Once again I’m making my annual “plug” for the summer Organist Workshops at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN. I can’t recommend these enough to parish organists of all skill levels. For three of the last four summers I’ve had the joy of studying improvisation with Kantor Hildebrand, organ playing with Kantor Resch, and handbells with Kantor Muth, in addition to studying theology, meeting fellow musicians, and being fed with the daily rhythm of prayer services.
Tag Archives: CTS
Church Music Workshops
Don’t forget to take a look at the Church Music Workshops being offered at Concordia Theological Seminary this summer. They are well worth your consideration.
Church Music Workshops @ CTSFW
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! As the music of Holy Week and Easter Sunday continues to ring in our ears, I’d like you to think about summer.
What’s happening this summer? The Church Music Workshops at Concordia Theological Seminary – Ft. Wayne, IN. This year there are opportunities for organists, AND choir directors, AND handbell directors/ringers. In other words, bring the whole crew.
These workshops are an excellent opportunity for fellowship, refreshment, and growth. I’ve attended twice over the last few summers and they were great experiences. See my previous reviews here and here.
- If you’re a musician, consider attending.
- If you’re a pastor, ask your musician(s) if they would like to attend.
- If you’re a lay person, offer to send your musician.
The following information is provided by Kantor Kevin Hildebrand:
Advent Devotions
If you’re looking for an audio devotion for Advent, meander over to Concordia TheoBLOGical Seminary. The faculty, staff, and students at the seminary have put together a daily devotion that you can listen to on their site or subscribe to in iTunes.
Te Deum at Kramer Chapel
While reviewing some discussion threads over at Wittenberg Trail, a comment by Susan reminded me of my first experience singing Stephen Starke’s paraphrase of the Te Deum – “We Praise You and Acknowledge You, O God” (LSB 941). Susan wrote, “Go to Kramer Chapel and hear those men singing Starke’s Te Deum. When you can breathe again, you’ll want to sing it to.” That is exactly where I first sang it — at Kramer Chapel at Concordia Theological Seminary during Matins at morning Chapel — along with Susan, a number of other organists, and the seminary community.
Starke’s paraphrase of this early hymn of praise, with its rich language, and coupled with Gustav Holst’s tune Thaxted is a joy to sing. Granted, Thaxted is best known as the theme from Jupiter in The Planets. However, now when I hear Jupiter on KBPS 89.9, I start singing the Te Deum — I dare say not necessarily a negative association.
If you have never heard (or even if you have) Starke’s paraphrase, I have two audio recommendations for your listening enjoyment:
- Concordia Publishing House has released a festival setting for choir and organ (with optional orchestra) by Mark Bender. CPH has a complete performance with orchestra for listening on their product page. Even if your choir does not sing this setting, I would recommend your organist have a co
py of the choral score since the opening organ introduction is alone worth the $1.75 and would be a fitting hymn introduction. - The Kantorei of Concordia Theological Seminary concludes their CD titled “Te Deum” with a mostly a capella (last verse with organ and brass) setting by Thomas Lock. Full length audio is available for streaming at the Kantorei site. While the Bender setting pulls out all the stops, I would characterize the Kantorei’s performance of the Lock setting as “reverently triumphant”.
Now don’t get me wrong; I’m still fond of the Anglican chant setting of the Te Deum from TLH and will continue to sing it. Yet, Starke’s Te Deum is a worthy inclusion in Lutheran Service Book and I hope congregation’s will take the opportunity to learn and use it.
06/04/09 Update
Another choral setting of Starke’s paraphrase is by Charles Ore. It is set for SATB, organ, and brass. You can listen to it at the CPH website.