Earth and All Stars was written by Herbert Brokering for the ninetieth anniversary of St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, in 1964. It is no surprise therefore to encounter trumpets, pipes, cymbals, harp, lute, lyre, humming cellos, and by extension all the instrumental and vocal music that characterizes St. Olaf College. Nor is it a surprise to find a snowstorm (on the hill at St. Olaf), test tubes, athletes, bands, limestone, beams, daughters, sons, knowledge, wisdom, cheering people, and praying members – all singing a new song about the marvelous things God has done. This hymn first appeared in Twelve Folksongs and Spirituals (1968)
Handt Hanson wrote the text and tune of “Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil”. He says, “it began its life as part of a children’s musical called ‘Sonlove.’ The musical placed the children in a small rural community where the parables of Jesus came to life. The parable of the sower was told by the owner of a seed and feed store, and the song ‘Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil’ was born.”
For the past few weeks, we have been using the “Lamb of God” (Agnus Dei) from a new setting of Holy Communion included in All Creation Sings by Anne Krentz Organ. For the month of September, we will also include the Gospel Acclamation (Alleluia) and “Holy, holy, holy” (Sanctus) from these lovely new settings.
Anne Krentz Organ is a composer and church musician serving as the Director of Music Ministries at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Park Ridge, IL. Anne is the primary composer of Setting 12, a musical setting of the liturgy found in All Creation Sings, the recently published hymnal supplement of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Additional liturgical compositions are included in Evangelical Lutheran Worship and other ELCA music sourcebooks. Her published compositions include fifteen volumes of hymn tune arrangements for piano, additional volumes for piano and instrument, numerous choral pieces, psalm settings, handbell pieces, hymn introductions and alternate accompaniments, and music for congregational singing.
She is currently the Composer-in-Residence for Lutheran Summer Music where she has also served as a past faculty member. She is also a past president of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians.
