“Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah,” Sunday’s prelude, was written by Wayne L. Wold (b. 1954). It is based on his hymn of the same name, which reads: “Light one candle to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness. He shall bring salvation to Israel, God fulfils the promise. Light two candles to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness. He shall feed the flock like a shepherd, gently lead them homeward. Light three candles to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness. Lift your heads and lift high the gateway for the King of Glory. Light four candles to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness. He is coming, tell the glad tidings. Let your lights be shining!” The tune comes from a Yiddish love song. Wold has cleverly arranged his organ piece in the style of a famous piece by César Franck. I decided to exploit the Yiddish character of this music by performing it with solo violin and piano. Wold is Professor and Chair of the Music Department, Concert Manager, and College Organist at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland.

Charles Gounod (1818– 1893) devised a melody and superimposed it on the C Major Prelude (BWV 846) from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 of J.S. Bach. In 1859 Gounod fitted the words of the “Ave Maria” on to his melody. At the violinist’s request, I have composed a variation on his melody, which will be heard for the first time Sunday, during communion. Our violinist is Susan Perkins (pictured), who is Adjunct Faculty at Salem College, where she teaches Alexander Technique and violin. She is also Alexander Technique Instructor in the Drama Department at UNC School of the Arts, Alexander Technique Instructor at Wake Forest University, and violinist in the Winston-Salem Symphony. She lives in Winston Salem, North Carolina, where she maintains a private studio of violin students and a studio of private Alexander Technique clients, and freelances widely.

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