| Music &
The Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU |
A Grand Grand
"Wow!" was the common response. A feast for the ears, a new grand
piano filled the Chapel of Christ the King with its beautiful tones for
a few blessed days in early December 2002.
The piano, a Yamaha
C2 Conservatory Grand, was on loan from Kleeb's
Music Center for Tim Patrie's trumpet recital which was held in the
chapel. We are grateful to Kleeb's not only for the recital loan.
We are also grateful that Kleeb's told us to keep the instrument throughout
the weekend so that we might have it for Sunday night worship.
The chapel has become over the last year a favorite retreat for some
of the pianist on campus who stop by the chapel during the week to play
recreationally (and for self-therapy during the stressful end of term).
All have said that they already miss the Yamaha. |
A Summer Opportunity for Musicians
The ELCA Division for Global Mission is looking for six to ten musicians
(singers, song leaders, instrumentalists) who would be available to "intern"
at the 2004 ELCA Global Mission Events (July 12-18 in Bozeman, MT; July
28-Aug. 1 in Milwaukee, WI), with the option of one additional event, July
25-29 in Kenosha, WI. These musicians/worship leaders would be trained
and supervised by three veteran GME musicians: Tom Witt, Mary Preus, and
Tony Machado. Click for details.
Sacred Music Composition Competition Winner Announced
The Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU is pleased to announce the winner of
the 2002/3 B.B.Maurer Prize. Renee H. Jenkins, a D.M.A. candidate
in composition received the $100 cash prize for original work, Glory
to God. All current WVU students (grad and undergrad) were invited
to submit their original works of sacred music. The prize is provided
by the B.B.Maurer Fund which is administered
by the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU. Questions may be directed
to Chaplain Matthew Riegel: 304-296-5388. To ensure that you are
kept posted, click here (mailto:Lutheran@WVU.edu).
Past Stories
Special Music for Holy Week 2003
The Pergolesi Stabat Mater
[Holy Week 2002] The beautiful sounds of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater
filled the Chapel of Christ the King on Palm Sunday evening. In a
twist on the traditional Palm Sunday liturgy, the reading of the Passion
according to St. Mark incorporated the Stabat Mater. The altos
and sopranos of St. Paul Lutheran Church, under the direction of Robert
Strauss, were joined by several WVU students to form an ad hoc town/gown
women's choir. Guest soloists, Jane Lightfoot, soprano, and Catherine
Thieme, mezzo-soprano, were featured in the performance. All congregation
members commented on the beauty of the piece, its superb execution, and
its appropriateness to the religious themes of the evening.
Tenebrae in Plainsong
[Holy Week 2003] The gothic sounds of plainsong
filled the Chapel of Christ the King on Holy Tuesday. A men's choir
of thirteen voices chanted tenebrae, a traditional Holy Week prayer
office. Tenebrae (often called the "service of shadows") was originally
the vigils office prayed before dawn on Holy Wednesday. In time it
became an evening liturgy and was eventually translated to Good Friday
in many churches. The most common form of the liturgy structures
itself around the "seven last words of Christ" and uses several well known
lenten hymns. In a return to past forms, the men used the Medieval
fourteen psalms and canticles as well as readings from Holy Scriptures
and St. Augustine. Sometimes chanting antiphonally and at other times
using opposing cantors with the choir chanting the antiphons, the men enjoyed
what for many of them was their first experience in this musical form.
There is already talk of doing it again in 2004. In fact, some have
expressed interest in forming a standing schola cantorum.
If you are interested,
let us know.
Final days of Fall 2002 were alive with music
Lessons & Carols
[12/8/2002] Advent 2 (Dec. 8) was observed with a Service of Lessons
& Carols. Our regular organist, Sue Tucker, did her usual great
job on the organ, but, as a special treat, we also were privileged to her
Mrs.
Tucker accompany two hymns on a Yamaha grand piano.
Tara Ashley, a first-year student, played a pleasant little Renaissance
tune on the recorder in response to the reading from Baruch.
Epsilon Sigma of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia played a huge role in the evening.
This local chapter of a national men's music fraternity provided an ad
hoc brass quartet which accompanied three hymns. Arriving in
force, the men also formed an ad hoc men's choir which kicked off
the liturgy with a processional chanting of Veni Emmanuel in Latin.
In response to the reading of the Annunciation Gospel, the men sang a rousing
version of the Middle English Carol, "Nova, nova!"
Thought is already be given to next year's service of lessons &
carols. If you are a musician (vocal and/or instrumental), maybe
you should give it some thought too.
Trumpet
Recital: Tim Patrie
[12/8/2002] Senior music education major Tim Patrie delivered his
senior trumpet recital in the Chapel of Christ the King on Saturday, December
7. The recital featured works by Hummel, Gabaye, Shannon, Patrie
(his own stuff!) and more. The first half of the recital featured
Patrie in solo trumpet work accompanied by Mrs. Winkler on the piano.
For the second half of the recital, Patrie demonstrated his arranging and
conducting skills, leading the men's choir of Epsilon Sigma of Phi Mu Alpha
Sinfonia. His recital closed with an exciting piece for brass quintet.
A reception followed in the undercroft. [Patrie is pictured practicing
in the chapel prior to the recital].
The Chapel of Christ the King is known for its acoustics and provides
an excellent space for intimate recitals and concerts. If you are
interested in using the chapel for your own recital, please contact Chaplain
Riegel. Feel free to stop in any time to test out the acoustics
for yourself. Also, the undercroft (the lower level of the chapel)
is available for post-recital receptions. For more about our facilities,
click
here.
Tenor Robert Strauss Gives Doctoral Recital
[11/20/02]
Doctoral candidate Robert Strauss delighted recital attendees with his
tenor voice, singing different settings of 6 poems by Heinrich Heine.
Although the poems were all by the same person, the musical styles employed
were very diverse. For each poem, several different musical interpretations
were performed, making the program educational as well as entertaining.
The recital was given in the Eiesland Hall Auditorium, which is located
adjacent to the Lutheran Campus Center. At the close of the recital,
attendees adjourned to the Lutheran Campus Chapel Undercroft for a reception.
Strauss is the director of the St. Paul Lutheran Church Choir here in
Morgantown. He has appeared at the Chapel of Christ the King as guest
soloist for the festive eucharist for a new school year this past August
and again on Reformation Sunday when he led the St. Paul Choir in
its guest choir appearance.
Bravo, Rob, on a great recital!
Sinfonians Chant
[9/31/02] For the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, three of the
brothers of the local chapter of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia chanted the
appointed psalm (Ps.103) using a venerable Eastern Orthodox form.
Sinfonians Pay for Piano Tuning
[November 2001] The brothers of the Epsilon
Sigma of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia paid for the tuning of the piano in
the Chapel of Christ the King. Although all maintained that it was
not "horribly" out of tune, it did have a distinctly "honky-tonk" quality
to it. We thank the brothers for their generosity.
Nicolai,
Heermann, Gerhardt, and an LBW for the Music Library
[October 2001] Friday, October 26, was the commemoration day of three
of the great hymn writers of the Lutheran movement: Philipp Nicolai, Johann
Heermann, and Paul Gerhardt. To mark the day, Chaplain Riegel presented,
on behalf of the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU, a Lutheran Book of Worship
to the university's Music Library. Pictured at right is music librarian
John Core with Chaplain Riegel. Dr. Mary Ferer, who joined Riegel
in presenting the hymnal, is holding the camera.
|
Text of Presentation Letter
Commemoration of Philipp Nicolai, Johann Heermann, and Paul Gerhardt
26 October 2001
It is with great pleasure that the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU presents
this Lutheran Book of Worship to the Music Library of West Virginia
University. It is especially appropriate that this day, October 26--a
day upon which we Lutherans remember three of the great hymnwriters of
our tradition--be the day of presentation. Philipp Nicolai, Johann
Heermann, and Paul Gerhardt advanced the musical arts not just for the
people of the German Reformation but also for all who love music.
Convinced that "music of the spheres" is indeed the composition of the
Divine, it is fitting that the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU continue
in their example, working as a partner with the music program at this university
to advance the study and performance of music, for the glory of God and
the uplifting of humanity.
The Rev. Matthew Lynn Riegel, Obl.OSB(CSC)
Chaplain |
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