by Fred Moleck
The Divine St. John the Divine Cathedral New York City
Every so often I find it necessary to worship in a high church liturgy. First of all, I don’t have to play or conduct or take up the collection.Second of all, there is a rhythm and ethos of “smells and bells” (incense and jingling thuribles to the uninitiated) that nourishes me and calms my drooping spirit.
The smells and bells work best in a large space, with flawlessly choreographed processions and movements.
The large space provides the reverberant acoustic that enhances the sound of the music and sung prayer of the Episcopal liturgy of the Sunday Eucharist.
That space is St. John the Divine Cathedral in New York City, the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. It has been a center for creative leadership in the arts in New York, if not, the whole world.
For example. the cathedral’s newsletter describes their Full Day Festival of the arts, which occurred on December 6 of the last year.
More than 5,000 people visited the Cathedral on December 6, 2008, for a full day of music, dance, and comedy performances. In what is to become an annual event, more than 100 singers, musicians, dancers, storytellers, clowns and performance artists took one of the five stages set up throughout the Cathedral or filled the A.C.T. gymnasiums.
That is but one event. Dozens of concerts, art displays, and workshops take place during the year. The place seethes with creativity.
Another factor that motivated my visit last week was to hear the newly restored Aeolian-Skinner organ. It was a victim of a fire on December 8, 2001, which damaged the side chapels and gift store.
After seven years of cleaning and restoration work, the Cathedral and the Great Organ were rededicated on November 30, 2008.
It was then the organ was first heard after seven muted years; thus, my Easter week pilgrimage. I was not disappointed.
The Eucharist began at 11:00 AM, announced by the state trumpet (en chamade) anchored in the west entrance. That in itself blew me out of my chair.
Others around me also had to gain new footing after the fanfare. We all knew that the organ was alive and well.
Bruce Neswick, the cathedral’s organist and choir master, was out on a concert tour, which was a disappointment. I looked forward to hearing his brilliant playing and improvisations.
However, my disappointment was short-lived after the organ prelude. James Wetzel was at the console.
He is one of two organ scholars at the cathedral, soon to be a graduate of the Juilliard School, and, even better, from the Pittsburgh area.
Before the service, one of the docents took me to the rehearsal room where the choir was rehearsing, and I waved to him to announce that I had arrived.
Closer to reality was the docent going to the open door and asking, “Is James Wetzel here?” I was so embarrassed. Happily, the rehearsal did not grind to a halt, and he and I made eye contact.
By now, my face was beet red as the docent took me back to my seat in the nave.
His playing of major organ repertory and his service playing were magnificent. He also has a sense of humor.
For example, the communion hymn was “We walk by faith and not by sight” sung to the tune of ST. BOTOLPH, which was unknown to me.
After the completion of the hymn he continued to improvise quietly as the communion rite was finished. He improvised over the tune SHANTI, which Marty Haugen used for his setting of “We walk by faith.”It was his musical hello in coded language that Catholic musicians would know. I smiled knowingly to myself and my companion.
After the service, I greeted James, praised his playing, and thanked him for the musical communication. We agreed that esoteric humor is the best humor.
How divine, how simply divine! Alleluia.
You can reach Fred Moleck via email at fmoleck@comcast.net