JOY — Love Demands All

In one sense, all these presentations, all these hours of music since Ash Wednesday have led us to this moment—at the foot of the cross. “Ah, holy Jesus. . .Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small.” Hymn writer Isaac Watts cries out our only possible response: “Love—so amazing, so Divine—demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Image: The crucifix at Paul-Gerhardt Gemeinde, a SELK Lutheran church in Braunschweig, Germany, on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015. LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford

Music List

THEME: CBS MDK 44651
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: “My Spirit Be Joyful” from Cantata 146
Philharmonia Virtuosi of New York/Richard Kapp

1. Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 82876-72039-2 “Handel Messiah” 2:47
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL: Behold the Lamb of God from “Messiah”
Arnold Schoenberg Choir; Concentus Musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt

2. Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 82876-72039-2 “Handel Messiah” 18:16
HANDEL: (from “Messiah”) He Was Despised; Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs;
And with His Stripes We Are Healed; All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
Arnold Schoenberg Choir; Concentus Musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt;
Anna Larsson, alto

3. Bethel College BCCD-9901 “Ah, Holy Jesus” 5:16
arr. JOHN FERGUSON: Ah, Holy Jesus
Lynda Bradley-Vacco, viola; Bethel College Choir (MN)/Dennis W. Port

4. (same as above) 4:32
ADOLPHUS HAILSTORK: Crucifixion
Bethel College Choir (MN)/Dennis W. Port

5. Exultate EX-51 “The Seven Last Words of Christ” 6:16
THÉODORE DUBOIS: Seventh Word from “The Seven Last Words of Christ”
Exultate Choir and Orchestra/Thomas D. Rossin

6. Concordia Recordings E-2764 “Endless Your Grace” 4:02
arr. F. MELIUS CHRISTIANSEN: Beautiful Savior
Concordia Choir/Rene Clausen; Kristi Erickson, soloist

7. Decca B0004531-02 “Renaissance / Music for Inner Peace” 3:00
ANTONIO LOTTI: Crucifixus
The Sixteen/Harry Christophers

8. National Lutheran Choir Recordings NLCA-92 “A New Song” 6:03
SAMUEL BARBER: Lamb of God (Agnus Dei)
National Lutheran Choir/Larry L. Fleming

9. Bach Society of Saint Louis BSSL-2008 “Great and Marvelous” 4:40
arr. GILBERT MARTIN: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Bach Society of Saint Louis/A. Dennis Sparger