Lent [and Holy Week] begins the second great division of the Church Year. Lent is a time of preparation for Easter. In the Early Church it was a period of preparation for the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, which would take place on the Vigil of Easter. This preparation included fasting and other spiritual disciplines. Along with the emphasis on baptismal preparation, but perhaps not associated directly with it, was the use of Lent as the final period of penance in preparation for the rite of reconciliation on Maundy Thursday. After both of these purposes fell away, Lent became a period of general devotional preparation for Easter. Nevertheless, the earlier emphases remained, and Lent was marked by rigorous penitence and austere spiritual discipline. During the period of Lutheran Pietism, these strict practices were aided by an excessive fixation on the Passion of Jesus.

“O Darkest Woe” is a gorgeous, albeit plaintive setting of the classic Good Friday hymn for SATB choir, two treble instruments, continuo, and optional violoncello. This piece is taken from Johann Meder’s St. Matthew Passion (1701) and has been arranged and edited by William Braun. The stunning final stanza features the choir in rich, slow-moving four-part harmony as the instruments hasten along, adorning the heaven-focused text. Purchase the instrumental parts separately at cph.org.

There are many ways to teach children about Jesus, and music has been proven to be one way that is beneficial. Through the repetition of music, both in the melody and in the words themselves, children can easily pick up important theological themes and Bible stories. This makes for easy learning of complex topics students can build on as they grow older. Either at home or at school, consider these children’s hymns as an opportunity to guide children in worship during this sacred season of Holy Week and Easter.