For the St. Luke choir, however, Clyde has also dubbed this February as "Mendelssohn Month." Felix Mendelssohn was born in German on February 3, 1809, exactly 200 years ago (same year as Lincoln and Darwin). A talented and prolific composer of beautiful works for symphony and keyboard, Mendelssohn also wrote oratorio "St. Paul" and "Elijah." Our preludes, postludes, and anthems have all been by the composer, and even we soloists have taken it upon ourselves to select offertory music written by Mendelssohn.
There is so much lovely music to choose from, some that has made a very important impression at different times in my life. As a senior in high school, I played "Fingal's Cave (Hebrides Overture)" with the Pennsylvania State Orchestra (um, would it give my age away too much if I mentioned this was in 1982?). The piece evokes a cavern from the Hebrides islands off the coast of Scotland. It is hauntingly beautiful and has an awesome clarinet solo, through which I was very proud not to have "squeaked." At our wedding at St. Luke nearly one year ago, we used as our Recessional, as have countless other couples before us, Mendelssohn's "Incidental music from Midsummer Night's Dream."
Test your knowledge by taking a trivia quiz on Mendelssohn! http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/music/classical_music/mendelssohn.html (I scored a 7/10)
Thanks to our organist and choirmaster Dr. Clyde Shive for sharing his distinguished experience as a music scholar to enhance the music program at St. Luke.
Today was also Mardi Gras Sunday which St. Luke celebrated with "Souper" Sunday--soup lunch to benefit Mary Jane Enrichment Center. Another delicious day of fellowship. This week begins Lent; blessings to all as you embark on the spiritual journey of the Lenten season!
