Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Mar/78

Contributor - Mr. Herman Mulder

Title - The Growth Of Sacred Music Part V- "Sound The Trumpet, It's Easter"

Topic - Music

Jesus Christ is risen today,

Alleluia!

Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia

Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!

Suffered to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Written in the Fourteenth Century

Easter, unlike Christmas, does not come to us with a wealth of music. While many composers and numerous hymn writers jubilantly expressed themselves at Christmas, we find that quite a few of them chose to observe Easter with awe and reverence.

Traditionally the Holy Week before Easter, commemorating Christ's suffering, is observed with such respect that it requires a minimum of music in most churches. Passion Music is beautiful, but not as jubilant and joyous as many of the famous Advent hymns.

"Beneath the Cross of Jesus" was written by Miss Clephane, a saint of the Free Church of Scotland, in 1850. It is a typical Passion Hymn which describes Christ's suffering, and is always sung with dignity and respect.

"When I survey the Wondrous Cross" was written by the ever popular Isaac Watts around 1700. Watts, written of over six hundred hymns, wrote these magnificent lines before he was thirty-three. It has been called the finest Passion hymn in the English language.

"When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride."

"O Sacred Head Now Wounded", written by St. Bernard of Clairvaux around 1100, was first a Latin poem in seven sections. It is believed that St. Bernard addressed seven sections of the Saviour's crucified body. The last section, "Salve caput" was translated into German and eventually into English around 1850. This last section is addressed to Jesus' head. Johann Sebastian Bach borrowed this famous tune, and haunted by its beauty used it five times in his St. Matthew Passion. The St. Matthew Passion itself is a highlight of church music for the Passion Season. It is scored for double chorus, numerous soloists, double orchestra, and two organs. Today, we seldom use it in the church service as it is too large a musical piece to handle for most organists and choirs. Many professional choral societies sing it annually.

George Frederick Handel expressed much of Christ's suffering and of His triumphs in his musical masterpiece "Messiah".

On Easter Sunday many of us attend Sunrise Services, symbolizing the miraculous Resurrection itself. We sing with the churches of the world "Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness." The second stanza oi this beautiful Resurrection Hymn goes on to say:

'Tis the spring of souls today, Christ has burnt his prison, And from three days' steep in death As a sun hath risen; All the winter of our sins, Long and dark, is flying From His light, to whom we give Laud and praise undying- (Written in 1840)

In the eighth Century John of Damascus sat down to write the beautiful words "The day of resurrection, earth tell it out abroad." Henry Smart set these meaningful words to music around 1835.

We must return to George Frederick Handel for one of the most powerful Resurrection Hymns ever written, He composed the music 130 years before the words were written, knowing that eventually someone would find suitable words to express what Handel could sense with music. Edmond Budry was so moved by the Handalian tune that he wrote the words "Thine is the Glory" to fit the powerful music.

"thine is the glory, Risen, conquering Son; Endless is the victory Thou o'er Death hast won." (Written in 1884)

Easter always forces us to look into the future, whereas Christmas is always a time for reflection and time for traditions. I Corinthians 15: 52, 53 speaks of our ultimate future, "The trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." One of Handel's moving chorus numbers in "Messiah" quotes Revelations 5: 13 "Blessing and honour, glory and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne." And who can ignore the powerful message found within Handel's Hallelujah Chorus? The words come from Revelation 19: 6, 11: 15, and 19: 16 - "Hallelujah' For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever. King of kings, and Lord of lords." ---

Let the music thunder through your head and carry the words within your heart. Easter is a time for rejoicing; sound the trumpet, it's Easter.

Next month Part 6 - "George Frederick Handel, Master of Celebration Music".

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