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Music at WPC-
Sunday, May 31, 2026
Pentecost II

​Voluntary:  Gavotte from the Third English Suite     J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

Offertory: Amazing Grace     Arr. Jay Althouse (b. 1951)

Voluntary:  op. 102 no. 6 "Faith"     Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

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Hymns

Opening Hymn: 469- Morning Has Broken  BUNESSAN
Sequence Hymn: 288- I Sing the Mighty Power of God  ELLECOMBE

Closing Hymn: 429- Lord, You Give the Great Commission   ABBOT'S LEIGH

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Next Week's Music at WPC:

Sunday, June 7: Nik Stackpole, organ

Prelude- About the Music
Johann Sebastian Bach’s English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808, is one of the composer’s most elegant and expressive keyboard suites, blending virtuosic writing with refined dance forms drawn from the Baroque tradition. The suite unfolds through a series of contrasting movements, each displaying Bach’s remarkable ability to combine technical brilliance with emotional depth. Particularly beloved is the Gavotte, a lively French dance movement marked by rhythmic vitality, graceful phrasing, and clear contrapuntal textures. Bach transforms the traditional courtly dance into music of remarkable sophistication, balancing buoyant energy with intricate melodic interplay. The Gavotte’s memorable themes and spirited character provide a joyful contrast within the darker key of G minor, showcasing Bach’s genius for elevating familiar dance forms into enduring works of art.

Offertory- About the Hymn

The hymn Amazing Grace is one of the most beloved and recognizable hymns in the English-speaking world. Its text was written by John Newton in the late 18th century as a reflection on God’s mercy and personal redemption. Newton, a former slave ship captain who later became an Anglican priest and abolitionist, drew deeply from his own life experiences in the hymn’s themes of forgiveness, transformation, and divine grace. The familiar tune most commonly associated with the text is known as “NEW BRITAIN,” an American folk melody first paired with Newton’s words in the 19th century. Simple yet deeply expressive, the tune’s flowing pentatonic melody gives the hymn a timeless and universal quality, allowing congregations and performers alike to connect emotionally with its message of hope, faith, and spiritual renewal.

Postlude- About the Composer
Felix Mendelssohn was one of the most influential composers of the early Romantic period, celebrated for music that combines Classical balance with Romantic expressiveness. A child prodigy, Mendelssohn excelled as a composer, pianist, organist, and conductor, producing masterworks in nearly every genre, including symphonies, concertos, chamber music, sacred works, and songs. He is especially remembered for reviving interest in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach through his historic 1829 performance of the St. Matthew Passion, an event that helped spark the modern Bach revival. Mendelssohn’s music is admired for its lyricism, clarity, and elegance, from the sparkling A Midsummer Night’s Dreamoverture to beloved sacred works such as Elijah and Hear My Prayer. His contributions as both composer and musical scholar left a lasting impact on Western classical music.

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