Music for Trinity Sunday - 07 June 2009

Prelude
Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr - Johann Gottfried Walther
("To God alone on high be glory")
Gott der Vater wohn uns bei - Samuel Scheidt
("God the Father, be our stay")

Hymnody and Psalmody
Come Now, Almighty King - ITALIAN HYMN
Ps. 33 - Michel Guimont
All Praise and Glad Thanksgiving - GOTT VATER SEI GEPRIESEN
I Received the Living God - LIVING GOD
Holy, Holy, Holy - NICAEA

Postlude
Fugue in E-flat Major ("St. Anne"), BWV 552/II

Musical Remarks
The postlude for this weekend is the famous Fugue in E-Flat Major by Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach, who lived from 1685 to 1750, remains the most prolific of composers for the organ, and his catalog of organ music consists of over 200 works. The term "fugue" (pronounced 'fyoog') refers to a piece of music that is based upon one particular melody, or "subject". After an initial statement of the subject by itself, it is followed by a response, which is actually the same melody transposed to a different voice above or below the preceding one. In the case of the St. Anne fugue, a total of five voices are added one after the other, resulting in a remarkably thick musical texture. Each entry of a particular voice is heard with a statement of the original subject.

The Fugue in E-flat Major, BWV 522/II was chosen intentionally for Trinity Sunday. Unlike other fugues, which usually consist of one subject, this fugue contains THREE, which many consider to be symbolic of the Trinity - one subject for each of the three Persons of the Holy Trinity. The first subject is stately and majestic, representing God the Father; the second subject is lively and brisk, representing Christ the Son; finally, the third subject is a dance-like jig, representing the Holy Spirit. Near the end of the piece, all three subjects are heard simultaneously, suggestive of the Trinitarian belief in One God in Three Persons.

This masterpiece from Bach has been nicknamed the "St. Anne" fugue, because the first subject resembles the English tune ST. ANNE, to which is commonly sung the hymn "O God, Our Help in Ages Past."

Video of a performance of the Fugue in E-flat ("St. Anne"), BWV 552/II, is included below.