In winter, we can never safely predict the weather outcome for Sundays. On February 9, it was against us, pushing St. Peter’s Bells to February 16. On that day, many of our choir members were assisting with Communion and couldn’t perform the anthem during Communion. February 23 featured our wonderful Folk Group. And now, finally, we can offer The Beatitudes on Sunday, March 2. For those of you who may have missed the story behind the music, here it is once again:
Jesus gave us the Beatitudes with His Sermon on the Mount. We find it at the beginning of Matthew 5; however, our lectionary provides the language of Luke in 6:17-26. While there are many arrangements and compositions of the Beatitudes, our offering was written by George Whitfield Chadwick (1854-1931). You may not know his name, but he was a prolific American composer, creating fine music in almost every style and genre: opera, chamber music, choral works, and orchestral music, to name a few. His works reflect the style of the German composers of the Romantic Period (Schumann, Brahms, etc.), but also include many traits that are distinctly American in style.
In this version of the Beatitudes, not all are mentioned. Chadwick chose to leave out the righteous and the persecuted. However, he did include the Peacemakers, the Pure in Heart and Spirit, the Merciful, the Meek, and the Mourners. Since each of the Beatitudes begins with the word "blessed," Chadwick assigned a very simple two-note theme to that word. It occurs six times throughout the piece. Melodically, it is interesting that the lines which reach the highest pitches are those associated with those who "shall inherit the earth" and those who "shall see God." While most of the work is subdued and moderate in tempo, the final section bursts forth in sound and speed at the word "Rejoice." It reiterates Chadwick’s treatment of the importance of being with God in heaven. If you listen carefully, you will surely hear these musical thoughts come to life on Sunday morning!
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