I Sing for Joy in the Lord

Jacob Van Vleck (1751-1831) was born to a Dutch family in New York. He was educated in Nazareth and went to Germany for theological training at Barby. He returned to America in 1778 to serve as assistant pastor in Bethlehem and from 1790-1800 was inspector of the girls' school there. He then served in Nazareth, Lititz, and Salem, where he succeeded Bishop Herbst in 1812. He himself was consecrated a bishop in 1815. Van Vleck was a fine performer on the violin and keyboard instruments, and his keyboard style was complimented by the Marquis de Chastellux, a French aide to General Washington during the Revolution. Van Vleck also contributed to the development of the Collegium musicum in Bethlehem. His few compositions evidence considerable talent, though his church duties seem to have left little time for music in his later years. He died in Bethlehem in 1831 at the age of eighty.

I Sing for Joy in the Lord was edited from a manuscript in Johannes Herbst's Lieder zum Singen am Klavier in the Herbst Collection. The string parts were arranged by Nola Reed Knouse for this Festival. The text is from Isaiah 61:10.

This anthem is published in honor of Carol Southerland, for her many years of dedication to music through Home Moravian Church, the Moramus Chorale, and the Moravian Music Foundation and Festivals.