We welcome Eleanor Grant as guest conductor this morning… I am in Austin, TX, today worshipping at the University Presbyterian Church along with the assembled conferees at the ‘Professionals Gathering’ of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. Thanks, Eleanor, for stepping in! Many of you may not know that she is a former Choir Director of this church and a veteran of Texas public school music, much loved and respected by her hundreds and hundreds of former students…

Thomas Attwood (1765-1838), a student of Mozart, was variously in and out of favor with the Monarchy [but mostly in…], and once held the cozy, agreeable position of Organist at the King’s private chapel in Brighton. His music is unjustly neglected; the straightforward bidding to incline out ears to the word in this morning’s Introit shows his clean, classical skill.

‘Speak to one another’ is a piece of Jean Berger (1909-2002), a German-born craftsman and educator who spent most of his career in Colorado. Listen to how much color he gets out of these four voices… This is the work of a man who knew his instrument [the SATB chorus].

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) requires no introduction, but only a word that he was, in addition to his ‘maven’ status in the orchestral and choral fields also a renowned organist. His writing for the instrument plays like it, too – perfectly idiomatic and playable. This past Tuesday was the 200th anniversary of his birth – something noted and celebrated worldwide…

-Keith Weber