SPECIAL CHRISTMAS POST FROM GUEST BLOGGER CHARLES WESLEY!

 

Charles Wesley

Merry Christmas! I just thought it would be nice to have a reminder of the importance of Christ's birth, so I thought I'd let Charles Wesley give us a good theology lesson that you can sing to. 

Note - my favorite hymn lyrist is Charles Wesley. The music was written by Felix Mendelssohn (my favorite classical composer), who was born over twenty years after Wesley's death. Of course, most of you know this already. By the way, most hymnals only have the first three of five verses; we did have one hymnal where it combined the first half of the fourth verse and the first half of the fifth, which is the version I'm sharing.

So here's today's blog:

Hark! The herald angels sing,

Glory to the newborn King;

Peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!

Joyful, all ye nations rise,

Join the triumph of the skies;

With th’angelic host proclaim,

Christ is born in Bethlehem!

Hark! the herald angels sing,

Glory to the newborn King!

Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;

Christ the everlasting Lord;

Late in time, behold Him come,

Offspring of a virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;

Hail th’incarnate Deity,

Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,

Jesus our Emmanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

Glory to the newborn King!

Hail the heav’n born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings,

Ris’n with healing in His wings.

Mild He lays His glory by,

Born that man no more may die.

Born to raise the sons of earth,

Born to give them second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

Glory to the newborn King!

Come, desire of nations, come,

Fix in us Thy humble home;

Rise, the woman’s conquering Seed,

Bruise in us the ser­pent’s head.

Adam’s likeness now efface,

Stamp Thine image in its place:

Second Adam from above,

Reinstate us in Thy love.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

Glory to the newborn King!

REFORMATION DAY SERIES PART 2 - ALBUM REVIEW: MENDELSSOHN IN BIRMINGHAM VOL. 1 (THE HEBRIDES, REFORMATION SYMPHONY, ITALIAN SYMPHONY) CONDUCTED BY

The Reformation Symphony is just part of this collection, but allow me to focus on it with Reformation Day just around the corner This is one of my favorite symphonies.

"Mendelssohn in Birmingham" is a 5 part series. It focuses on the German composer's visits to England, and the art work is a drawing by Mendelssohn of his performance in Birmingham. This first release features the overture "The Hebrides," and symphonies #5 (Reformation) and #4 (Italian).

 You can divide Mendelssohn's symphonies into three groups: The first, the two he composed but went unpublished until decades after his death, and the final two he composed but were the second and third published. While most composer's works are numbered in order of composition, Mendelssohn's are enumerated by publishing. I read that he did edit the Reformation and Italian symphonies but still didn't publish them; the commentator said the symphonies were better as originally written.

Let me move to the Overture "The Hebrides." It is a concert overture, that is, a stand alone composition. It was inspired when Mendelssohn visited Scotland, and was moved by the basalt sea cave on  island of Staffa known as "Fingal's Cave." This composition combines the mysterious with the triumphant.

Mendelssohn started the Reformation Symphony with the goal of it being used to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession, written by my favorite Reformer, Philip Melanchthon. Unfortunately, health problems kept it from being performed at the celebration, leading to it not being published until 21 years after the composer's death.

Normally, the symphony's first movement is named after the key it starts in. Beethoven's first symphony was irregular because it started off meandering between the keys of C and F before settling into the former. This symphony was said to be in D major, but after a brief introduction in the stated key, Mendelssohn moved to the main theme in D minor, so this symphony is called in D major/D minor.

In contrast to the opening movement, the second is a joyful minuet in C major, a composition that always puts me in a good mood. One commentator said it didn't fit the theme. I disagree. To me, it captures the joy and freedom we have in Christ, exemplified by the five solas of the Reformation and the recognition of the Priesthood of the believer.

The third movement is slow and short, and without a real break transitions to a flute opening the final movement with the tune of "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God."  The meditative beginning transitions to a more upbeat segment.

There are some compositions that, when I hear it, I think I've heard it before but can't name it. This is true of the opening movement of the Italian Symphony. The first movement is lively, followed by a mournful second movement and a cheerful though mostly slow third movement (though it has a couple of rousing fanfares. The finale is one of the most lively conclusions.

One tradition I do for Reformation Day is put on this collection as I'm getting ready to call it a night.

BUCKET LISTS, MUSIC YOU CAN HEAR IN HEAVEN, AND OTHER SPECULATIONS

The Plains of Heaven by John Martin

 "Nacho, nacho man; I want to be a nacho man!"

Or is "mocha man" a more accurate description of me?

I'll confess: Seeing the Village People live would be on my bucket list, though it would be lower on the list. Hearing the Daniel Band and Idle Cure and Little River Band would all be higher on the list. So would hearing several classical compositions performed live, such as Mendelssohn's Reformation and Lobesang (Hymn of Praise) symphonies, Tchaikowski's Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, Bruckner's Romantic Symphony and his Te Deum, Wagner's Flying Dutchman Overture, and of course my favorite symphony: Beethoven's 7th.

However, Russell Moore pointed out the philosophical problems with bucket lists for Christians. It presupposes that there are things on this earth that we'll miss out on if we don't see them before going to heaven. After all, isn't heaven so much more wonderful than anything here? If we missed something on earth, won't there be something even better in heaven? By the way, Moore did suggest that you visit the pyramids if you want to see them, because Scripture hints they may not be around during the Kingdom.

Now, I would love to see the Village People in heaven. Did you understand what I just wrote? First off, I'd like to see them (and everybody else) there; I don't want anybody going to the other place (though I do believe that other place exists and those who continue in their treasonous sin without turning to God for forgiveness through Christ's sufficient and completed sacrifice). That said, I'd also love to hear them perform, though I think the songs they'd do in concert in the Kingdom would not include the hits they're known for down here (I'll admit I'd love to hear "In The Navy" live).

I do know some of Little River Band are Christians, so I would not be surprised to get to hear them perform. I do know I can meet the members of Daniel Band and Idle Cure; the question is if there will be electric guitars in the kingdom, or if all the sets would be unplugged.

Of course, orchestras are already unplugged. I would not be surprised to see Mendelssohn direct the two symphonies mentioned above, and maybe have him do a duet with Charles Wesley on "Hark The Herald Angels Sing." Same is true with Bruckner conducting his "Te Deum" (Latin for "Thee, O God, We Praise).

But what about the others? I have no idea of Tchaikowski's faith. Wagner, however, inspired some of Hitler's beliefs. Beethoven on his death bed heard lightning and sat up shaking his fist at heaven. Would their music be played in the Kingdom? After all, even if they weren't among the saints, their music was at worst neutral and at best causing the listeners to praise God for allowing that music to be composed.

And so I go into territory that I believe the Bible is silent and there is no evidence on one side or the other except to be grounds for theological/philosophical discussion. I am blessed by the beauty of the works I mentioned. Same is true with the theme of Chariots of Fire. Due to the story of Eric Liddell, Christians love that song. But composer Vangelis dedicated that theme to the Greek god Pan.

The question? Would music composed by unbelievers but beloved for its beauty be performed in heaven? I mean, Mendelssohn or Bach would be able to conduct that music. Or will any memory of unsaved performers be destroyed, including their musical masterpieces?

What are you looking at me for? Do you think I have the answer? None any better than yours. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

SUNDAY HYMNS, PART 21 OF 22: HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING (MERRY CHRISTMAS)

 

"All of Creation Worships" by Jeff Reynolds

Hark! the herald angels sing, 

"Glory to the newborn King;

Peace on earth and mercy mild - 

God and sinners reconciled!"

Joyful, all ye nations, rise, 

Join the triumph of the skies;

With th'angelic host proclaim,

"Christ is born in Bethlehem."

 Hark! the herald angels sing, 

"Glory to the newborn King!"

 

Christ, by highest heav'n adored,

Christ, the everlasting Lord:

Late in time behold Him come, 

Offspring of a virgin's womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,

Hail th'incarnate Deity!

Pleased as man with men to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel.

 Hark! the herald angels sing, 

"Glory to the newborn King!"

 

Hail the heav'nborn Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings, 

Ris'n with healing in His wings.

Mild He lays His glory by, 

Born that man no more may die;

Born to raise the sons of earth,

Born to give them second birth.

 Hark! the herald angels sing, 

"Glory to the newborn King!"

 

Come, Desire of Nations, come!

Fix in us Thy humble home;

Rise, the woman's conq'ring seed, 

Bruise in us the serpent's head.

Adam's likeness now efface,

Stamp in thine image in its place;

Second Adam from above, 

Reinstate us in Thy love.

 Hark! the herald angels sing, 

"Glory to the newborn King!"

 

NOTES ON HYMN

• First off, Merry Christmas! Or for you guys, Joseph Christmas! 
• How many of you following have read through the first three verses, and then pause to see a fourth you've never seen before? Growing up with the Worship & Service Hymnal, I only knew the first three.  But then I attended a church whose hymnal (Praise! Our Songs and Hymns) included the fourth verse. Cyberhymnal includes a fifth.
• This is another hymn written by Charles Wesley. I had a Calvinist joke that Wesley believed you had to earn your salvation so he made the music for this song hard to sing. Uh, not Wesley's fault. I don't know what tune they sang this to during Charles' lifetime, but he died before the composer to this song was born. That composer? Felix Mendelssohn. And do you expect Classical composers to write easy songs to sing? By the way, Mendelssohn was raised Lutheran and also composed the Reformation symphony.
• By the way, my favorite hymn word writer is Charles Wesley. My favorite classical composer is Mendelssohn. No wonder I love this song.
• This song's meter is a 7,7,7,7 double. One interesting thing? Another Wesley song, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" has a 7,7,7,7 meter, which adds a lot of "Alleluia"s ot it. So you could sing "Christ The Lord is Risen Today" to Mendelssohn's tune, dropping the alleluias and using two verses for each round. Or you can sing "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" to the tune of "Christ the Lord is Risen Today, with the alleluias and doubling the verse number. 
  

 

 

REVIEW OF MENDELSSOHN IN BIRMINGHAM VOL. 3, PARTICULARLY LOBGESANG (SYMPHONY #2)

 

 Since I became a fan of classical music, my favorite composer as I grew older, from Beethoven to Dvorak to Bruckner to Berwald and now Mendelssohn. 

Some of you aren't into classical music, and may tell me you've never heard of Mendelssohn's music. I will kindly shake my head and ask you to turn in your hymnal to "Hark The Herald Angels Sing." You'll see Charles Wesley's name on the left for the words, and on the right you'll see the composer for the music identified as - you guessed it -  Mendelssohn. It makes me smile that the brother of John Wesley wrote words that would be set to music by a Reformed Messianic Jew who wasn't born when Charles was promoted to hymn writing in heaven.

Felix Mendelssohn by Eduard Magnus, 1846

Mendelssohn is typically assumed to have written five symphonies. His symphonies are numbered according to the order of their publication. For example, the Reformation symphony was the second one he wrote, but he put it on mothballs and it wasn't published until 20+ years after his death, and was numbered as his fifth. 

Above, I've pictured volume three of the collection "Mendelssohn in Birmingham". Mendelssohn visited Britain ten times during his short life (1809-1847). The first three volumes, which feature his symphonies (each also starts off with an overture), have a sketch done by Mendelssohn of Birmingham. (Each volume has a different ink color). Not only does it show that the composer was a talented artist, but it also showed some humor: Notice the large bird in the drawing? And in the forefront was the luggage of Mendelssohn and his two traveling companions.

The first two volumes feature four of his five symphonies, saving the longest for this volume. This symphony, designated as the second (though it was either his fourth or fifth that he wrote) is titled Lobgesang, which means hymn of praise. Like Beethoven's 9th, the symphony starts with three instrumental movements and then brings in a choir for the end. However, there are distinct differences. Beethoven's choral finale was a symphony movement with singing. The choir part of Lobgesang more resembles the Messiah than Beethoven, taking up the majority of the time of the symphony, and is usually divided into several parts. In fact, some modern music critics don't consider this a symphony but more of a sacred choral work. 

One reason I am looking at this rendition instead of just the symphony is that this includes the English translation of the lyrics, which Mendelssohn authorized (the original was in German). 

I'm not a professional music critic, but allow me to pretend to be one. The symphony starts off with horns playing a melody in a low key, echoed by the orchestra, not unlike a songleader singing a line from a song with the choir or congregation echoing that line back. There is no break between the minuet of the 2nd movement and the slow 3rd movement. The fourth starts with the orchestra playing the beginning of the theme from the first movement.

One interesting note is this was composed for a choir, a pair of sopranos, and a tenor. There is one short segment where the sopranos sing together.

When I listen to this symphony, the theme runs through my head, with the English words taken from Psalm 150: "Let all that has life and breath praise the Lord."

This volume starts off with an overture titled "Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage." I'll admit it's not my favorite Mendelssohn composition. It starts off very quietly, and sometimes if I don't put the volume on the stereo loud enough I miss the first couple of minutes of this overture.

Who is your favorite classical composer? What music helps you worship?