Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Music Ministry Musings at St. Andrew's
Winter continues ... a mix of snow, wind and at times even the sun appears!
Musical selections in the four February church services featured spirituals, our celebration of Black History month. Many spirituals tell a story from the Bible, (for example "Witness" and "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel"). Others express a plea for release from oppression or slavery and a return to the promised land (for example "Go Down Moses"). Many spirituals are laments, (for example "The Blind Man Stood on the Road and Cried").
The late Moses Hogan, a prominent New Orleans musician who knew as much as anyone about spirituals, had this to say “The songs were termed spirituals because of the relationship between the type of song and the Holy Spirit. They also served to educate, reprimand and to aid in story-telling. And more, they functioned as a means of educating slaves about their own affairs and were consistently employed in the quest for freedom."
This month the choir anthems were "I Want Jesus To Walk With Me", "Lord I Know I Been Changed", "Every Time I Feel The Spirit" and "Witness". The offertory songs were "This Little Light Of Mine", "Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray", "The Blind Man Stood On The Road and Cried" and "Go Down Moses". The prelude and postlude music covered several more songs; "Give Me Jesus" and "Great Day!" Dave Mitchell joined me for a few weeks to play "Swing Low Sweet Chariot", "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands", "Steal Away", "Hymn To Freedom" and "Do Lord". For the children's time everyone sang the hymn "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands".
The finale for the music of Black History Month will be the postlude on February 23rd "Lift Every Voice and Sing". The text of this hymn is by James Weldon Johnson set to music by his brother J. Rosamond Johnson. This song is often referred to as the "African American National Anthem" or "Black National Anthem". There is no definitive story about the origin of the song. According to one account it was written in 1900 for a celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday and was first performed by schoolchildren in Jacksonville Florida, where J W Johnson was principal. By 1919 the NAACP had adopted the song as their National Anthem and has been the traditional Black National Anthem since that time.
March follows February and the season changes with Transfiguration Sunday and communion on March 2nd.
St. Andrew's handbell ringers will play on March 9th, the first Sunday in Lent. Two selections will be featured which are "Lord, I Want to be a Christian" and "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel".
The sanctuary choir are starting to work on the music for Lent and Good Friday. There are some old and new selections planned for the anthems, and the choral scholars will sing a few solos and duets by Mendelssohn and Handel.
Noon Hour Concerts return on Wednesday, April 30th. The last program will be on June 18th. Mark your calendar!
There is always room for one more chorister or ringer in the choir, consider joining one of these programs. If you are interested, leave your name and contact information at the church office.
"If you have something to say of any worth then people will listen to you." - Oscar Peterson
Ann-Marie
Director of Music