Category: Music for reflection

I composed this Psalm Offering for Julianne Kerber in 1986. Julianne was struggling with cancer and died about 2 weeks before her son got married. I played it following communion at Julianne’ funeral. Two weeks later I played her son’s wedding. This piece of music concludes the Opus 2 collection of piano music. Note how unlike much music it doesn’t end on the tonic (the major key in which the music is written, not a concoction laced with gin) key. As we say in spirituality, death is not the end, but rather the doorway into a higher way of life. With this music not concluding in the tonic key, it doesn’t end but continues to be.

The Eighth Psalm Offering is a musical representation of Luke’s account of Mary and Joseph finding the 12 year old Jesus in the Temple. This Psalm Offering is dedicated to Blanche and Ivo Schutrop.

The Seventh Psalm Offering is a musical representation of Matthew’s account of the Holy Family fleeing the murderous rage of King Herod the Great by immigrating to Egypt. This Psalm Offering is dedicated to Sharon Olejinak.

The Sixth Psalm Offering is Matthew’s account of the Adoration of the Magi. This Psalm Offering is dedicated to Gwen Pearson.

Psalm Offering 4 is Luke’s account of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, whereupon Mary and Joseph encounter Simeon and Anna. This Psalm Offering is dedicated to my wife, Ruth.

Psalm Offering 4 focuses on the delight of the shepherds as they behold Jesus in the manger. This shortest of the eight Psalm Offerings is dedicated to Dr. Bob Conlin.

Psalm Offering 3 is a musical representation of the angels announcing the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. Listen for the big announcement in the score. This Psalm Offering is dedicated to Helen Kerber.

This second Psalm Offering is a musical reflection on the Lucan phrase, “Mary pondered all these things in her heart.” This Psalm Offering is dedicated to Elaine Roesser.

A quick word about the musical “Psalm Offering.” The Psalms in the Bible were always meant to be sung prayer. The Psalm Offering is an instrumental prayer. I always intended that the Psalm Offerings be musical prayer for the piano. The one to whom the Psalm Offering is dedicated, is the one for whom the “prayer” is being offered when it is played.

The Christmas Psalm Offerings were written as Christmas Presents for the music ministers at St. Hubert Catholic Community when I was director of liturgy and music at the parish (essentially, 1986 through 1997, at which I was director of pastoral ministry until the Archbishop reassigned me to St. Stephen’s in South Minneapolis). In the world of music composition, this set of Psalm Offerings could be considered “program music”, that is, music that tells a story.

In this first Psalm Offering, dedicated to Ken Smith, the first theme heard is the “Annunciation” whereupon Mary was visited by Gabriel, and agreed to be the Mother of the Messiah. The second theme heard is Mary’s Visitation to her cousin, Elizabeth. The third theme, slow and more somber, is the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem for the Roman Census. The last theme, a variation of the second theme and a combining of the first and second themes, is the birth of the Messiah.