During last week’s Association of Lutheran Church Musicians conference, I can’t tell you how many people came up to Carl and said, “How’s retirement?” And Carl would answer, “I have three Sundays left!” It’s Sunday night as I write this, so that means it’s one down, and two more to go.
The planning for The Last Sunday has been in the works for sometime now, and this afternoon, Carl started typing the bulletin. “I don’t want to leave this to the last minute!” It is going to be in tabloid format, 11×17 folded in half, with a color cover. The larger format will allow for instruction and explanation in the margins, as well as complete texts and translations.
It has been announced previously that the Ordinary will be Franz Josef Haydn’s “Lord Nelson Mass” (with the LCH Choir and Orchestra) but there will be lots of other music besides as all four choirs will participate. The Gospel for the day is “Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.” The service will open with J.S. Bach’s “Arioso” played by gifted young cellist, Reid Womack, accompanied by Carl on the harpsichord. The gathering hymn will be Carl’s concertato setting of “Christ is made the sure foundation (Eden Church) with organ and handbell accompaniment. The 8:00 choir will sing Psalm 138 by David Haas, and we’ll sing one of Carl’s Alleluias. The children’s choir will sing at the time of the children’s conversation. The offertory anthem will be “Tu es Petrus” by Peter Philips (1560-1633) for double choir. For the communion, the Compline Choir will sing “To the Supreme Being” by Peter Hallock, accompanied by oboe, strings and organ. Finally I will play “Prelude in B Major” by Marcel Dupré as the postlude. I wanted to play the fugue too, but Carl is afraid it would make the service too long, because as he says, “We’re going to sing the Credo from the Lord Nelson Mass.” I suspect that all of the hymns will be accompanied by organ and instruments, which means Allen Bauchle will be pulling together the parts.
Soloists for the Lord Nelson Mass will include Vicki Gorman (soprano), Laurie Rubin (alto), Guy Merola (tenor) and Keane Ishii (bass). As I mentioned in previous posts, Vicki is flying in from Houston. We are also thrilled that Steve Dinion will play the timpani part — Carl has always said that the Mass stars the soprano solo and timpani.
The service will be followed by a light catered reception in the courtyard. It should be a grand occasion — and don’t forget to wear your Carl Crosier commemorative T-Shirts!