The Last Week - John W. Peterson

[@djembe1969]

I grew up in Cape Town my Dad Danie Petersen taught us the Cantatas of John W Peterson and Don Wyrtzen. he never went to any college or had any formal music training But God opened his eyes and ears to rewrite the music into toniq solva to teach the choirs. i learned these cantatas including King of Kings Born a King etc very happy childhood I had. thank you to two Godly men John W Peterson and Don Wyrtzen who used their musical gifts to change the world of a family and community in Cape Town South Africa in the early 70"s

[@michaelhollander2785]

Mr. Peterson and Mr. Wyrtzen were wonderfully talented men who used their gifts to bring the gospel to many people, and to inspire and uplift Christians. I love singing music which honors God and has the character and doctrinal soundness that are missing from much of the new "contemporary Christian music." I have been a vocalist in many church venues most of my long life, and this music is among the best.

[@owmw1934]

My family quartet theme song. Two have passed but Jesus still lives. Glory to God!

[@Calling_All_Prodigals]

Mr. Wyrtzen, this musical truly walks us through Holy Week and all its emotions. What a cantata to know and love! My Dad, Verne Smith, conducted many of the Peterson/Wyrtzen cantatas through the years. Thankfully, I was able to sing in several. "The Last Week" & "I Love America" were my favorites. Mr. Wyrtzen, I wish you could have seen the multimedia presentation Dad put together for "I Love America"!!! It was amazing ... timed to the music ... and all back before computers and PowerPoint! 😆 Have a blessed Holy Week!

[@odilondasilvarocha]

I heard this wonderful cantata, "in person", back in 1974, by Word of Life Choir, in New Jersey, USA. They performed not intirely, but the main themes. It was wonderful. then I bought the LP album. Now I have it transferred to CD. And made translation into Portuguese;

[@RVGrace]

I would have been in that choir! (If it was in the spring or summer.) I never knew just where we were; I simply got on and off the bus when they told me to - LOL.

[@odilondasilvarocha]

@@RVGrace yes....I believe that was in June, July, for I returnetd to Brazil in August. It was at the Baptist church in Bloomfield, New Jersey

[@JRT5573]

@@odilondasilvarocha (I was accidently in our church's KZbin channel (RVGrace) when I posted that comment. This is my personal channel.) I had a lot of fun singing in that choir!

[@donwyrtzen5271]

THXSM for ur affirmation!

[@Music5616]

Wonderful arranging.

[@JRT5573]

Sang this as a member of the choir at Word of Life Bible Institute in the spring of '74. We got what must have been studio scores for they were handwritten - the cantata had not yet been published. We sang to a tape of the orchestration. On one or two occasions, Don Wyrtzen conducted us. Our choir director was a very by-the-book musician. In the song, "Now In the Upper Room," she had been adamant that we sing it straight - with no "swing." As Don Wyrtzen rehearsed the choir, we came to that piece and had hardly sung a few bars when he stopped us and told us that this song was to be sung "warmly" with some swing. And in no time, weeks of careful rehearsal was forgotten and we sang it as Peterson and Wyrtzen intended. I loved listening to the orchestration and have always wished I could do such things. Peterson had a unique ability to set Scripture to music, and Wyrtzen was great at orchestration - making this among my favorite pieces of music.