Music Notes - January 3, 2010

Christmas is here, but like the glimmer of tree lights and crumpled wrapping now discarded by most, the pure white snow we had is also gone.  How very apropos, visually!  Like coming down off a mountain-top experience that all-of-a-sudden seems like distant memory - did it really happen?  Well, it did! But God made a liar out of me, as it snowed today, Thursday, December 31, 2009 and Saturday… and Sunday, January 3rd, just in time for our Second Sunday OF Christmas Festival of Lessons & Carols at Emmanuel. Be that as it may, it gave us the greater opportunity to proclaim the gifts of the Lord, reading the message of the prophets and the angels, singing carols, scriptural songs and choral anthems in praise to God - a homage to the angels who first appeared to the shepherds that glorious night.  We keep our lights burning brightly, looking toward Epiphany as we continue to celebrate the coming of the light into the world, the Prince of Peace, to 'men (all) of good-will.' 

Here is a brief description of Lessons & Carols from the program:  Our Festival of Lessons & Carols for the Second Sunday of Christmas is based on an Order created for Christmas Eve, 24 December 1880 in Truro, Cornwall by the Reverend Edward White Benson, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury from 1882 until his death.  In the Lessons & Carols tradition we are joining with people from around the world in music and texts written by composers from many countries. Although the music is specifically sung in English, it is without a doubt, totally International.  Much of it you have heard before; however, like the Lessons, timeless and spoken anew at this time each year, familiar music refreshes the spirit, like the meeting of an old friend. 

Please know that whatever your faith and belief, especially if you have little or none, you are warmly invited to take part as you can.  Much of this very musical service is done by the choirs and readers.  This allows your worship to be chiefly listening; meditating, praying and letting the music and words take your minds and souls into the presence of God.  But words cannot described aptly the audible experience one will hear and of course, all will be encouraged to join in the carols and service where indicated to let the Christmas story unfold in word and song in your hearts.  For all who hear it, may you come to know the peace and grace of God, which passes all human understanding.

Portions of the above program notes are paraphrased from bulletin welcome announcements at Cathedrals in England and Scotland: Westminster Abbey, London, Peterborough Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, York Minster Cathedral, and St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Aberdeen, Scotland

Jonathan Willcocks, the English composer-arranger of this Festival setting of carols, was born in 1953 in Worcester, England UK and is the son of Sir David Willcocks.  Jonathan was a chorister at King's College, Cambridge and an Open Music Scholar at Clifton College and he graduated with Honors in Music from Cambridge University, where he held a choral scholarship at Trinity College.  From 1998 to 2008 he was the director of the Junior Academy, Royal Academy of Music in London and presently, he is conductor and musical director of the Portsmouth Choral Union, the Chichester Singers and the professional chamber orchestra, Southern Pro Musica.
 
Peace & looking toward seeing you at worship soon

Allen J. Hill, Director of Music and Organist