ORGAN CONCERT
Joan Martin
Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church
October 28, 2007
4:00 P.M.
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“Rondo in G” John Bull (c. 1562-1628)
“Processional of Joy” Arr. Hal H. Hopson (b. 1933)
“Prelude and Fugue in C Minor” (BWV 549) J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
“As the Deer” Arr. Douglas E. Wagner (b. 1952)
“Siyahamba” Arr. John A. Behnke (b. 1953)
Percussion by David Good
“Variations on a Scotch Air” Dudley Buck (1839-1909)
Introduction, Theme (Annie Laurie), Variations I and II
Annie Laurie portrayed by Hillary Greeson, Dancer
"Herr Gott, Dich Loben Alle Wir” Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706)
(The Old Hundredth)
“Win Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott”
(A Mighty Fortress Is Our God)
Hymn #355 Though I May Speak” / “O Waly Waly” English Folk Melody
Harm. John Weaver, 1988
Text - Hal H. Hopson, 1972
"Variations on ‘O Waly Waly’” Arr. Janet Linker (b. 1938)
Variations I, IV, and VI
“Litanies” Jehan Alain (1911-1940
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Special Thanks To:
Jerry Redmyer -- Videographer
Wes Miller -- PowerPoint Technician
Linda Morris -- PowerPoint and Program Preparation
Lois McMahan -- Page Turner
The Rev. David Good -- Announcer and Percussionist
Hillary Greeson -- Dancer
Nursery -- Debbie Hunt
Greeters -- Michelle Hickel, Connie Wood, Jane Good, & Linda Morris
Banners Group -- Reception
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Joan Martin -- Joan has been organist at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church since 1971. She graduated from Indiana University (Bloomington) School of Education and taught 2nd/3rd grades and choir at Vaile Elementary School in Richmond. Church music study was at the University of Colorado and various workshops sponsored by the Association of Disciples Musicians. At Reid Chruch and First Christian Church she has been involved in many areas of church -- children and adult choirs, handbell choirs, organ/piano accompanying, and liturgical dance.
Hillary Greeson -- Daughter of Ronald and Susan Greeson, is a sophomore at Richmond High School, where she is a member of the Devilettes Dance Team and the Competitive Dance Team. Currently she is studying Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop at The Next Step Dance Studio. Hillary is a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church.
The Flowers -- “In honor of Joan Martin for her years of Music Ministry at Reid Church.” From, Thomas Veregge (Columbus, Ohio).
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Program Notes
The lively piece, "Rondo in G," was written by the famous 16th-17th century organist and contrapuntal composer, John Bull. Arranged in ABACA form, this dance-like composition make a playful journey, soaring to full organ at the end.
The next two works, "Processional of Joy" and "Prelude and Fugue in C Minor," are examples of music written 200-300 years ago, yet still played and enjoyed today. Hal H. Hopson has arranged the music of Ludwig van Beethoven's "Choral Finale to the Ninth Symphony" (1824) for organ. Schiller's "Ode to Joy" was originally sung to Beethoven's music. Today we frequently sing Henry van Dyke's 1907 text as the hymn, "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee." Hopson is a composer/church music-clinician who resides in Dallas, Texas. His over1,200 published works include music for organ, handbells, choirs, instruments, and hymns. "Prelude and Fugue in C Minor" (BWV 549) is one of the many Bach preludes and fugues available to us today. (Does the fugue theme remind you of the Halloween season?)
"As the Deer," based on Psalm 42:1-5, and "Siyahamba," a South African freedom sound, are pieces written by two contemporary American composers. Douglas E. Wagner lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he teaches at North Central High School and is the chairman of their Performing Arts Department. His over 1,400 published titles include works for choir, handbells, concert band, orchestra, organ, voice, and piano. This ASCAP award-winning composer holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Butler University in Indianapolis and has served many denominations as a church musician. The freedom song, translated from Zulu as, "We are singing for the Lord is our light," was arranged by John A. Behnke. Born in Evanston, Illinois, he received degrees from Concordia College, River Forest, Illinois, and Northwestern University in Evanston (M.Mus and D.Mus). Currently he is a professor of music, recital organist, and conductor of the University Handbell Choir at Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin. His publications are choral, handbell, and organ.
Annie Laurie
~ Words by William Douglas & Lady John Scott/Tune by Lady John Scott.
~ Brae is the Scottish word for hill.
Maxwellton braes are bonnie,
Where early fa's the dew,
And 'twas there that Annie Laurie
Gave me her promise true.
Gave me her promise true,
Which ne'er forgot will be,
And for bonnie Annie Laurie,
I lay me doon and dee.
Her brow is like the snowdrift,
Her throat is like a swan,
Her face it is the fairest
That e'er the sun shone on.
That e'er the sun shone on,
And dark blue is her ee,
And for bonnie Annie Laurie,
I lay me doon and dee.
Like dew on th' gowan lying,
Is the fa' o' her fairy feet,
And like winds in summer sighing
Her voice is low and sweet.
Her voice is low and sweet,
And she's a' the world to me,
And for bonnie Annie Laurie,
I lay me doon and dee.
Annie Laurie (1682-1761) was a Scottish lass from the Maxwellton estate, the scene of the above song. She and William Douglas were lovers, much to the dismay of Annie's father. When Douglas' job took him away from Scotland, the romance faded. However, the song survived. Dudley Buck, and American Romantic composer of the 19th century, wrote five variations on this Scotch air. He held church and college positions in Hartford, Connecticut, Boston, Massachusetts, Chicago, Illinois, and New York City, and was noted as a founder of the American Guild of Organists.
The two chorale preludes by Johann Pachelbel, German Baroque organist and composer, were selected for this concert to represent hymns often associated with two church denominations. At one time Presbyterians sang only Psalms. Even after other hymns were placed in their hymnals, "Old Hundredth" was sung many years at Reid Memorial Presbyterian as the first hymn of each Sunday morning service. "A Mighty Fortress" is in honor of Martin Luther and Reformation Sunday, the last Sunday in October.
The paraphrase of I Corinthians 13 fits well with the English fold melody, "O Waly Waly." Familiarize yourself with the tune while singing the three verses of #335, "Though I May Speak." After the hymn you will hear "O Waly Waly" in a variety of ways. Janet Linker, who resides in the Columbus, Ohio area, graduated in organ performance from Capital University and the University of Michigan. She has taught organ privately and at the Conservatory of Music at Capitol University in Columbus, Ohio. Her "Variations on 'O Waly Waly'" present the tune in three interesting and refreshing settings. Variation I is graceful as well as reflective and pensive. Variation IV begins with the opening theme of J. S. Bach's "Chorale Prelude on 'Sleepers Wake'" ("Wachet Auf") and masterfully brings in the "O Waly Waly" tune just as Bach did with "Wachet Auf." Of the seven variations in the suite, Variation VI is the most unusual. Sit back and relax to the blues chords and rhythms.
The closing piece is by a 20th century French organist/composer, Jehan Alain. In his short life of 29 years he composed more than 140 works before he was killed in action during the First World War. The almost frantic music of "Litanies" is expressed in Alain's words:
"When the Christian soul is in distress and can find no new
words to implore the mercy of God, it repeats with a vehement faith
the same invocation without ceasing. Man's reason attains its limit;
faith alone pursues its upward way."
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