Prelude on Amazing Grace
This lovely and straightforward setting is dedicated to the Community of Jesus and the Church of the Transfiguration. That dedication is particularly meaningful as Sir Lindsay drove cross country—by himself when in his 90s!—primarily to visit this church and play the organ.

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
‘Twas grace that brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright, shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see.

O God Our Help in Ages Past – Fanfare, Recitative, and Hymn

This arrangement for orchestral organ evokes memories and sentiments of the WWII era through organ colors most widely heard during that time—a time when this hymn would have held unusually precious and strong meaning. Composed for the 150th anniversary in 1997 of St John’s Cathedral in Hong Kong, it is intended to be
performed as either organ solo or with congregational participation.

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Within the shadow of thy throne,
Still may we dwell secure.
Sufficient is thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting thou art God,
To endless years the same.

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be thou our guide while life shall last
And our eternal home.

Partita on Nettleton
Director of Music Ministries and Organist at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Dallas, Texas, Joel Martinson is a well respected composer and organist in the United States and abroad. The character of each variation reflects each verse.

Come, thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace!
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! Oh, fix me on it, mount of God’s unchanging love.

Here I find my greatest treasure; hither, by thy help, I’ve come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood.

Oh, to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee:
prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart, oh, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.

From Three Gospel Preludes for Organ
What a Friend We Have in Jesus and Just as I Am
One of America’s most popular composers for organ is William Bolcom. Ever the educator and fascinated by what has become known as the “gospel style” of music, Bolcom made his way to weekend evening gospel services to immerse himself into the spirit of this style, working to discover what about this musical language was so unique as to become a declarative voice within American music over the past 200 years.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus displays all of the exuberance of a completely persuaded and rollicking faith in God. The jazz and swing elements are straight from the services he attended, including references to the Hammond organs often used in those services.

In contrast, the simplicity of Just as I Am rings of a simple yet profound faith, through a gently rocking figure that accompanies the variations on the tune throughout the piece.

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, Yea Thine alone,
O Lamb of God I come, I come.

Fantasy on Hyfrydol
A highly acclaimed performer, improvisor, and composer, Aaron David Miller won the top prize in the national improvisation competition of the American Guild of Organists. His compositions, such as this fantasia, are written out improvisations, often utilizing mixed and asymmetrical meters to highlight the text. Dr. Miller is Director of Music and Organist at House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down, fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art; visit us with thy salvation, enter every trembling heart.

Come, almighty to deliver, let us all thy life receive; suddenly return, and never, never more thy temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above, pray, and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be; let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee: changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place, till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Concert Variations upon Old Hundred
A native of Maine born into a musical family, John Knowles Paine was educated in this country and in Germany, and eventually became Harvard University’s first university organist and choirmaster. His virtuosic hymn variations, such as the variations on Old Hundred brought New England audiences to their feet!

All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice; him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell, come ye before him and rejoice.

Know that the Lord is God indeed; without our aid he did us make: we are his folk, he doth us feed, and for his sheep he doth us take.

O enter then his gates with praise, approach with joy his courts unto; praise, laud, and bless his Name always, for it is seemly so to do.

For why? the Lord our God is good, his mercy is forever sure; his truth at all times firmly stood, and shall from age to age endure.

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the God whom heaven and earth adore, from men and from the angel host be praise and glory evermore.

Meditation on Brother James’ Air
English composer, Harold Darke, is particularly noted for his choral compositions, which are part of the core repertoire of Anglican church music. His organ meditation on the beloved Brother James’ Air escalates with emotion, and returns to settled rest, along with the text of the hymn.

A favorite organ work of Queen Elizabeth, this piece was one that she requested for her funeral.

How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of hosts, to me!
My thirsty soul desires and longs within thy courts to be;
my very heart and flesh cry out, O living God, for thee.

Beside thine altars, gracious Lord, the swallows find a nest;
how happy they who dwell with thee and praise thee without rest,
and happy they whose hearts are set upon the pilgrim’s quest.

They who go through the desert vale will find it filled with springs,
and they shall climb from height to height till Zion’s temple rings
with praise to thee, in glory throned, Lord God, great King of kings.

One day within thy courts excels a thousand spent away;
how happy they who keep thy laws nor from thy precepts stray,
for thou shalt surely bless all those who live the words they pray.

Variations on An Easter Theme for Organ Duet
If ever there was a composer who could be called “the people’s composer” during the last 60 years, it is John Rutter. His musical voice reflects an extraordinary classical training that ventures into
as many popular as classical idioms, including jazz and blues.

Our closing number today is a series of variations on the Easter hymn which we all know as O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing. Written for two organists at one console, this work takes us through variations whose colors use this entire instrument to sing of the many reactions, feelings, and thoughts of the disciples as they awaited and encountered Jesus following the Resurrection.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

O sons and daughters let us sing,
With heavenly hosts to Christ our King,
Today the grave has lost its sting.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

At night the apostles met in fear;
Among them came their Lord most dear
And said, “My peace be with you here.”
Alleluia! Alleluia!

When Thomas first the tidings heard
How they had seen the risen Lord,
He doubted the disciples’ word.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

“My pierced side, O Thomas, see,
And look upon my hands, my feet;
Not faithless but believing be.”
Alleluia! Alleluia!

No longer Thomas then denied;
He saw the feet, the hands, the side.
“You are my Lord and God!” he cried.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

How blest are they who have not seen…
And yet whose faith has constant been,
For they eternal life shall win.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

TRANSFIGURATION CONCERTS

August 4 & 5, 7:30 PM
Church of the Transfiguration
Also Livestreamed Saturday

Be filled with the awe and glory of Transfiguration as Gloriæ Dei Cantores and friends collaborate to offer a striking program including Rutter’s Gloria, Mozart’s Alleluia, and Holst’s Two Psalms in celebratory summer concerts at the Church of the Transfiguration in Orleans—”an architectural wonder” (Cape Cod Travel Guide) filled with fresco, mosaic, glass work and sculpture by local and international artists.

CHARA PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE IN CONCERT

August 19, 2023, 7:30 PM
Performing Arts Building
Brewster, MA

GAUDETE BAROQUE ENSEMBLE IN CONCERT: BAROQUE DANCE

August 27, 2023, 3:30 PM
Performing Arts Building
Brewster, MA