For Debbie Gregor, Psalm Offering 7 Opus 10

The organ at St Benedict Church (picture by Olivia Wagner)

I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will sing praise with the mind also. (1 Corinthians 14:15b-c, NRSV)

Praise the Lord, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 117, NRSV)

These verses from scripture were my inspiration as I composed this Psalm Offering. The tempo is Marcia Allegretto (Fast March). Though it is composed in the key of Bb minor, there is nothing somber about this march. Rather, it is a celebratory march.

I have dedicated this music to Debbie Gregor, the music director of the New Prague Area Catholic Community. Debbie is an outstanding musician and choir director. As if this wasn’t enough, Debbie is also an incredible person. The word “awesome” is often used to the point of banality these days. However, Debbie is truly awesome in the full sense of the word. I am very grateful for the ministry she does.

About the music: This is literally a fast march (quarter note = 120 beats a minute). The music is in rondo form. A1A2BA2C1A1A2B bridge A2A1Coda.

Psalm Offering 7 Opus 10 (For Debbie Gregor), (c) 2018, Robert Charles Wagner. All rights reserved.

Published by

Deacon Bob

I am a composer, performer, poet, educator, spiritual director, and permanent deacon of the Catholic Church. I just recently retired after 42 years of full-time ministry in the Catholic Church. I continue to serve in the Church part-time. I have been blessed to be united in marriage to my bride, Ruth, since 1974. I am father to four wonderful adult children, and grandfather to five equally wonderful grandchildren. In my lifetime, I have received a B.A. in Music (UST), M.A. in Pastoral Studies (St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, UST), Certified Spiritual Director. Ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, in 1991. Composer, musician, author, poet, educator. The Gospels drive my political choices, hence, leading me toward a more liberal, other-centered politics rather than conservative politics. The great commandment of Jesus to love one another as he has loved us, as well as the criteria he gives in Matthew 25 by which we are to be judged at the end of time directs my actions and thoughts.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.