Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Wayne Wold

Composer Wayne L. Wold

Modern Message with a Timeless Voice

Lighting of the Advent wreath by our children is a much-anticipated event during worship as we approach Christmas at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Each week as a flame is added, the congregation sings a short hymn --- “Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah“--- whose ancient-sounding melody and hopeful words seem worlds away from our Gaithersburg church.

But did you realize its composer is alive and living in Maryland, and he practices his creative trade just up the road in Frederick?

“My first thought was to set the text to an Israeli folk song. There’s a great symbolic connection with our faith and the Jewish tradition, “ explained composer Wayne L. Wold. Wold talked recently about his craft, taking a holiday break from his post as Associate Professor of Music and College Organist at Hood College. He’s served there since 1990.

Wold wrote the text for “Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah” in 1984 as one of a set of three seasonal worship songs. It expresses the anticipation as well as the excitement of Christ’s coming. Wold said he’s delighted and a bit surprised that this song has endured as a favorite of countless congregations. It now appears in its second hymnal published for worship by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

“Light one candle to watch for Messiah: Let the light banish darkness.

He shall bring salvation to Israel, God fulfills the promise.

Light two candles to watch for Messiah: Let the light banish darkness.

He shall feed the flock like a shepherd, gently lead them homeward.

Light three candles to watch for Messiah: Let the light banish darkness.

Lift your heads and lift high the gateway for the King of glory.

Light four candles to watch for Messiah: Let the light banish darkness.

He is coming, tell the glad tiding. Let your lights be shining!” --- Wayne L. Wold, Fortress Press, 1984. (Found as No. 630 in the With One Voice hymnal, published 1995; and No. 240 in the new Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal, published 2006.)

The minor-key Yiddish folk tune has “a yearning and longing to it, but it’s actually a lullaby by usage,” Wold said. Its range is comfortable for adults’ as well as children’s voices. Wold pointed out that even though he’s been a published composer of hymns, anthems and instrumental works for more than 20 years, “Light One Candle” was only his second published piece.

This very sing-able hymn is used by so many churches around the world --- including by Roman Catholics and other Christian denominations --- that it was a natural to be included in the new songbook. Wold traveled back and forth between Maryland and Chicago over the past several years, serving on the ELCA’s hymn selection team. He has a good ear for what appeals to worshippers in its message, is appropriate for the seasons of the church year, and what attracts the singers to join in.

“My heritage is Lutheran, so I grew up with a very strong tradition of hymn singing. The centrality of congregational song is so important in expressing our faith,” he said. Sacred composition is something he came to naturally, he said, adding there are a number of pastors in his family tree.

Born in 1954 in Minnesota, Wold holds a B.M. degree from Concordia College, an M.S.M. degree from Wittenberg University and is working toward a D.M.A. degree at Shenandoah University. At Hood College, Wold teaches music theory and composition, gives private lessons in organ and harpsichord, and is a member of the Hood Chamber Players.

In addition to his work at Hood, he is active as a church musician, composer, author, performer and clinician. He serves as Director of Chapel Music at Camp David, the U.S. Presidential retreat near Thurmont, Maryland.

More than 100 of his compositions are published by 14 different companies in the U.S. and Australia, and include 15 volumes of works for organ, 30 choir anthems, a children's musical, a recorder suite and several hymn tunes. Wold also is a published poet, the author of numerous articles in professional journals, of a book of devotions for church choirs and of a book on pastoral care for choirs.

Locally, he performs on organ and harpsichord as a soloist and in ensembles and leads several hymn festivals each year. He has performed with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra; at New York City's Lincoln Center; and in several churches in Germany, Austria and France. He has served as a clinician for Choristers Guild, the American Guild of Organists, the Hymn Society, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians and numerous publishing companies. He recently completed four years as president of Region One of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians and he is past dean of the Central Maryland Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

---- Contributed by Penny Risen