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If, as you read this, you are tired of Christmas music for another year, (but I bet you aren’t) you will wish I had taken the date of this newsletter seriously, and moved on to January and the Epiphany season. I am not ready to do that. Christmastime is too short already; I don’t want to make it even shorter.
We can agree, on the one hand, that it doesn’t take a restless teenager to notice that one or two seasons of the church’s liturgical year — let’s put this gently — leave people looking forward to the next one. A couple of them can get long. For example, during the final weeks of a half-year journey through the after-Pentecost green season “Ordinary Time,” Advent can hardly come soon enough. Christmas, on the other hand, once it finally arrives, makes one wish that clocks and weeks and people would slow down. Let the season linger. Therefore I am ignoring the date on this newsletter.
Christmas brings, and brings out in us, so much good. And “music” just might be the right word to use as a metaphor, or metonym, for all that goodness. When we say, “the music of Christmas,” we can, of course, mean nothing more than the literal up-and-down-the-scale music appropriate to the season. But we can also mean “everything about the season that sings” (metaphorically). And Christmas is a season that “sings.” It is a season of hope and peace, a season of gift-giving and generosity, a season of family reunions and efforts to maintain relationships across miles and years. It is full of candlelight, color, anticipation and delicious smells. It brings delight to children and tender memories to their parents. It is, at its heart, a song wanting to be sung.
But let’s say that for some reason your own Christmas is not marked by all the details and delights of a family or community celebration. Let’s say that Christmas reminds you more of what you have lost than what you have. Even then there is one sense in which Christmas still “sings.” The story itself — that is, the story of Immanuel, God-with-us — is a story that sings. The American historian Garry Wills has written that “the Incarnation is God’s way of harmonizing the universe.”
Wills can put it that way because the birth of Jesus is not the incarnation of holy terror, but of love. The Word made flesh turns out to be a word not of righteous condemnation but gracious welcome, not divine vindictiveness but infinite forgiveness. In other words, the Word that is made flesh is Love “... for God is Love” (1 John 4:8).
Christmas is an annual reminder that we are loved (even if the world around us suggests otherwise), and an annual call to be loving (even if the world around us doesn’t seem very lovable). The “music of Christmas,” therefore, is always more than notes; it is the “song” of holy love among us. I hope you find yourself singing along this season. Merry Christmas!
Peace be with you,
Pastor Bruce Benson
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| JANUARY PROGRAM PLAYLISTS |
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| January 1, 2017 |
First Sunday of Christmas (Year A)
(1R) Isaiah 63:7-9
(PS) Psalm 148
(2R) Hebrews 2:10-18
(G) Matthew 2:13-23
I Wonder as I Wander — Appalacian Folk Carol / Appalacian Folk Carol, lyricist /
Andrew Carter, arranger (G)
Quire of London / Andrew Carter
(CD) Andrew Carter's Christmas Carols / YORK AMBISONIC / YORK CD 169
© 2002 York Ambisonic, P.O. Box 66, Lancaster, LA2 6HS, England
Coventry Carol — English Traditional / 15th Century English, lyricist / Martin Shaw, arranger (G)
The Memphis Boychoir: Memphis, TN / John Ayer
(CD) Sing Lullaby / PRO ORGANO / CD 7099
© 1997 Pro Organo, P.O. Box 8338, South Bend, IN, 46660-8338, USA
www.proorgano.com
Lully, Lulla — Kenneth Leighton / 15th Century English, lyricist (G)
Choir of the Chapels Royal, HM Tower of London: London, England / Stephen Tilton
(CD) Make We Joy / QUILISMA / QUIL 404
© 2001 Quilisma, 10 Harrison Street, Suite 311, Seattle, WA, 98109-4509, USA
www.quilisma.com
The Magi's Dream — James Whitbourn / Robert Tear, lyricist (G)
Westminster Williamson Voices: Princeton, NJ / James Jordan
(CD) Whitbourn: Carolae - Music for Christmas / NAXOS / 8.573715
© 2016 Naxos, Naxos of America, Inc., Suite 28, 1810 Columbia Avenue, Franklin, TN, 37067, USA
www.naxos.com
Three Carols: Here is the Little Door — Herbert Howells / Frances Chesterton, lyricist (G)
Polyphony / Stephen Layton
(CD) O Magnum Misterium: Twentieth Century Carols / HYPERION / CDA66925
© 1996 Hyperion, Hyperion Records Limited, P.O. Box 25, London, SE9 1AX, United Kingdom
www.hyperion-records.co.uk
All You Works of the Lord — Kenneth Jennings (PS)
Massed Choirs of St. Olaf College: Northfield, MN / The St. Olaf Orchestra, ensemble / Anton Armstrong
(CD) Behold the Wonder of this Night / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-2245
© 1998 St. Olaf Records, St. Olaf College 1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Northfield, MN, 55057, USA
www.stolafrecords.com
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| January 8, 2017 |
Baptism of Our Lord — Lectionary 1 (Year A)
(1R) Isaiah 42:1-9
(PS) Psalm 29
(2R) Acts 10:34-43
(G) Matthew 3:13-17
(E) Epiphany
All This Night, Op. 33 — Gerald Finzi / William Austin, lyricist (1R)
The St. Olaf Choir: Northfield, MN / Anton Armstrong
(CD) Light of All Creation...Scatter the Darkness / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-3213/14
© 2009 St. Olaf Records, St. Olaf College 1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Northfield, MN, 55057, USA
www.stolafrecords.com
Arise, Shine! — Paul D. Weber (E)
St. Olaf Chapel Choir: Northfield, MN / Christopher Aspaas
(CD) For God So Loves the World / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-2939/40
© 2006 St. Olaf Records, St. Olaf College 1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Northfield, MN, 55057, USA
www.stolafrecords.com
In the Bleak Midwinter (CRANHAM) — Gustav Holst / Christina Rossetti, lyricist (E)
The Sixteen / Harry Christophers
(CD) A Traditional Christmas Collection / COLLINS CLASSICS / 13002
© 1991 Collins Classics, Lamborne Productions Limited
Psalm 29 — Peter Hallock (G)
Compline Choir of St. Mark's Cathedral: Seattle, WA / Jason Anderson
(CD) I Will Meditate / GOTHIC / G-49284
© 2013 Gothic, Gothic Records, Inc. P.O. Box 414, Orcas, WA, 98280, USA
www.gothicrecords.com
Baptism — R. Nathaniel Dett / Harriet Washington, lyricist (PS)
The Nathaniel Dett Chorale / Brainerd Blyden-Taylor
(CD) Listen to the Lambs / MARQUIS CLASSICS / 7 74718 12932 1
© 2002 Marquis Classics, 30 Kenilworth Avenue, Toronto, M4L 3S3, Canada
www.marquisclassics.com
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, Op. 75, No. 2 — John Gardner / English Traditional, lyricist (G)
Dale Warland Singers: Minneapolis, MN / Dale Warland
(CD) Christmas with the Dale Warland Singers / GOTHIC / G 49208
© 2002 Gothic, Gothic Records, Inc. P.O. Box 414, Orcas, WA, 98280, USA
www.gothicrecords.com
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“The ‘music’ of Christmas is always more than notes; it is the ‘song’ of holy love among us.”
-Pastor Bruce Benson
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| January 15, 2017 |
Second Sunday after Epiphany — Lectionary 2 (Year A)
(1R) Isaiah 49:1-7
(PS) Psalm 40:1-11
(2R) 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
(G) John 1:29-42
Behold the Lamb of God (SOUTHWELL) — 1579 "Daman" Psalmes / Henry W. Baker, lyricist /
Paul Bouman, arranger (G)
The Schola Cantorum of St. Peter the Apostle: Chicago, IL / J. Michael Thompson
(CD) Music for the Year of Matthew / THE LITURGICAL PRESS / 7935-8
© 1998 The Liturgical Press, P.O. Box 7500, Collegeville, MN, 56321, USA
www.litpress.org
Messiah: Behold the Lamb of God — Sven-David Sandström (G)
Festivalensemble Stuttgart: Stuttgart, Germany / Festivalensemble Stuttgart: Stuttgart, Germany /
Helmuth Rilling
(CD) Sven-David Sandström: Messiah / CARUS / 83.453
© 2010 Carus, Carus-Verlag GmbH Sielminger Str. 51, Stuttgart, D-70771 Lf.-Echterdingen, Germany
www.carus-verlag.com
Messiah: Behold the Lamb of God — George Frideric Handel (G)
The English Concert Choir / The English Concert, ensemble / Trevor Pinnock
(CD) Messiah / ARCHIV / 423 630-2
© 1988 Archiv, Universal Music Group Worldwide Plaza 825 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY, 10019, USA
www.universalmusicclassics.com
Lamb of God — Adrian Batten / Ordinary of the Mass, lyricist (G)
The Cathedral Singers: Chicago, IL / Richard Proulx
(CD) Rejoice in the Lord: Ars Antiqua Choralis Volume I / GIA PUBLICATIONS / GIA CD-290
© 1993 GIA Publications, 7404 South Mason Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60638, USA
www.giamusic.com
I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light (HOUSTON) — Kathleen Thomerson /
Kathleen Thomerson, lyricist (G)
The Choir of All Saints' Episcopal Church: Beverly Hills, CA / Craig Phillips, accompanist / Thomas Foster
(CD) Hymns Through the Ages / GOTHIC / G 49074
© 1995 Gothic, Gothic Records, Inc. P.O. Box 414, Orcas, WA, 98280, USA
www.gothicrecords.com
Gloria in D Major: Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, RV 589 — Antonio Vivaldi / Ordinary of the Mass, lyricist (G)
The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir / Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, ensemble
(CD) Settings from the Mass and Vespers / CARUS / 83.403
© 2003 Carus, Carus-Verlag GmbH Sielminger Str. 51, Stuttgart, D-70771 Lf.-Echterdingen, Germany
www.carus-verlag.com
Requiem: Agnus Dei, Op. 48 — Gabriel Fauré (G)
Chorus of St. Martin in the Fields / Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, ensemble / Sir Neville Marriner
(CD) Fauré Requiem / PHILIPS / 446 084-2
© 1995 Philips, PolyGram Records, Inc., New York, NY, USA
www.deccaclassics.com
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“In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.”
-Christina Rossetti
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| January 22, 2017 |
Third Sunday after Epiphany — Lectionary 3 (Year A)
(1R) Isaiah 9:1-4
(PS) Psalm 27:1, 4-9
(2R) 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
(G) Matthew 4:12-23
The Lord is My Light — John Ferguson (PS)
St. Olaf Cantorei: Northfield, MN / John Ferguson
(CD) From Our First Hymnal / PACIFIC RIM SOUND / PRS 10012
© 2010 Pacific Rim Sound, PO Box 322, Cannon Falls, MN, 55009, USA
www.pacificrimsound.com
You Can Tell the World — African American Spiritual / Alice Parker, arranger (G)
Musicians of Melodious Accord / Alice Parker
(CD) Listen, Lord / GOTHIC / G 49219
© 2004 Gothic, Gothic Records, Inc. P.O. Box 414, Orcas, WA, 98280, USA
www.gothicrecords.com
We've A Story to Tell to the Nations (MESSAGE) — H. Ernest Nichol / H. Ernest Nichol, lyricist (2R, G)
The Holland Chorale: Holland, MI / Jane Bosko, accompanist / Calvin P. Langejans
(CD) Great Hymns of Faith: The Holland Chorale / DELTA RECORDINGS / DRCD96-63434
© Delta Recordings
Messiah: The People that Walked in Darkness — George Frideric Handel (1R, G)
The Boston Baroque Orchestra, ensemble / Victor Ledbetter, baritone / Martin Pearlman
(CD) Messiah / TELARC / CD-80093-2
© 1984 Telarc, Concord Music Group, 100 North Crescent Drive, Garden Level, Beverly Hills, CA, 90210
www.telarc.com
Hymn to the Creator of Light — John Rutter / Lancelot Andrewes, lyricist / Johann Franck, lyricist / Catherine Winkworth, translator / Alexander Whyte, translator (1R, G)
Dale Warland Singers: Minneapolis, MN / Dale Warland
(CD) Lux Aurumque / GOTHIC / G-4952
© 2007 Gothic, Gothic Records, Inc. P.O. Box 414, Orcas, WA, 98280, USA
www.gothicrecords.com
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“For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
and the dawning to noonday bright,
and Christ's great kingdom shall come on earth,
the kingdom of love and light.”
-H. Ernest Nichol
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| January 29, 2017 |
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany — Lectionary 4 (Year A)
(1R) Micah 6:1-8
(PS) Psalm 15
(2R) 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
(G) Matthew 5:1-12
We Are Called (We Are Called) — David Haas / David Haas, lyricist (1R)
St. Olaf Conference on Worship, Theology and The Arts
(CD) 2010 St. Olaf Conference on Worship, Theology and the Arts: Fourth Sunday after Epiphany /
ST. OLAF COLLEGE / Not For Resale
© 2010 St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Northfield, MN, 55057, USA
stolaf.edu
With What Shall I Come — Rosephanye Powell (1R)
The St. Olaf Choir: Northfield, MN / Charles Gray, violin / Anton Armstrong
(CD) Sing For Joy Archives / ST. OLAF COLLEGE / Not For Resale
© St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Northfield, MN, 55057, USA
stolaf.edu
Offertory — John Ness Beck (1R)
The Carroll University Choir: Waukesha, WI / Joel Matthys, accompanist / Mark Aamodt
(CD) Reflections of Europe / CARROLL UNIVERSITY / E-2187
© Carroll University, Music Department, Carroll University, Waukesha, WI, 53189, USA
www.carrollu.edu
The Beatitudes — Byzantine Chant (G)
Cathedral Choir of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine: New York, NY / Richard Westenburg
(CD) Christmas Eve at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine / VANGUARD CLASSICS / OVC 6013
© 1991 Vanguard Classics, 130 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10011, USA
The Beatitudes — Rev. Francis DeMarais (G)
The Schola Cantorum of St. Peter the Apostle: Chicago, IL / J. Michael Thompson
(CD) Music for the Year of Matthew / THE LITURGICAL PRESS / 7935-8
© 1998 The Liturgical Press, P.O. Box 7500, Collegeville, MN, 56321, USA
www.litpress.org
Blest Are They — David Haas / David Haas, lyricist (G)
GIA Publications Choir: Chicago, IL / David Haas
(CD) To Be Your Bread / GIA PUBLICATIONS / GIA CD-172
© 1985 GIA Publications, 7404 South Mason Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60638, USA
www.giamusic.com
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In Memory Of:
All family members deceased
Helen Anglin
Jim Braulick
Clyde and Evelyn Bucher
Rev. Thomas Drewer
my parents, Col. Albert Lurix and Mrs. Lorna Lurix
Keith and Better Miller
Janice Lilycrop Reynolds
Howard Rizner
Emil Symonik
Robert & Lois (Reppe) Wrede, St. Olaf 1952
In Honor Of:
Anton Armstrong
Mr. and Mrs. Walther Carpenter
Grace Lutheran Voice Choir
Dr. Randi Von Ellefson
Rebecca Ewing and Paul Ferlan
Ross Johnson
Julia Jondahl
Al and Dot Prillaman
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