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Ministry Monday will be celebrating the Advent season alongside you through the Advent Series of episodes. The next four weeks of episodes are designed to provide you, pastoral ministers, with added support during, quite frankly, one of the most stressful times of our year. Please also know that we are praying for you as we all journey through Advent and Christmas together!
Each week in the Advent series will be centered around the psalm for that Advent weekend, and will be read at the end of the episode for reflection.
The next episode in Ministry Monday’s Advent series features a conversation with Dr. Benjamin Cornelius-Bates, Professor of Musicianship at Duquesne University. Dr. Cornelius-Bates shares tips on how to improvise on traditional and contemporary Advent hymn tunes this Advent and Christmas season. Ben’s tips are practical for well beyond the Advent season, but I hope that they spark some creativity during a trying time like Advent for the pastoral musician.
SHOW NOTES
Psalm: The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those who sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
Bio: Dr. Benjamin Cornelius-Bates
Dr. Benjamin Cornelius-Bates, organist, improviser, and composer, grew up in Alaska. He earned his BM in organ performance at the University of Montana in Missoula studying with Dr. Nancy Cooper. After moving to Vancouver, British Columbia with his wife, Benjamin studied organ with Rachel Alflatt and composition with her husband Denis Bédard. Benjamin earned his MM in Sacred Music from Duquesne University in 2009 and an Artist’s Diploma in 2011 studying under Dr. Ann Labounsky, emphasizing improvisation. Benjamin has a Doctorate in Music Composition at West Virginia University, where he studied with Dr. Joseph Dangerfield, Dr. Matthew Heap, and Dr. David Taddie. He has competed internationally as an improviser in France, Germany, and the United States and has had numerous commissions including a premier at the 2018 Kansas City American Guild of Organists National Convention.
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