Holy Manna

Anne Krentz Organ, 2023.

For solo instrument with keyboard accompaniment. Instruments available: flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, bari sax, horn in F, trumpet, trombone, tuba, violin, viola, cello.

Holy Manna is a theme and variations based on an American folk tune found in the shape-note hymnal The Southern Harmony (1835). The melody has wide ecumenical usage. It is found in over 200 hymnals today, including both ELW and LSB. It is set to two different texts in ELW: # 461 All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly, and # 771 God, Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens. It is set to three different texts in LSB: # 540 Christ, the Word of God Incarnate; # 584 Faith and Truth and Life Bestowing; and # 782 Gracious God, You Send Great Blessings. The work can be performed in its entirety, or as individual movements.