I have in mind a longer post about all the times we’ve been to church since we got here, and all the different places. But other things (i.e., work, World Cup, sleeping and eating) have gotten in the way of writing. So I just thought I’d share some of the pieces I heard today during the two services I attended.
At St. Cyprian’s (with the Old Catholics): the youth group had a band that was helping lead some of the worship. As a response (after the sermon or communion, I don’t remember which), they sang “Ain’t No Rock”. Been a long time since I heard/sung that one.
At the Münster Cathedral (the centrally-located, largest church in town): today was the “Tag der Kirchenmusik”, and all of the church choirs (the program says there were four, but most were in the organ loft, so I can’t confirm that) joined in to assist the mass. Among the pieces were a lively “Gloria” (I haven’t been able to confirm the composer—maybe Rutter? Except you know how well looking for Rutter’s Gloria online works when it’s not the BIG one), Mendelssohn’s “Denn er hat seinen Engeln befohlen über dir” (“For God commanded angels to watch over you”—I mostly know this one through the St. Olaf Choir, so I was pleased that the choir carried it off admirably at the psalm), Barber’s “Agnus Dei” (quite a bit faster than it’s usually performed, but it worked well for the smaller chorus and for the length of time communion took), and a setting of the Magnificat to end the service, Richard Shephard’s “Song of Mary” with all the choirs participating (hadn’t heard this one before—it was wonderful!).
It’s great when the church functions, at least in part, as a bastion of great music. (Also when parentheses function as a crutch in place of actual structure to an essay.)
