Our gang is meeting to play music on December 30th. Having been prevented from playing Christmas carols together by other commitments (the birth of a granddaughter, for example) we want to play Christmas music then.

To be in keeping with the season, I have been looking for music which is for Epiphany, the visit of the wise men from the east. One of the songs I found is "Songs of Thankfulness and Praise," which is in many hymnals. I always thought this a rather drab little thing, but yesterday it occurred to me that it could played in a sprightly Baroque style, especially if the words were ignored.

I found a harmonization of the tune (named "Salzburg) by J.S. Bach in the Lutheran Hymnal. I did what I had learned in a workshop - turned the tenor line into a descant by raising it a couple of octaves and making it more twittery. The song in the Hymnal was a solemn one, with sad dissonances unknown to any guitar player, so I threw those dissonant notes out. Sorry, Herr Bach. The result is a piece which will keep our guitarist moving, but she likes that.

I have sent the MIDI to Joe for posting, and if Joe is available, it should appear soon. You will hear the tune alone at first, then the harmonization for simulated flute recorder and harp

Before our group meets I will probably prepare a higher, nonvocal version to accommodate the flutes. Flutes like to play high.

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