Mendelssohn Conference
FELIX Mendelssohn and church music
March 19, 2011
Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.
Join Us for the Day ...
Felix Mendelssohn inherited and passed on as normative for “church music:”
» a turn towards the heart symbolized
• musically by Ludwig van Beethoven
• theologically by Friedrich Schleiermacher
• liturgically by Frederick William II
» an emphasis on the concert hall which became a kind of “church” with
• virtuosic performance skills
• large forces
• instruments
• many resources
In spite of stylistic changes and post-modernity, we still live with a mindset derived from Mendelssohn and his period. Church musicians sense the tension. Called to help groups of all sizes sing at worship around Word, font and table—with all sorts of abilities and resources and music derived from many sources, church musicians realize that the concert hall and nineteenth century conceptions of music are not normative for the church even if the musical style changes.
Join clinicians Peter Mercer-Taylor, Bruce Bengtson, Kathryn Schifferdecker and David Cherwien to explore Mendelssohn and how his music fits the larger context of the church and its music.
Evening Prayer
The day will conclude with a service of evening prayer including Mendelssohn’s “Hear My Prayer” sung by members of the National Lutheran Choir under the direction of David Cherwien and accompanied at the organ by Bruce Bengtson.
Registration
Online registration to open soon!
You may also download the conference brochure (PDF).
Pre-registration deadline is Saturday, March 12. Registration at the door is not guaranteed.
Plenary Sessions
Plenary I: Church Music, Sacred Music, and the Concert Hall: Mendelssohn in Context—Peter Mercer-Taylor, Presenter.
Taking a broad historical and biographical perspective, examine the complex and shifting roles of church and sacred music in Mendelssohn’s own compositions and in the musical world he helped to shape.
Plenary II: Felix Mendelssohn and the German Organ Music Scene—Bruce Bengtson, Presenter.
Hear the organ music of Mendelssohn, Kittel, Kellner, Rinck and August Bach with commentary along the way.A panel discussion made up of conference speakers and clinicians will follow the afternoon plenary. It will be moderated by Paul Westermeyer, professor of church music, Luther Seminary.
- Mostly Mendelssohn: A Choral Reading Session - Bruce Bengtson and David Cherwien (Morning only)
- Give Ear to My Prayer, O God: A Theological Study of Psalm 55 - Kathryn Schifferdecker
- Mendelssohn as Accidental Hymnodist- Bruce Bengtson and David Cherwien
- An open rehearsal with members of the National Lutheran Choir - David Cherwien, conductor; Bruce Bengtson, organist (Afternoon only)
More Information
For more information about the Sacred Music Conference, contact:
Kris Rongstad
Luther Seminary, MSM Office
2481 Como Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
651-523-1612
krongsta@luthersem.edu
