The Music Ministry of Lumen Christi Parish

presents

the third in the Jeanne E. Schmitz Memorial

Organ Recital Series

He is Risen, Indeed!

featuring

Mary Jane Wagner, SSSF, organist

Greg Garcia, trumpet

Sunday April 11, 2021 3:00 p.m.

Lumen Christi Catholic Church

Mequon Wisconsin

Outburst Sister Marion Verhaalen, OSF

A School Sister of St. Francis, Sister Marion Verhaalen was a teacher, a

composer, a piano pedagogue, a writer. As a composer she wrote

both instrumental and vocal/choral music. Her doctoral studies at

Columbia University led to her getting an OAS grant to Brazil (yes, she

also spoke Portuguese) where she researched and wrote the definitive

biography of Brazil’s most famous composer, Camargo Guarnieri .

Sister Marion introduced the Robert Pace Method of learning piano,

incorporating music theory, improvisation, and ensemble experiences,

to hundreds of piano teachers in Brazil. She promoted the Pace

Method in all the places she taught: Alverno College, Wisconsin

Conservatory of Music, Cardinal Stritch University and the Milwaukee

Public School system. “Outburst” provides a spectrum of joyful, soulful,

playful qualities.

The Face of the Father’s Mercy Brian McLinden

On this “Divine Mercy Sunday,” it is fitting to sing this hymn, commissioned by

the Milwaukee Archdiocese during the Year of Mercy. Both the text and the

music are the creation of Brian McLinden, pastoral musician at Queen of

Apostles in Pewaukee. This hymn is a prayer for our times. Reflecting on the

text invites the listener and the singer to attend to new sounds and images,

e.g. “bathe them in consolation’s oil.”

Please join in singing the refrain.

Victimae Paschali Laudes Sister Theophane Hytrek

Sister Theophane Hytrek, also a School Sister of St. Francis, had amazing talent which

fortunately was recognized early in her life. She came to the SSSF community when

she was 14. She composed in many different genres, including organ solo music.

Sister was known locally at Alverno College (her entire career) and throughout the

Milwaukee Archdiocese; nationally, through organizations, concerts, workshops and

teaching, and internationally as a composer, teacher, pedagogue, and leader in

church music. This work is from early in her life. “Victimae Paschali Laudes” is the

sequence for Easter Sunday and you will easily recognize the tune. Below is the text

of the sequence in English.

Christians, praise the Paschal Victim! Offer thankful sacrifice.

Christ the Lamb has saved the sheep, Christ the just one paid the price,

reconciling sinners to the Father.

Death and life fought bitterly for this wondrous victory;

the Lord of life who died reigns glorified.

O Mary, come and say what you saw at break of day.

“The empty tomb of my living Lord! I saw Christ Jesus risen and adored!”

Bright angels testified, shroud and grave clothes side by side!

“Yes, Christ my hope rose gloriously. He goes before you into Galilee.”

Share the good news, sing joyfully: His death is victory!

Lord Jesus, Victor King, Show us mercy.

He is Risen Eugene Englert

This dramatic setting of the resurrection is a compelling act of

proclamation. “He is risen; he is not here!” Place yourself in that garden

with Jesus’ followers. Just bask in the truth and wonder of this message.

Toccata: I Believe in One God Mary Beth Bennett

This organ work was commissioned by the SSSF to celebrate the

Centennial of St. Joseph Chapel in 2017. Mary Beth Bennett, a nationally

renowned organist, published composer and teacher, chose the Latin

chant Credo III (hence, “I Believe in One God”) as the theme of this

piece. At Sister Mary Jane’s request, she incorporated the Franciscan

Blessing (“May God Bless you and keep you…”) used frequently by the

SSSFs. At the very end of the organ work, she creates a “Soggetto

Cavato” using our SSSF congregational name.

Adagio Samuel Barber

Arr. William Strickland

This familiar work has been arranged for many different instruments

and even a choral version. It encompasses emotions that run the

spectrum from utter tranquility to teaming ecstasy. One of my reasons

for choosing this selection is that it demonstrates how the organ can

sound like an orchestra.

Mercy and Truth Psalm 85:10-13

Setting: Ned Rorem (b. 1923)

Mercy and truth are met together,

Righteousness and peace have kissed;

Truth shall spring out of the earth,

And righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Yea, the Lord shall show loving kindness,

And our land shall yield her increase;

Righteousness shall go before him,

And peace shall be the pathway of his steps.

Partita on “St. Anne” Paul Manz

Paul Manz is one of the “giants” in church music of the 20th century, and

into the 21st. A Minnesotan Lutheran, he was a great advocate of the

hymn festival, which evolved beyond the Lutheran tradition and became

an ecumenical experience. Many of his numerous choral preludes

began as improvisations prepared for these festivals, as well as for Sunday

worship. We both studied organ with Belgian composer/concert artist/

teacher, Flor Peeters. In fact we were privileged to be present together

at Flor’s funeral, in July, 1986, Mechelen, Belgium.

“Partita on St. Anne” was originally six variations, each one inspired by the

verses of the hymn in Lutheran hymnals (and beyond, ecumenically) of

the late 20th century. Some 20 years later, Paul expanded this work by

adding the “Introduction” and “Fantasie” which introduced the Latin

Chant “Dies Irae”. This setting of variations on the hymntune, “St. Anne”

was chosen to explore and to display the variety of sounds of this organ.

O God, Our Help in Ages Past text: based on psalm 90

Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748)

tune: William Croft (1678—1727)

I. Introduction

II. Theme

O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come

Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.

III. Adagio

Under the shadow of your throne your saints have dwelt secure;

Sufficient is your arm alone, and our defense is sure.

IV. Fantasie (Dies Irae, Dies illa)

V. Canon

Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame,

From everlasting thou art God, to endless years the same.

VI. Presto

A thousand ages in thy sight are like an evening gone,

Short as the watch that ends the night before the rising sun.

VII. Pastorale

Time, like an ever-rolling stream, soon bears us all away;

We fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day.

VIII. Fugue-Finale

O God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,

Still be our guide while troubles last. last, and our eternal home.

The Hallelujah Chorus Geroge Frideric Handel

from Messiah (1685–1758)

SISTER MARY JANE WAGNER, SSSF

Sister Mary Jane was blessed with many opportunities as a child and young adult to cultivate

her talent. Beginning at age 10, she played and sang daily high mass at Holy Name Parish in

Sheboygan, where her uncle was the pastor. As a sophomore in high school, she

accompanied the Adult Choir at Holy Name. She had the best teachers possible: her sister,

Sister Roseann, and then Marion Grotelueschen for piano; Sister Mary Edmund, SSND and

Donald Frazee for organ. At Alverno College, she majored in both organ and piano, again

having the most outstanding teachers in Sisters Theophane and Seraphim. At the Eastman

School of Music, upon earning her Master of Music in Literature and Performance in organ,

she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to spend a year in Europe studying with Flor Peeters.

Sister Mary Jane is a School Sister of St. Francis. Her life work has been centered around music

for worship and also, teaching. As Director of Music at the Cathedral of St. John, she built a

liturgical music program and a fine arts program there, that ranked well among her colleagues

of Cathedral musicians throughout the United States. She has been Director of Liturgy and Mu-

sic at St. Mary’s Visitation Parish, Elm Grove. She has been assistant professor of music at

Alverno College; and adjunct professor at Silver Lake College, Manitowoc and St. Joseph

College, Rensselaer, Indiana. Her Masters Degree in Religious Studies at the Catholic University

of America focused on liturgy. Sister’s Graduate Certificate in Spirituality from Catholic

Theological Union prepared her for ministerial formation. In the past decade, Sister Mary Jane

has returned to her congregation’s Motherhouse to be Director of Music Ministry there.

Throughout her professional life, she has performed organ in concerts throughout the United

States and in Canada.

Jeanne loved the sound and the splendor of a great pipe

organ at Mass. When its deep bass resonated within her she

felt closer to God. She felt that a great organ inspired deep

prayer and elevated the Mass into an even more

transcendent experience. I suggested to Fr. Dan Sanders that

perhaps Lumen Christi would like a pipe organ in the new

church; Fr. Dan felt a digital organ would be a better fit,

literally and figuratively. I am so grateful to be able to honor

Jeanne and share with the community of Lumen Christi with

the Rodgers Infinity Series digital organ, and with this

memorial recital series.

Mike Schmitz April 2021

Musicians

Sr. Mary Jane Wagner, SSSF, organ

Greg Garcia, trumpet

Peter Behlmar, timpani

Schola

Margaret Caldwell, director

Elizabeth Barrington

Katie Cabral

Daniel DeSaulniers

Susan Kolbe

James Lopina

Bruce Rowe

Moira Shaughnessy

Anthony Zuccaro

Liturgy and Music Staff

Margaret Caldwell, Director of Liturgy and Music

Moira Shaughnessy, Liturgy Assistant

Jill Gahn, Liturgy Assistant

Prayer and Worship Commission

Elizabeth Barrington, Chair

Linda Bergemann

Margaret Caldwell

Jill Gahn

Kate Heinzman

Father Matthew Jacob

James Kochan

Jim Karolewicz

Joanne Plamann

Moira Shaughnessy

Kathy Simon

Al Trenshaw

Mary Tobin