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Treasures of the Singing Church: Organ Literature for the Liturgical Year Based on Hymn Tunes of the Seventeenth Century Volume 1 (Tunes A-H) Dictionaries often define treasures as being jewels or precious objects that are highly valued because of their great worth. Hymns are great treasures for the Church. Through them the Word of God and the teachings of the Church have been sung into the hearts of Christian believers throughout the two thousand years of the Church. The vitality of the hymnic treasures that flowed from theReformation is highlighted in the recording set, Heirs of the Reformation: Treasures of the Singing Church 99-2258 . The treasure of hymns written shortly after the Reformation continued to sing of a loving God and to confess God's Son, Jesus Christ, as the Savior this world needs. Composers from all ages have found in these hymns a great resource to be explored in their compositions for instruments and voices. In this collection of organ preludes, a variety of composers, old and new, ensurethat this great tradition continues. Of the many composers represented here, Johann Gottfried Walther (1684-1748), a German composer and cousin of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), provides many of the examples of exploring the hymn tunes of this era. Present-day composers build on the work of Walther andothers. Occasion: Advent, Baptismal Life, Beginning of Service, Close of Service, Epiphany, Hope and Comfort, Justification, Lord's Supper, Sanctification, Trust, Word of God

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