Posts
We had a special treat yesterday for our Offertory Anthem. It was The Apple Tree Carol composed by our Parish Musician, Tom Gibbs, and beautifully performed by Susan Hauser, soprano, and Steve Hauser, soprano saxophone.
The Apple Tree Carol
The tree of life my soul hath seen, laden with fruit and always green.
The trees of nature fruitless be compar'd with Christ the apple tree.
His beauty doth all things excel: by faith I know but cannot tell
the glory which I now can see in Jesus Christ the apple tree.
For happiness I long have sought, and pleasure dearly I have bought:
I miss'd of all: but now I see 'tis found in Christ the apple tree.
I'm weary with my former toil. Here I will sit and rest awhile.
Under the shadow I will be of Jesus Christ the apple tree.
(18th century, anonymous)
Note from the composer: "I think of this text as fitting for almost any time of the liturgical year. Our parish is fortunate to have a sensitive, expressive soprano soloist, and also a fine soprano saxophone player who is equally sensitive and expressive. As the piece progresses, the two soloists exchange melodic ideas, and the organ provides harmonic underpinning and occasionally also takes part in the melodic exchanges. At the crucial dramatic moment of the text, however, the organ drops out and leaves the two soloists on their own."
You can listen to it here:
https://app.box.com/s/tcv53k8x7cuuf712njn5xzu4m36yeu0c
