Corpus Christi, 2009

Entrance Of the glorious body telling
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison (Dinah Reindorf)
Gloria from Missa Latina (Daniel Bath)
Psalm Ps 115 (Psallite/Stephen Dean)
Gospel Acclamation Here in our Midst (Peter Jones)
Preparation of the Gifts Sacerdotes Domini (William Byrd)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of Christ the King (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Take and Eat (Michael Joncas)
Postcommunion O Sacrum Convivium (Olivier Messiaen)
Recessional O bread of heaven

Another of our rich and varied musical banquets for the solemnity of the Body & Blood of the Lord, transferred from last Thursday - ranging from Daniel Bath’s Gloria in Cuban jazz style to Messiaen’s vision of the heavenly banquet, at turns almost mute with reverence and dazzling in its vision of future glory.

For the responsorial psalm we took the response from Psallite (Raise the cup of salvation, only we added “I will” by way of an anacrusis, to bring the words more in to line with those of the Lectionary) and psalm verses set by Stephen Dean. The two seemed to go together well.

Compared with the brimming sensuality of the Messiaen, we had to work hard to bring Byrd’s Sacerdotes Domini to life. But I think we found the right understated note of solemnity and mystery for the first half – “The priests of the Lord offer incense and loaves to God, and therefore they shall be holy to their God, and shall not defile His name” – while injecting a spring in the step for the cheerful alleluias with which it concludes.

We didn’t sing today’s sequence Lauda Sion Salvatorem. It’s optional, and to my mind the Latin chant setting isn’t a thing of great beauty. It’s long too. Maybe next year; or maybe I’ll look for a more appealing vernacular setting. Suggestions anyone?

2 comments:

  1. I quite like the Lourdes Lauda Sion Salvatorem. Would it work as a sequence?

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  2. Don't think I know it! Is there a Youtube version? :-)

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