Go ahead and pull people’s legs if it amuses you. I sure do.

But remember this: later, when you say things that are not true, they might not believe you when you are in earnest.

For example: suppose I tell you that my great-grandfather’s name was Martin Luther Sowash.

You are suspicious. You anticipate a punch line. Ba dum tss!

I swear it’s true. I even have his ceremonial Masonic sword; his name is engraved on the blade.

My family were Lutherans, full tilt. My cousin Marilyn met Phil, her husband-to-be, at Wittenberg University and he has served God as a Lutheran pastor in the half century since.

There were comic sides to our Lutheranism though they didn’t always seem funny at the time. If my oh-so-Lutheran and openly anti-Catholic Grandma Sowash heard me refer to my father as “Dad,” she would say, “You daresn’t call your father ”Dad.” That is what the Irish Catholics call their fathers. You must call your father ”Papa” like a good Lutheran boy.”

Really? Do you suspect that I am pulling your leg? I am not. It strikes me as funny today but Grandma was in earnest.

My own kids have always called me Papa (or Pops) and I love it but it has nothing to do with Lutheran-Catholic tensions, if such even exist any more.

Among the many good things about growing up Lutheran was that I came under the spell of the majestic hymns we sang in church and was moved by the frequent performances of Bach’s organ music as preludes and postludes to worship services.

Bach was Lutheran, we were made to know, and his “chorale preludes” were regular featured in our services.

Non-Lutherans ask, “What, pray, is a chorale prelude?”

Wiki says: “A chorale prelude is a short liturgical composition for organ using a chorale tune as its basis. It was a predominant element of the musical style of the German Baroque era and reached its culmination in the works of J.S. Bach, who wrote 46 of them.”

Why so many? They were used in worship services to introduce the hymn about to be sung by the congregation. That was often the way we used them, too.

One of Bach’s best known chorale preludes is “Sheep May Safely Graze.” You would surely recognize it. Another is based on "Lasst uns erfreuen herzlich sehr" (Let us rejoice most heartily), a hymn tune that came into existence around 1623. Bach, born in 1685, looked backward for inspiration. Not all great composers are innovators.

I have never written music for the organ but I did write a “chorale prelude” for solo cello. Today I want to share a recording of it played by my friend the great cellist Michael Ronstadt.

I used the chorale tune "Lasst uns erfreuen” which you will hear, played pizzicato, beginning at 1:37. Each phrase of the tune is presented separately, always pizzicato, while the “interruptions” between phrases are bowed. It almost sounds as if two instruments are playing!

I really like Michael’s enthusiastic rendition of this piece.

My great-grandfather Martin Luther Sowash would be proud!

To hear “Chorale Prelude” played by cellist Michael Ronstadt, click on the link above.

There's also a link to a PDF of the score.

I'd love to know what you think about this music; reply if you're inclined. But please don't feel that you are expected to reply. I'm just glad to share my work in this way.

As always, feel free to forward this message to friends who might enjoy it. If you’re a cellist and would like to play this piece in church or elsewhere, feel free to print the PDF and play it to your heart’s content! No fees, no permission required. My music is my gift to whoever enjoys it.

Anyone can be on my little list of recipients for these mpFrees (as I call these musical emails). To sign up, people can email me at rick@sowash.com, sending just one word: "Yes." I'll know what it means.

Rick Sowash
Cincinnati, OH
September 15, 2024