Notes from the Music Director (No. 5)

Our scripture readings today once again remind us of eating and drinking. Proverbs invites us, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.” The Psalmist confirms, “Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” Ephesians, on the other hand, warns us, “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit.” And John relates Jesus’ prophecy to the Jews, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.”

Our Hymn of the Day, “Lord, Who the Night You Were Betrayed,” with text by William H. Turton and tune by Orlando Gibbons is another classic from the hymn repertoire. William H. Turton (1856-1938) was a lieutenant in the British Royal Engineers with a great interest in hymnody. In 1880 and 1881 he published two volumes titled, A Few Hymns written by A Layman between the Festivals of All Saints. His hymn, “O Thou who at Thy Eucharist didst pray” was sung at St. Mary Magdalene’s, Munster Square, N. W., in the Anniversary Service of the English Church Union, on June 22, 1881.

Lutheran Book of Worship sets Turton’s text to a tune—“Song 1”—by the great English composer, virginalist and organist of the late Tudor and early Jacobean periods: Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625). As a young man Gibbons sang in the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, where his brother served as choirmaster. He received a Bachelor of Music degree in 1606 and subsequently was apppointed organist for King James I. Gibbons’ death at the age of 41 was sudden and many contemporaries thought he died from the plague. An autopsy, however, revealed that he died from other causes. His death on June 5^th is regularly marked in King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, by the singing of his music at Evensong.

You can hear the Boy’s Choir of Truro Cathedral, United Kingdom, sing Orlando Gibbons’ “Song 1” (with the text “The First Song of Moses” by George Wither) on YouTube:

Scripture

Proverbs 9:1-6
Psalm 34:9-14
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58

Music & Hymns

Prelude	God of Wonders (Chris Tomlin)
Gathering	LBW 356 O Jesus, joy of loving hearts
Hymn of the Day	LBW 206 Lord, who the night you were betrayed
Offertory	Amazing Love (Chris Tomplin)
Communion	Et in Spiritum Sanctum (from J. S. Bach’s Mass in B Minor)
Sending	LBW 557 Let all things now living