March Resources
Today’s post is a mixed bag of several resource items that have caught my eye over the last few weeks including items from His Voice (Good Shepherd Institute) and Gathered Guests (book on Lutheran Worship) from CPH.
Bach in Today’s Parish: Still the Evangelist
Some of you may have had the opportunity in November 2009 to attend the Good Shepherd Institute’s conference on “Bach in Today’s Parish: Still the Evangelist.” While I wasn’t able to attend, I patiently await the publication of their annual journal of papers presented at the conference (and hoping that they might post MP3s of the presentations). In the meantime, the folks at GSI have posted two of the conference papers on their website. They are interesting readings for musicians and non-musicians alike.
Good Shepherd Institute
This past week I discovered that the Good Shepherd Institute has released the latest edition of His Voice, a newsletter of GSI that has a number of recommended resources for pastors, laity, and musicians. I’d encourage you to download and scan through it (only 9 pages).
Of particular note are 3 pages devoted to the published resources of GSI, most of which are part of my own library. These resources have been formative and valuable in my growth and continuing education as a parish musician.
Elements of Liturgical Style
Most of us have probably heard of The Elements of Style by Strunk and White — those terse commands like “Omit needless words.” Recently I came across Elements of Rite: A Handbook of Liturgical Style by Aidan Kavanagh that had the same directness toward rite and liturgical style as Strunk and White had to writing.
And he is direct. Rule #11 of Elementary Rules of Liturgical Usage – “Churches are not carpeted.”
Buszin on Church Musicians
I’m in the process of rereading the essays by Walter Buszin in the “Music for the Church” published by the Good Shepherd Institute. It’s a great book and the essays, though written about 40-50 years ago, are still fresh and speak to our times today.
O Lord, Open My Lips
These familiar words from Psalm 51 – “O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare Your praise” – prepare us as we pray through Matins and Vespers. It is good to pray these words since our sinful nature does not have the words or desire to praise God.
In a short article I recently acquired, Kevin Hildebrand reflects on the import of these familiar words.
We are by nature sinful and unclean. Therefore we ask with the psalmist, “O Lord, open my lips,” as we cannot open our own dead, sinful lips. Only with lips that have been touched with the words of absolution, drenched with the waters of Holy Baptism, and quenched with the Blood of the chalice can we then say with confidence, “and my mouth will declare your praise.”
Lutheran Hymnody Makes the Evening News
How often do you hear Lutheran hymnody on television? Not often. How often does it make the evening news? Almost never . . . that is until “Singing the Faith: Living the Lutheran Liturgical Heritage” was produced by the Good Shepherd Institute.
His Voice – Newsletter of Good Shepherd Institute
For those of you unfamiliar with the Good Shepherd Institute of Pastoral Theology and Sacred Music for the Church, it is “dedicated to hearing and discerning the clear voice of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, through preaching, historic liturgies, substantive catechesis, and hymns that communicate faith in Christ in the church’s trinitarian teaching and worship.” You can learn more about their mission and vision by going here.
They have a number of resources available including published journals from their annual conferences and a book on the life of Walter Buszin.
The Good Shepherd Institute is a blessing to the church. Thank You!
Walter E. Buszin – Wise Counsel for Today
I 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.
Singing the Faith – Living the Lutheran Musical Heritage
When I was back at Concordia Theological Seminary this last summer for an Organist Workshop, Kantor Richard Resch mentioned that the Good Shepherd Institute was working on a DVD with teaching guide that explores our rich Lutheran musical heritage. I could tell Kantor Resch was excited and passionate about this project.
Share your thoughts . . .