Bicentennial Music Spotlight! (May 22, 2022)
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Leo Adames, long-time church member and beloved Clarksville song-writer, completed this song in 2018 specifically for our 2022 Bicentennial. He commented, "This piece was directly influenced by our study in Disciples class that helped us reflect our active relationship with God, the Church, and with each other."
2:00 Anthem: Windows of the Sky by Jeffrey Wood
In 2021, we approached APSU Prof. Jeffrey Wood about writing a choral anthem for FPC's 2022 Bicentennial Celebration. We reached out to Dr. Wood because of the importance of the many connections our church has with APSU, and especially with the APSU music department, through student choir interns and former directors of music who were on the APSU faculty. Our members wanted to include a commissioned choral piece because FPC's 175th anniversary featured such a work as well. That piece, “The Dwelling Place," was written by Anna Laura Page, wife of thenAPSU President Oscar Page.
Wood incorporates the Jewish texts Yigdal and the Reading of the Shema and Its Blessings with the familiar Christian hymn Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken in his choral composition. Yigdal (meaning "Exalted" or "Magnified") is a poetic summary of the Thirteen Principles of Faith formulated in the 12th century by Moses ben Mainon (1138-1204), a medieval Sephardic Jewish philosopher. There is, surprisingly, a long history of the use of Yigdal in both Jewish and Christian worship, in synagogues and churches alike. The second text, Reading of the Shema and Its Blessings, serves as the centerpiece of both morning and evening prayer services in Jewish liturgy. It is taken from Deuteronomy Ch. 6 ("Hear O Israel, the Lord of our God, the Lord is One"), which is quoted multiple times in the New Testament.
The sentiments expressed by these ancient hymns of praise provide a good introduction to those expressed in the hymn Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken. This hymn text was written by John Newton (1725-1807), an Anglican cleric and ardent abolitionist. While the hymn can be sung to any number of tunes that fit its metrical structure, it is most frequently associated with composer Joseph Haydn's (1732-1809) anthem Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser/God Save Emperor Francis, itself based upon an old Croatian folk song.
Reflecting upon the compositional process, Wood said, “I just really loved the images [these texts] portrayed.” One specific image amongst the Jewish texts called out to him: “The God who daily opens the doors of the gates of the east and cleaves the windows of the sky.” “Just every time I look at that," said Wood, "it’s just gorgeous.” That image inspired the composition’s name, Windows of the Sky.
Though the piece journeys through several keys and intriguing harmonic landing points, its overall telos is the resolution from the dominant (B) to tonic (E). The E major conclusion--following a rousing arrangement of the hymn tune complete with congregational singing--feels incredibly poignant after eight minutes of turmoil and suspense. The harmonic language favors open 5ths and 4ths layered above and below each other. The choir often sings in homophony, moving from pitch to pitch in solidarity. Wood's compositional tactics are at once ancient and contemporary--a perfect reflection of FPC's Bicentennial commitment to "Reflect, Rejoice, and Renew."
--Hannah Cruse, Music Director and Organist, FPC
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