The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

Dr. Maurice Boyer, Professor of Music at Concordia University Chicago and Music Director of the American Kantorei, joins Andy and Sarah during Bach Week to talk about J.S. Bach as composer, including his musical style and how it compared to other composers of his time, who he composed for and who his audience was, how his compositions have been regarded through multiple generations, and a few selections that are beautiful works for us to enjoy.Referenced in today's episode:BWV 7 “Es is das Heil uns kommen her” ("Salvation Unto Us Has Come," Lutheran Service Book 555) — 6th Sunday after Trinity OR 7th after Pentecost) youtu.be/zq1IAR_J0NIBWV 93 “Wer nur den lieben Gott laesst walten” ("If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee," Lutheran Service Book 750) — 5th Sunday after Trinity OR 6th after Pentecost youtu.be/in5XDlJnrB8BWV 137 “Lobe den Herren, den maechtigen Koenig Der Ehren” ("Praise to the Lord, the Almighty," Lutheran Service Book 790) — 12th Sunday after Trinity OR 13th after Pentecost youtu.be/rNAxuzyDLzsA list of chorale cantatas to be used for devotions each week this summer:July 4 (Pentecost 6) BWV 93 “If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee”July 11 (Pentecost 7) BWV 7 “Salvation unto Us Has Come”July 18 (Pentecost 8) BWV 107 “Why Would You Grieve"July 25 (Pentecost 9) BWV 178 “If God the Lord Does Not Remain on Our Side"August 1 (Pentecost 10) BWV 94 “What Do I Ask from the Lord"August 8 (Pentecost 11) BWV 101 “Take from Us, Lord, You Faithful God"August 15 (Pentecost 12) BWV 113 “Lord Jesus Christ, You Highest Good"August 22 (Pentecost 13) BWV 137 “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty"August 29 (Pentecost 14) BWV 33 “To You Alone, Lord Jesus Christ"September 5 (Pentecost 15) BWV 78 “Jesus by Whom My Soul"September 12 (Pentecost 16) BWV 99 “What God Ordains Is Always Good" All of these cantatas are available on Youtube in splendid performances.

Chaplain Brian Hamer, active duty Navy Chaplain and author of a forthcoming article, “Bach Behind the Iron Curtain: A Musical Post Card from Russia, 1962,” joins Andy and Sarah during Bach Week to talk about the Robert Shaw Chorale and their global tours, the Chorale's tour of Russia in 1962, how audiences in Russia reacted to J.S. Bach's B Minor Mass on this tour, and what this event implies for the legacy of Bach's music in our own day. Find articles from Chaplain Hamer (including this one, publishing in September) at whatdoesthismean.org under the "Lifted Voice" column.

Luther Gulseth, Church Musician and Sacred Music Curator for KFUO Radio, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the differences between a chorale and a hymn, some hymn tunes we might find in Bach's chorales, and things to listen for as you listen to these familiar tunes. Find the chorales mentioned at the links below:A Mighty Fortress (LSB 656/657), Cantata BWV 80 Movement 8 (Ein Feste Burg) youtu.be/dRCRPzcLQBkChrist Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands (LSB 458), Cantata BWV 4 Movement 4 (Christ Lag In Todesbanden) youtu.be/7vGWlk8oiZM (starts at 10:45)O Sacred Head Now Wounded (LSB 449/450) (Herzlich Tut Mit) youtu.be/8o7GFn1vbd4From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (LSB 358/385) (Vom Himmel Hoch) youtu.be/BJYn7H1Labw

Dr. Nancy Peterson — Organist and Director of Music at Zion Lutheran Church in Mascoutah, IL, Coordinator of St. Clair County Christian Home Educators, and Homeschool Mom of 10, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how Bach has shaped her work as an organist, how Bach play a role in her own schooling at home and the classes she teaches to others, what Bach can teach us through his music, and how Bach and other classical music is connected to various subjects such as math, history, perhaps even science. Find Dr. Peterson's favorite book to teach Bach, Sebastian Bach by Opal Wheeler, on Amazon.com or wherever books are sold.

Deaconess Mika Patron of Grace Lutheran Church in Auburn, Michigan, joins Andy for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about how she learned about deaconesses, her formation as a deaconess, and how she serves today at Grace Lutheran Church. Learn more about the Set Apart to Serve Initiative at lcms.org/setaparttoserve.

Rev. Craig Muehler, Director of LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the needs of military connected families in the days ahead, how we can be supportive of these families, and how we can pray for our troops and chaplains. Learn more about LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces at lcms.org/armedforces. Interested in becoming a chaplain? Contact Chaplain Muehler at lcmschaps@lcms.org.This is a rebroadcast from January 9, 2020.

Rev. Merritt Demski, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo, Illinois, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about a few hymns common during the "Green Season," or the season after Pentecost or Trinity. These hymns are: LSB 708 "Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart," LSB 722 "Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me," and LSB 729 "I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus."This is a rebroadcast from August 27, 2019.

Matt Machemer, Associate Kantor with Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about just a few of the hymns we sing in the "Green Season" of the church and why they are great ones to sing, including Lutheran Service Book 536, 541, and 552.This is a rebroadcast from August 1, 2019.

Rev. Trevor Sutton, Pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Lansing, Michigan, joins Andy to talk about narcissism on social media, what the idea of "self-amputation" means in the social media world, and how we can act like Christians on social media. Read his article in The Gospel Coalition at thegospelcoalition.org/article/dont-social-media-narcissist.This is a rebroadcast from September 13, 2019.

Laura Montgomery, Director of Educational Resources with Lutheran Elementary School Association in St. Louis, Missouri, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how we can keep kids sharp in creative and unique ways that summer offers, some favorite tried-and-true activities for kids and families, and how to incorporate learning into fun activities.This is a rebroadcast from June 7, 2019.