PART ONE

The Cross

 

Antonio Lotti (1667-1740)

Crucifixus a 8

 

Crucifixus etiam pro nobis

sub Pontio Pilato,

passus et supultus est.

 

He was also crucified for us,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

and was buried.

 

from the Nicene Creed

           

 

Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986)

“Kyrie” from Requiem

 

Kyrie eleison.

Christe eleison.

Kyrie eleison.

 

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

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G. F. Handel (1685-1759)

“Surely He hath borne our griefs” from Messiah

 

Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;

He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

the chastisement of our peace was upon Him.

 

from Isaiah 53:4-5

 

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J. S. Bach (1685-1750)

Chorales from Jesu, meine Freude

 

Jesu, meine Freude,

meines Herzens Weide,

Jesu, meine Zier,

ach wie lang, ach lange

ist dem Herzen bange

und verlangt nach dir!

Gottes Lamm, mein Bräutigam,

außer dir soll mir auf Erden

nichts sonst Liebers werden.

 

Weicht, ihr Trauergeister,

denn mein Freudenmeister,

Jesus, tritt herein.

Denen, die Gott lieben,

muß auch ihr Betrüben

lauter Zukker sein.

Duld ich schon hier Spott und Hohn,

dennoch bleibst du auch im Leide,

Jesu, meine Freude.

 

Jesus, my joy,
pasture of my heart,
Jesus, my adornment
ah how long, how long
is my heart filled with anxiety
and longing for you!
Lamb of God, my bridegroom,
apart from you on the earth
there is nothing dearer to me.

 

Go away, mournful spirits,
for my joyful master,
Jesus, now enters in.
For those who love God
even their afflictions
become pure sweetness.
Even if here I must endure shame and disgrace,
even in suffering you remain,
Jesus, my joy.

           

text by Johann Franck (1650)

 

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Marianne Forman

“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”

text by Isaac Watts (1707)

 

When I survey the wondrous cross

on which the Prince of Glory died,

my richest gain I count but loss,

and pour contempt on all my pride.

 

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

save in the death of Christ my God!

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

 

See from His head, His hands, His feet,

sorrow and love flow mingled down.

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

or thorns compose so rich a crown?

 

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

that were a present far too small.

Love so amazing, so divine,

demands my soul, my life, my all!

 

 

 

PART TWO

The Grave

 

W. A. Mozart (1756-1791)

Ave Verum Corpus

 

Ave, verum corpus natum

de Maria Virgine:

vere passum, immolatum

in cruce pro homine:

cuius latus perforatum

unda fluxit et sanguine:

esto nobis praegustatum,

in mortis examine.

 

Hail the true body, born

of the Virgin Mary:

You who truly suffered and were sacrificed

on the cross for the sake of man.

From whose pierced flank

flowed water and blood:

Be a solace to us

in the trial of death.

 

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Josef Rheinberger (1839-1901)

“Abendlied”

 

Bleib bei uns,

denn es will Abend werden,

und der Tag hat sich geneiget.

 

Stay with us,

for evening is falling,

and the day has declined.

 

from Luke 24:29

 

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Dan Forrest

“And Can It Be?”

text by Charles Wesley (1738)

 

And can it be that I should gain

an interest in the Savior’s blood?

Died He for me who caused His pain?

For me who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! how can it be

that Thou my God shouldst die for me?

 

He left His Father’s throne above,

so free, so infinite His grace;

emptied Himself of all but love,

and bled for Adam’s helpless race;

‘tis mercy all, immense and free;

for, O my God, it found out me.

 

No condemnation now I dread:

Jesus and all in Him is mine!

Alive in Him, my living Head,

and clothed in righteousness divine,

bold I approach the eternal throne,

and claim the crown through Christ my own.

 

Amazing love! how can it be

that Thou my God shouldst die for me?

 

 

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* INTERMISSION *

 

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PART THREE

The Skies

 

Nancy Cobb

“Cantate Domino”

 

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Z. Randall Stroope

“Inscription of Hope”

 

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Josh Bauder

“God Be in My Head”

 

God be in my head, and in my understanding;

God be in mine eyes, and in my looking;

God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;

God be in my heart, and in my thinking;

God be at mine end, and at my departing.

Amen.

 

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Ralph Vaughan Williams

“Easter” from Five Mystical Songs

text by George Herbert (1633)

 

Rise, heart; thy Lord is risen.

Sing his praise

without delays,

who takes thee by the hand,

that thou likewise with him mayst rise:

that, as his death calcined thee to dust,

his life may make thee gold, and much more—just.

 

Awake, my lute,

and struggle for thy part

with all thy art.

The cross taught all wood to resound his name

who bore the same.

His stretched sinews taught all strings,

what key is best to celebrate this most high day.

 

Consort, both heart and lute,

and twist a song,

pleasant and long:

or since all music is but three parts vied and multiplied,

O let thy blessed Spirit bear a part,

and make up our defects with his sweet art.

 

 

 

Josh Bauder

“More Than Conquerors”

text by Jonathan Landry Cruse (2015)

 

All hail the mighty Conqueror,

Christ Jesus our great King!

All hail the glorious Warrior,

to Whom our praise we bring.

May He be given honors

by all His ransomed host:

we, too, are more than conquerors

who make His name our boast.

 

Yet how can we inherit

this title “conqueror” too?

We have not earned the merit

or fame that is His due.

For we have only failed Him

by every sin and doubt.

Indeed, we cruelly nailed Him,

and cast the Conqueror out.

 

But rising up victorious

He conquered death and sin,

and reigns in Heaven glorious,

each conflict set to win.

To those of His own choosing

He shares the victory;

says, “Though you once were losing,

come conquer now through me.

 

“You cannot be defeated

by trials in this life.

The conquest is completed

o’er Satan, sin, and strife.

No pain, no tribulation,

no danger, famine, sword,

no—nothing in creation

can conquer those in God.”

 

 

Ben Knoedler

“I Know That My Redeemer Lives”

text by Jessie Brown Pounds

 

I know that my Redeemer lives,

and on the earth again shall stand;

I know eternal life He gives,

that grace and power are in His hand.

 

I know His promise never fails;

the word He speaks, it cannot die.

Tho’ cruel death my flesh assails,

yet I shall see Him by and by.

 

I know my mansion He prepares;

that where He is there I may be.

O wondrous thought—for me He cares,

and He at last will come for me.

 

 

John Rutter

“Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”

text by Charles Wesley (1739)

 

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Ralph Vaughan Williams

“Let All the World in Every Corner Sing” from Five Mystical Songs

text by George Herbert (1633)

 

Let all the world

in every corner sing,

my God and King.

 

The heavens are not too high,

His praise may thither fly:

the earth is not too low,

His praises there may grow.

 

Let all the world

in every corner sing,

my God and King.

 

The Church with Psalms must shout,

no door can keep them out:

but above all, the heart

must bear the longest part.

 

Let all the world

in every corner sing,

my God and King.

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