Calendar
THE YEAR 2004
Commemoration Year 2004 marked the 10th
Anniversary of Borghild Jacobson's death and the 10th Anniversary
of the Reformation Festival at Washington National Cathedral,
a celebration which featured her signature hymn, "This My
Church Shall Be," as its theme hymn.
THE YEARS 2005 & 2006
Use of Borghild Jacobson's hymns continues
in congregations and organizations across the country, incorporating
her music in worship services, anniversary events and other special
occasions.
THE YEAR 2007
Commemoration Year 2007 will be a significant
milestone because it marks the 25th Anniversary of the composition
of the words and music for "This My Church Shall Be."
Planners welcome your ideas and participation.
Activity Reports
Thank you to the Friends of Borghild Jacobson who contributed information for the following project summaries.
Festivals and other special programs highlighted a Commemoration Year featuring the music of Borghild Jacobson. The Oshkosh composer wrote the words and music to more than 200 vocal works including hymns, choral anthems, quartets, duets, rounds and solos. The Commemoration Year events were concentrated in 2004 but overlapped into the late months of 2003 and early 2005. "We were thrilled with the enthusiastic participation in the celebration," said Mark E. Bloedow, Madison, WI, co-director of the project with Harvey K. Jacobson, Borghild's husband.
Festivals, Concerts, Special Programs
Celebrate Music of Borghild Jacobson
Michigan
Concert in Michigan. "This My Church Shall Be" was
sung by the congregation at a concert presented by The American
Chorale of Sacred Music on Nov. 2, 2003, at First Presbyterian
Church, Ann Arbor. The event was a Service of Solemn Evensong
for the Festivals of Reformation and All Saints. Donald Williams,
director, said the Chorale has incorporated the music of Borghild
Jacobson in a variety of presentations, including a concert in
1997 at Concordia College, Ann Arbor, which was recorded for
issuance by CaBellettA Enterprises, Ypsilanti, Mich.
Minnesota
Rally Sundays. A number of congregations sing "This My Church
Shall Be" at Rally Sundays. Example: The choir at New Hope
Lutheran Church, Alverado, MN, sang the hymn Sept. 12, 2004.
Homecoming Tribute in Minnesota. Borghild's
music was incorporated into Homecoming festivities at her alma
mater, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. A new arrangement of
"Evening Hymn" was sung by Borghild's classmates at
the 50th
Reunion of the Class of 1954, at a gathering on the campus, Oct.
9, 2004. The arrangement by Laree Trollinger was presented under
a revised title, "Christmas Prayer."
New York
Festive Occasions in New York. "Now Woven Anew" was
Hymn of the Day at the worship service celebrating St. Mary the
Virgin, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ at a church in Queens,
New York City. The parish, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Christ,
also served as host to an annual Eucharistic Conference Sept.
25, 2004, at which "Evening Hymn" was sung as the Office
Hymn at the Solemn Sung Vespers which closed the conference,
said Pastor Aubrey N. Bougher. Located 15 minutes from JFK Airport,
the congregation has been familiar with Borghild's hymns for
more than 20 years. "This My Church Shall Be" was Hymn
of the Day at the congregation's 90th Anniversary and Rededication
ceremony in May 2003.
Oregon
Reformation Sunday in Oregon. "This My Church Shall Be"
was sung by the congregation at Luther Memorial Church, Portland,
OR, Oct. 31, 2004. Pastor Gregory Ames, who noted that the hymn
has been sung by his parishioners for many years, said this occasion
was especially poignant because it occurred precisely 10 years
after the "This My Church Shall Be" Reformation Festival
at Washington National Cathedral in October 1994.
Pennsylvania
Activities in Pennsylvania. Through the years Borghild's works
have been used by several Pennsylvania churches, especially those
in the Bethlehem and Allentown regions. Additional reports have
come from Reading, Pa., where Laree Trollinger, professor emerita
of music, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, wrote a new arrangement
for "Evening Hymn." Retitled "Christmas Prayer,"
it received one of its first presentations at Atonement Lutheran
Church, Wyomissing, in October 2004.
Washington
Women's Caucus in Washington. The Seattle chapter of the Lutheran
Women's Caucus devoted its February 2004 meeting to "Seven
Hymns by Borghild Jacobson," the hymns published in
Autumn 2003 by Maestro Productions, Inc. Members sang and discussed
the hymns in a program directed by Olive Spannaus.
Wisconsin
Commemorative Concert in Oshkosh, WI. Fourteen works by Borghild
Jacobson were featured at "A Cathedral of Song," a
commemorative concert held March 28, 2004, at Evergreen Retirement
Community, Oshkosh, WI. A capacity crowd attended the event,
which featured performances by Wisconsin vocalists and instrumentalists
and a hymn-sing by the audience. The concert was open to the
public and was followed by a festive reception in the Fireside
Lounge. For several weeks Evergreen displayed an exhibit, "Remembering
Borghild Jacobson," which included photographs, clippings,
music and commentary designed to honor the music and life of
Borghild Jacobson. The celebration was directed by Linda Greene,
event resources coordinator at Evergreen.
Church Musicians' Day in Madison, WI. Mark Bloedow presented a review of the "Seven Hymns by Borghild Jacobson" packet as part of a shared session on Women Hymn Writers included in the offerings for Church Musicians' Day hosted by the Madison area Association of Church Musicians, Madison, WI, Sept. 11, 2004.
Ecumenical Hymn Festival in Oshkosh, WI. Fifteen works of Borghild Jacobson were featured at a Hymn Festival in Oshkosh, WI, Jan. 30, 2005. Titled "Her Song Goes On," the ecumenical event attracted a capacity crowd at First Congregational Church and in many ways served as a culminating event to Commemoration Year 2004. The event featured a massed choir from Fox Cities churches, a children's choir from Trinity Lutheran School, Menasha, soloists, duets and congregational singing. The festival was sponsored by First Congregational Church of Oshkosh and Maestro Productions, Inc. Co-chairs were Mark E. Bloedow, Executive Director, Maestro Productions, Inc., and Joanne Peterson, Organist and Choir Director at First Congregational Church.
Commissions and Publications. A concertato setting of the hymn, "When Mary Came With Rich Perfume," was commissioned for the "Her Song Goes On" Hymn Festival from Dr. Kenneth T. Kosche of Concordia University, Mequon, WI. A Commemoration Packet, "Seven Hymns by Borghild Jacobson," was published in Autumn 2003 by Maestro Productions, Inc. All hymns in the packet are suitable for congregational singing and include the unison and/or four-part accompaniment, as well as a reproducible melody-line-only setting for use in worship bulletins.
Outreach through print, broadcast media. Coverage of Commemoration Year activities occurred in newspapers, radio, television and congregational newsletters and bulletins. An illustrated news feature article in the Oshkosh Northwestern, Jan. 16, 2005, was headlined, "The Music Lives On: Concert to Memorialize a Legend." Oshkosh Community Access Television (OCAT) covered the Hymn Festival in January 2005. Replays of the complete Hymn Festival program have appeared on CATV2, Oshkosh, and EVTV, Oshkosh. "This My Church Shall Be" is sung as the theme song for weekly broadcasts of videotaped worship services on Channel 10, Oshkosh. Many congregational and organizational publications have carried reports about Commemoration Year 2004.
Various States
Annual Meetings. A number of churches open or close annual meetings
with "This My Church Shall Be." Among the congregations
reporting annual meeting usage in 2004 and/or 2005 were St. Peter
United Church of Christ, Northbrook, IL; First Congregational
Church, UCC, Sheboygan, WI, First English Lutheran Church, Oshkosh,
WI, and St. John Lutheran Church, Green Bay, WI. One choir director
wrote, "The text seems to set just the right mood for contemplation
of the role of the annual meeting in our church life and the
responsibilities of each of us in the church body."
Congregational Worship and Special Events. Works by Borghild have found their way into the repertoire of many Christian assemblies. This has been fostered in large part by church musicians and pastors who have increasingly incorporated Borghild's hymns and songs in their music programs and helped others to discover, perform and share her music. Several congregations make Borghild's music an integral part of congregational worship, using her compositions for weekly services and emphases during various seasons of the Christian year. Examples are: "Our Lord the Night He Was Betrayed," Communion hymn, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Madison, WI; "I Will Magnify the Lord," Lenten service, First Presbyterian Church, Oshkosh, WI; "My Gift," concert at Children's Choir Workshop, Trinity Lutheran Church, Neenah, WI; "Via Dolorosa" and "I Know Him," Palm Sunday, First English Lutheran Church, Oshkosh, WI; "This My Church Shall Be," First Communion for 4th, 5th and 6th Graders, United Lutheran Church, Langdon, ND; and "Behold I Send You" plus four other songs by Borghild, prelude selections in wedding ceremony, Northwest Hills United Church of Christ, Omaha, NE.
Diverse Ministry. The diversity of usage of Borghild's creative works is evident as correspondents send reports from around the nation. Her hymns and songs have been used by music directors in nine denominations. A hospital in the Minneapolis-St.Paul area is using her compositions in its music therapy program. A women in Oshkosh plays "This My Church Shall Be" when she gives solo performances on the hammer dulcimer.
Expansion of Website. Information about Commemoration Year activities, biographical background on Borghild Jacobson, commentary on her music and "Where to Order Music" may be found at: www.maestromeb.com
Growth of Donor Network. Financial support
for the Borghild Jacobson Commemoration Fund has been received
from individuals and organizations in 10 states--California,
Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota,
Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin.
