This Sunday, Dec. 21 at 11 a.m, First Presbyterian Church (USA) of Peachtree City will present Lessons and Carols to celebrate the Advent season. One of the choir anthems, Star in the East, will be performed for the first time in Peachtree City.
Composed in 2014 by Griffin resident William A. Pasch and dedicated to the First Presbyterian choir and its director, David Stivers, Star in the East, was recently published by Augsburg Fortress, and has sold approximately 2,500 copies.
Star in the East is an arrangement of a folk hymn from the rough-hewn American “Sacred Harp” tradition, which is rooted in the immigration from the British Isles to the Eastern U.S. in the 17th century.
Pasch’s arrangement adds reflection on the holy mysteries of the Nativity with a brief soprano descant on the ancient hymn “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.” It also focuses on the “Morning Star” tradition and uses a familiar text by Reginald Heber (1783-1826) found in many Christian hymnals still today.
Pasch is organist of First Presbyterian and also professor of English, emeritus, at Clayton State University.
He has published more than a dozen choral anthems and has won prizes in national hymn contests for his compositions and hymn texts.
First Presbyterian Church is at 206 Willowbend Road, Peachtree City near the library/city hall complex.
For directions or more information, visit www.firstpresptc.org, phone 770/487-7757, or email FirstPresbyterian@FirstPresPTC.org.
