St. Mark's Organ

Fall Hymn Festival

Jeffrey Blersch, Organist

Sonata III                                                                                           Felix Mendelssohn (1807-1847)

               Con moto maestoso

               Andante tranquillo

Psalm 148: A Dramatic Reading                                                        Jeffrey Blersch (b. 1967)

L:            Praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights above.

C:            Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

L:            Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars.

C:            Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.

L:            Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.

C:            He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away.

L:            Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

C:            lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding,

L:            you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,

C:            wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,

L:            kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth,

C:            young men and maidens, old men and children,

L:            let them praise the name of the Lord for His name alone is exalted.

C:            his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

L:            He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart.

C:            Praise the Lord!

Earth and All Stars                               EARTH AND ALL STARS, David N. Johnson  Hymnal 1982 #412

               Verse 1  - all

               Verse 2 – men

               Verse 3 - women 

               Verse 4 – all

               Verse 5 - organ only

               Verse 6 - all

Partita:  What God Ordains is Always Good                                     Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706)

               Organ:  Chorale

               C:            What God ordains is always good: His will is just and holy.

                               As he directs my life for me, I follow meek and lowly.

                               My God indeed In ev’ry need Knows well how he will shield

                               me;  To him, then, I will yield me.

               Organ:    Partita 1

                               Partita 2

                               Partita 3

               C:            What God ordains is always good: He never will deceive me;

                               He leads me in his own right way, And never will he leave me.

                               I take content what He has sent; His hand that sends me sadness

                               Will turn my tears to gladness.

               Organ:    Partita 4

                               Partita 5

                               Partita 6

               C:            What God ordains is always good: He is my friend and father;

                               He suffers naught to do me harm though many storms may gather.

                               Now I may know both joy and woe; Some day I shall see clearly

                               That he has loved me dearly.

               Organ:    Partita 7

                               Partita 8

                               Partita 9

               C:            What God ordains is always good: This truth remains unshaken.

                               Though sorrow, need, or death me mine, I shall not be forsaken.

                               I fear no harm, for with his arm He shall embrace and shield me.

                               So to my God I yield me.

My Song is Love Unknown                  LOVE UNKNOWN, John Ireland (1879-1962) Hymnal 1982 #458

               Verse 1 – All

               Verse 2 – Women

               Verse 3 – All

               Verse 4 - Organ only

               Verse 5 – All

               Verse 6 – men

               Verse 7 - All

“The Peace is exchanged...”                                                Dan Locklair

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name       CORONATION, Oliver Holden (1765-1844)     Hymnal 1982 #450

               Verse 1 – All

               Verse 2 – Women

               Verse 3 – Men

               Verse 4 - All (a cappella)

               Verses 5 and 6 - All

Christ, Mighty Savior                            INNISFREE FARM, Richard Dirksen Hymnal 1982 #34

When In Our Music God is Glorified                  ENGELBERG, Charles Stanford (1852-1924)                  Hymnal 1982 #420

               Organ Introduction by Charles Ore

               Verses 1,2 – all

               Verse 3 – women

               Verse 4 – men

               Verse 5 - all

Variations on ‘Holy God, We Praise Your Name’                                             Jeffrey Blersch

               I. Fanfare and Chorale

               II. Trumpet Tune

               III. Pastorale

               IV. Finale: Toccata and Fugue

Dr. Jeffrey Blersch is Associate Professor of Music and University Organist at Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska, where he teaches studio organ, courses in organ improvisation, service playing, and organ literature, and is the conductor of the Concordia Singers. Dr. Blersch is a graduate of the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music where he received degrees in organ performance and music education, and of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he earned the Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ Performance. He has studied organ with Roberta Gary, Garth Peacock, and Marilyn Mason, organ improvisation with Haskell Thomson, and choral conducting with Herbert Henke and Daniel Moe.

Prior to his appointment at Concordia, Dr. Blersch has served as Cantor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Peoria, Illinois, Associate Professor of Music and Music Department Chair at Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and as an elementary music specialist in the Brunswick City Schools, Brunswick, Ohio. Dr. Blersch has been actively involved in church music since being appointed organist of Peace Lutheran Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, at age eight.

Dr. Blersch regularly performs recitals and hymn festivals across the United States and is best known for his creative hymn interpretations. He is a distinguished teacher, having received numerous honors and awards, including being listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and Who’s Who in America. In addition, Dr. Blersch is a published author and composer of organ and choral works. Dr. Blersch and his wife Carla, also an organist, have two sons, Aaron and Ryan, and are expecting their third child in December.