Ruthie and I were married at St Bridget of Sweden Catholic Church in Lindstrom, MN 50 years ago.Of course, it all began 55 years earlier, when we started dating.My brother, Bill, was my best man. I remember Bill taking me to a bar on Dec. 26th to give me advise on married life. Ruthie wanted to know whether our son, Luke, and I should recreate that scene last night. Luke declined.Ruthie attended by her wedding entourage (from left to right) my sister, Mary Ruth, Ruthie’s sister, Jeannie, Ruthie’s sister, Annie, Ruthie’s little sister, Teresa was the flower girl, and, Ruthie’s matron of honor, Cherie DuCharme (Ruth was in Cherie’s wedding the year before.).My wedding party from left to right: Ruthie’s brother, Gary, Ruthie’s brother, Paul, myself, my brother, Bill (who was my best man), and a good friend, Phil Soucheray.Ruthie being readied to walk up the aisle by her dad, Al, and her mother, Rose Mary. Ruthie told me many years later, that her dad kept telling her as he escorted her up the aisle, “You can still get out of this if you want to. I won’t be mad. It’s okay if you don’t want to do this.” Of course, I don’t blame Al. After all, his daughter was marrying a musician, who was working part-time as an X-ray aide at Miller Hospital whilst looking for a teaching position. Needless to say, I am forever indebted to Al for allowing me to marry Ruthie. I think his opinion of me changed when his first grandson, Andy was born 11 months later.The most important time of the night, when Ruthie and I were exchanging vows. Fr Bob Patterson was the presided and witnessed our vows. Bill had the rings at the ready.The best time of my life had begun as we walked down the aisle together. I had arranged all the music for the wedding, including a trumpet/pipe organ piece. I composed a song for communion. So, my music skills were present at the time. My good friend and fellow music major, Diane Strafelda, did the singing at the wedding. Ruthie greeting her paternal grandma, as I greeted my cousin, Jill Erstman. Dad and Mom are to my left.Ruthie and her BFF, Cherie DuCharme.From left to right: Ruthie’s Dad and Mom, Al and Rose Mary Ahmann, Ruthie and I, and my Mom and Dad.The whole entourage. The one thing I would change would be to take the wedding pictures prior to the wedding. Because we got married on a Friday, the wedding was scheduled for 7 pm. We took the wedding pictures at 8 pm, while all our guests were waiting to be fed in the church hall. We wanted to be “traditional” and so everyone went hungry until all the pictures were taken. Hindsight informed us how stupid that was.Cutting the cake … it was a great cake. Ruthie’s mom saved a piece and froze it so we could eat it on our first wedding anniversary.Ruthie and I met playing French Horn in the band at St Bernard’s High School. I admired her embouchure then and continue to admire and sample her embouchure to this very day.We left the reception at 11 pm, drove back to Ruthie’s farm, change clothes, and started the long drive up to Duluth. I believe it was a -40 degrees in Duluth when we arrived at the Radisson Hotel at 2 am. Ruthie, an RN, had worked the night before our wedding and had only gotten a couple hours of sleep the day of our wedding. She slept all the way up to Duluth in the car. I wanted to speed on the freeway but we had the Highway Patrol follow us all the way up to Duluth.My gorgeous bride. Note that we got the “bar” set up in the background: Ron Rico Rum and Coke (rum and coke was our drink of choice at that time).Ruthie tending bar.What can one do in -40 degree Duluth on little money? 1) Eat out at a Chinese restaurant within walking distance (our favorite place, the Chinese Lantern (which had the decor of what I thought was a white slavery institution … but great food); 2) Watch the Vikings defeat the Rams in the playoffs (let’s face it I was a damn fool. I had the most beautiful woman in the world and wasted time watching those damn Vikings). 3) Go see the movie, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, Too (Duluth, at that time, had three movie theaters. The Disney film was at one; and two porn epics, “The Devin in Miss Jones” and “Deep Throat” were at the other two. So … the wonderful things about Tiggers, are Tiggers are wonderful things …”) 4) Eat at the top of the Radisson … very expensive but the restaurant at the top of the Radisson revolves around so one can see ALL of Duluth as one eats. And ….And … play gin rummey. She beat the crap out of me in all the games. What about making love? Well, a gentleman does not kiss and tell.However, one does not have to kiss and tell when one has it recorded on film.
A QUICK JOURNEY THROUGH 50 YEARS OF MARRIAGE
New Year’s Eve with Ruthie, Rob DuCharme, Cherie DuCharme, 500, and some rum and coke. I was pretty much sober as a judge (I had to play Masses in the morning), but everyone else had a great time.Ruthie and I, April 1975. Ruthie was three months pregnant with Andy.Ruthie and our first born, Andy, Nov 4, 1975.Ruthie and Andy at the little house we rented in Jeffers, MN during my first teaching job.Me, Bill, and Andy in Jeffers, MNRuthie, her dad, Al, her paternal grandma, and Andy.Ruth and newborn, Luke, July 19, 1977. Ruthie dancing with Luke at her brother, Paul’s wedding.Homeless, Ruthie, Andy, Luke and I living at my folks, and Ruthie’s folks while I was looking for a new teaching job (My position in Jeffers had been cut).Ruth, Luke, and Andy.Ruthie and I, Andy and Luke, finally at our own home (thanks to President Jimmy Carter and the Farmers Home Administration) of the past 47 years.Ruth and Meg, April 6, 1981.Ruthie, Luke, Andy, Me, and Meg.Meg coming home.Andy, Meg, and Luke.Ruth and Beth, January 11, 1984.Ruthie talking to her mom about the 11 pound baby she just gave birth to.Our kids, 1984.Ruthie comforting a distraught Meg.Another family picture around 1986.A family picture. Poor Ruthie was back working full=time nights as an RN.Ruthie and I at my ordination to the diaconate, Sept 24, 1994.At my Mom and Dad’s 50th wedding anniversary in 1999.In Ireland, Feb 4th, 2000 finally getting the honeymoon she never had. Ruthie insisted on taking the kids. It was a great idea. Left side of the table: Ruthie and Luke. right side of the table: Andy, our daughter-in law, Olivia (they were engaged at the time) , Beth and Meg. We were at a pub in Dublin.My bride in Donegal, Ireland.My lovely family on a river boat floating down the Shannon river, in Ireland.Becoming grandparents.Luke, Ruth, Beth, and our Great Pyr, FloydRMoose. Right after this picture was taken, we discovered that Floyd had bone cancer in his left rear leg. We had to put this gentle giant down on March 7th, two weeks later.What was left of my car after getting hit head-on on March 7, 2002. We put Floyd down early in the morning that day, Ruthie and I holding him as he died. I almost got put down that night when that kid hit me headon. This would alter my life quite a bit. That accident initially started with 3 surgeries. It would later lead to 16 more orthopedic surgeries so that the amount of titanium I have in my legs prompted my friend, Fr Kevin Clinton to call me “robo-deacon.”At Beth’s graduation from high school, with Andy, new born grandson, Owen. I was still recovering from the head-on collision suffered in March. I had just had the first of two surgeries trying to restore full use of my right hand. A second surgery would follow that eventually would restore 60% of my hand (the best the surgeon could do considering the damage done), which effectively ended my days as a pianist.Ruthie and our granddaughter Alyssa (Meg’s baby girl). Alyssa was born in March 2002, and Own in May 2002. It was an exciting time!Ruthie, Meg, and Alyssa.Ruthie appearing to doze off as she holds our grandchildren Owen and Alyssa. Ruthie worked the night before/Ruthie at the birth of Aidan. Aidan was almost a leap year baby.Meg, Ruth, Rose Mary, and Sydney.Ruthie and our granddaughter, Sydney.Ruthie and our Valentine Day’s grandson, Oliver.Beth and Ruth at Meg’s graduation.With Beth at her graduation from college.Ruthie and I at her mom and dad’s St Patrick’s Day party. She still loves me!Ruthie and I at the wedding of Ruthie’s godchild Brandon DuCharme. I had just had a right knee replacement and was struggling getting around. Ruth and I in 2010.Ruthie and I on our 40th wedding anniversary.Our wonderful, incredible kids, Luke, Andy, Meg, and Beth.At Beth’s wedding on Jan 6, 2019.At my retirement party in May 2019.
LEARNING HOW TO WALK
I learned to walk in earnest down the aisle of St. Bridget of Sweden, into a new wedded life filled with wonder and love, the many walks of pregnancies, Pitocin drip walks down hospital corridors, during nights with restless infants, and sick children, to parks and baseball diamonds, plays and musicals, concerts and gymnasiums, graduations, weddings, funerals, grandchildren, all of them walks along the spherical path of life. To walk with you is to learn how to love, each measured step, a grace-filled journey to something greater, far beyond and far better than the stumbling steps that I could have made on my own.
To walk with you, is to see the world with different eyes, colors bursting through the greys, warmth on the coldest of days, your voice floating, playing delightfully in the air alongside until the sound settles gently, gracefully in my ears.
We have walked many steps together in life, my gait now not as steady, these days of uncertain limbs, joints and cane. In walking with you, new discoveries never end, new beginnings abound, and that with you, the first and the finest of all teachers, learning to walk is never fully learned.
The baptismal font at St Hubert in Chanhassen. When I was still assigned to St Hubert, Deacon Tim Helmeke and I baptized a LOT of babies in this font back in the early 2000’s. I once had 12 babies to be baptized at one baptismal service.
At the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist begins. This is comprised of Preparation of the Gifts, the Holy, Holy, the Eucharistic Prayer, the Memorial Acclamation, and concludes with the Doxology and Great Amen. Then the liturgy enters into the Communion Rite, with the communal praying of the Lord’s Prayer, Sign of Peace, Lamb of God, and the reception of Communion. Following Communion, we enter into the concluding prayers of the Mass and dismissal.
The Holy, Holy
The Holy, Holy is never meant to be recited by the congregation, but is meant to be sung. This setting borrows a motif from the Glory to God in the Hosanna refrain. It is scored for 3 part handbell choir, 2 flutes, 2 violins, brass quartet, SATB choir/cong, and piano.
Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
The Memorial Acclamation follows the Words of Institution at the Consecration of Mass. There are a number of different texts for the Memorial Acclamation. I have chosen the most biblical text taken from 1 Corinthians 11.
Memorial Acclamation When we eat this bread and we drink this cup, we proclaim your death O Lord, until you come again.
The Doxology sung by the priest, and the Great Amen sung by the congregation concludes the Liturgy of the Eucharist. This is scored for 3 part handbell choir, 2 flutes, 2 violins, brass quartet, presider, SATB choir/cong, and piano.
Doxology and Great Amen Priest: Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, for ever and ever.
The Lamb of God is sung during the Fraction Rite of the Mass, when hosts and consecrated wine are distributed among different chalices and ciboriums to be given the congregation during Holy Communion.
Lamb of God
Cantor: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Choir/cong: have mercy on us.
Cantor: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Choir/cong: have mercy on us.
Cantor, choir/cong: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
The 1997 church building of St Hubert. I was heavily involved in the designing the worship space, the music space (to the left of the sanctuary), the baptismal font, the Eucharistic chapel, and altar furnishing. Fr Jame Notebarrt, assisted us and helped us with the design.
Mass of God’s Wholeness and Joy
Gospel Acclamation
The Gospel Acclamation (normally a sung alleluia, with a different acclamation during the season of Lent) is mandated to be sung, NOT recited. There are many, many different setting of the Gospel Acclamation from chant to heavily ornamented versions.
I composed this acclamation as a dialogue between the cantor and the congregation/choir. It is in the call and response sung form found in many work songs as often heard in Spirituals and Sea Chanteys. This is composed for 3 part handbell choir, 2 flutes, 2 violins, brass quartet, cantor, SATB choir and piano.
This ending to the Liturgy of the Word is also called the “prayer of the faithful” or “intercessions”. Ordinarily, this is spoken as opposed to sung, as it is here. However, on formal occasions, the intercessions are sung.
To be included among the intercessions are prayers for the Church, for the world, for those who are sick, for those who are dying, and other needs that are pertinent to the community of faith. Here is the text I composed for these sung intercessions.
Intercessory Prayers
Let us bring our prayer to God most High; Refrain: O loving God, hear our prayer.
For all who proclaim the Good News of God, who serve the needs of the poor and welcome the stranger, we pray to our God. Refrain
For all disciples of Christ, may they profess the word in faith and action, we pray to our God. Refrain
For those in public office to be servant leaders, and to serve the common good of all, we pray to our God. Refrain
For all peoples fleeing from violence and war, crime, and poverty, hunger, and domestic abuse to be welcome into our midst and supported in love, we pray to our God. Refrain
For all who bear the cross of pain in mind and body, to never feel abandoned or forsaken by God, we pray to our God. Refrain
For our earth’s climate destroyed by pollutants, our water, land and air, poisoned by chemicals, and all God creatures rendered extinct by human greed, we pray to our God. Refrain
For all of us assembled in prayer, and for our family and friends, may we always feel God’s love and compassion in our lives, we pray to our God. Refrain
For our deceased family and friends, and all who have died, may we be united with them in the community of the saints, we pray to our God, Refrain
Intercessory Prayers (c) 2024 music and text composed by Robert Charles Wagner. All rights reserved.
A picture of myself directing music from the piano at St Hubert in Chanhassen, Advent 1986. This was the church that was built in the 1970’s. We outgrew that church by 1997, when the southwest suburbs exploded with people. We went from a community of 700 households to a community of 3200 households. In 1997, we built the present church building on the other other side of Highway 5 that now seats 1200 people (the minimum required by the Archdiocese for new church buildings).
When I started to direct church music in the late 1970’s, there was not much of a choice in the sung Ordinary parts of the Mass. These sung parts most people know as the “Lord Have Mercy” (Penitential Rite), The Glory to God, the Gospel Acclamation (Alleluia and verse preceding the proclamation of the Gospel), the Holy, Holy, the Memorial Acclamation following the words of consecration, the Doxology and Great Amen at the end of the Eucharistic prayer, and, the Lamb of God sung during the fraction rite.
In the 1980’s, there was a great flurry of activity in composing musical and singable Ordinary parts of the Mass. Marty Haugen’s Mass of Creation and Mass of Remembrance; David Haas’ Mass of Glory and Mass of Joy; mass settings composed by Mike Joncas and the St Louis Jesuits are notable settings of the Ordinary of the Mass that people enjoyed singing. However, in the past 20 years, I have noticed that many newly composed settings of the Ordinary of the Mass have become trite, boring, and very unmusical. Equally as boring are those attempts to quote motifs from old Latin chants and impose the Ordinary Mass texts on them. They just don’t work, are unsingable, and are tedious to sing. They just don’t work.
So, as I was convalescing from my broken wrist, my music program, Finale, and I were busy composing a brand new setting of the Ordinary Mass parts. I chose to compose them not only for SATB choir, cantor (at times), and piano, but added instrumentation such as 3 octave handbells, flutes, violins, trumpets, horn in F, and trombone to the compositions. This blog and the two following will be featuring these new Mass settings that are not only singable but musical.
Because the choir parts all sound like just sung “Ahhhhhs”, I have included the sung Mass texts along with the MP3 of the music.
The Lord Have Mercy
This is composed for a cantor, with the congregation parts doubled by the SATB choir.
Lord Have Mercy
Lord Jesus, you came into the world For our salvation. Lord have mercy. (repeated by choir and congregation)
Lord Jesus, you continue to be with us By the grace of your Spirit, Christ have mercy. (repeated by choir and congregation)
Lord Jesus, you will come again in glory, Lord have mercy. (repeated by choir and congregation)
The Glory to God is composed for SATB choir, piano, 3 octave handbell choir, 2 flutes, 2 violins, 2 trumpets, horn in F, and trombone. There is a common refrain that all can sing immediately, with the verses initially sung by the choir, but easily learnable by the congregation over time.
Glory to God in the Highest
Refrain: Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to God in the highest! Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to God in the highest!
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.
Refrain
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
Refrain
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Ruthie and Beth visiting with Santa at the New Prague Library in December of 1984.
In a week’s time, December 27th, Ruthie and I will be married 50 years. We started dating in May of 1969. The best “awful” thing that happened to me was when my dad’s company transferred him from Chicago to St Paul, Mn during the summer before my junior year in high school. As a junior in a whole new high school, St Bernard’s on Rice Street, I felt very isolated until I went to band practice. There playing first French Horn was this vision of beauty, Ruth Ahmann. She smiled that fantastic smile at me, kindly welcomed me (she was the first person who talked to me that first day of school), and I was smitten.
Ruthie’s high school graduation picture.
She graduated in May of 1969 from high school, worked a year, and then studied to be a Registered Nurse. I graduate from high school, in May 1970, majored in music at the College of St Thomas, and graduated in December 1974 (I did my student teaching the Fall quarter of 1984).
My college graduation in December of 1984.Ruthie’s graduation from Anoka Ramsey College in May 1984.
Two weeks following my graduation, we got married at St Bridget of Sweden Catholic Church in Lindstrom, MN. on a very cold, December 27th evening. Fortunately, there were not blizzards that day (that happened one week later). Ruthie recently asked me why we got married on that day in December. It was because the church would be brightly filled with Christmas decorations, and besides, what more festive a time can one get married than on Christmas. Am I correct? I did compose a song for our wedding. Got an good friend, a music major from St Kate’s, to sing at our wedding. Arranged some music for trumpet and organ etc. The only music we could not have in our wedding was “our song”, “Midnight at the Oasis”. As a liturgist, later on, yeah, that would not have been appropriate for a wedding … perhaps better sung and enacted on the honeymoon night. But I digress …
Needless to say, the best day of my life was when Ruthie and I got married December 27th of 1974 and married to her every day following continues to be the best day of my life.
God’s Love Be With You
God’s Love Be With You is a choir hymn composed as a blessing. The text I adapted from some blessings in the Book of Psalms, and, from the Book of Numbers. I composed the music and adapted the text during the summer of 1984. Here is the text:
GOD’S LOVE BE WITH YOU
Refrain God’s love be with you. God’s peace be with you. God’s love and peace be with you.
Our God proclaims peace to all people. And to those who put in God all their hope. Near indeed is God’s salvation to those who hear God, Glory dwelling in their land.
Refrain
May peace be in your walls, Prosperity in your buildings. With all my relatives and friends, I say, “Peace be within you.”
Refrain
May our God bless you and keep you. May the face of our God shine upon you. May our God be gracious to you and look upon you, Kindly and give you peace.
Refrain
The music:
God’s Love Be With You (c) 1984 music and text by Robert Charles Wagner. All rights reserved.
How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place
My favorite psalm is Psalm 84. I love this psalm so much, that I composed a musical setting of the psalm, and then presented the psalm to the person I love so much, Ruthie, and gave it to her as a Christmas present in 1989. I worked on this song throughout most of the Fall of that year. Here is the text:
PS 84 – HOW LOVELY IS YOUR DWELLING PLACE
How lovely is your dwelling place, O God of Heav’n and earth. (repeat)
My very essence longs with deepest desire For the courts of our God. My heart, my soul sing out with joy to our God, The living God.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O God of Heav’n and earth. (repeat)
For even the sparrow you provide a home. The swallow nest her young at your altar, O God. My God, my all. My God, my all.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O God of Heav’n and earth. (repeat)
To spend one day in your courts, Is all I desire. To rest upon your doorstep, I prefer to all dwellings. For you, my God, are a sun and a shield, You bestow your grace on those Who walk with you.
How happy are they who trust in you, O God of hosts. How lovely is your dwelling place, O God of Heav’n and earth.
Here is the music:
How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place (c) 1989, music and text by Robert Charles Wagner. All rights reserved.
Ruthie and I at my retirement party, May 2019. Our kids from left to right: Meg, Beth, Andy, and Luke.
The “ghostly” image of my son, Luke, in front of the Christmas Tree on Christmas Day, 1981.Many years later, Luke now sets up the Christmas tree and decorates the tree and the outside of the house with lights.
In this post are several choir songs and the responsorial psalm for Christmas.
As with the Advent music posted earlier, much of this music was composed for the choirs of St Hubert in a period of time from the mid-eighties to the early nineties.
Look, God Is Among Us
Look God Is Among Us, was composed as a Christmas present for my son, Luke, when he was 10 years old. I adapted the text from Isaiah 12, one of the readings on Christmas Eve. Here is the text of the song:
Look! God Is Among Us
Refrain Look! God is among us, The Holy One of Israel. Come in greatness, Shout for joy!
O God, you are our salvation, You are our strength, our comfort. In you we place our trust, We have no fear.
Refrain
Come, O Zion draw water, From the springs of our God. Drink deeply from the font Of our salvation.
Refrain
All who live in Zion, Proclaim God’s name to all people. Declare God’s mighty works, Invoke God’s name.
Refrain
Look God Is Among Us (c) 1987 music and text by Robert Charles Wagner. All rights reserved.
How Beautiful the Mountains
How Beautiful the Mountains was composed for my choirs in 1986. The text is adapted from Isaiah 52, one of the readings for Christmas Eve Masses. Many of these songs I began to compose in the month of June. I would pour through the readings of Advent and Christmas, choose texts, start to adapt those texts for music, and then do the composing and arranging. The Fall of 1986, the local association for liturgical musicians in the Archdiocese had a “contest” for original music composed by the directors of music in the Archdiocese. I entered this song, and won second or third place. Winning was not necessarily important. Performing the song for a wider audience was exhilarating. Here is the text:
HOW BEAUTIFUL THE MOUNTAINS
How beautiful the mountains that ring with the news that our God is king, The voices of our watchmen excitedly shout for joy! (repeat
Refrain: Rise out of your ruins Jerusalem, God’s consolation has come to you. For all the ends of the earth have seen Have seen the salvation of our God.
How blessed are the messengers announcing the good news Break into song O Zion proclaiming God’s peace to all. (repeat)
Refrain
How blessed are the eyes that behold our Lord God, our Comforter, Returning to his people, redeeming them, bringing them peace. (repeat)
Refrain
The music:
How Beautiful the Mountains (c) 1986, music and text by Robert Charles Wagner. All rights reserved.
Our Savior Is Born To Us
Our Savior Is Born to Us was composed as a Christmas present for a music colleague of mine, Joann Klinglehutz, at St Hubert. Joann was an educator and incredible soloist at St Hubert, and we played many a wedding over the years at St Hubert. She later got married and moved to Omaha.
I adapted the text from Isaiah 62, another reading proclaimed at one of the Masses on Christmas Eve. The refrain was composed to be sung as a round. As you listen to the recording you will hear the refrain sung in unison when it is introduced. After the first verse, it is sung as a two part round. After the second verse, it is sung as a three part round. And, following the third verse it is sung as a four part round. I have updated the arrangement to include a three octave bell choir, 2 violins, 2 flutes, a brass quartet, SATB choir, and piano. Here is the text:
OUR SAVIOR IS BORN TO US
(soprano solo) Let us rejoice in the Lord, Our Savior is born to us. True peace descends upon us from Heaven.
(full choir) Let us rejoice in the Lord, Our Savior is born to us. True peace descends upon us from Heaven.
Blazing forth from the East, God comes from the dawn. Filling the earth with a new light ne’er before seen. Overcoming the darkness in our land.
(2 part round) Let us rejoice in the Lord, Our Savior is born to us. True peace descends upon us from Heaven.
Desolate, forsaken we shall be no more. As a crown of glory held aloft in God’s hand, For all the nations to see.
(3 part round) Let us rejoice in the Lord, Our Savior is born to us. True peace descends upon us from Heaven.
We have become delightful, espoused to God. No one can silence the joy alive in our hearts. Our Savior is born to us!
(4 part round) Let us rejoice in the Lord, Our Savior is born to us. True peace descends upon us from Heaven.
The music:
Our Savior Is Born to Us (c) 1992, music and text by Robert Charles Wagner. All rights reserved.
All the Ends of the Earth
All the Ends of the Earth, Psalm 98, is the responsorial psalm for Christmas Day. There are many, many musical versions for choir and cantors composed over the years. The music was composed by me for SATB choir and piano in 1985. I used the text that was provided in the Lectionary for Mass at that time (when the Catholic Church in the United States still had a decent translation of the scriptures.
In 1983, I was still the full-time music educator at St Wenceslaus, but worked nights and weekends at St Hubert 25 miles away. Ruthie was pregnant with our fourth child, and the baby was due at Christmas. Needless to say, I was a bit trepidatious about that, not wanting to be stuck directing music at all the Christmas Eve/Christmas Day Masses, and not being able to be with Ruth if she should go into labor (Note: our daughter was born two weeks later). When I composed this musical setting of this psalm, I had been working at both St Wenceslaus and St Hubert for two years. My family and I were living on my meager church salary and were officially living under the poverty level. My choirs got to know my family, and after one rehearsal in Advent 1984, the pastor, Father Barry Schneider, OFM, called me into his office and gave me an envelope with $1000. He said it was a gift from an anonymous donor to my family. What was looking to be a very meager Christmas at my home, turned into something far more special for my kids. I composed this setting of Psalm 98 as a thank you to the anonymous donor. About 20 years later, I finally discovered who the donor was. They are one of those special families that touch the lives of many so positively.
The music is based on a repetitive chord pattern, known as a “ground” in music theory. There are many popular songs that do this. Think Louie, Louie by the Kingsman, or any 12 part blues chord pattern. David Haas had composed a psalm setting of Psalm 100, “We Are Your People”, using this technique. I decided to base this psalm setting on the same principle. While the chord pattern remains the same, I composed two separate melodies to be sung over that chord pattern, one for the refrain, and one for the verse. At one point, in this psalm setting, you can hear both melodies being done simultaneously. Here is the text:
PS 98 ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
Refrain: All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the Lord a new song, For he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won vict’ry for him, His holy arm.
Refrain
(women) The LORD has made his salvation known In the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. (men) He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness, Toward the House of Israel, the House of Israel.
Refrain
(super imposed over the verse is the melody of the refrain) All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Song joyfully to the LORD, All you lands break into song, Sing praise.
Refrain
Sing praise to the Lord with the harp, With the harp and melodious song. With the sound of the trumpet and horn Sing joyfully before the King, the Lord.
Refrain
Here is the music:
All the Ends of the Earth (c) music by Robert Charles Wagner. All rights reserved.
My now 22 year old grandson, Owen, on Christmas 2003, at the age of 1 year.
Since Labor Day weekend, on which I broke my left wrist, I have been occupying some of my time in composing a musical setting of the Ordinary of the Mass, and rearranging some old choir/piano psalms, hymns, songs, for SATB choir, strings, 3 octave handbell choir, woodwinds, and brass quartet (2 trumpets, a horn in F, and trombone).
I dug out my old orchestration books from over 50 years ago, and started arranging, keeping in mind that these new arrangements had to be playable by musicians of all ages and abilities from high school level up and still sound musical.
Since we are in the Advent Season on the cusp of Christmas and the Christmas season (going by the liturgical calendar and NOT the retail business calendar which has the Christmas season starting have the fourth of July), I will start first with some Advent music.
About what you will hear …
I did these new arrangements using the music program, Finale. Finale does a wonderful job reproducing authentic instrument sounds from keyboards all through the instruments of an orchestra. However, the only instrument it cannot reproduce well is the human voice. Voice parts sound like someone is singing a very long “Ahhhhh.” With the advancement of AI, I am sure that in the future, the human voice, complete with sung text, will be reproduced to sound more authentic. However, lacking a choir to direct, and hands that are nearly crippled by arthritis, I can only give you this facsimile, based on the playback feature of the program. It still works. To assist the listener, I have also included the texts of the songs to match the music. Most of the music is written in either three part form (think refrain, verse, refrain) or two part form (think verse, refrain).
Here is the first of the songs based on the Responsorial Psalm for Advent, Psalm 85, entitled, “God Let Us See Your Kindness.” This was composed for my choirs at St Hubert in Chanhassen during the mid-eighties, when our music budget really didn’t exist and our music resources in the pew were quite awful if not, perhaps, illegal (violating copyright laws, something I rectified as quickly as possible). I composed a lot of choir music at that time in my life.
PS 85 GOD LET US SEE YOUR KINDNESS
Refrain: God let us see your kindness. God let us see your kindness.
I will hear what God proclaims: Our God proclaims peace to all people. Near indeed is God’s salvation for the humble of heart, Glory dwelling in our land.
Refrain
Kindness and truth shall meet, Justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out from the earth, And justice shall look down from heaven.
Refrain
God, you give us your benefits, Our land shall yield its increase. Justice shall walk before you, and salvation Along the way of your steps.
Refrain
God Let Us See Your Kindness (c) 1985, music and text (adapted from Psalm 85) by Robert Charles Wagner. All rights reserved.
The next choir hymn is based on the Baruch reading for the Advent season, entitled, Remembered By God. This was composed for my St Hubert Choirs in 1992.
Remembered By God
Refrain: Let us prepare a way for the Lord. Let us put on the splendor of God forever. Let us gather with all people and rejoice, For we are remembered by God.
May we give birth to God’s tidings of joy to the lowly, And heal the brokenhearted, And announce this time of favor from our God. Refrain
Upon the heights, let us look to the East and the West, And see all of God’s children, Whom God brings into our midst with mercy and justice. Refrain
May we be clothed with God’s mantle of salvation, Wrap around us God’s mantle of justice, And go forth led in joy by God’s light that grows within us.
