I’ve written about this in a previous post, but I think it bears repeating. Why do music publishers publish a book that will be put on a music rack that will not stay open on its own? It seems ridiculous to have to rebind the books before you can even use them.

P.S. I had my LSB Propers of the Day rebound just as a matter of convenience — so I’m not “unhappy” with CPH on that item. On the other hand, CPH could look at how they bind their Songs of the Gospel (preludes on Luther and Paul Gerhardt hymns) — those books were rebound as soon as I got them a few years back.

Thanks for reading Coil Binding! The Musician’s Friend.

Many books does not make one learned, nor much reading either; rather to read a good thing and to read it often, regardless of how little it is, that makes one learned in the Scriptures.

I think something similar could be said for church musicians in relation to their musical repertoire and libraries. Publishing companies continue to entice us with their latest offerings; yet we still have existing music waiting to be learned or looked at. To buy or not to buy? The related and potentially better question is: What is the Lutheran musician’s core repertoire (besides the hymnal)?

A few weeks back, Paul McCain at Cyberbrethren wrote about The Essential Lutheran Library — a core list of absolute essential reading for every Lutheran.

What about a core list of The Essential Lutheran Library – Musician Edition (aka., TELL ME)? With the abundance of music currently available, it is mind numbing to go through stacks of music or publisher catalogs looking where to allocate scarce financial resources. I acknowledge that each musician has unique gifts and interests, but there seems to be a core to build from.

My personal music library has developed as a result of recommendations (and gifts) of friends and mentors. I would be at a loss without the music of Paul Manz or the Church Organist’s Golden Treasury. But there are others that have become part of my musical personality — Bach, Buxtehude, Behnke, Blersch and Burkhardt — to name a few. I once contemplated this theoretical question – If my entire organ music library was destroyed by fire or flood, or lost by a moving company (which did happen to someone I know), and I only had X dollars to replace it, what would I get? It’s a question that I don’t have an answer for yet. What are the “good things”, as Luther put it?

There you have it. An unanswered question and food for thought. Your comments are welcome and encouraged.

P.S. My music shopping expedition resulted in two volumes of Christmas music by David Cherwien and a collection of hymn harmonizations.

Thanks for reading The Other Essential Lutheran Library – Musician Edition.

CPH is continuing its series “Musica Sacra” with Volume 7 by Donald Busarow. The Musica Sacra series is a great way to get some easier and quick pieces to prepare that are interesting. I have all 7 volumes and I consistently use all of them, but especially the volumes by Hildebrand, Kosche, and Culli. Just to be aware, I’d guess that roughly half of the compositions in Volume 7 are reprints of previously published pieces. I’m thinking that by the copyright date they are from the Concordia Hymn Prelude series which CPH is now slowly retiring.

The other selection I ordered was Kevin Hildebrand’s “Five Easy Easter Hymn Settings for Organ” . I know Easter is over and I won’t be able to use this set for another year — BUT it has a lovely setting of Duke Street which is appropriate for funerals throughout the year.

If you’re in the market for some sacred music, give the folks at CPH a try. They have an abundance of resources — especially for the Lutheran musician. But if you want Paul Manz, Michael Burkhardt, or some of Robert Hobby’s pieces, you’ll need to head over to MorningStar Music.

Thanks for reading New Music from CPH.

If you order, make sure you use the code: MANZB20

In Singing the Faith: Living the Lutheran Music Heritage by the Good Shepherd Institute, the study guide says the following about Manz.

In a way that has not been surpassed in the late twentieth and twenty-first centuries, Manz improvised hymn introductions and accompaniments that underscored the meaning of the hymn texts, thus enlivening the proclamation of the Gospel in hymn singing at both liturgical services and in hymn festivals.  Manz published and recorded many such improvisations for the use of organists and for the listening pleasure of all who love hymns and organ music.  Younger generations of Lutheran composers and organists who have been inspired by Manz include (to name only a few) Jeffrey Blersch, Michael Burkhardt, David Cherwien, John Ferguson, Kevin Hildebrand, and Robert Hobby.

Thanks for reading Paul Manz at 90.

Ben Culli has composed a series of preludes on six Epiphany hymns entitled Light of Christ (audio and PDF samples available on the CPH website).  I usually find Culli’s compositions challenging, but accessible — meaning I have to spend some quality practice time to reap the musical rewards.

In typical Culli style, his compositions exhibit a rhythmic drive and variety that draws the listener to the music.  The “fanfare” for Jesus Has Come and Brings Pleasure with its pedal points and relatively simple pedal line is a welcome addition to my other frequently used settings of this tune by Kevin Hildebrand and John Behnke.  The setting of Rise, Shine, You People has several motifs and rhythmic patterns that are repeated/echoed throughout the piece which helped to make preparation easier.

One of my favorite pieces from the collection was From God the Father, Virgin Born.  Culli took the hymn tune and interweaved it with a Sarabande by Jeremiah Clarke.  He has done this before in his other collections — quoting a section from Vivaldi’s Gloria in Excelsis with All Depends on Our Possessing and quoting Marcello’s Psalm XIX with With the Lord Begin Your Task.

I’m still working on How Good, Lord, to Be Here and hoping to have it prepared by Transfiguration Sunday.  The only thing left is that pesky hand, eye, and feet coordination!

Overall, this collection was a good addition to my music library.  It’s never too early to start preparing for Epiphany 2010!

Thanks for reading Light of Christ – Organ Music Review.

While listening to my Christmas iPod playlist, I came across a recording of a delightful hymn setting of O Sing of Christ that I discovered a few years back.  After a little bit of Internet research I found the source of it — Outer Rim Territories.  The setting is by Kevin Hildebrand and is a rehearsal recording of one of the seminary choral groups.  You can even sing along if you like.

As a hint to the organists out there, Hildebrand’s instrumental introduction has been set for organ in his volume of Christmas music — Bethlehem’s Rose.  Though, I’m not sure how many “average” organs have a Flute 2′ in the pedal division (unless you couple a 3rd manual with a 2′ stop to the pedal or you are playing the Kramer Chapel organ).

Todd Wilken with Issues Etc interviewed Stephen Starke about this hymn on December 21, 2006.  The interview is archived here — just ignore all the references to supporting Issues Etc. via KFUO and the Reformation Club — to support Issues Etc., go here.

Thanks for reading O Sing of Christ.

Every musician is bound to have music books that do not lie neatly open because they are too thick. Often we resort to using other books to keep the one music book open. But this doesn’t help with page turns. Why can’t publishers bind their books so that they stay open on their own without having to break the spine of the book? Alas.

Here’s the suggestion: Use coil binding.

I took a number of my books down to the local print shop and for a few dollars a book they cut the edge of the spine off and installed a sturdy coil binding. Now the music lies flat and I don’t have to worry about it closing in the middle of a piece.

I suspect many musicians would pay a few extra dollars if a larger book was coil bound — especially when the thicker books usually cost $30+ a volume.

Thanks for reading Organist Tip – Unwieldy Sheet Music.