During the season of Epiphany, which includes the month of February this year, we have been using some distinctive music from composer Mark A. Miller for our “service music” (i.e. the Song of Praise, Gospel Acclamation, Holy, Holy, Holy, etc). In Miller’s family, there are a number of United Methodist ministers, but the organ is what called to him at church, and he became…

Sunday’s anthem, “Total Praise,” was written and recorded in 1996 by Richard Smallwood.  In addition to hearing it at church, this week, you  might also have heard covers of this popular song by artists such as Destiny’s Child (as part of “Gospel Medley,” released on several albums), The Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir (with Smallwood on piano, at Aretha Franklin’s funeral) and Stevie Wonder (at…

This past Sunday, our opening hymn was “In Christ There Is No East or West” (Common Praise 484), by John Oxenham (William Arthur Dunkerley), with music  arranged by Harry (né Henry) Thacker Burleigh (*photo from hymnary.org).  Burleigh called the tune  “McKee” in honour of the rector of St George’s Episcopal Church (New York), Elmer M. McKee; he arranged it for Dunkerley’s poem based…