LSB #476 "Who Are You Who Walk in Sorrow"

Biblical citation in the hymnal:  Luke 24:13-35

Luke 24:13-35:  "13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.  15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.  16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.  17 And he said to them, 'What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?'  And they stood still, looking sad.  18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, 'Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?'  19 And he said to them, 'What things?'  And they said to him, 'Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.  21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.  Yes, and besides all this, it is not the third day since these things happened.  22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us.  They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.  24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.'  25 And he said to them, 'O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?'  27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

"28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going.  He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, 'Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.'  So he went in to stay with them.  30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.  31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.  And he vanished from their sight.  32 They said to each other, 'Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?'  33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem.  And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, 'The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!'  35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread."

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While the entire hymn is based on this text from Luke, it appears primarily in the first three verses.  The first verse introduces the two men, mourning what has happened (verses 13-14).  In the second verse, they are joined by an "Unknown Stranger" who "open[s] wide the Scriptures" to them (verses 15-27).  In the third verse, the two men recognize Jesus when He breaks the bread (verses 30-31).

This might be coincidental, but the line "Women, men, the young, the aging" in the fourth verse (the description of "Who are we who travel with You / On our way through life to death") bears some resemblance to those called upon to praise the Lord in Psalm 148:12:  "Young men and maidens together, old men and children!"

Messiah: No. 6 But who may abide the day of His coming

The text is from Malachi 3:2:  "But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?  For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap."

"Sieh, hier bin ich" (TLH #116)

"Come, Thou Almighty King"

Last year, I noticed a small feature in "Come, Thou Almighty King."  The last two lines of the second verse are "And let Thy righteousness / On us descend," sung to these phrases from the tune "Italian Hymn":

"On us descend" is sung to a descending phrase, musically giving a picture of the text.

LSB #475 "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  Psalm 118:24, Matthew 28:8, Isaiah 25:7-9, Romans 6:9

Psalm 118:24:  "This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Matthew 28:8:  "So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples."

Isaiah 25:7-9:  "7 And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.  8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.  9 It will be said on that day, 'Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.  This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.'"

Romans 6:9:  "We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him."

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The rejoicing mentioned in Psalm 118:24 and Isaiah 25:9 and the "great joy" from Matthew 28:8 are present in almost every verse of the hymn:  "Good Christian friends, rejoice and sing!" in the first verse, "Let all the world rejoice..." in the second, and "sing with hearts uplifted high" in the third.

Romans 6:9 mentions Christ's resurrection, so it could be the source for "The Lord of life is ris'n this day" in the hymn's second verse, but since the resurrection happens in the verses immediately preceding Matthew 28:8, those would probably be a better source.  "We know that Christ... will never die again" from Romans 6:9 appears in the line "That love, that life which cannot die" in the third verse.

"He will swallow up death forever" from Isaiah and "death no longer has dominion over him" from Romans seem to be merely hinted at in the hymn, specifically in the line "Now is the triumph of our King!" in the first verse and the reference to "songs of victory" in the third.

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This might just be coincidence, but the line "To all the world glad news we bring" at the end of the first verse bears some resemblance to Luke 2:10:  "And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.'"

Messiah: No. 5 Thus saith the Lord of hosts

The text is from  Malachi 3:1:  "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.  And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts."

Similar to the settings of "crooked," "straight," et al in No. 3, here, there's a programmatic aspect with "shake."  It's separated into many notes to give the impression of shaking.

At one point, "the heavens" has an rising melody, and "the earth" a falling one, as if to reflect the relative positions of each (the heavens are above the earth).

I didn't notice this until I started listening to Messiah while looking at the notation, but there's also a part where the instruments start playing after a rest, corresponding to "come" in "he shall come."  It's like they're meant to emphasis the coming.

"Angelus" (TLH #115)

I transposed this down a half step to D major because I dislike Eb major.

"Go to Dark Gethsemane"

This isn't seasonally appropriate, but I'm writing about it now lest I forget.

I've been reading Lamentations recently, and last week I found a verse that seems to be the source for a line in "Go to Dark Gethsemane."  (I wrote about the Biblical sources for "Go to Dark Gethsemane" back in November.)

In the second verse, there's the line "Oh, the wormwood and the gall!" and these two things are also mentioned (in this order) in Lamentations 3:19:  "Remember my afflictions and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall!"

LSB #474 "Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  Matthew 28:5-7, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Revelation 5:6-14, John 15:1-8

Matthew 28:5-7:  "5 But the angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.  Come, see the place where he lay.  7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.  See, I have told you.'"

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18:  "16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.  18 Therefore encourage one another with these words."

Revelation 5:6-14:  "6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.  7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.  8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.  9 And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.'  11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!'  13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!'  14 And the four living creatures said, 'Amen!' and the elders fell down and worshiped.

John 15:1-8:  "1 'I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.  4 Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  5 I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.  7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.'"

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Although this is an Easter hymn, the Easter text from Matthew is only briefly mentioned.  It's in the first two lines ("Alleluia! / Jesus is risen!") and in the refrain ("Jesus is risen and we shall arise").

The first line of the refrain ("Jesus is risen and we shall arise") and the trumpets mentioned in the first verse ("Trumpets resounding in glorious light!") both seem to be drawn from the 1 Thessalonians text.

John 15 appears in the third verse ("Jesus the vine, / We are the branches; / Life in the Spirit the fruit of the tree"), and Revelation 5 appears in the fifth verse ("Saints and archangels, / Sing with creation to God the I AM!") and the second line of the refrain ("Give God the glory!  Alleluia!").

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The second verse describes Jesus' appearance to the two men going to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35:  "Walking the way, / Christ in the center / Telling the story to open our eyes; / Breaking our bread."

The fifth verse calls God "the I AM," which is a name from Exodus 3:14:  "God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.'"

Messiah: No. 4 And the glory of the Lord

The text is from Isaiah 40:5:  "'And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.'"

"Gott sei Dank" (TLH #114)

This is a bit of a shorter tune, so I went through it three times.  The higher of the two bass parts goes below standard guitar tuning, so I didn't play that part.

"Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus"

Last summer, I noticed an interesting feature that connects "Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus" and "Lasset uns mit Jesu ziehen," the tune to which it's sung.

The first two lines are "Let us ever walk with Jesus, / Follow His example pure," sung to these musical phrases:

Excepting the first note, these two phrases are entirely conjunct (they don't skip over any notes in the scale), and this gives a musical impression of that "walk[ing]" and "follow[ing]."  The first verse ends with the line "I shall follow where You guide," sung to the same phrase that's in the last two measures above, and this too has that musical impression of "follow[ing]" step by step.

LSB #473 "Our Paschal Lamb, That Sets Us Free"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  1 Corinthians 5:7-8, Ephesians 5:2, Romans 12:1-2

1 Corinthians 5:7-8:  "7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened.  For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.  8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

Ephesians 5:2:  "And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Romans 12:1-2:  "1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

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The text from 1 Corinthians appears in the first verse:  "Our Paschal Lamb, that sets us free, / Is sacrificed."  I'm not sure if the context matches, but "the festival" might be what the hymn refers to as "the feast" in verses one and two ("O keep / The feast of freedom gallantly" and "Let all our lives now celebrate / The feast").

"Walk[ing] in love" from Ephesians 5:2 is referred to in the second verse:  "Let love grow strong anew, and great."

The cited verses from Romans seem to appear in the third verse.  "Present[ing] your bodies as a living sacrifice" seems to be expanded into "Let all our deeds, unanimous, / Confess Him as our Lord."

Messiah: No. 3 Ev'ry valley shall be exalted

The text is from Isaiah 40:4:  "'Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.'"

There are some interesting musical figures to which "crooked," "straight," "rough," and "plain" are set.  Generally, "crooked" and "rough" are set over a multitude of notes and notes of various intervals, and "straight" and "plain" are set over fewer notes that are closer together.  So "crooked" and "rough" sound crooked and rough when sung, and "straight" and "plain" sound straight and plain.

"Christe, wahres Seelenlicht" (TLH #113)

"Come unto Me, Ye Weary"

In a church service last summer, one of the hymns was "Come unto Me, Ye Weary," and I noticed a small feature in it.

One of the lines in the third verse is "The fight is fierce and long," sung to this phrase from the tune "Anthes":

"Long" is sung to a dotted half note, and since this is the longest note value in the hymn (there's a dotted half note at the end of every other phrase), there's a musical sense of that duration.

LSB #472 "These Things Did Thomas Count as Real"

Biblical citation in the hymnal:  John 20:19-31

John 20:19-31:  "19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'  20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.  Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  21 Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.'  22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.  23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness form any, it is withheld.'

"24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord.'  But he said to them, 'Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.'

"26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them.  Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.'  27 Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side.  Do not disbelieve, but believe.'  28 Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!"  29 Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'

"30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

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The first verse (which lists tangible and observable things, described as Thomas' "small world of fact" in the second verse) and the second half of the third verse ("Until his [Thomas'] fingers read like braille / The markings of the spear and nail.") draw from John 20:25.

The beginning of the fourth verse ("May we, O God, by grace believe / And thus the risen Christ receive") seems to come from what Jesus says in John 20:29, and the second half ("Whose raw imprinted palms reached out / And beckoned Thomas from his doubt") summarizes John 20:27.

Messiah: No. 2 Comfort Ye My People

The text is from Isaiah 40:1-3: "1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.  2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.

"3 A voice cries: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'"

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I didn't notice this until I looked at the notation, but the first syllables of one instance of "iniquity" and "pardoned" have accidentals:

The accidental on "iniquity" pretty clearly indicates the error inherent in sin, but the accidental on "pardoned" took me a while to suss out.  It might just be there to make the melody that Handel wanted (as could the accidental on "iniquity"), but it might also be indicative of redemption: in the same way that Christ had to take on sin to redeem people from their sins, "pardoned" has an accidental like "iniquity."  Musically, it illustrates what is sung later: "with his stripes we are healed."