I am a huge fan of the composer
John Rutter. His compositions – both the music and the choral arrangements -
are moving, inspirational, and lovely. “Celestial” has always seemed to me a
fitting word to describe his music. I listen to almost any of his works and I
find myself transported, lifted higher.
Rutter has been composing and
arranging for more than 40 years. His choral works, for as beautiful as they
are to hear, are difficult to sing. Just ask Deborah Panell or any of our choir
members who have been working since summer preparing Rutter’s Magnificat for our Advent Festival.
The composition is based on the
prayer Luke tells us Mary offered after she learned she had been chosen to be
the mother of the Son of God: “My soul magnifies the
Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Luke 1:46-49)
The music begins exuberantly,
reflecting Mary’s joy, gratitude, and deep and abiding faith in her Lord, even
though she was still a teenager and not yet married to Joseph. The movements
that follow reflect the rest of Mary’s prayer and her faith: “His mercy is for
those who fear him from generation to generation. He has
shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud
in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down
the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the
lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in
remembrance of his mercy according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
And then the work ends powerfully
with a Gloria Patri: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and
to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be world
without end. Amen.”
Our choir is giving us an
extraordinary gift in performing this piece. Come with family, with friends,
with neighbors. Don’t miss this!
And, if you’d like to learn more
about the life of Mary, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, located in
downtown DC, is offering a special exhibition entitled, “Picturing Mary: Woman,
Mother, Idea”. The exhibit runs from December 5 through
April 12. You can learn more at http://www.nmwa.org/exhibitions/picturing-mary-woman-mother-idea.
The National Gallery of Art, also in downtown DC, also has an outstanding
collection of paintings, sculpture and other artwork that capture Mary at every
stage of her life.
Mary’s simple, humble prayer
leads us into a joyful season, and its timelessness makes it the perfect prayer
as we enter the New Year: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” This is truly a prayer to say, but even more, to sing to the
heavens!
Glory to
God!
Pastor Skip
