark Gethsemane                                              Petra

 

4:15pm Concert

      Caleb Hudson, Trumpet, with John Linker, Organ

            Handel / Sonata a Flaute e Cembalo in d, HWV 367a

            Ravel / Pavane (pour une infant d�funte)

            J.S. Bach / Herzlich tut mich verlangen, BWV 727

            J.S. Bach / Concerto D-dur (nach Vivaldi), BWV 972

 

5:00pm Station of the Cross and Eucharist, II

      John Linker, Organist

      Joshua Bracken, Music Intern

            Locklair / The Peace may be exchanged (from Rubrics, 1988)

            Dupr� / Antiphon V: How Fair and how Pleasant art Thou

            Hymns

            168* (st. 1-3)     O sacred head, sore wounded      Herzlich tut mich verlangen

            171*                   Go to dark Gethsemane                                              Petra

 

[* = Hymns chosen from the 2009 Hymn Survey]
Notes for Sunday's Music
Though most famous today for his large scale symphonies, Anton Bruckner (1824-1896) was also remarkable church musician, as he was organist of Linz Cathedral (Germany) from 1856-68, and later court organist in Vienna. The motet Christus factus est is text from Philippians 2:8-9 (the proper Gradual for Maundy Thursday), exploring the "obedient" death of Jesus on the cross. It is the most symphonic of his motets, displaying wide dynamic contrasts and rich harmonies that gradually develop harmonic tension, building to memorable climaxes and then easing away. This motet is also a textbook example of the "Caecilian Movement," (named for the patron saint of music) a period in the RC Church (mostly in Germany) when composers sought to return to the clarity of Renaissance polyphony with modal writing and text painting but using Romantic techniques such as jarring dissonances and extreme chromaticism.

 

The haunting setting of the text Improperium by contemporary composer McNeil Robinson (b. 1943) is sung at Communion. Scored for organ and two-part voices, the atmosphere is one of melancholy and sorrow. The text is the proper Offertory Verse for Palm Sunday. The accompaniment features the lush sounds of our "Miller and Wrigley Organ," most notably the shimmering strings in the Swell division and the 8' Harmonic Flute of the Great. An active liturgical and concert musician, Robinson is currently organist of Holy Trinity RC Church in New York City. 

Trumpeter Caleb Hudson to Perform this Sunday in Good Shepherd

Caleb Hudson

This Sunday we welcome trumpet virtuoso

Caleb Hudson 

to play the 4:15pm concert. Caleb is the newest member of the Canadian Brass, a world famous brass quintet widely hailed for their precision, excellence, and virtuosic showmanship.

 

 

Caleb is a 2012 graduate of the Juilliard School with a Bachelor and Master of Music degree. Acclaimed by the New York Times as 'brilliantly stylish," Caleb made his solo debut with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center performing Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2. He was soloist with pianist Vladimir Feltsman at the Aspen Music Festival in a performance of Shostakovich's Concerto No. 1 for Piano, Trumpet and Orchestra. He has performed as a soloist across the USA, most recently as a recitalist at the University of Georgia Performing Arts Center, where he was also soloist with the UGA Wind Ensemble. Upcoming solo engagements include a performance at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art with members of the Israel Philharmonic.

 

Hudson has won first place at the National Trumpet Competition multiple times, and has performed with the New York City Ballet, New World Symphony, Symphony in C, Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players, New York Trumpet Ensemble, and the American Brass Quintet. He is an alumnus of Ensemble ACJW, a fellowship program of Carnegie Hall that promotes arts advocacy, community outreach, and music education. An avid baroque musician, Caleb also performs with notable early music ensembles including Philharmonia Baroque, American Bach Soloists, The American Classical Orchestra, Concert Royal and the Trinity Baroque Orchestra. Native to Lexington, Kentucky, Caleb currently resides in Brooklyn, New York with his wife, Amanda.

 

No stranger to Good Shepherd, Caleb has played with Good Shepherd's Christmas brass quartet for nearly a decade, most recently Christmas 2013. With great joy we welcome Caleb for this special performance.

Upcoming Noteworthy Performances

Joshua Bracken Organ Recital at Asbury University

All are invited to attend a degree recital by Good Shepherd's Music Intern Joshua Bracken Thursday 4/10 at 7:30pm at Asbury University, 204 North Lexington Ave, Wilmore, Kentucky. His program will include works by Saint-Sa�ns, Franck, Rheinberger, and Widor. 

Whit Whitaker Voice Recital Sunday 4/13

Good Shepherd Staff Singer Whit Whitaker is singing a recital along with accompanist Diana Hallman this Sunday 4/13 at 2:00pm in the Church of Our Saviour, Madison County, 

2323 Lexington Road in Richmond, Kentucky. The program is titled "How Can I Keep From Singing: A Liturgy in Song." Donations will be accepted on behalf of the Berea College Episcopal Canterbury Student Fellowship.

 

For more information on this Second Sunday concert and other concerts in the series, contact the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour at 859 623 1226 or Patrick Tuck at arts@oursaviourky.org.

The Journey of Holy Week
As we enter Holy Week, it is fitting to be reminded of the significance and solemnity of the Triduum.

What's the Triduum?
The number three is important in Christianity.  There are three persons that make up one Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Ghost).  Christ was raised from the dead after three days.  The Great Alleluia is sung three times at the Easter Vigil.

The Triduum services are actually all part of one thing, similar to the Trinity.  It starts with Maundy Thursday where we commemorate the institution of the Eucharist (Maundy is the English version of Mandatum [Commandment]: Love one another).  Exemplifying this commandment there is ceremonial foot-washing and we join together in the final Eucharist before Easter.  Following the Eucharist the altar is stripped bare and the reserve sacrament is removed so there is in effect no "life" left in the Sanctuary. This sets the stage for Good Friday, the most stark day of the liturgical year.

Good Friday is one of the two days the Episcopal Church prescribes as mandatory fast days (i.e., no eating, etc).  It's usually the only service of the year we sing where we do not wear surplices or any other ornaments.  The organ is silent and hymns & psalms are sung without accompaniment.  The Eucharist is not celebrated on Good Friday, but some years we do share in Communion using host that was consecrated the night before (the Mass of the Pre-Sanctified).  All come together to note and mourn Christ's death illustrated through the reading of the Passion.  The service ends just as it began, in silence.

The Great Easter Vigil, the third part of the Triduum, is the most important and most significant liturgical celebration of the entire year.  It should properly be observed just before dawn on Easter Day, but due to the impractical nature of getting the congregation to turn up at 6:00am, we (and most parishes on planet Earth) do it on Saturday night.  The service starts with the Kindling of the New Fire outside, from which the Paschal Candle is lit, which in turn lights candles held by the congregation.  All process into a dark church where a deacon, priest, or cantor (in that order of liturgical preference) sings the Exsultet, a glorious prayer that recounts the holiness of this night.  The vigil is kept as we hear lessons and Collects of God's great works (The Creation, Valley of Dry Bones, etc).  In great liturgical theatre, the lights are brought up, a fanfare is sounded, and the Gloria is sung for the first time in 40 days.  From there the service proceeds like a normal Sunday morning Eucharist, with the reading of the Epistle, the Great Alleluia (sung 3 times), and all other Eucharistic proceedings.  The "party" is then extended into Sunday morning's Eucharists in an atmosphere of great festivity.
Former Good Shepherd Assistant Organist in National Episcopal News
The American Cathedral in Paris
Episcopal News Service has released this short video highlighting the American Cathedral in Paris.  Former GS Assistant Zach Ullery (2001-2008) is presently Canon for Music at this Cathedral, and makes an appearance on this clip.
 
Good Shepherd Choirs had the pleasure of singing a Sunday morning service in this Cathedral on last summer's tour to Paris and experienced their gracious hospitality first hand.  
 
 
 
Click HERE to view the video.

Choir Festival Weekend June 1st
First Presbyterian Church
Evansville, Indiana

We are pleased to welcome the Choir of First Presbyterian Church, Evansville, Indiana to join our choirs in a weekend of festive music May 31/June 1. Directed by Robert Nicholls, this choir maintains a rigorous rehearsal and performance schedule following the curriculum of the Royal School of Church Music.

 

The choirs will rehearse together on Saturday, enjoy some social time, and sing both the 10:00am morning Eucharist as well as 5:00pm Evensong on Sunday. Evensong will be preceded with a recital by First Presbyterian Evansville Organist Robert Nicholls.

Upcoming Sunday Afternoon Concerts in Good Shepherd


We have launched an exciting new concert series each Sunday afternoon throughout the academic year.  Though these concerts are primariliy organ recitals, 

many different genres of music will be celebrated throughout the year.  

Please spread the word and invite your friends!

All Sunday afternoon concerts are at 4:15pm (unless otherwise noted) and admission is free, 

however, donations are gratefully accepted.

 

13 April 2014 - 4:15pm - Trumpet & Organ Recital by Caleb Hudson, Trumpet, and John Linker, Organ

 

20 April 2014 - 4:15pm - Voice Recital by Grace Campbell

 

27 April 2014 - 4:15pm - Organ Recital by Jane Johnson

 

4 May 2014 - 4:15pm - Organ Recital by Zachary Klobnak

 

11 May 2014 - 4:15pm - Organ Recital by Ted Gentry

 

18 May 2014 - 4:15pm - Organ Recital by Larry Sharp

 

25 May 2014 - 4:15pm - Organ Recital by Margaret Dickinson

 

1 June 2014 - 4:15pm - Organ Recital by Robert Nicholls
Good Shepherd Choir at St Paul's Within the Walls, Rome, June 2013
Church of the Good Shepherd | 859 252 1744 | office@goodshepherdlex.org | http://goodshepherdlex.org
533 East Main Street
Lexington, Kentucky  40508


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