Psalm Offering 3 Opus 3
This Psalm Offering musically represents the choir of angels announcing the birth of Jesus to the shepherds watching over their flocks. There is a place in the closing measure of the music where the angelic proclamation is made. The angel motif is the opening three notes in the music and recurs throughout the Psalm Offering. Melody A announces that angel motif, which segues to the second melody B, representing the shepherds. There is a bridge consisting of the angel motif in varying key areas and time signatures finally restating all of melody A, with a dramatic flourish at the end.
This Psalm Offering was given to Helen Kerber, Elaine Roesser’s big sister. Helen was a good friend and confidant to me at St. Hubert. She had a wonderful, earthy sense to her and of the two sisters was the most active, musically, in the parish. She accompanied the Guitar Group, as it was known, throughout the time that I was the liturgical music director of the parish. She continued to play music for the parish until she was no longer able to do so for reasons of health. She passed away approximately one year ago. I returned to St. Hubert for her funeral and sang with the funeral choir. Her husband, Bernie, who died several year before Helen, was a carpenter. Bernie and his brother, Vernon, helped to install the windows in my dining room at home. Wonderful people the Kerbers. May they be forever blessed!
Scripture Passage: Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
