Each Christmas, one of our choir members writes a Christmas Carol Quiz for her family and she invites us to join in the fun. A recent edition challenged us to identify favorite carols from a single line of text: the second line of the second verse. It’s great fun, it’s tricky, and it’s definitely humbling.
I’m reminded of this as I share part of a favorite hymn. Maybe its unusual meter will ring a bell:
God’s great goodness aye endureth,
Deep his wisdom, passing thought:
Splendour, light, and life attend him,
Beauty springeth out of naught.
Evermore
From his store
New-born worlds rise and adore.
The encouragement in these words—that God will see us through this moment, that hope springs eternal—came to mind as I contemplated some of the challenges leveled at church music over the past year.
To quote a recent essay by composer John Rutter, “music in a church service is there not for its own sake but to form part of a tapestry of words, music, action, costume, and [even] scenic splendour. It’s called liturgy, and if music plays its part properly, the event is lifted heavenward.”
Liturgy is at the heart of what we do. A collective prayer life like ours has a rhythm and having been forced to break that rhythm suddenly last year, with no notice, was difficult for us all. These months have been as discouraging for church choirs as for anyone.
But what has happened in the meantime has also brought much hope as we look to whatever lies ahead for us and whatever the “new normal” might be. Amid the many compromises and adaptations we’ve been forced to make, there have also been silver linings, often unforeseen.
How wonderful that technology has made it possible for so many to participate in our services every week! I might never have taken an interest in “virtual” choir but, under the circumstances, I couldn’t be more grateful to have had a means for the choir to keep singing. Over 250,000 views combined on social media channels has brought new meaning to the literal definition of liturgy as “work of the people.”
This technology has also made it possible for St. Bart’s to serve as the venue for concerts presented online by the American Guild of Organists, MET Orchestra Musicians, and the New York Philharmonic.
The text of the above hymn first appeared in German at the end of the Renaissance, the era that will always enjoy association with glorious rebirth and an unmatched flowering of creativity. In the 20th century, this text was given new life twice more: first through translation by Robert Bridges and then in its setting to music by Herbert Howells.
Its opening line reminds us that “All our hope on God is founded.” Indeed, in this and in every moment, we find our way forward in liturgy as in life, with the knowledge that,
God’s great goodness aye endureth,
Deep his wisdom, passing thought:
Splendour, light, and life attend him,
Beauty springeth out of naught.
Evermore
From his store
New-born worlds rise and adore.
Paolo Bordignon
2 Comments
So grateful that the choir and liturgy, as well as the other myriad opportunities at St. Bart's, have been available through the wonders of technology during this difficult year. Thank you clergy, staff and volunteers.
I agree 100% with Denise Wells. The staff has done an amazing job during this pandemic. Who knew that virtual church could be so calming and rewarding?
Leathea Vanadore