Dame Ethel [Mary] Smyth (1858-1944) [rhymes with ‘lithe’], composer and suffragist, was the sort of lady referred to, patronizingly, as a ‘formidable woman…’ Trained in Germany, she wrote mostly for the theatre – operas – and had good success with ‘Der Wald,’ produced by the MET in 1903, and ‘The Wreckers,’ an opera widely produced in England in the early part of the 20th century. She was created ‘Dame Commander’ of the British Empire for her work in the Suffrage Movement – not only was she an outspoken leader of the effort, but she also wrote and conducted [sometimes with a toothbrush] the ‘fight songs’ heard in the streets…

Had the United States such a honorific, Jane Marshall would have been made a ‘Dame’ back in the 1950’s – for her abiding and important work in Church Music. She was one of the first deeply spiritual and ‘down to earth’ church musicians to insist on musical excellence as part of a spiritual discipline. Those of us who were around Southern Methodist University in the 60’s 70’s and 80’s have this sensibility in our genes, thanks to her…

This particular setting of ‘God be in my Head’ was written for my 8-voice choir in Tyler, called the ‘Schola Cantorum,’ and premiered there in the ‘90’s. ‘Bless the Lord, My Soul’ was written, on commission, from the University Methodist and University Presbyterian Churches of Austin, TX, in the 1988 and is remarkable in its clever interweaving of choir and organ, neither color ever quite gaining the upper hand, but nimbly tag-teaming their way to the final chord. You could teach a class in voice leading and harmony with the quiet intricacies presented here…

And now, on to the Gentlemen:

Jeffrey Van is the Professor of Guitar at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where he has mentored several generations of fine, fine classical guitarists – including Sharon Isbin, the superstar. I asked Jeff to write something for Vern Sutton and me, setting the Auden poem ‘He is the way…,’ a poem that has captivated and confused and delighted me for years. Between the commission and delivery, Vern’s wife, Phyllis, passed away – from bone cancer – and he decided to use it at her Memorial Service. We trust that Phyllis is home in that ‘great city that has expected her return….’ This morning marks the second time out for this very interesting song…

Bruce Neswick, who wrote this Benediction Response for us last year, was just been appointed ‘Director of Cathedral Music and Organist’ at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, the latest in a string of high-profile positions for this most gifted of organist/composers.

-Keith Weber