I’m thinking about extravagance this spring season. Extravagance in the positive sense, as when Psalm 23 says “my cup runs over.” Such

thoughts come every year, provoked by the lavish-ness of nature when it rises from winter hibernation into full bloom. There are so many daisies in the roadside ditch, so many violets, so many blood-roots, so many trout lilies in our nearby state park. And other regions of the country have many times more fl owers than what surrounds me each spring. I don’t mean to suggest that nature is so prolifi c we can be careless with it, but it is diffi cult not to notice the incredible abundance when nature decides that spring has come.

A now deceased artist friend once suggested to me that nature’s fl oral abundance is the earth’s testimo-ny to Grace. Grace, he said, is never just whatever is enough, it always overfl ows, it is always extrava-gant, there is always more than enough. Like fl ow-ers in the ditch.

And a philosopher friend, interpreting the Bible story of the woman who poured costly ointment on Jesus’ feet, argues that there is a difference between conspicuous consumption or wastefulness on the one hand, and an extravagant gesture on the other. The woman, he says, was making an extravagant gesture. Like a forest fl oor with a million wild Dutchman’s breeches, or trilliums. Extravagant, but also just right.

Every week I am aware of what might be called the extravagance of great music, by which I mean more

than just the number of notes Bach or Mozart could write into one composition. Their genius is, to be sure, remarkable, but I have something more ordinary or basic in mind. Plain, simple harmony is a kind of extravagance. When a unison chorus breaks into harmony it is like walking through a woodland in spring, turning a corner or cresting a hill, and suddenly there are fl owers everywhere. Of course, a simple unadorned melody can feel that way too. A psalm or poem is lovely, like the prairie or woods, yet when music joins the text it is as if a wave of blossoms washes over the words. And each new composition or arrangement, each new performance, is part of musical overfl ow. The well of music, like the source of wildfl owers, seems ut-terly bottomless. Yet who would ever say, “We have enough.”

Music and wildfl owers fi ll the heart like grace: “more than enough” turns out to be just the right amount. If your spring is marked by those three — music, wildfl owers and God’s grace — it will be enough. No, it will be more than enough, and that is just right. A reason to sing for joy.

Peace be with you,

“Nature’s fl oral abundance is the earth’s testimony to Grace.”

by Pastor Bruce Benson, host

Grand Music

Gracious Word

Sing For Joy® is a production of St. Olaf College. MAY 2015 / YEAR B

MAY 3, 2015Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year B)

(1R) Acts 8:26–40(PS) Psalm 22:25–31(2R) 1 John 4:7–21(G) John 15:1–8

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree – Stanford Scriven / Anonymous, lyricist (G) The St. Olaf Choir: Northfi eld, MN / Anton Armstrong (CD) Rejoice, Give Thanks, and Sing / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-3404/05 © 2011 St. Olaf Records stolafrecords.com

I Am the True Vine – Arvo Pärt (G) The Tallis Scholars: Cambridge, United Kingdom / Peter Philips (CD) Tintinnabuli / GIMELL / CDGIM 049 © 2015 Gimell gimell.com

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree – Colin Mawby / Anonymous, lyricist (G) The Choirs of the Cathedral of St. Philip: Atlanta, GA / Dale Adelmann (CD) Into the House and Gate of Heaven / GOTHIC / G-49291 © 2014 Gothic, Gothic Records, Inc. gothicrecords.com

Rise up, my love, my fair one – Healey Willan (2R) Polyphony / Stephen Layton (CD) Beyond All Mortal Dreams: American A Cappella / HYPERION / CDA67832 © 2011 Hyperion, Hyperion Records Limited hyperion-records.co.uk

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree – Elizabeth Poston / Anonymous, lyricist (G) Indiana University Children’s Chamber Choir: Bloomington, IN / The Pro Arte Singers / Paul Hillier (CD) Traditional & Modern Carols / HARMONIA MUNDI / HCX 3957233 © 2002 Harmonia Mundi harmoniamundi.com

MAY 10, 2015Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year B)

(1R) Acts 10:44–48(PS) Psalm 98(2R) 1 John 5:1–6(G) John 15:9–17

Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (HYMN TO JOY) – Ludwig Van Beethoven / Henry Van Dyke, lyricist / John Ferguson, arranger (PS, G) The St. Olaf Choir: Northfi eld, MN / Anton Armstrong (CD) Great Hymns of Faith: Volume III / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-3386 © 2011 St. Olaf Records stolafrecords.com

Quatre Motets sur des Thèmes Gregoriens: Ubi Caritas, Op. 10, No. 1 – Maurice Durufl é (G) The Choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral: London, United Kingdom / John Scott (CD) Remembrance / HYPERION / CDA67398 © 2003 Hyperion, Hyperion Records Limited hyperion-records.co.uk

Ubi caritas – Ēriks Ešenvalds (G) The Choir of Trinity College: Cambridge, United Kingdom / Stephen Layton (CD) Ēriks Ešenvalds: Northern Lights / HYPERION / CDA68083 © 2015 Hyperion, Hyperion Records Limited hyperion-records.co.uk

Joy To The World (ANTIOCH) – Lowell Mason / Isaac Watts, lyricist / Jackson Berkey, arranger (PS) St. Olaf Chapel Choir: Northfi eld, MN / Christopher Aspaas (CD) My Spirit Sings of Wondrous Things / ST. OLAF RECORDS / E-3316/7 © 2008 St. Olaf Records stolafrecords.com

Psalm 98 – J. Marcus Ritchie (PS)

Parish Choirs of St. Paul’s Parish, K Street: Washington, DC / Scott Dettra, accompanist / Jeffrey Smith (CD) Show Yourselves Joyful / PRO ORGANO / CD 7068 © 1997 Pro Organo proorgano.com

Greater Love Hath No Man – John Ireland (G) The St. Olaf Choir: Northfi eld, MN / Anna Shevik, soprano / Russell Draeger, tenor / Anton Armstrong (CD) Sing For Joy Archives / ST. OLAF COLLEGE / Not For Resale © St. Olaf College stolaf.edu

MAY 17, 2015Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year B)

(1R) Acts 1:15–17, 21–26(PS) Psalm 1(2R) 1 John 5:9–13(G) John 17:6–19(A) Ascension of Our Lord

God is Gone Up – Gerald Finzi / Edward Taylor, lyricist (A) The Choir of Clare College: Cambridge, England / Graham Ross (CD) Ascendit Deus / HARMONIA MUNDI / HMU 907623 © 2015 Harmonia Mundi harmoniamundi.com

Alleluia, Sing to Jesus (HYFRYDOL) – Rowland Hugh Prichard / William Chatterton Dix, lyricist / Noel Goemanne, arranger (A) The Schola Cantorum of St. Peter the Apostle: Chicago, IL / J. Michael Thompson (CD) Praise to the Lord!: Great Hymns of the Church / THE LITURGICAL PRESS / 7931-5 © 1998 The Liturgical Press litpress.org

O Clap Your Hands – Orlando Gibbons (A)The Cambridge Singers / John Rutter (CD) Faire is the Heaven: Music of the English Church / COLLEGIUM RECORDS / COLCD 107 © 1988 Collegium Records, Naxos of America, Inc. collegium.co.uk

Jesus, My All, To Heaven Has Gone (JERUSALEM or NORTH PORT) – R. R. Osborne / John Cennick, lyricist (A) Word of Mouth Chorus: Plainfi eld, VT / Larry Gordon (CD) Rivers of Delight / ELEKTRA/ASYLUM/NONESUCH RECORDS / 9 71360-2 © 1979 Elektra/Asylum/Nonesuch Records nonesuch.com

Thee Will I Love – Kenneth Jennings / Johann Scheffl er, lyricist / Catherine Winkworth, translator (G) The National Lutheran Choir: Minneapolis, MN / Larry L. Fleming (CD) A New Song / NATIONAL LUTHERAN CHOIR RECORDINGS / NLCA-92 © National Lutheran Choir Recordings nlca.com

Three Motets: Coelos Ascendit Hodie, Op. 38, No. 2 – Charles Villiers Stanford (A) The Princeton Singers: Princeton, NJ / John Bertalot (CD) All Creation Rejoices / PRINCETON SINGERS / PSACR93 © 1993 Princeton Singers princetonsingers.org

MAY 24, 2015Day of Pentecost (Year B)

(1R) Acts 2:1–21 or Ezekiel 37:1–14(PS) Psalm 104:24–34, 35b(2R) Romans 8:22–27 or Acts 2:1–21(G) John 15:26–27; 16:4b–15

Come, All You People & Praise to the Lord (UYAI MOSE & LOBE DEN HERREN) – Ernewerten Gesangbuch / Alexander Gondo / Joachim Neander, lyricist / Alexander Gondo, lyricist / John Ferguson, arranger / Catherine Winkworth, translator (1R) St. Olaf Cantorei: Northfi eld, MN / John Ferguson, accompanist / John Ferguson (CD) A Thousand Ages: A Celebration of Hope / GIA PUBLICATIONS / GIA CD-474 © 2000 GIA Publications giamusic.com

Listen Sweet Dove – Bill (Grayston) Ives / George Herbert, lyricist (1R) The Choir of Magdalen College: Oxford, United Kingdom / Bill (Grayston) Ives (CD) Listen, Sweet Dove / HARMONIA MUNDI / HMU 907420 © 2006 Harmonia Mundi harmoniamundi.com

Komm, heiliger Geist, Herre Gott (Come, Holy Ghost) (KOMM, HEILIGER GEIST, HERRE GOTT) – Erfurt Enchiridion / Martin Luther, lyricist / Johann Walter, arranger (1R) The Memphis Boychoir: Memphis, TN / John Ayer (CD) The Art of the Chorale: An Organ Anthology, Volume I / PRO ORGANO / CD 7064 © 1999 Pro Organo proorgano.com

Come Down, O Love Divine (DOWN AMPNEY) – Ralph Vaughan Williams / Bianco da Siena, lyricist (1R) The Choir of Wells Cathedral / Rupert Gough, accompanist / Malcolm Archer (CD) Favourite Hymns from Wells Cathedral / GRIFFIN / GCCD 4010 © 1997 Griffi n griffi nrecords.co.uk

Canticle fo the Holy Spirit – Eleanor Daley / Hildegard of Bingen, lyricist (G) Saint Ignatius Loyola Children’s Choir: New York, NY / Mary Huff (CD) Angel / MSR CLASSICS / MS 1399 © 2011 MSR Classics msrcd.com

Litany to the Holy Spirit – Peter Hurford / Robert Herrick, lyricist (G) The Choir of Jesus College: Cambridge, United Kingdom / Mark Williams (CD) Out of Darkness: Music from Lent to Trinity / SIGNUM CLASSICS / SIGC409 © 2015 Signum Classics signumrecords.com

Hymn to the Eternal Flame – Stephen Paulus / Michael Dennis Browne, lyricist (G) The Choir of Trinity College: Cambridge, United Kingdom / Stephen Layton (CD) Beyond All Mortal Dreams: American A Cappella / HYPERION / CDA67832 © 2011 Hyperion, Hyperion Records Limited hyperion-records.co.uk

Every Time I Feel the Spirit – African American Spiritual / William L. Dawson, arranger (G) Cantus: Minneapolis, MN (CD) Deep River / CANTUS RECORDINGS / CTS-1203 © 2003 Cantus Recordings cantussings.org

“Spiritual inspiration sometimes comes like a sudden gust of wind. Other times it is more

like a slow, steady, gentle breath on coals that encourages them to break into fl ame.”

-Pastor Bruce Benson

MAY 31, 2015The Holy Trinity — First Sunday after Pentecost (Year B)

(1R) Isaiah 6:1–8(PS) Psalm 29(2R) Romans 8:12–17(G) John 3:1–17

Holy, Holy, Holy (NICAEA) – John B. Dykes / Reginald Heber, lyricist (1R) The Westminster Choir: Princeton, NJ / Joan Lippincott, accompanist / Joseph Flummerfelt (CD) Favorite Hymns And Anthems / GOTHIC / G 49044 © 1990 Gothic, Gothic Records, Inc. gothicrecords.com

Festival Anthem: In the year that King Uzziah died (I saw the Lord) – Matthew Martin (1R) The Choir of Magdalen College: Oxford, United Kingdom / Stephen Farr, organ / Daniel Hyde (CD) Matthew Martin: Sacred Choral Works / OPUS ARTE / OA CD9030 D © 2015 Opus Arte opusarte.com

God So Loved the World – David Ashley White The Choir of Palmer Memorial Church: Houston, TX / Brady Knapp (CD) Praise the Spirit: Music of David Ashley White / GOTHIC / G-49254 © 2007 Gothic, Gothic Records, Inc. gothicrecords.com

Hymn Anthem on Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones (LASST UNS ERFREUEN) – Healey Willan / J. Athelstan Riley, lyricist (1R) Elora Festival Singers: Elora, Ontario, Canada / Noel Edison (CD) In the Heavenly Kingdom / NAXOS / 8.557734 © 2006 Naxos, Naxos of America, Inc. naxos.com

NEWSWe are now in the midst of our spring fund drive! To follow our

progress, visit singforjoy.org or follow us on Facebook.

As of June 1, the Sing For Joy phone number will be 507-786-2600. Please take note of this upcoming change if you need to contact the Sing For Joy studio. You can always reach

us at singforjoy@stolaf.edu.

LISTENERS’ CORNER

Thanks to our generous listeners who fuel us with gifts and praise. Your contributions and kind words are a blessing.

“Thank you for being the soundtrack to our Sunday mornings!”Twitter

“We are giving a gift in memory of our long-time dear friend who loved listening to this beautiful and inspiring gift

of song. This gift will honor [her] memory every time we listen, from now on. She was a gift of joy!”

Fort Mill, South Carolina

“I have been listening for 40-some years. I appreciate your recent selection of hymn arrangements. Thank you for the ministry!”

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Join in the Sing For Joy conversation on Facebook and Twitter (@SingForJoyRadio) and

stream the show online at singforjoy.org

MAY 2015 / YEAR B

Thank you for your gifts!

In Memory Of:

Jacquelyn Bergstedt Halvorson, Celebration of Life, 1946-2015

Jacquelyn “Jackie” Halvorson

Dr. Frank Knittel

Ruth Mohn,graduate of St. Olaf College, life-long church musician

and educator, and a faithful listener of Sing For Joy

In Honor Of:

Stephen Wietstock, organist and choir director, Cathedral Church of St. James, South Bend, Indiana

Sing For JoySt. Olaf College1520 St. Olaf AvenueNorthfi eld, mn 55057

Non-profi t Org.U.S. PostagePAIDSt. Olaf College

Website: singforjoy.org Email: singforjoy@stolaf.eduPhone: 507-786-8596

Sing For Joy staff:

W. Bruce Benson Host

John Ferguson Music Adviser

Jeffrey O’Donnell Producer and Music Director

Joshua Wyatt Associate Producer

Carolyn Pierson Communications Coordinator

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