Tag Archives: Behnke

Sneak Peak – New Organ Music @ CPH

For you organists (and choir directors) out there, it looks like Concordia Publishing House is starting to unveil their 2008 new organ music (and choral) collections. On first glance there are a couple of editions that look enticing — primarily because I’m already familiar with these composers:

  • A new volume by John Behnke in his series Five Preludes of Praise.
  • Six Hymn Improvisations Set 7 by Kevin Hildebrand. I frequently use his improvisations in worship services. His collections on Christmas and Lent/Easter hymns are also good.
  • Introductions, Harmonizations, Accompaniments, Interpretations, Vol. 5 by Jeffrey Blersch.

I suspect CPH is working on their promotional CDs and will soon be providing audio excerpts. But in the meantime they do have PDF excerpts for most of the music books.

And no, I do not receive any kickbacks from the CPH Music Department for writing this.

Walter E. Buszin – Wise Counsel for Today

Buszin BookI was unfamiliar with the name Walter Buszin until the summer of 2007 when I discovered that one of the most enduring choral collections of the 20th century – 101 Chorales Harmonized by Johann Sebastian Bach – was edited by Buszin. Prior to this, I had a dear friend from church who had told me on a number of occasions about a treasured book from her younger choral years – a book of Bach chorales. She evidently was talking of the Buszin edition.

Over the last two weeks I have been reading “Music for the Church: The Life and Work of Walter E. Buszin” by Kirby L. Koriath with 10 essays by Walter E. Buszin. As a brief summary, Buszin (1899-1973) was a Lutheran theologian, church musician, music editor, hymnologist, teacher, and liturgical scholar whose scholarly output is quite amazing. In some respects his work was more widely known outside of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) despite being a professor at Concordia Seminary, music editor at Concordia Publishing House, and being on the Synod’s Commission on Worship, Liturgics, and Hymnology for 26 years.

This book presents today’s generation of pastors and church musicians with wise counsel on church music and liturgy. Buszin’s life shows a “mission of restoration and renewal in Lutheran church music and worship” (pg 27). He was deeply concerned that his church, the Lutheran church, had abandoned its fine heritage and replaced it with an unworthy and substandard successor. His life and words are still timely because he dealt with many of the same issues we encounter today – quality of hymnody, liturgy, choral and instrumental music.

As I read the book, I realized how I, as a church musician, have been shaped by Buszin without really knowing it. Buszin promoted the use of the chorale in hymnody, choral music, and organ music and seemed to be instrumental in bringing the sacred works of the “Golden Age of Lutheran Music” (16th – 18th centuries) to light. Besides relying extensively on this era of music for my weekly service playing, I have been shaped by my favorite modern Lutheran composers who write music on the chorales — Benjamin Culli, Kevin Hildebrand, Jeffrey Blersch, Kenneth Kosche, John Behnke, Michael Burkhardt, and Paul Manz. And finally, the Organist Workshops and Good Shepherd Institute at Concordia Theological Seminary introduced me to the thoughts of Buszin and helped me better understand and live my vocation as a church musician.

I hope that I might reflect, if only a glimmer, the passion that Buszin had for Lutheran church music and worship.

Perspective and Encouragement on Musical Vocation

Sometimes church musicians, whether professional or amateur, get discouraged. We wonder if the time and energy we put in each week matter. We can get burnt out, especially in those seasons of the church year where there are mid-week services, special occasions, and high feast days and the hours of preparation that goes into them.

I was perusing through one of my organ method books, The Concordia Organ Method by John Behnke, and came across the closing section of the book. In “A Final Thought” Behnke succinctly provides encouragement to the church musician:

There are many occupations in life, but there is no greater privilege than to serve in the house of the Lord and to lead God’s people in song.

The music which you play and the attitude which you bring to your music and work are a profession of your faith and a true ministry to the people around you.

Always remember that your calling is a high and noble one and that your labor is never in vain.

With the words of the great poet, Jaraslav Vajda, we can say,

With my talents, skills, and time
realize your will sublime;
let the world around me hear
wisdom, hope and Gospel cheer,
and my love for you remain,
my life’s refrain.
(From his hymn “Spirit, God, Eternal Word”)

Soli Deo Gloria!