One of my rich blessings in life is the opportunity to have collaborated with Timothy Winslea on 15 hymns between 1999 and 2003. He was our pastor for several years when we lived in Portland, Oregon, and, in my opinion, is one of the leading hymnists of our time. This particular hymn is a marvelous call to evangelism and ministry as a new millennium unfolds, and I had the privilege of setting this hymn in 2000, the same year as “Baby Bright.” To read about the tumultuous history of our church at the turn of the millennium, please visit Baby Bright – Walter Saul, Composer.
Yes, Sunnyside-Centenary United Methodist Church in Portland, was controversial for its pioneering homeless shelter, one of the first ever, and its Community Dinner that fed scores of people from all walks of life every Wednesday evening. All of this was happening in the long-neglected Sunnyside neighborhood of Portland (the old Sunnyside, not the newer Sunnyside area in Clackamas County), which was gentrifying during that time. Many of the newcomers to the area were not pleased with these ministries, and the resulting tensions put this church in headlines around the world. So we were learning many new forms of evangelism all at once. Winslea’s text captures all of this excitement and optimism in four breathless verses, each with a beautiful closing line which I chose to emphasize by repeating. I especially love the end of the second stanza: “Help the Holy One be named,” which sums up the life work of Jesus’ followers in just six words.
To capture our newfound energy and joy of ministry I chose a vigorous tempo and 7/8 time and the hymn tune comes off as a spirited dance. The melody is practically diatonic in the key of A-flat major; only an A-natural leaves the key. However, the harmony turns out a bit more complicated than that. There is a Mixolydian inflection in the second phrase with the G-flat in the bass. The third phrase quickly explores the closely related keys of b-flat minor and f minor through secondary dominants (chords that are based on the dominant, or 5th scale degree of other keys besides the home key). The fourth phrase returns to those same keys, now with diminished 7th chords as the secondary dominants. Add to these adventures several astringent major 7th chords and you will see why this hymn betrays my love of Johann Sebastian Bach and his chorales, which were not afraid to terrorize congregations by their tonal ramblings and dissonances. The 5th phrase tonicizes D-flat briefly through another secondary dominant, but the expected D-flat major triad goes instead to D-flat minor, thereby using a borrowed chord, a chord that comes from the parallel minor (in this case A-flat minor), another favorite device of Bach. So this hymn with the mostly innocent and singable melody explores several other tonal spaces, simulating the Gospel reaching not only nearby, but the entire world.
An excellent video of this hymn, crafted by Daphne Saul, my wife, is available at Seize the Moment, Claim the Day on Vimeo.
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One blessing of the pandemic is how we have indeed gotten to go into the whole world as we go online. Normally, alas, what happens in Fresno gets stuck in Fresno, and now I ask, why? Some events from Fresno the whole world can and should enjoy:
- The Fresno Philharmonic presents the second concert of its Spring 2021 Daniel R. Martin Masterworks Series on Saturday, February 20, at 5:30 pm Pacific Standard Time. It will be a marvelous celebration of women composers, two of whom are African Americans. Get ready for an adventure! The oldest work on the program is Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring. There are also works by Jasmine Barnes and Florence Price, the first female Black symphonic composer, as well as Joan Tower’s Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, a direct response to Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man. Go to Fresno Philharmonic | Fresno, CA to get dialed in.
- While you are there celebrate Black History Month tomorrow at 5:30 pm Pacific Standard Time as Maestra Rei Hotoda interviews Jasmine Barnes about her work You can also view another “Stay Tuned” interview with Black composer Adolphus Hailstork at Stay Tuned with Adolphus Hailstork | Fresno Philharmonic and hear Hailstork’s music at Intersections of Past and Present: Hailstork and Haydn | Fresno Philharmonic.
By the way, if you are unable to join us at these times, the events will remain available for viewing through Fresno Philharmonic | Fresno, CA or the Phil’s YouTube channel later. Enjoy, be moved, and Happy Valentine’s Day to all.