Opus38         Opus39  Opus40 

 

Opus 38

   Variations for Organ on a Theme by Hugo Distler

         Chantry, 1966.

             Tune: Deutschland und Deutsch-…sterreich

                      Melody by Hugo Distler, 1934

             6 variations

                      Composed: Spring 1965 for the ÒKulturwerk NordhessenÓ

                      Premier performance: July 27, 1965 at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, by the composer.

            ÒDedicated to Dr. Kurt von Schuschnigg, who spoiled Hitlers victorious entrance at Vienna.Ó

                               --Jan Bender Werkverzeichnis 6

    [Schuschnigg had been federal chancellor of Austria immediately prior to the Anschluss. He was teaching at Washington University in 1965 and attended the premier of this piece.]

            ÒThe theme of Hugo Distler is a secular one. The Naze-regime had expected Distler to write a melody for a poem which lauded the annexation of Austria. The Third Reich passed away, the composer died, the melody was lost and forgotten. But it was kept in the memory of a musician [Bender] who was DistlerÕs friend, and who now composed a series of variations on it. The militant character of the theme is well suited for a hymn of the militant Church.Ó

                                    --program notes, April 23, 1966

            A manuscript copy in BenderÕs hand of the Distler tune with DistlerÕs harmonization and three strophes of the text ÒDeutschland und Deutsch-…sterreichÓ is on deposit in the Stadtbibliothek LŸbeck with the Bender Archives.

     The text for which Distler wrote this tune is as follows:

         1.  Deutschland und Deutsch-…sterreich,

                  einem Stamm entsprossen,

             D. u. D.-….,

                  ihr wart kampfgenossen!

             Euch zerklŸftet ein Verrat,

                  Euch brennt eine Wunde!

             Seid Ihr treu in Wort u. Tat,

                  schlŠgt die Freiheitsstunde!    

         2. BrŸder in dem Bruderland,

                  hebt das Sonnenzeichen!

             Vor des Morgens Purpurbrand

                  muss die Nacht erbleichen!

             Von der hšchsten Zipfelwand

                  lass die Feuer brennen!

             …sterreich und Deutsches Land

                  sind nicht mehr zu trennen.

         3. FŸrchtet kerker nicht, noch Bann,

                  lasst die Fahnen fliegen,

             wenn Ihr treu bleibt Mann fŸr Mann,

                  muss die Freiheit siegen.

             Von Tirol zum Nordseedeich

                  lodern bald die Flammen!

             D. u. D.-….

                  finden doch zusammen,

 

 

Opus 38b

    Weary of All Trumpeting

         Chantry, 1972

         (also published in many new hymnals)

             Harmonization

             Tune: Deutschland und Deutsch-…sterreich

                      Melody by Hugo Distler, 1934

                      Text by Martin Franzmann, 1971

                      [Jan Bender commissioned Franzmann to write this text for the Distler tune.]

 

Opus 39

   Sonatina for Violoncello and Piano

         unpublished (as of September 2005)

             3 movements

                      Dedicated to Friedemann Bender, then to Eric Lutz

                      One MS dated July 19th 1965, another dated June 12, 1967.

                      First performance: July 26, 1965 at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Judy Isaac, vcl., Jan Bender, pno.

 

Opus 40 - Hymn settings for Worship Supplement

and Lutheran Book of Worship

    110 Hymnsettings written between Jan. 1963 and June 1965, originally for the projected new Missouri Synod Hymnal. He wrote up to 4 settings each for many of the tunes he was assigned, not all of which were subsequently used. This represents much of the work he did for the Commission on Worship of the Missouri Synod and then for the ILCW (Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship). The settings became the property of the Missouri Synod. The titles listed below are only those 28 settings that were published in these two hymnals. (See also opus 29 no. 10)

 

Opus 40 No. 1

                  following compositions included in:

         Worship Supplement Accompaniment Edition

         Concordia, 1969. 97-4945

             organ accompaniments

   Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag (2 settings)

   Erstanden ist der heilig Christ (2 settings)

   Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ (2 settings)

   In dir ist Freude (2 settings)

   Nun bitten wir (2 settings)

   Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (2 settings)

   Nun la§t uns den Leib begraben (2 settings)

   Sonne der Gerechtigkeit (2 settings)

   Te Deum

   The King's Majesty

   Wie lieblich ist der Maien

   Wittenberg New (tune and 2 settings)

         (also published in Songs of Praise, Prayers for Peace [Devotions & Worship Resources for the 1984 Summer Olympics], Lutheran Olympic Ministry, 1984.)

   Zeuch ein zu deinen Toren (2 settings)

 

Opus 40 No. 2

                  following compositions included in:

         Lutheran Book of Worship

         Augsburg and Board of Publication, 1978.

             keyboard accompaniment

   Allein zu dir

         (also in Lutheran Worship, Concordia, 1982.)

   Alles ist an Gottes Segen (op. 29 no. 10i)

   Earth and All Stars (op. 29 no. 10b)

   Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag (from op. 40 no. 1)

        (In his personal copy of LBW, Jan corrected the tenor voice in the penultimate measure. The second tenor note should be e instead of c')

   Gelobet seist du (revision of op. 40 no. 1 setting)

   Gottes Sohn ist kommen

   Herr Christ, der einig Gotts Sohn

         (also in Lutheran Worship, Concordia, 1982.)

   In dir ist Freude (revision of op. 40 no. 1 setting)

         (also in Lutheran Worship, Concordia, 1982.)

   Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland

                      (revision of op. 40 no. 1 setting)

   Nun la§t uns den Leib begraben (from op. 40 no. 1)

         (also in Lutheran Worship, Concordia, 1982.)

   Sonne der Gerechtigkeit (from op. 40 no. 1)

         (also in Lutheran Worship, Concordia, 1982.)

   Wie lieblich ist der Maien

                      (revision of op. 40 no. 1 setting)

         (also in Lutheran Worship, Concordia, 1982.)

   Wittenberg New (from op. 40 no. 1)

         (also in Lutheran Worship, Concordia, 1982.)