David Warren Steel, organ

Program

Praeludium, BuxWV 149 . . . . . . . . . . . . Dietrich Buxtehude

Magnificat du premier ton (1706) . . . J.A. “Guilain” Freinsberg  
     Plein jeu
       Trio
         Duo
           Basse de Trompette
             Récit
               Dialogue
                 Petit plein jeu

                 Schola Cantorum Mississippiensis 
                  Herbert V.R.P. Jones, director
  
Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, BWV 654 . . . . . . . .  J.S. Bach

                            Intermission

Trauermusik (1674), BuxWV 76 . . . . . . . .  Dietrich Buxtehude
     Contrapunctus I: Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin
     Evolutio: Das macht Christus, wahr’ Gottes Sohn
     Contrapunctus II: Den hast du allen vorgestellt
     Evolutio: Er ist das Heil und selig Licht
     Klag-Lied: Muss der Tod denn auch entbinden?

                    Sharonda Norwood, soprano

Sonate III über alte Volkslieder (1940) . . . . . Paul Hindemith
     Ach Gott, wem soll ich’s klagen
     Wach auf, mein Hort
     So wünsch ich ihr

Praeludium and Fugue, BWV 545 . . . . . . . . . . . .  J.S. Bach

Wednesday, March 19, 2002, 8:00 p.m.
Paris-Yates Chapel
University of Mississippi

Organ by Karl Wilhelm, Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Québec.
Two manuals and pedal, 26 stops, 33 ranks.

Program notes

A Lament on the death of his father.

And must death at last release that which no earthly chance sets free?
Must death also wrest him from me—him to whom my heart doth cleave?
Sad the passing of a father; what a bitter grief invades me.
When it tears our heart asunder, so much more than death it wounds us.

Sadly he is taken from me; ah, how bitter is the pain:
That I must now live without him, who was closest to my heart.
This shall be my consolation, while upon this earth I linger:
I am his in joy and pain: this gratefully I keep in mind.

The Almighty now receives him, whom he loved dear as his own.
“There with longing I’ll await you”—these were his last words to me.
All his longing now is stilled; all his wishes are fulfilled.
To the Saviour’s heavenly pleasures, willingly I now commit him.

Now he plays sweet songs of gladness on heaven’s keyboard of delight,
There the angels night and morning sing with sweetest grace divine.
Here we sing our songs of sorrow, black notes mixed with lamentations,
Shot throughout with many crosses*—there, in heaven, all is gladness.

Sleep, dear father, best beloved; fare you well, o blessed soul.
I, your son, now deeply mourning, carve upon your earthly tomb:
“Here lies one whose tuneful offerings God himself received with pleasure.
Thus his spirit is made blest: now he sings in heaven’s choir.”

[* crosses—sharp signs, sufferings]

This recital is dedicated to the memory of my father, Sanger B. Steel, who was born on 19 March 1919 and died 19 March 1983; and also to that of my organ teacher John Fesperman, who died on 2 June 2001.

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