For Daryl: I REFUSE to Say Goodbye!

Tomorrow is a special day at South Main Baptist Church.  We have been blessed -- and spoiled -- by this wonderful young man who has enriched our worship, and for those of us who had the opportunity to commune with him, our lives in other ways as well.  To say he is a joy to work with, and under, sounds understated and trite.

When playing the organ or directing our choirs (voice or handbells)  he is fiercely focused, concentrated and intentional, with a commanding presence that says "stay with me now, work with me here" without being brash, harsh, or overbearing.  When communing with him he is sweet, personable and funny, with a smile that makes me want to call him "son."

He makes the organ an extension of himself -- or is it the other way around?  And he is one of the few musicians I know who flawlessly transitions from organ to piano.  (For me, the only thing these two instruments have in common is the keyboard.  Most folks think if you can play one you can play the other; the truth is that just isn't true!)

When Daryl came to South Main Baptist in 2003, he was already an awesome talent.  We have had the privilege of watching him grow.  He has a knack for choosing music for worship that is appropriate, thought provoking, and soul-stirring.  Despite his mastery at the pipe organ, one song I will remember for years to come was his piano prelude "I Gave My Life for Thee."  I have never heard anything quite so moving.

Daryl's interpretive abilities are second to none.  I will not forget that he came to me and asked for "pointers" on playing gospel music during the time we were preparing to celebrate South Main's 100th birthday.  We spent a few minutes in the sanctuary working on gospel music nuances.  I remember saying "That's it!  You got it!"  He replied, "but I don't feel it yet."   But he really did get it!  He later played works of my very favorite 20th century composer, the late Glenn Edward Burleigh, who was a classically trained and phenomenal pianist.  Glenn had a way of integrated all genres of music into his compositions which, still, give his music a unique style and sound -- NOT the stereotypical three-chord ditties many automatically dub as "gospel music."  When Daryl plays Burleigh, it is as if Glenn himself is sitting at the piano.

So what does all that have to do with tomorrow being a special day at South Main Baptist Church?  Well, it is Daryl's last day as our organist and music associate.  Even while we are happy for his taking the next step in his music ministry career, I cannot help but nurse my aching heart.   So, I will not say "goodbye," Daryl, just "see you later."  And, indeed, I shall.

Remembering Glenn and Charles

I have the best of both worlds. While I enjoy formally structured music, and am privileged to know a plethora of talented musicians (SMBC's Daryl Robinson, for one), who can properly execute the most intricate musical works and make such execution appear to be effortless, I also revel in the soul-stirring spontaneity of improvisational music, such as Glenn Burleigh's live rendition of one of my most favorite hymns.  This is a fitting time for me to find this recording, as it was just three years ago, around this time, that Glenn left this earth for a better life.  He is still missed by many, including me.  And even three years later, the gifts our God gave us through Glenn and his musical talent, are still giving; over, continuously we who love Glenn and his music are still reaping the benefits of those blessings.

On a similar note, just a few days ago, we celebrated the birthday of Charles Richards.  He, too, was a talented musician.  Unlike Glenn, he was not known nationwide.  He served same family of God here in Houston for more than 35 years.  He was the consummate gospel organist with a unique sound that I have never heard duplicated.   And he was much more than an organist.  Just as he blended his own sound on the Hammond organ, he trained and blended voices to sing God's praises.    It just so happens he really liked Glenn's music and incorporated it into his music ministry frequently.  Charles left this earth for a better life earlier this year.  He too is missed by many, including me.  

Now, about the link:  There may be one who listens to this recording and cannot understand what Glenn did with this lovely hymn.  Where did all that come from?  That's not the way it's supposed to go!  Why did he do that?  When is he going to resolve that phrase?  How could he do that?    Charles would understand.  It's just a thing that happens when the Spirit is like fire in your bones.   He leads you down paths you would not normally take -- many times well off the printed page; He pulls stuff out of you, the existence of which you are quite ignorant; and even while your heart pounds so hard you know it will soon explode, and you know for sure that you are soaring among the clouds, He keeps you from going off the deep end.  And when it's all over, He sets you down gently and safely.   And, you understand your feet are actually firmly planted -- on the ground.

Even while you're the same, you're not quite -- there's a little something different.  It may be a new perspective of an old issue, or a sense of peace that wasn't there before, or an urge to bridge the chasm of a derailed relationship.  It's kind of like something for which Pastor Steve prays when he asks God to speak to us through His Word, so that we will be less of what we used to be, and more of what we ought to be, through Christ Jesus.  What I'm saying is that the Word of God, even through a hymn, has transformative powers.  To one who cannot understand, I can only refer you to the words to this awesome hymn, which are themselves more than sufficient to make my heart soar.   And if those lyrics are not sufficient, feel free to go to the source:  Lamentations 3:23.  In the meantime, I believe I'll hobble upstairs and visit this hymn for myself -- just for a while.  As for you, the reader, visit Glenn's rendition here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR2hoEN2t2M

July 5: Remembering Glenn Edward Burleigh

On this day, not nearly enough years ago for him to have gone from labor to reward (perhaps for him, but not for us who are left behind and miss him dearly), a musical giant was born into a family of musicians and ministers.  I am not familiar with his folks, but am blessed for having known Glenn Edward Burleigh.  And even now, when his soul is at rest, I take great joy and comfort in visiting his music often. 

As powerful as it was, Glenn's music was not for everyone.  He did not write to be a commercial success.  He did not write for the crossover market.  He did not write jingles on demand.  He wrote for the Lord, to His glory.  

There were no national headlines when Glenn passed away -- typical, as society is only shocked into mourning those whose monied lives were sensational, tawdry, messes -- while those who went about the business of living lives worthy of the breath God gave them, fade away as unsung heroes. This cannot happen on my watch, nor the watch of anyone who is blessed by the singing or hearing of works like --

• Order My Steps 
• Well, the Savior is Born 
• You Shall Be Free Indeed  
• I'm Gonna Rise 
• Just Because You're God 
• What Does All This Mean 
• You Must Be Like a Child 
• I Know 
• That My Redeemer Liveth
• Spiritual Medley Jesus Doeth 
• All Things Well 
• Agnus Dei 

or any number of the many original compositions and hymn arrangements, the notes of which were poured out of the windows of heaven and into the soul of Glenn Edward Burleigh and of which he made a record so as to be preserved for the edifying of the body of Christ, the encouragement of the souls of believers, and the hearing of the Gospel set to music so as to witness to the lost.

I have said before, and say now, that Glenn's music transcends time, generations, races, cultures, denominations, ethnicities, worship styles, and any other barrier that humankind may use to divide us.  Rather than exclusionary, Glenn used music to bring us together, to include all at the table.  We dare not let it gather dust, go unplayed or unsung.  To do so would be to slap God in His face, and tell Him we do not want and we do not appreciate His gifts.  I dare not.  How about you?

Remembering Glenn Edward Burleigh

Since finishing Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, a mammoth work comprised of more than 40 CDs, the time spent in my Jeep (which is more than I care to think of) has been made bearable by some odd music CDs -- a mixed bag including Il Divo, Rodrigo, Shirley Ceasar, Frank Sinatra & Quincy Jones, Michael Bolton, the Chicago soundtrack, Mozart's 41st Symphony (I don't know what orchestra or conductor, nor do I care to know) and Part II of Glenn Edward Burleigh's Christmas cantata, Born to Die. I listed Bureligh's recording last because once I reached that one I have continually pressed its disc number to restart it from the beginning once it has played through. And one must dispell the notion that Born to Die is fraught with songs of tinkling bells, hay rides, snow and other such nonsense. Born to Die is pure Gospel -- Good News -- about the coming of Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Born to Die tells not just the who -- the story of the birth of Jesus -- but the how and the why -- the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus so that the world might be saved. [see John 3:16-17, The Holy Bible]

For those of you who are not familiar with Burleigh's music, his lyrics are well grounded in the Holy Bible, sometimes verbatim (depending on the translation), and his writing style is all over the musical spectrum. While he may be best known as the composer of Order of My Steps, a traditional gospel song, Burleigh's musical compositions are infused with many different genres. He was classically trained in music and reborn of the Holy Spirit. That is a tremendous combination! Some people are of the school of thought that there is a tedious sameness about music of the faithful. Not so. Hymns and anthems are dull and plodding, old and stale, only if one refuses to see that the words give them new life whenever sung by those who understand and appreciate their meaning. While this writer believes there is no tedious sameness to the music of the faithful, she recognizes well that only very infrequently someone like Burleigh comes along, sharing his faith through his fingertips in a way that is foreign to most. (That is, because folks tend to expect the dull, plodding, old, stale, and tedious sameness ad nauseum, of "church" music.) In fact, she knows of only one other, whose musicianship she has experienced from a performance perspective, but has yet to experience his compositions or arrangements. Perhaps one day . . . but for now, back to Burleigh.

I first experienced Glenn's music when he was the Minister of Music at Good Hope Baptist Church here in Houston, Texas. That was a couple of decades (and then some) ago, as my very much now grown up daughter was just a child. While we had never met, I remember approaching him after a concert at Good Hope and telling him that his music is timeless and I believe it will be sung for decades and decades to come. Several years later it was my blessed pleasure to meet him face-to-face and work with him on his music catalog. After he left Houston we stayed in touch, though infrequently. That was okay, because his music was always near. Picking up a familiar piece of Burleigh's music was like picking up a telephone for a brief conversation with him. Picking up a new piece of Burleigh's music was like learning something new about him. In that way, even though I spoke with him only occasionally, saw him perhaps once or twice a year when he came to Houston, and exchanged emails now and then, he was as near as sitting at a piano and playing one of his songs, or just singing one, even in my head, only to be heard by me and my God.

And God is a fitting subject on which to end this writing. For it is not so much Glenn Burleigh as it was his willingness to empty himself and allow the Spirit of God to fill him in such a way as to express and live out his faith through his music, touching countless lives, even those who know not that the music is of his hand, from his mind and heart, and even those who are yet to hear it.

Thank You, God, for Your unmerited favor that manifested itself in the life of Glenn Edward Burleigh and Your gift to us through him -- music for now and years to come.