Remembering Stephen Paulus

Months after suffering a severe stroke, composer Stephen Paulus died on October 19, 2014. The beauty he created across his 65 years, his unending generosity to young performers and composers, the hair-trigger wit and his slightly devilish smile - all of that and more, over.

Stephen's fans and friends remember exactly where they were when they got the news. My cellphone buzzed in a pocket that Sunday afternoon as I stood on a Boston street corner. A beautiful old church stood nearby, so my wife and I and a few friends stepped in. Just then the choir was finishing their rehearsal of Herbert Howells' lovely Requiem; I'll always remember how those last words, "...they rest from their labors," met our first moments of loss.

Of course the loss was sharpest for Stephen's wife and two sons. Hundreds gathered around them on November 8 and filled his home congregation, House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul. The two-hour service was deeply emotional with remembrances and a handful of Stephen's 500 pieces.

A few lines (by his brilliant longtime librettist, Michael Dennis Browne) of another Paulus masterpiece, sung so beautifully at the service, still echo in the heart a year later. From The Road Home: "Rise up, follow me, come away is the call. With the love in your heart as the only song; There is no such beauty as where you belong. Rise up, follow me, I will lead you home."

One year after his passing, we honor the memory and music of Stephen Paulus with a recording of his memorial service. Recorded November 8, 2014 Recording Engineer: Preston Smith, House of Hope Presbyterian Church 1978 Fisk (IV/97r) St. Paul, MN.

Part 1

Triptych (2000) Stephen Paulus

i. Like An Ever-Rolling Stream (4:20)

ii. Still Be My Vision (4:12)

iii. As If The Whole Creation Cried (3:44)

A Refined Reflection, fr The Baronian Suite • Stephen Paulus Marie Spar Dymit, soprano

Opening Words & Invocation - Rev. David A. Van Dyke

Hymn: God With Me - Stephen Paulus

Anthem: The Road Home * - Stephen Paulus

Scripture Readings: Psalm 46; Philippians 4:4-8

Scripture & Homily: Revelation 7:9-17

Anthem: Nunc Dimittis * - Stephen Paulus

Part 2

Remembrances & Tributes -Terry & Andrew Paulus

My Romance - Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart; Greg Paulus, trumpet; Alex Scherber, piano

Hymn for Dad (11-3-14) Greg Paulus; Greg Paulus, trumpet; Mike Lewis, saxophone, Bryan Nichols, piano; Bram Kincheloe, drums Adam Linz, bass; House of Hope Choirs; Aaron David Miller, organ

Remembrances & Tributes - Fr Michael O'Connell, Michael Dennis Brown

Pilgrim's Hymn * Stephen Paulus

Prayers of Thanksgiving & Lord's Prayer - Van Dyke

Hymn: When in Our Music God is Glorified Benediction - Van Dyke

When In Our Music God is Glorified • - Stephen Paulus

Improvisation-Meditation • Aaron David Miller (b.1972)

*House of Hope Choirs/Matthew Culloton, director; •Aaron David Miller, organist

Gallery

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