New England Congregational Church, Aurora, IL–Worship Service for 2023.01.01
Prelude:
“O Hail This Brightest Day of Days” (BWV 605) J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
Bach arranged this famous melody, which was first included in a four-part choral setting (BWV 294). It first appeared in print in a hymnal by the
Bohemian Brethren church (in 1531) and is there attributed to Michael Weisse. Nonetheless, the first two stanzas of the sung version are a 14 th /15 th
Latin Christmas carol called “Dies est laetitiae.” Bach’s organ arrangement is the most popular and treasured version.
HYMN:
“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847); arr., Cummings
PULPIT HYMN:
“I Wonder As I Wander” 19 th -century Appalachian folk song
Offertory:
“Tender Child” Hermann Schroeder (1904-1984)
German organist, composer, theorist, and conductor Hermann Schroeder was a significant figure in helping German church music, especially that
of the German Catholic church, move away from adherence to Romantic ideals of melody and harmony. His compositions are well known for
their intermingling of medieval and early Renaissance idioms with the quartal and quintal harmonies so valued in early 20 th century music.
Communion Music:
“At the Cradle” Early German carols (Anon.), arr. Heup
These four early German carols—“In Sweet Rejoicing” (c.1400), “Joseph, Dearest Joseph Mine” (c.1400), “Come Angels, Come! from Heaven,
Appear!”(1623), and “He Smiles within His Cradle” (1649)—focus on praising and rocking the baby Jesus. The first, also commonly known as
“In dulci jubilo,” sets the scene: “In sweet rejoicing, now sing and be glad! Our hearts’ joy lies in the manger, and it shines like the sun in the
mother’s lap.”
CLOSING HYMN:
“How Great Our Joy!” trad. German carol, arr. Hugo Jungst (1853-1923)
Postlude:
“Joy to the World” attr. Handel (1685-1759), arr. Lowell Mason
Usually sung to an arrangement by American composer Lowell Mason, “Joy to the World” is often attributed not to hymnwriter Issac Watts, who
wrote this work in 1719, but to Handel, whose oratorio “Messiah” contains a similar melody (called ANTIOCH). Long associated with Christmas,
its Eastertime association in clear in its first verse: “Joy to the World the Lord IS come, let earth receive her KING!”
COPYRIGHT
“O Hail This Brightest Day of Days” (BWV 605), J.S. Bach (c1713). Public Domain.
“Hark the Herald Angels Sing,”). Words: Charles Wesley (1739); Music: Felix Mendelssohn (1840); arr.,Cummings (1856). Public Domain.
“I Wonder As I Wander,” 19 th -century Appalachian folk song, collected by John Jacob Niles (1934), ©1934, 1944 (renewed) G. Schirmer Inc. All
rights reserved. Used by permission.
“Tender Child” (from ‘Ten Organ Carols for Christmas’), Hermann Schroeder (1972). ©1972 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Used by permission.
“At the Cradle” arr. Jim Heup. Public Domain.
“How Great Our Joy!” trad. German carol, arr. Hugo Jungst (1853-1923). Public Domain.
“Joy to the World” Words: Issac Watts (1719); Music: attr. G.F. Handel, (1741); arr. Lowell Mason (1848). Public Domain.
source