August 27, 2026 - Good Morning! It’s Thursday, August 27.
Last Sunday morning I had the pleasure of playing a pipe organ for the worship service of a church here in East Texas. There’s nothing quite like the sound and the power of a pipe organ. When the service ended I added a postlude and “let all the stops out”! I chose the classic hymn “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”. I hope it inspired that congregation to move into their week with hearts full of praise. It certainly inspired me, and reminded me of this story.
About 200 years ago, Ludwig van Beethoven began writing what would turn out to be the last great work of his legendary career - his Ninth Symphony. It premiered in Vienna in 1824, three years before his death. Beethoven had not been on a stage for 12 years and, by this time, was almost completely deaf. The orchestra was the largest he had ever used, one of the largest ever assembled. And the final movement, for the first time in the history of the symphony, featured a choir. The "Choral Symphony" is regarded as one of Beethoven's greatest creations and ranks among the most highly regarded musical pieces in history.
Beethoven was on stage at the premiere, but so was the orchestra's conductor, who had given the players strict instructions to ignore any directions that the old maestro might give. The orchestra looked only to the conductor as Beethoven gestured wildly out of tempo. Famously, at the close of the piece, and as the audience rose with thunderous applause, the deaf master was facing the orchestra and completely unaware of the ovation. The alto soloist, 20-year-old Caroline Unger, took Beethoven by the arm and gently turned him around to receive his praise.
I had the opportunity to sing Beethoven's Ninth in 1984 with the Houston Symphony Chorus. It remains one of the most memorable musical moments of my life. But I've also had the chance to sing this immortal tune on many Sunday mornings, as probably have you. In 1907, the great composer's melody was used to accompany these lyrics of transcendent praise. Sing them again today!
Joyful, joyful we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
