mcneil robinson ii
TRANSCRIPT
A Service of Lightin Celebration of and Thanksgiving
for the extraordinary life of
McNeil Robinson II (March 16, 1943–May 9, 2015)
Tuesday, October 13, 2015 7:30 PM
The Church of the Ascension New York City
Please turn off all cell phones and electronic devices.
All music in this service was composed by McNeil Robinson.
ORGAN PRELUDE Chorale Prelude on Douglass Christopher Creaghan, organist
Chorale Prelude on Llanfair Robert McCormick, organist
Hommage à Messiaen Ena Freeman, sopranoAndrew Yeargin, organist
GREETINGThe church is darkened when the service is to begin. All stand, and the Officiant greets the people with these words.
Officiant Light and peace to you through the grace of our Lord. People Thanks be to God.
Officiant If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turn to night,” darkness is not dark to you, O Lord; the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to you are both alike. Psalm 139:10-11
Let us pray.
O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen.
1
PROCESSIONImprovisation Robert McCormick, organist
The candles at the Altar are now lighted.
ANTHEM Jubilate Deo
Jubilate Deo universa terra: psalmum dicite nomine ejus: Venite et audite, et narrabo vobis, omnes qui timetis Deum, quanta fecit Dominus animae meae. Alleluia. Be joyful in God, all you lands; sing the glory of his Name; sing the glory of his praise. Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he has done for me. Alleluia.
Psalm 66:1-2, 16
HYMN Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven Thurman Text: Henry Lyte
1. Praise,
3. Fa
4. Frail
2. Praise
my
the
ther
as
-
soul,
Lord
like,
sum
-
the
for
he
mer-
King
grace
tends
flowers
of
and
and
we
heav
fa
spares
flour
en;
vor
us;
ish,
-
-
-
to
to
well
blows
God's
our
our
the
throne
fore
fee
wind
your
bears
ble
and
-
-
tri
in
frame
they
bute
dis
he
are
- bring.
tress;
knows,
gone;
-
Ran
praise
and
but
somed,
God,
with
while
- healed,
still
love
mor -
re
the
and
tals
stored,
same
pat
rise
- for
as
ience
and
-
giv
ev
bears
per
- en,
er,
us,
ish,
-
-
-
ev
slow
res
God
er
to
cues
en
-
-
more
chide,
us
dures
-
- un
God's
and
from
chang
prais
swift
all
-
es
to
our
ing-
- sing.
bless;
foes.
on.
Al
Al
Al
Al
le
le
le
le
-
-
-
-
lu
lu
lu
lu
-
-
-
-
ia!
ia!
ia!
ia!
-
-
-
-
Al
Al
Al
Al
le
le
le
le
-
-
-
-
lu
lu
lu
lu
-
-
-
-
ia!
ia!
ia!
ia!
-
-
-
-
Praise
Glo
Wide
Praise
the
rious
ly
the
-
-
ev
is
yet
high
er
God's
God's
e
- last
faith
mer
ter
-
-
ing
ful
cy
nal
-
-
-
-
King!
ness!
flows.
One!
-
C
&
#
&
#
&
#
œœ
œ ™
œ
j
œ
œ
œœ
œœ
Ϫ
œ
jœ
œ
˙
œœ
œ ™
œ
J
œ
œ
œœ
œœ
Ϫ
œ
j
œœ
˙
œ
œœ
œ
œ ™
œ
j
œœ
Ϫ
œ
j
œ
œ
œ ™
œ
j
˙
READING Genesis 1:1-5 F. Anthony ThurmanAll may be seated.
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 137 Melanie Sonnenberg, soprano
As for our harps, we hung them up on trees in the midst of that land, for those who led us, led us away, asked for a song, and our oppressors called for mirth: sing us one of the songs of Zion. (refrain)
How can we sing God’s song upon an alien soil? If I forget you Jerusalem, let my right hand forget all its skill. (refrain)
Make my tongue to cleave to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy. (refrain)
REMEMBRANCE David Lefkowitz, Cantor Emeritus, Park Avenue Synagogue
By the wa ters- of Ba by- lon- we sat down and wept, when re -
mem b'ring,- when re mem- b'ring,- when re mem- b'ring- you, O Zi on.-
6
8&
#
&
#
œ œ
j
œb
œ
œ œn™
œ œ œœ
œœ ™ œ
œœ
Ϫ
œ œ
œ
œ œ
J
œ
œ
œœ œ
J
œ
œ
œœ
œ
J
œœ
œœ
j
œ œ™
2 3
ANTHEM Ma Tovu Cantor Azi Schwartz, Park Avenue Synagogue Christopher Creaghan, organist
How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel! As for me, through your abundant grace, I enter your house to worship with awe in your sacred place. O Lord, I love the house where you dwell, and the place where your glory tabernacles. I shall prostrate myself and bow; I shall kneel before the Lord my maker. To you, eternal one, goes my prayer: may this be a time of your favor. In your abundant love, O God, answer me with the truth of your salvation.
HYMN Adon OlamAll stand.
vs.1-4, cantor first, then repeated by all
3. V'
2. V'
1. A
4. Ve
don
a
hu
hu
-
-
-
-
o
cha
e
e
-
lam
re
chad
li
-
-
-
-
a
kich
ve
ve
sher
lot
eyn
chai
-
-
-
-
ma
ha
she
goa
lach
kol
ni
li
-
-
-
-
b'
l'
le
ve
te
va
ham
tzur
-
-
-
-
rem
shil
chev
-
-
kol
do
lo
li
-
-
y'
yim
le
be
tsir
loch
hach
eyt
-
-
-
niv
no
bi
tza
ra,
ra,
ra,
ra,
-
-
-
-
™
™
l'
v
be
ve
et
hu
li
hu
-
-
-
-
na
ha
re
ni
a- sa
ya
shit
si
-
-
-
- v
v
be
u
chef
hu
li
ma
-
-
-
-
tso
ho
tach
nos
-
-
kol
veh
lit
li
-
-
a
v
ve
me
zai
hu
lo
nat
-
-
-
-
me
yih
ha
ko
lech
yeh
oz
si
-
-
-
-
sh'
b'
ve
be
mo
tif
ha
yom
-
-
-
nik
a
mis
ek
-
-
ra.
ra.
ra.
ra.
-
-
-
-
™
™
interludes
all 5. Be ya do- af kid ru chi- be eyt i shan- ve-
a i- ra- ve im- ru chi- ge vi- ya- ti- a do- nai- li ve lo- i ra.-
A
maestoso
don- o lam- a sher- ma lach- b' te- rem- kol y' tsir- niv ra,-
l' et- na a- sa- v chef- tso- kol a zai- me lech- sh' mo- nik ra.-
4
4&
b
b
b
b
&
b
b
b
b
&
b
b
b
b
&
b
b
b
b
&
b
b
b
b
&
b
b
b
b
U
U
œ
J
œœ
œ ™
œ
J
œœ
œ ™
œ
J
œœœœœ
œ
œ œœœ
™
œ
J
œ œœœ
™
œ
J
œ œœœ
™
œ
j
œœœœœ
œ
œœ œ
œœ
œœœ
œ
œœ
œœ
œœ
œ ™
œ
J
œœœ ™
œ
J
œœœ ™
œ
J
œœœœœ
œ
œ œœœ
™
œ
J
œ œœœ
™
œ
J
œ œœœ
™
œ
j
œœœœœ
œ
œœ œ ™
œ
J
œœ
œ ™
œ
J
œœ
œ ™
œ
J
œœœœœ
œ
œ œœœ
™
œ
J
œ œœœ
™
œ
J
œ œœœ
™
œ
j
œœœœœ
œ
œœ ˙
All may be seated.
SOLO Yih’yu L’Ratzon Neil Farrell, tenor
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you, O God, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:15
REMEMBRANCE Dr. John Walker, PresidentAmerican Guild of Organists
ANTHEM Psalm 150 Jason Roberts, organist
Alleluia. Praise God in his holy temple, praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts, praise him for his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet, praise him with lute and harp. Praise him with timbrel and dance, praise him with strings and pipe. Praise him with well tuned cymbals, praise him with clashes of cymbals, let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
REMEMBRANCE The Reverend Canon David B. Lowry, Ph.D.
ANTHEM Had I But Pinions Claudia Dumschat, organist Rachel Rosales, soprano
Had I but pinions of a dove to fly away and be at rest: Far, far away would be my flight; in the wilderness would I settle. To my haven would I hasten out of the sweeping wind and tempest. I’ll fly away and be at rest. Psalm 55
4 5
REMEMBRANCE Robert Sirota, President, 2005–2012Manhattan School of Music
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters. (refrain)
He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his Name sake. (refrain)
Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. (refrain)
You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. (refrain)
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord, my whole life long. (refrain)
READING “Thursday the 12th” Christopher Creaghan
The Lord is my shep herd,- I shall not want. He
makes me to lie down in green pas tures.-
4
4&
b
&
b
œ ˙œ
œ˙
˙
˙œ œ
˙ ™ œ
Ϫ
œ
J
œ œœ
œ
œœ
w
w
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Mark Rehnstrom, baritoneAll stand.
Praise God all you nations, give praise all you peoples! For great is God’s steadfast love for us, and his faithfulness endures forever. (refrain)
READING Matthew 5:14-16 James David Christie
You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after light-ing a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
HOMILY The Reverend Canon Victoria SirotaAll may be seated.
SOLO Ave Maria Michelle Repella, soprano Andrew Yeargin, organist
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesu. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora pro nobis peccatoribus, Nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Luke 1:28 and traditional
Al le- lu- ia,- al le- lu- ia,- al le- lu- ia.-
4
4&
b˙
œœ
˙ ˙
˙œœ
˙ ˙
˙
˙
œœ˙
w
6 7
Officiant Let us pray:
THE LORD’S PRAYER
COLLECTS
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our brother McNeil. We thank you for giving him to us, his family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confi-dence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; in your Holy Name we pray. Amen.
O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; grant this for the sake of your Love. Amen.
Our Fa ther- in hea ven,- hal lowed- be your Name, your king dom- come,
your will be done, on earth as in hea ven.- Give us to day- our dai ly- bread.
For give- us our sins as we for give- those who sin a gainst- us.
Save us from the time of trial, and de liv- er- us from e vil.- For the king dom,- the pow er,-
and the glo ry- are yours, now and for ev er.- A men.-
&
#
- -
-
&
#
-
-
-
&
#
- -
-
&
#
-
- -
&
#
-
Œ ‰ œ
j
œœ
œœ
œ
‰œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
‰
œ
j
œ œ
œ
‰
œ
j
œ œœ
‰
œ
j
œœ
œ
œ
œ œ
‰ œ
j
œœ
œœ
œ
œ
œ
‰
œ
j
œœ
œœ
‰œ
j
œœ
œ
œ
œœ
œ
œ œ
Œ
œ œœ
œ œœ
œ ‰ œ œ œ œœ
œœ œ
Œ
œœ
œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œœ
œ
œ
‰œ œ
œ
œ
œ
‰
œœ
˙
HYMN Singing Songs of Expectation LeonardAll stand. Text: Bernard Severin Ingemann
BLESSING Cantor Lefkowitz
The Lord bless you and keep you. Amen. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. Amen.The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.
DISMISSAL Officiant Let us go forth into the world rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.The People respond Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE Allegro e furioso, from Sonata (1990) Kalle Toivio, organistAll may be seated.
8 9
1. Sing
2. One
3. One
ing
the
the
- songs
light
strain
of
of
the
ex
God's
lips
pec
own
of
- ta
pres
thou
- tion,
ence,
sands
-
-
-
on
o'er
lift
ward
his
as
- goes
ran
from
the
somed
the
-
pil
peo
heart
grim
ple
of
-
-
band,
shed,
one;
through
chas
one
the
ing
the
-
night
far
con
of
the
flict,-
doubt
gloom
one
and
and
the
sor
ter
per
row,
ror,
il,
-
-
-
march
bright
one
ing
ening
the
-
-
to
all
march
the
the
in
prom
path
God
ised
we
be
- land.
tread:
gun:-
Clear
one
one
be
the
the
fore
ob
glad
- us
ject
ness
-
-
through
of
of
the
our
re
dark
jour
joic-
ness
ney,
ing
-
-
-
gleams
one
on
and
the
the
burns
faith
far
the
which
e
guid
nev
ter-
ing
er
nal
-
-
-
light:
tires,
shore,
trust
one
where
ing
the
the
- God
ear
one
we
nest
al
-
march
look
might-
to
ing
y
-
-
geth
for
Fa
- er
ward,
ther
-
-
-
step
one
reigns
ping
the
in
- fear
hope
love
less
our
for
- through
God
ev
the
in
er-
night.
spires.
more.
-
-
c
&
&
&
&
Ϫ
œ
j
œ œœ
œœ
œ œ™
œ
j
œœ
œ œ ˙
Ϫ
œ
j
œ œœ
œœ
œ
Ϫ
œ
j
œœ
œ œ ˙
Ϫ
œ
j
œœ
œœ
œ
œ
œ ™ œ
j
œ
œ
œ œ ˙
œ ™
œ
J
œœ
œœ
œ
œœ
œ
œœ
œ œ ˙
Clergy and SpeakersThe Reverend Canon Victoria Sirota, officiant The Reverend Canon David B. Lowry, Ph. D.
Cantor David Lefkowitz Cantor Azi Schwartz
Robert Sirota Dr. John Walker
OrganistsChristopher Creaghan
Claudia Dumschat Robert McCormick
Jason RobertsKalle Toivio
Andrew Yeargin
Choir Director Andrew Yeargin
Choir
Announcements
• A reception follows in the Parish Hall, entrance at 12 West 11th Street.
• All are invited to share memories and anecdotes of McNeil Robinson at www.mcneilrobinson.com.
• Donations may be made to The Leupold Foundation in honor of McNeil Robinson. The Leupold Archives will house the McNeil Robinson library, including manuscripts, recordings, correspondence, photos, and professional materials. The Leupold Archives, a research library, is a repository of organ music and other related materials, open to the public and to private researchers by appointment, as well as to the editors of Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc. Information on the archive and how to donate is found on www.wayneleupold.com/archives and www.wayneleupold.com/foundation.
SOPRANOS
Aimee BaylesJanet ChungLori CorrsinElaine Cunningham Nonie DonatoLori EngleEna FreemanMichelle RepellaRachel Rosales
ALTOS
Catherine AksYonah GershatorJudith MalafronteBess MorrisonGeorga Osborne Nancy Wertsch
TENORS
Daniel CucuraMartin DonerNeil FarrellJames Kennerley Stephen RosserLawrence Rush
BASSES
Brett AlgaierRaphael Biran Samuel Carl James GregoryStanley KushelElliot LevineMark Rehnstrom
10 11
AcknowledgmentsThe Church of the Ascension
The Reverend Elizabeth G. Maxwell, Rector Dennis Keene, Organist & Choirmaster
Jin Krista Kang, program designDouglas Kostner, music typesetting
12