Sing My Soul, His Wondrous Love
Musical Musings for Eastertide
by Sharon Downey
This Sunday will be the Fourth Sunday after Easter, often called Good Shepherd Sunday. You may find all of the lectionary readings here . Psalm 23 is the appointed Psalm each year in the three-year cycle of lectionary readings. The reading from 1 Peter concludes, “For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.” The Gospel is full of images of sheep and shepherds, so how appropriate to hear some familiar paraphrases of Psalm 23.  

A few singers recorded a metrical version of the psalm in the familiar hymn, “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” sung to the tune St. Columba . We recorded this on March 14, the last day the church building was open. 
Another well known setting of this beloved Psalm was written as the theme song of the PBS series, “The Vicar of Dibley.” The Choir of Wells Cathedral sings Howard Goodall's “The Lord is My Shepherd.” 

Postponed Performance

This weekend was to be our first collaboration with the Western New York Chamber Orchestra and music students of SUNY Fredonia singing Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem . Our choir was to join with the Fredonia singers accompanied by the orchestra to present the concert in Fredonia and at our Cathedral. Lisa Layman, a member of our Cathedral Choir, is the Executive Director of the Orchestra and has been planning for this since last summer. Although we cannot be together this weekend, we will reschedule the performances as soon as it is safe.

In the meantime, you may listen to Kathleen Battle sing “Pie Jesu” from Fauré’s Requiem . 

The Great Fifty Days

From now until the Day of Pentecost some of our younger members will be sharing joyous renditions of Alleluias! Thanks to Lucy, Annie, Clarke, George, Arthur, Louisa, Wyatt, Jackson, Brennan, Reid, Jack, Kelsey, Kenley, Kaitlynn and Claire for sharing their joyful Alleluias! I’ll add more voices each week until Pentecost so please email me if you want to be included.

The Cathedral Sings and Plays

I have asked some of our younger members who love to sing or play an instrument to share a short performance with us. One advantage of our stay in place order is that we are communicating in different ways and learning things about one another we may not have before. We have some budding piano students and a young singer/guitar player. Many thanks to Jack, Ben, Kate and Eden for sharing their gifts with us! 
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