Opus 81-85 composed 1979-81 in USA

at Gustavus Adolphus College

Opus 81

   Partita on "Oh God, Our Help in Ages Past"

         Augsburg, 1981. 11-9307

             organ

             Tune: St. Anne

             6 movements

                      Composed: Sept. 1979

                      Dedicated to David Fienen

     (This, his opus 81, was eventually published in ‘81, and the registrations were worked out on the Noack organ at Gustavus Adolphus College, which was that builder’s opus 81!)

     First performance: Oct. 28, 1979 by David Fienen for organ dedication recital at Calvary Lutheran Church, Edina, MN.

Opus 82

   A Little Lenten Cantata on "Herzliebster Jesu"

         Concordia, 1981. 97-5672

             choir SATB, tenor, organ (and congregation)

             10 movements

                      Composed: 1979

                      Written for and dedicated to Dan Reuning, Concordia Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN.

                      First performance: March 26, 1980 at Gustavus Adolphus College by Christ Chapel Choir, David Fienen, conductor.

             Outline:

                  Introduction—Is. 53:4-5 "Surely he hath borne" (Choir and Organ)

                  Prelude—"Herzliebster Jesu" (organ)

                  Stanza 1—"Ah, holy Jesus" (Choir)

                  Stanza 2—Choir, Congregation and organ

                  Interlude—Is. 38:17-19 (Choir)

                  Interlude—Psalm 32:1-2 (Choir)

                  Stanza 3—(Choir)

                  Stanza 4—(Choir, Congregation and organ)

                  Recitative—1 John 1:8-9 (T solo)

                  Stanza 5—(Choir and organ)

Opus 83

   Keyboard Accompaniment for Giuseppe Tartini's "Art of Bowing"

         unpublished (as of September, 1997)

                      accomp. for theme and variations 1, 13, 23, 25, 37, 40-42, 45

             11 movements

                      Composed: 1980

                      Dedicated to Prof. Gerald Lewis

Opus 84

   Sonata for Organ

         Concordia, 1983. 97-5701

             organ

             4 movements:

                  Allabreve

                  Pastorale

                      Tune: Deutschland und Deutsch-Österreich

                  Scherzando

                  Rondo

                      Completed: Sept. 14th 1980

            Commissioned by First Lutheran Church, St. Peter, MN, in celebration of their new Hendrickson organ. Premiered there by David Fienen on April 26, 1981.

            Dedicated to Helga Bender-Schlottmann.

     [While Bender was writing this Sonata, he was also practicing his Opus 38 for a performance at his class reunion in Lübeck during summer 1980, which may account for the inclusion of the Distler tune in the Pastorale.]         

Opus 85

    Granlund Cantata

         unpublished (as of September, 1997)

                      Dedicated to Paul Granlund (autograph score in his possession)

             Contents:

    Creation (No. 1)

             choirs SAATB/SAATB brass

             Text: Exodus 20:2 and Job 38:4-7

             Tune: Wie schön leuchtet

                      Composed: 1981

    For a Small Moment Have I Forsaken Thee (No. 2)

             choir SAATTB

             Text: Is. 54:7, 8, 10

                      (English version of op. 36 no. 4)

    Praise to the Lord (No. 3)

                  (= Houghton Cantata op. 34 no. 2)

             choir SATB, SB solos, orchestra

             Tune: Lobe den Herren

             Text: Psalm 103:1-22

    Come Holy Ghost (No. 4)

                  (arrangement of op. 20, 3^rd movement)

             choir SATB, orchestra

             Tune: Komm, Heiliger Geist

     Written and compiled Sept. 1, 1980— April 30, 1981 for the dedication of a major Granlund sculpture group at St. Olaf College, Northfield MN.

     First performance: Sept. 12, 1982 by St. Olaf choirs and orchestra, Kenneth Jennings, conductor. A recording of this performance is housed in the Stadtbibliothek Lübeck.