April 13, 2014, New Providence Presbyterian Church

Chiming of the Hour.

Procession of the Palms--Bell Choir: "Procession" from "All Glory, Laud, and Honor"  (arr. Margaret R. Tucker b. 1936)

Announcements

Prelude--Bell Choir: "Prelude" from "All Glory, Laud, and Honor" (arr. Margaret R. Tucker)

Silent Prayer

Introit: Hosanna!  (Christian Gregor 1723-1801)

Hymn 88: "All Glory, Laud, and Honor"

Prayer Response:  "Kyrie"  (John Merbecke 1510-1585)

Anthem: "Ah, Holy Jesus, How Hast Thou Offended?" (Music by Johann Crüger 1598-1662, text by Johann Heermann 1585-1647, translated by Robert Bridges 1899, altered in Psalter Hymnal 1987.)

Hymn #98: "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded"

Offertory: Ostinato on "Ah, Holy Jesus, How Hast Thou Offended?"  (Helmut Walcha 1907-1991)

Hymn 101: "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"

Benediction Response:  Go With Us, Lord (Thomas Tallis 1505-1585)

Postlude: Slow March (William Boyce 1711-1779)

Music Notes:

Margaret R. Tucker is a native of South Dakota where she attended Yankton College. She received the Bachelor of Music degree in organ from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. In addition, she holds masters degrees in cultural anthropology and choral conducting from the University of Houston. She has served as church organist and/or choir director in Chicago, Illinois; Owatonna, Minnesota; and Houston, Texas; taught music in United Church of Christ mission schools in Turkey; and was one of the first Commissioned Ministers of Music in the UCC.Margaret has more than forty handbell and children's choir pieces in print from fifteen publishing houses.

Christian Gregor was a prolific 18th century Moravian composer and hymnist.  He lived most of his adult life in around Herrnhut, Saxony. He was a liturgist and pastor and one of the first to compose music for the worship service in the Reformed denomination called Moravian. The Moravian church calls him the "Father of Moravian Music."  He left a legacy of over 700 manuscripts of hymns and anthems. 

Helmut Walcha was blinded at age 19 after vaccination for smallpox.  Despite his disability he entered the Leipzig Conservatory and became assistant organist at the Thomaskirche. He taught at the Hoch Consevatory, recorded the complete organ works of Bach twice, first in 1947-52 and again in stereo in 1956-71.  Walcha composed four volumes of chorale preludes for organ as well as arrangements for organ of orchestral works written by others. He taught many significant American organists as Fulbright Scholars, all of whom became major teachers and performers after their studies abroad.

William Boyce is widely regarded as one of the most important English-born composers of the 18th century.  Born in London, he was a choirboy at St. Paul's Cathedral.  His first professional appointment was in 1734 as organist at the Oxford Chapel, and was later appointed Master of the King's Musick and organist in the Chapel Royal. When his deafness became so bad that he was unable to continue in his organist posts he turned to editing the works of Maurice Greene, William Bird, and Henry Purcell.  Boyce is best known as a composer for his eight symphonies, his anthems, and his odes, as well as music for the theater.  Slow March was a movement from a suite for strings arranged for organ for his funeral.