We finish checking in with our College-bound musical St. Philippians this morning by bidding Betsy Flowers ‘Godspeed’ on her way to the wilds of Cambridge, MA – M.I.T. Class of 2012.

Following Matthew’s playing of a virtuoso piece of the American composer John Cook, Betsy begins our focus on forgiveness by singing the tune of J.S. Bach which the editors of the Episcopal Hymnal 1982 used to set a remarkable poem of John Donne (1572-1631), the Jacobean poet, priest and lawyer whose sensual and ringing insights, though dead serious, were never far from a wink and a nod. Note the wry personalization of these intercessions with the pun between ‘done’ and ‘Donne…’ I will be freely adapting the accompaniment from the Bach harmonization.

The first fruits of forgiveness are serenity and quietness of heart. I’ve chose two pieces that point to and underscore such peacefulness with gentle, easy-on-the-ears placidity:

Rutter

‘Thy Perfect Love’ was written by populist composer John Rutter in the mid 1970’s for a parish church outside of London, in Meopham. The strolling gait of the opening tune is harmonized with smooth, rich and nicely written parts for the choir.

Dona Nobis Pacem [grant us thy peace]

This well-known round, offered in three parts, defines the peace it describes with beautiful long lines. My accompaniment is improvised.

A final word about the sermon hymn… Carrie has chosen a tune, different from the one in the Hymnal – and so we have printed the Hymn as a poem, to prevent the confusion of looking at one hymn tune and singing another... Listen carefully as Matthew introduces the VERY familiar tune which we will be using. This is a time-honored practice, and something that I am very much in favor of… different musical settings bring out different aspects of a hymn text – something that, at the very least, points to the primacy of the words – and oftentimes reveal any of a number of surprising things about the hymn.

Remember, the Hymn [with a capital H] is the words, not the music.

What do you think of this tune choice?

-Keith Weber