andrewlittle
02-04-2009, 06:40 AM
… and giving, and giving, and …
This was my online response to a gentleman - a world reknowned composer I found out - who donated seventeen original works to our church.
The donor of this gift will remain anonymous until I have his permission to acknowledge him by name.
On Tuesday morning I checked my emails as usual, only to find the most unusual message:
To Kathy Jensen, A DONATION OF SACRED CHORAL MUSIC (gratis):
(Courtesy of the Pastor) Dear Kathy, Please accept, as a donation towards the work of the choirs there, the attached PDF files of some of my unpublished choral music. Feel free to download and make copies of any items that you’d like to perform…with my compliments.
With best wishes, CB
While Kathy Jensen is an accomplished musician, I am a very pedestrian appreciater of music. I am no judge of fine music by looking at notes on a page, so when I opened the seventeen attachments I was clueless about the nature of the melodies. I know words and theology, however, and when I read the lyrics I saw hymns at least as beautiful, expressive and meaningful as any of the best hymns in our hymnals.
I wept. Such a gift to a tiny congregation striving to leave a faith legacy to its community is priceless. To be able to sing original works that were donated to them because the composer was touched by their efforts, to be able to use these hymns to minister to each other and their neighbors is just - well, breathtaking.
When I spoke to Kathy yesterday and told her of the gift, she was almost speechless. She had yet to read the music or words but, I am supposing, as she understands the creative process of writing choral music, she was amazed at the depth and breadth of the heart that would share this gift with her church. If I know Kathy, by now she has played each and every one of these hymns, probably not just once. I can’t wait to talk to her when we reach a decent hour this morning.
To CB. I do not know how you feel about having your gift publicly acknowledged, but I hope (with your permission) to replace your initials with your name to more fully recognize you as one of the saints of our church.
May God continue to bless you and keep you, my dear brother in Christ,
Andy.
I have a feeling - just a feeling, mind you, that the donor may "go to our church".
This was my online response to a gentleman - a world reknowned composer I found out - who donated seventeen original works to our church.
The donor of this gift will remain anonymous until I have his permission to acknowledge him by name.
On Tuesday morning I checked my emails as usual, only to find the most unusual message:
To Kathy Jensen, A DONATION OF SACRED CHORAL MUSIC (gratis):
(Courtesy of the Pastor) Dear Kathy, Please accept, as a donation towards the work of the choirs there, the attached PDF files of some of my unpublished choral music. Feel free to download and make copies of any items that you’d like to perform…with my compliments.
With best wishes, CB
While Kathy Jensen is an accomplished musician, I am a very pedestrian appreciater of music. I am no judge of fine music by looking at notes on a page, so when I opened the seventeen attachments I was clueless about the nature of the melodies. I know words and theology, however, and when I read the lyrics I saw hymns at least as beautiful, expressive and meaningful as any of the best hymns in our hymnals.
I wept. Such a gift to a tiny congregation striving to leave a faith legacy to its community is priceless. To be able to sing original works that were donated to them because the composer was touched by their efforts, to be able to use these hymns to minister to each other and their neighbors is just - well, breathtaking.
When I spoke to Kathy yesterday and told her of the gift, she was almost speechless. She had yet to read the music or words but, I am supposing, as she understands the creative process of writing choral music, she was amazed at the depth and breadth of the heart that would share this gift with her church. If I know Kathy, by now she has played each and every one of these hymns, probably not just once. I can’t wait to talk to her when we reach a decent hour this morning.
To CB. I do not know how you feel about having your gift publicly acknowledged, but I hope (with your permission) to replace your initials with your name to more fully recognize you as one of the saints of our church.
May God continue to bless you and keep you, my dear brother in Christ,
Andy.
I have a feeling - just a feeling, mind you, that the donor may "go to our church".