Choral Music
Submitted by June Torrison
For many years I listened to a half hour program of choral music called SING FOR JOY on a radio station on Sunday mornings. When that was discontinued I learned that I could watch it on-line. I still listen every Sunday morning before church. The music is selected to go with and compliment the bible readings for each particular Sunday. The choirs are varied – they are from churches and colleges as well as professional groups. The host/narrator is Pastor Bruce Benson, retired campus pastor at St. Olaf College, where the program originates. He does a wonderful job of weaving it all together.
The website also gives information about each program, titles of the songs, the groups performing, composers, arrangers, whether it is available to purchase, etc. The bible texts are listed, but not printed out. I use this to help me choose the music I use each Sunday. If you have access to a computer or phone with the capability to listen, I encourage you to do so. You can do it ANYTIME, whereas with the radio program I was limited to when it was offered.
Sing forjoy.org
I enjoy learning the origins of the hymns we sing. Knowing the background can make them even more meaningful. This month I’m going to share some information about “A Mighty Fortress” since we just observed Reformation Sunday on October 25. It is based on Psalm 46. Some of the following is a quote by Robert J. Morgan.
“We think of Martin Luther as a great reformer, Bible translator, fiery preacher, and theologian. But he was also a musician, having been born in an area of Germany known for its music. There in his little Thuringian village, young Martin grew up listening to his mother sing. He joined a boys’ choir that sang at weddings and funerals. He became proficient with the recorder. “( He also played a lute)
“When the Protestant Reformation began, Luther determined to restore worship to the German church. He worked with skilled musicians to create new music for Christians to be sung in the vernacular. He helped revive congregational singing and wrote a number of hymns. Often he ‘borrowed’ popular secular melodies for his hymns”.
“Luther’s most famous hymn is Ein feste Burg is unser Gott – A Mighty Fortress is our God. This is a difficult hymn to translate because the original German is so vivid. At least 80 English versions are available. The most popular in America was done by Frederic Henry Hodge. “
As Mr. Morgan indicated, translating words from another language set to music is a challenge. The new words may have a different number of syllables, or it may take a phrase to have the same meaning as a word in a different language. In our ELW hymnal, Luther is credited with the text and/or music for 19 of the hymns. Before Luther’s encouragement, the music was done by priests or choirs rather than congregational singing. We have him to thank for his music as well as much of what followed.
Submitted by June Torrison
For many years I listened to a half hour program of choral music called SING FOR JOY on a radio station on Sunday mornings. When that was discontinued I learned that I could watch it on-line. I still listen every Sunday morning before church. The music is selected to go with and compliment the bible readings for each particular Sunday. The choirs are varied – they are from churches and colleges as well as professional groups. The host/narrator is Pastor Bruce Benson, retired campus pastor at St. Olaf College, where the program originates. He does a wonderful job of weaving it all together.
The website also gives information about each program, titles of the songs, the groups performing, composers, arrangers, whether it is available to purchase, etc. The bible texts are listed, but not printed out. I use this to help me choose the music I use each Sunday. If you have access to a computer or phone with the capability to listen, I encourage you to do so. You can do it ANYTIME, whereas with the radio program I was limited to when it was offered.
Sing forjoy.org
I enjoy learning the origins of the hymns we sing. Knowing the background can make them even more meaningful. This month I’m going to share some information about “A Mighty Fortress” since we just observed Reformation Sunday on October 25. It is based on Psalm 46. Some of the following is a quote by Robert J. Morgan.
“We think of Martin Luther as a great reformer, Bible translator, fiery preacher, and theologian. But he was also a musician, having been born in an area of Germany known for its music. There in his little Thuringian village, young Martin grew up listening to his mother sing. He joined a boys’ choir that sang at weddings and funerals. He became proficient with the recorder. “( He also played a lute)
“When the Protestant Reformation began, Luther determined to restore worship to the German church. He worked with skilled musicians to create new music for Christians to be sung in the vernacular. He helped revive congregational singing and wrote a number of hymns. Often he ‘borrowed’ popular secular melodies for his hymns”.
“Luther’s most famous hymn is Ein feste Burg is unser Gott – A Mighty Fortress is our God. This is a difficult hymn to translate because the original German is so vivid. At least 80 English versions are available. The most popular in America was done by Frederic Henry Hodge. “
As Mr. Morgan indicated, translating words from another language set to music is a challenge. The new words may have a different number of syllables, or it may take a phrase to have the same meaning as a word in a different language. In our ELW hymnal, Luther is credited with the text and/or music for 19 of the hymns. Before Luther’s encouragement, the music was done by priests or choirs rather than congregational singing. We have him to thank for his music as well as much of what followed.
