Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, will host the “Paul Gerhardt Hymn Festival” at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 18, at its Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus.
The festival, commemorating the work of Lutheran hymn writer Paul Gerhardt on the 400th anniversary of his birth, is free and open to the public.
Taking part in the festival will be the Concordia Seminary Chorus and Pro Musica Sacra, under the direction of Rev. Henry V. Gerike, and eight guest organists from Lutheran congregations in the St. Louis area. In addition to hymns, the service will include commentary and Scripture readings.
The music CD “Song of the Gospel, Vol. 2 — Chorale Preludes on the Hymns of Paul Gerhardt,” produced by Concordia Publishing House, will be released and available for purchase at a reception in the seminary’s library following the festival.
A buffet banquet featuring Lutheran composer, professor, and historian Carl Schalk will be held at 6 p.m. in the seminary’s Wartburg Dining Hall. Tickets to the banquet are $18 each.
Born in Grafenhainichen, Germany, in 1607, Paul Gerhardt wrote more than 100 hymns that are still being sung today, including “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,” “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You?,” and “Awake, My Heart, with Gladness.”
For more information about the festival, or to order banquet tickets, contact Seminary Relations at (314) 505-7370 or semrelations@csl.edu.
Posted Feb. 9, 2007
