3rd Sunday of Advent (Year A, 2013)

Sunday, 15 December 2013

 
Entrance Rejoice, the Lord is King
Kyrie Missal Chant (English)
Psalm Come Lord and save us (Chris O’Hara)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Philip Duffy)
Creed Credo III
Preparation of the Gifts Conditor Alme Siderum (T.L. de Victoria, 1548-1611)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missal Chant
Agnus Dei Missal Chant
Communion (i) O Radix Jesse (chant)
(ii) Be strong, our God has come to save us (Psallite)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Come, thou long-expected Jesus
 

I’m not sure why the Psallite composers altered the text of the Communion antiphon from will come to has come; perhaps with the aim of emphasising the immediacy of the encounter with Christ in the Eucharist. With hindsight I’d have amended it to better match the Missal text — this is, after all, the season for waiting for the Lord. In any case, you could say that any sacramental encounter is a foretaste of the real thing yet to come, and that the future tense is always the most appropriate. Though it’s more complicated than that: will come is always shorthand for will come again.

Christmas is Coming!

Music and Readings for Advent and Christmas

Sunday, 8 December 2013

 
Cathedral Choir & Notability Bogoroditse Devo (Sergei Rachmaninov, 1873-1943)
All O come, O come Emmanuel
Notability God rest you merry, Gentlemen (Trad English, arr. James Neal Koudelka)
The Infant King (Basque Noël arr. David Willcocks)
All Once in royal David’s city
Cathedral Choir Beatus Auctor Saeculi (Tarik O’Regan)
All O little town of Bethlehem
Anthony Hunt (Organ) Walking in the air (Howard Blake, arr. Robert Gower)
Notability What Child is This? (Thomas Hewitt Jones)
The Christmas Song (Mel Tormé & Robert Wells, arr. D W Jepson)
All Unto us is born a Son
Cathedral Choir & Notability The Sussex Carol (arr. Bob Chilcott)
All Good King Wenceslas
Cathedral Choir Carol of the Bells (Mykola Leontovych)
All Hark the herald angels sing
Cathedral Choir & Notability My Lord has come (Will Todd)
All O come, all ye faithful
All Lo he comes with clouds descending
Anthony Hunt Chorale Prelude on Vom Himmel hoch, da komm’ ich her (Johann Pachelbel, 1653-1706)
 

Like last year’s, this year’s event was in aid of two deserving local charities, Salford Loaves and Fishes and Caritas Diocese of Salford. June Ashton of Notability was the driving force behind its organisation. As always, it was a joy for the two choirs to combine forces, this year striking notes of tender serenity in the pieces by Rachmaninov and Will Todd, and of quirky exuberance in Bob Chilcott’s Sussex Carol arrangement.

2nd Sunday of Advent (Year A, 2013)

Sunday, 8 December 2013

 
Entrance Song of Consolation (Peter Jones)
Kyrie Missal Chant (English)
Psalm In his days (David Ogden)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Philip Duffy)
Creed Credo III
Preparation of the Gifts Hierusalem Surge (Heinrich Isaac, c.1450-1517)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missal Chant
Agnus Dei Missal Chant
Communion (i) O Adonai (chant) (ii) There is a longing in our hearts (Anne Quigley)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Hark! a herald voice is calling
 

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force Carol Service (2013)

Saturday, 7 December 2013

 
Celebration Brass Christmas Fanfare (mcb)
All O Come, All Ye Faithful
Choir    Carol of the Bells (Mykola Leontovych)
All O Little Town of Bethlehem
Choir The Sussex Carol (arr. Bob Chilcott)
All Silent Night
All While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
All National Anthem
All Hark the Herald Angels Sing
 

Bob Chilcott’s quirky arrangement of a traditional carol requires concentration, with the melody mainly shoe-horned into 7/8, but the occasional more conventional bar to catch the singers out. Our vigilance seemed to pay off!

1st Sunday of Advent (Year A, 2013)

Sunday, 1 December 2013

 
Entrance Let all mortal flesh keep silence
Kyrie Missal Chant
Psalm Ps 121 (McCarthy/Bévenot)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Philip Duffy)
Creed Credo III
Preparation of the Gifts Ad te levavi (F.X. Witt, 1834-1888)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missal Chant
Agnus Dei Missal Chant
Communion (i) O Sapientia (chant)
(ii) To you, O Lord, I lift my soul (Marty Haugen)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Lo he comes with clouds descending
 

For Advent, a return to the chants from the English Missal. We’re also singing the Creed, in Latin this time, with the aim of creating a musical space for the genuflection at Christmas Midnight Mass, which otherwise somehow always seems to go by half-noticed.

A return, too, to the O Antiphons, one per Sunday and one more for Midnight Mass. They are a signature tune marking out the season, and a beautiful one at that.

Christ the King (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 24 November 2013

 
Entrance The Servant King (Graham Kendrick, arr. Jeremy Thurlow)
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm I Rejoiced (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of the Gifts I Was Glad (C.H.H. Parry, 1848-1918)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion Te saeculorum principem (chant) & Jesus, remember me (Taizé)
Postcommunion O Bone Jesu (Johannes Brahms, 1833-1897)
Recessional Christus Vincit (arr. Martin Baker)
 

Everything from plainchant to Graham Kendrick, which I like to think is the way it should be.

On the way we had two very contrasting choral pieces, in Brahms's gentle motet for four women’s voices, and Parry’s uplifting setting of Ps 121(122), which was also today’s responsorial psalm. At just fourteen voices today, we sang the Parry with one or two to a part, but I thought it worked extremely convincingly on this reduced scale.

33rd Sunday of the Year (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 17 November 2013

 
Entrance Thy hand, O God, has guided
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm Ps 97 (Eugene Monaghan)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Beati Quorum (Charles Villiers Stanford, 1852-1924)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Communion Wait for the Lord (Taizé)
Postcommunion The Lamb (John Tavener, 1944-2013)
Recessional O Jesus Christ, remember
 

The sentiment of today’s Communion antiphon

To be near God is my happiness,
to place my hope in God the Lord.

was not too far from that of Stanford’s Beati Quorum:

Happy are those whose way is pure,
who walk in the way of the Lord.

Tavener’s The Lamb marked his untimely death earlier in the week.

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) and Remembrance Sunday 2013

Sunday, 10 November 2013

 
Entrance Requiem Aeternam (chant)
Two minutes’ silence
Abide with me
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm Ps 16 (Stephen Dean)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic Alleluia (Fintan O’Carroll)
Preparation of the Gifts Justorum Animae (William Byrd, c. 1540-1623)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion Centre of my Life (Paul Inwood)
Postcommunion We shall walk through the valley (trad. arr. Moses Hogan)
Recessional Love divine, all loves excelling
 

For Remembrance Sunday we had both Byrd’s Justorum Animae and Moses Hogan’s serene and haunting arrangement of a traditional spiritual. Here's a link to a recording by Calvin College Alumni Choir. Worth a listen.

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Presentation of Candidates for Confirmation & First Communion

Sunday, 3 November 2013

 
Entrance Here I am, Lord (Dan Schutte)
Sprinkling Rite Springs of Water (Marty Haugen)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm Ps 144 (Martin Hall)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Presentation of Candidates Christ be our light (Bernadette Farrell)
Preparation of the Gifts Laudate Nomen Domini (adapted from the Rachmaninov All-night Vigil)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Agnus Dei Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Communion Take and Eat (Michael Joncas)
Recessional Alleluia, sing to Jesus
 

We followed the usual pattern for the presentation of the children embarking on this year’s sacramental programme. To match the Psalm response I will bless your name forever, O God my King, and the words from the second reading from Thessalonians:

In this way
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
will be glorified in you
and you in him

we sang my adaptation of Khvalite Imya Gospodne (Praise the Name of the Lord) from the Rachmaninov Vespers, translated into Latin and slimmed down to seven parts.

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 27 October 2013

 
Entrance Rejoice, the Lord is King
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm The cry of the poor (John Foley)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Restless is the heart (Bernadette Farrell)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Communion Take, O take me as I am (John Bell)
Postcommunion Narrate omnia mirabilia eius (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594)
Recessional Fight the good fight
 

Today’s Entrance Antiphon included the words Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice. Our song at the preparation of the gifts sang in St Augustine’s words of the restless heart seeking God, and after Communion we sang the second part of Lassus’s motet Confitemini Domino:

Tell of all his marvellous deeds,
Glory in his holy name,
Let hearts rejoice who seek the Lord.

with the same text from Ps 104(105).

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 20 October 2013

 
Entrance Lord of all hopefulness
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm Ps 120 (Claire Lee/Stephen Dean)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Domine Exaudi (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Communion I lift up my eyes (David Ogden)
Postcommunion O Salutaris Hostia in E♭ (Edward Elgar, 1857-1934)
Recessional All my hope on God is founded
 

In today’s Gospel reading from St Luke we heard our Lord’s words:

Pray continually… Will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night?

We responded with Lassus’s setting of similar words from Ps 101(102):

O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.
Do not turn your face from me.

Elsewhere we sang repeatedly of our hope in God, in the opening and closing hymns, in the Responsorial Psalm, and in David Ogden’s peaceful and thoughtful setting of the same psalm text.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 13 October 2013

 
Entrance O praise ye the Lord
Kyrie Kyrie for 3 voices, adapted from Byrd (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm Ps 97: The Lord has shown his salvation (Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Si Iniquitates (Samuel Wesley, 1766-1837)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Agnus Dei Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Communion Unless a grain of wheat (Bernadette Farrell)
Postcommunion He hath filled the hungry (Felix Mendelssohn, 1809-1847)
Recessional Thanks be to God (Stephen Dean)
 

In the second reading, from 2 Timothy, we heard St Paul’s words:

If we have died with him, then we shall live with him,
If we hold firm, then we shall reign with him.

and we sang them again in the first verse of our Communion song. Before that, we took words from the entrance antiphon:

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?

and sang them in Samuel Wesley’s gem of a miniature for three-part unaccompanied men’s voices.

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 6 October 2013

 
Entrance O thou who camest from above
Kyrie Kyrie II from Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm Ps 94 (Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (Plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts You are the Lord of all (Daniel Bath)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Agnus Dei Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Communion How good is the Lord to all (mcb)
Postcommunion Jubilate Deo (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594)
Recessional Lead, kindly light
 

Today’s Responsorial Psalm had verses from Ps 94(95), beginning Come, ring out our joy to the Lord. We took similar words from Ps 99(100), in Lassus’s exuberant setting:

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy.
Know that he, the Lord, is God.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 29 September 2013

 
Entrance Immortal, Invisible
Kyrie Kyrie II from Pashcal Mass (Alan Rees)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm Ps 145 (Stephen Dean)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of the Gifts A touching place (John Bell and Graham Maule)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Agnus Dei Holy Family Mass (John Schiavone)
Communion Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Postcommunion O Quam Suavis (William Byrd, c. 1540-1623)
Recessional Lord, whose love in humble service
 

All pretty much as three years ago.

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 22 September 2013

 
Entrance Christ, be our light (Bernadette Farrell)
Kyrie Kyrie II from Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm Ps 112 (Paul Wellicome)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of the Gifts Blest are the pure in heart
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Agnus Dei Holy Family Mass (John Schiavone)
Communion Teach me, O God (Christopher Walker)
Postcommunion Prayer of St Richard of Chichester (Malcolm Archer)
Recessional Sing of the Lord’s Goodness (Ernest Sands)
 One of today’s antiphons for Communion in the Missal was

You have laid down your precepts to be carefully kept;
may my ways be firm in keeping your statutes.

Our musical selections during and after Communion reflected on the same theme, both in Chris Walker’s Teach me, O God, to follow your ways, and in Malcolm Archer’s setting of the famous prayer of St Richard:

O most merciful redeemer,
friend, and brother,
may we know thee more clearly,
love thee more dearly,
and follow thee more nearly. Amen.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 15 September 2013

 
Entrance Our Father, we have wandered
Kyrie (Dinah Reindorf)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 50 (Boulton Smith/Gélineau)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of the Gifts I will arise (Robert Creighton, c.1639-1734)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Agnus Dei Holy Family Mass (John Schiavone)
Communion The blessing cup (Sue Furlong)
Postcommunion Miserere Mei (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594)
Recessional Praise we our God with joy
 

The Gospel story of the prodigal son comes up twice in Year C, and some of our musical selections were the same as we had in March. The Responsorial Psalm today was Ps 50(51), so after Communion we reflected on the opening verse in Lassus’s setting. Before that we sang Sue Furlong’s pensive setting of the Communion antiphon and verses from Ps 115(116), usually heard together at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday.

Choral Scholarships for 2013-4

 

We’re now recruiting to fill two vacancies for choral scholars, one soprano and one bass, for 2013-14. Click on the image to see it full size, and e-mail me if you'd like further information.

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 8 September 2013

 
Entrance When I survey the wondrous cross
Kyrie Taizé Kyrie I
Gloria Glory to God (Peter Jones)
Psalm Lord, you have been our refuge (John Bell)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of the Gifts Where your treasure is (Marty Haugen)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Agnus Dei from Take and Eat (Michael Joncas/Gary Daigle)
Communion As the deer longs (Bob Hurd)
Postcommunion Song of the Light (Simon Lole)
Recessional O God our help in ages past
 

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 1 September 2013

 
Entrance Christ is made the sure foundation
Kyrie Dinah Reindorf
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 67 (Fintan O’Carroll)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of the Gifts O Lord, you are good (mcb)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God from Take and Eat (Michael Joncas/Gary Daigle)
Communion Now in this banquet (Marty Haugen)
Postcommunion Ubi Caritas (Maurice Duruflé, 1902-1986)
Recessional Tell out, my soul
 

The readings today spoke of the humble being exalted, including the parable of the wedding feast from St Luke’s Gospel. Our final hymn was a paraphrase of the Magnificat, with the words the hungry fed, the humble lifted high. Our song at communion also sang of the feast to which we are invited.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 4 August 2013

 
Entrance All people that on earth do dwell
Kyrie Missal tone
Gloria Missa de Angelis (chant)
Psalm O that today (Chris O’Hara)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (chant)
Preparation of the Gifts Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Missal tones
Agnus Dei Missal tone
Communion O bread of heaven
Recessional Hail Redeemer, King divine
 

With Fr Tony away in Lourdes, we were privileged to welcome Fr Ray Matus from the Oratorian community at St Chad’s. We sang the Missal tones for the ordinary of the Mass, and even if they were a bit rusty (since we hadn't sung them since Advent) the sung responses were probably stronger than the spoken ones from a somewhat subdued summer-holiday congregation.

With Anthony away in Lourdes too, we had yours truly on the organ; somewhat less of a privilege, but no doubt earning the congregation at least a glimmer of remission from temporal punishment in the next life. Normal (summer) service resumes next Sunday.

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 28 July 2013

 
Entrance Praise to the Lord, the almighty
Kyrie Kyrie II from Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm On the day I called (Daniel Bath)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Seek ye first
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Always in your presence (Philip Jakob)
Postcommunion Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Recessional Thanks be to God (Stephen Dean)
 

One last outing for the choir before our summer break during August, and as ever we had our trademark mix of music, from the mellifluous serenity of Bach to Daniel Bath’s gentle but unmistakeable Gospel vibe. We’re back in September.

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 21 July 2013

 
Entrance All are welcome (Marty Haugen)
Kyrie Dinah Reindorf
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm Ps 14 (Stephen Dean/Laurence Bévenot)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Be still, for the presence of the Lord
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Communion Here I stand (John Bell)
Postcommunion Ave verum corpus (Edward Elgar, 1857-1934)
Recessional Lord of all hopefulness
 

Today’s readings told of the hospitality of Abraham, and that of Martha and Mary in their contrasting ways. Our hymns at the entrance and offertory offered reflections on these images. During communion we sang John Bell’s simple refrain setting of one of the Missal antiphons, interspersed with verses from Ps 15(16), set, like today’s responsorial psalm, by Stephen Dean.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 14 July 2013

 
Entrance Father, Lord of all creation
Kyrie Kyrie II from Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 68 (Stephen Dean)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Will you let me be your servant
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Eat this bread (Taizé)
Postcommunion Ave Verum Corpus (William Byrd, 1540-1623)
Recessional God is love, his the care
 

Ordination to the Priesthood of Nathan Horne and Frank Mulgrew

Saturday, 13 July 2013

 
Entrance Hail, Redeemer, King Divine
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison from Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Gloria Glory to God (Peter Jones)
Psalm Because the Lord is my Shepherd (Christopher Walker)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic Alleluia (Fintan O’Carroll)
Litany of the Saints Chant
Illustrative Rites Veni Creator Spiritus (Chant & T.L de Victoria, c. 1548-1611)
Kiss of Peace Ubi Caritas (Taizé)
Preparation of the Gifts Salve Regina (Francis Poulenc, 1899-1963)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Mass XVIII & Missa Aeterna Christi Munera (G. P. da Palestrina, 1525-1594)
Communion (i) In love for me (Jimmy & Carol Owens)
(ii) Cantique de Jean Racine (Gabriel Fauré, 1845-1924)
(iii) Soul of my Saviour
Postcommunion When it’s all been said and done (Jim Cowan)
Recessional Hail, Queen of Heaven
 

Every inch of the Cathedral was packed for today’s rich and remarkable, solemn and joyful celebration, which, Bishop Terence pointed out, might be his last ordination of priests as bishop of the diocese. Musically there was something for everyone, with popular hymns sung with moving commitment, and ritual music ranging from plainchant to Marty Haugen. Celebration Brass were in attendance, and there were choral gems from Palestrina to Poulenc.

The cantor for the Psalm was Dana, with the choir providing discreet backing vocals, and the reflective postcommunion song was sung by sisters of one of the ordinands, Frank Mulgrew.

The showbusiness connections of the Mulgrew family meant that there were plenty of famous faces in the congregation (and even a papal knight sporting an impressive-looking sword seated in uniform in the sanctuary). But the enormous queues formed by those waiting for blessings from the new priests after the service, which entirely dwarfed the queues for the buffet lunch afterwards, were perhaps the surest sign that today was something special.

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 7 July 2013

 
Entrance Rejoice, the Lord is King
Kyrie Kyrie II from Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Gloria Psallite Mass
Psalm Ps 65 (Bill Tamblyn)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Make me a channel of your peace
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Come to me (Martin Barry & Diane Murden)
Postcommunion A Clare Benediction (John Rutter)
Recessional When I survey the wondrous cross
 

One of those Sundays when two thirds of the choir had reason to be elsewhere. But the six of us who were there made a good sound in four-part harmony (ATBarB), including a pleasing rendition of Rutter's gentle blessing, with Ian Williams singing baritone solo.

Saints Peter & Paul (2013)

Sunday, 30 June 2013

Today was the celebration of First Holy Communion for children of the parish. Music was provided by the children of the parish primary school.

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 23 June 2013

 
Entrance Firmly I believe and truly
Kyrie (Dinah Reindorf)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm Ps 62 (James Walsh)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Your love is finer than life (Marty Haugen)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei (Paul Wellicome)
Communion The eyes of everyone (mcb)
Postcommunion Oculi Omnium (William Byrd, c.1540-1623)
Recessional At the Lamb’s high feast
 

Similar musical fare to the last time this Sunday came around, including two (highly) contrasting settings of the Communion antiphon from Ps 144:

The eyes of all look to you, Lord,
and you give them their food in due season.

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 16 June 2013

 
Entrance Lead us, heavenly Father
Kyrie Kyrie for 3 voices adapted from Byrd (mcb)
Gloria Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Psalm Ps 30 (Stephen Dean/Harry Bramma)
Gospel Acclamation Sing a New Song (John Bell)
Preparation of the Gifts Amazing grace
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion There is one thing I ask of the Lord (Chris O’Hara)
Postcommunion Adoremus in aeternum (adapted from Gregorio Allegri, 1582-1652 by R.R. Terry)
Recessional Praise we our God with Joy
 

Today’s readings spoke of forgiveness, and this was reflected in our entrance, offertory and recessional hymns. We also had Chris O’Hara’s hope-filled setting of the Communion antiphon text.

Last time we sang the well-known setting of the antiphon in praise of the Blessed Sacrament credited to Allegri, I wondered aloud where it had come from. The answer would appear to be an adaptation by Richard Terry, published in Downside Motets, vol. 1 no. 9 of 1904. An adaptation of what, I still don’t know. Anyone able to shed any light?

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 9 June 2013

 
Entrance Your hands, O Lord
Kyrie Kyrie Litany from Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Gloria Missa Ubi Caritas
Psalm I will praise you Lord (Daniel Bath)
Gospel Acclamation Sing a New Song (John Bell)
Preparation of the Gifts The Lord is my light (Marty Haugen)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Postcommunion Ave Verum Corpus (W.A. Mozart, 1756-1791)
Recessional God is love, his the care
 

I’ve been trying to work out when we last had a 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) that wasn't displaced by Pentecost, Trinity Sunday or (latterly) Corpus Christi, and I think it may well have been 1989. The readings for today speak of the miraculous raising of the dead, and so we sang of healing in our opening hymn. At the preparation of the gifts we had the proper text for today’s entrance antiphon, in Marty Haugen’s simple and engaging setting.

One of the Communion antiphons in the Missal for today is

God is love,
and whoever abides in love
abides in God,
and God in him.

and this found an echo both in our closing hymn, and of course in our Communion song itself, Bob Hurd’s serenely wistful setting of the ancient Christian hymn extolling the fruits of divine love.

The Body and Blood of Christ (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 2 June 2013

 
Entrance Of the glorious body telling
Kyrie Kyrie II from Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Gloria Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Psalm Ps 109 (Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
Sequence Lauda Sion Salvatorem (chant, arr. Chris Mueller)
Gospel Acclamation Sing a new song (John Bell)
Preparation of the Gifts O Sacrum Convivium (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion Take and Eat (Michael Joncas)
Postcommunion Panis Angelicus (César Franck, 1822-1890)
Recessional Soul of my Saviour
 

There were just eleven of us this morning, so for Tallis’s intricate yet transparent setting of the Magnificat antiphon for today’s feast, we were more or less two to a part. Robin Wolfendale directed, helping to bring out the episodic character of the piece’s structure with gently rising and falling dynamic contours.

Trinity Sunday (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 26 May 2013

 
Entrance Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God almighty
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison from Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Gloria Missa Ubi Caritas
Psalm Ps 8 (Sebastian Wolff)
Gospel Acclamation Sing a New Song (John Bell)
Preparation of the Gifts A Hymn to the Trinity (P.I. Tchaikovsky, 1840-1893)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion God beyond all names (John Bell) & Benedicta sit sancta Trinitas (chant)
Postcommunion Tibi Laus (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594)
Recessional Father, Lord of all creation
 

In the short motet Tibi Laus, Lassus sets the central invocation of the Angelic Trisagion, a litany of devotions to the Trinity:

To you praise,
to you glory,
to you thanksgiving forever,
O blessed Trinity.

CPDL calls the prayer a matins responsory for Trinity Sunday, but I can’t find it in my copy of the Liber Usualis. We shaped the piece by beginning with joy and ending with warm affection.

Sabine von Hünerbein directed us in Tchaikovsky’s setting of the Cherubic Hymn from the Orthodox liturgy, in W.G. Rothery’s freely amplified translation, which emphasises the Trinitarian element in the original.

Pentecost (2013)

Sunday, 19 May 2013

 
Entrance O Spirit All-embracing (music: Gustav Holst, arr Proulx; words: Delores Dufner)
Gloria Glory to God (Peter Jones)
Psalm Send forth your Spirit (Paul Wellicome)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Gospel Acclamation (Brian Luckner)
Rite of Confirmation (i) Pentecost Sequence (arr. Proulx)
(ii) Spirit of the living God & Ps 102(103) (John Ainslie)
(iii) Hymn to the Holy Spirit (Randolph Currie);
(iv) Come Holy Spirit 2 (Stephen Dean)
Preparation of the Gifts Wisdom, come softly (Martin Barry & Diane Murden)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion This is my body
Recessional Come Holy Ghost, creator come
 

With around sixty candidates for Confirmation, we needed plenty of music to cover the rite. In various guises we had three of the most important sung texts for the feast, namely the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus in Randolph Currie’s arrangement (and again later in our recessional hymn), the sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus both in Richard Proulx’s jaunty reworking of the chant melody and accompanying Stephen Dean’s gentle ostinato, and Ps 103 interspersed between repetitions of Spirit of the living God, as well as earlier in Paul Wellicome’s energetic setting of the responsorial psalm.

Funeral of Chris McArdle

Wednesday, 15 May 2013

 
Entrance Be thou my vision
Psalm Because the Lord is my shepherd (Walker)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts If ye love me (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Communion Ave Verum Corpus (William Byrd, 1540-1623)
Postcommunion Soul of my saviour
Commendation Song of farewell (Ernest Sands)
Recessional Thine be the Glory
 

The choir turned out in good number to say our goodbye to Chris. I think he’d have liked what we sang, not least a piece by his favourite composer William Byrd. The duet from The Pearl Fishers, played by Anthony just before the Mass began, was for Chris too.

The Ascension of the Lord (2013)

Sunday, 12 May 2013

 
Entrance New Praises be given
Gloria Glory to God (Peter Jones)
Psalm Ps 46 (Shaun MacCarthy)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Gospel Acclamation (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts Ascendo ad Patrem (G.P. da Palestrina, 1525-1594)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei from No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Communion Confitemini Domino (Taizé) & Ps 117(118) (Laurence Bévenot)
Postcommunion Haec Dies (Lodovico da Viadana, c. 1560-1627)
Recessional Alleluia, sing to Jesus
 

Viadana’s boisterous rendition of the Eastertide antiphon This is the day begins in the tranquility of chant. So does this version, though with rather different effect. (And to my ear that’s ska rather than punk.)

Chris McArdle

8 May 2013

Chris McArdle, who sang as a bass in the choir for twenty-seven years, died this week. As a model of quiet dedication and patient service, he will be hard to forget.

6th Sunday of Easter (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 5 May, 2013

 
Entrance This joyful Eastertide
Gloria Glory to God (Peter Jones)
Psalm Ps 66 (Chris McCurry)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Gospel Acclamation (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts Regina Caeli (Gregor Aichinger, 1565-1628)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei from No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Communion My peace (Taizé) & Ps 84(85) (A Gregory Murray)
Postcommunion If ye love me (Thomas Tallis, 1505-1585)
Recessional Christ is made the sure foundation
 

Student members Ellie Slorach and Bekki Gocher directed the choir with confidence in the motets by Aichinger and Tallis respectively.

Our song at Communion echoed our Lord’s words in today’s Gospel:

Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you,
a peace the world cannot give,
this is my gift to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

Psalm 84(85), which we interspersed between repetitions of Jacques Berthier’s refrain, also speaks of peace, bound together with justice:

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
a voice that speaks of peace, peace for his people.
His help is near for those who fear him
and his glory will dwell in our land.

Mercy and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
and justice look down from heaven.

5th Sunday of Easter (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 28 April 2013

 
Entrance A new commandment
Gloria Glory to God (Peter Jones)
Psalm Ps 144 (Martin Hall)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Gospel Acclamation (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts Awake, thou wintry earth (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei from No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Communion I am the vine (John Bell)
Postcommunion Cantate Domino (Hans Leo Hassler, 1564-1612)
Recessional Christ triumphant
 

The opening hymn was prompted by today’s Gospel acclamation, and by the Gospel reading itself from St John. The entrance antiphon text

O sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has worked wonders;
in the sight of the nations
he has shown his deliverance, alleluia.
(Ps 97(98))

found an echo in our postcommunion motet, setting similar words from Ps 95(96). With I am the vine during the Communion procession, and Martin Hall’s responsorial psalm setting, we had (as Eric Morecambe might have put it) all the proper texts, but not necessarily in the proper order.

4th Sunday of Easter (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 21 April 2013

 
Entrance All people that on earth do dwell
Gloria Glory to God (Peter Jones)
Psalm We are his people (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Gospel Acclamation (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts Christo resurgenti (François Couperin, 1668-1733)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei from No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Communion You are the shepherd (Psallite)
Postcommunion Surrexit Pastor bonus (G.P. da Palestrina, 1525-1594)
Recessional Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour
 

We had the usual array of shepherd-themed music for today’s celebration of Good Shepherd Sunday. In year C the second reading, from the book of the Apocalypse adds the image of the Lamb, and indeed shows the Lamb and the Shepherd to be one and the same:

The Lamb who is at the throne
will be their shepherd
Our closing hymn also sang of the slain Lamb:

Paschal Lamb, thine offering, finished
once for all when thou was slain,
in its fullness undiminished
shall for evermore remain.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Cleansing souls from every stain.

Life-imparting heavenly Manna,
stricken Rock with streaming side,
heaven and earth with loud hosanna
worship thee, the Lamb who died.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Risen, ascended, glorified!

3rd Sunday of Easter (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 14 April 2013

 
Entrance Crown him with many crowns
Gloria Glory to God (Peter Jones)
Psalm I will praise you, Lord (Daniel Bath)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Gospel Acclamation (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts Surrexit Christus Dominus (Michael Praetorius, 1571-1621)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei from No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Communion Come and eat this bread (Marty Haugen)
Postcommunion This is the day (Anon, 16th c.)
Recessional Battle is o’er
 

Our opening hymn echoed the words of today’s second reading from the book of the Apocalypse:

To the One who is sitting on the throne
and to the Lamb,
be all praise, honour, glory and power,
for ever and ever.

The Communion antiphon:

Jesus said to his disciples:
Come and eat.
And he took bread
and gave it to them,
alleluia.

in turn found an echo in Marty Haugen’s thoughful gentle song setting.

Easter Sunday (2013)

Sunday, 31 March 2013

 
Entrance Jesus Christ is Ris’n Today
Gloria Psallite
Psalm This is the Day (mcb)
SequenceVictimae Paschali Laudes (J. William Greene)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Gospel Acclamation (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts Now the green blade riseth
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei from No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Communion Confitemini Domino (Taizé) & Ps 117 (Laurence Bévenot)
Postcommunion Alleluia Surrexit Dominus (Jacquet de Mantua, 1483-1559)
Recessional (i) Go in peace, Alleluia (chanted)
(ii) At the Lamb’s high feast
 

I reckon Anthony must have been caught out by the clocks changing; at least, his brain was still on snooze when he gave us the start note for our postcommunion motet - top C would have been just right for Lassus the previous night, but for Jacquet we would really have preferred an A. I’m not sure which I’d rather have been equipped with: perfect pitch or a laser death ray gun. (It would have been a pain to have to recruit a new organist, to be fair, and whoever we got wouldn’t be as good as Anthony.) Still, the choir coped admirably, not least the tenors, who had to spend more time than was strictly comfortable around top A. Plainly it’s possible to make beautiful music even while singing with puzzled and/or pained expressions on our faces.

Happy Easter everyone!

The Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday, 2013)

Saturday, 30 March 2013

 
The Service of LightLumen Christi (chanted)
ExsultetPlainchant
After 1st reading (Genesis 1)Send forth your Spirit (Stephen Dean)
After 2nd reading (Exodus 14-15)I will sing to the Lord (Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
After 3rd reading (Isaiah 55: come to the water)We shall draw water joyfully (Paul Inwood)
After 4th reading (Ezekiel 36: I shall give you a new heart)Like the deer (mcb)
GloriaPsallite
Easter Alleluia + Psalm 117Plainchant, verses by Paul Inwood
Lighting of Baptismal CandlesSprings of Water (Marty Haugen)
SprinklingVidi Aquam (Cristóbal de Morales, c.1500-1553)
Preparation of the GiftsDextera Domini (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594
Sanctus, Acclamation A, AmenSpring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Deifrom No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
CommunionNow we remain (David Haas)
DismissalGo in peace, Alleluia (chanted)
Final HymnThine be the Glory
 

Tonight’s Offertory antiphon from the Graduale, Dextera Domini, sets the words from a verse of Ps 117, which we heard in English before the Gospel:

The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
His right hand raised me up.
I shall not die, I shall live
and recount his deeds.

With Lassus’s setting, together with the Morales Vidi aquam, sundry chant items, a traditional hymn, and songs by Haas, Haugen, Inwood, Joncas and co., we had one of our trademark banquets of rich and diverse musical fare; rightly so for a celebration that more or less sums up Christian faith and liturgical life.

There was no blessing of the font this year, for the first time in many years. (The customary absence of baptismal candidates was, I think, for once judged a reason not to bless the font.) We omitted the litany of the saints, but retained Springs of water which usually serves not only as the acclamation after the blessing, but also as musical cover for the lighting of baptismal candles before the renewal of promises.

Good Friday (2013)

Friday, 29 April 2013

 
PsalmFather, into your hands (Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
Gospel AcclamationChristus factus est (Felice Anerio, 1560-1614)
Veneration of the CrossBehold the wood of the Cross (Missal tone)
O come and mourn with me a while
Miserere Mei (Gregorio Allegri, 1582-1652)
Jesus, remember me (Taizé)
CommunionAve Verum Corpus (William Byrd, 1540-1623)
Soul of my Saviour

Bishop Terence sang his part in the solemn intercessions, and in the dialogue at the showing of the cross. During the adoration, we found time for thirteen verses of the Allegri, including the serene conclusion in nine parts. The quartet verses were beautifully executed by Aimée Presswood, Bekki Gocher, Karen Massey and Ian Williams.

As always on this occasion, the people’s singing was reverent and strong, not least in Jesus, remember me, sung while the choir joined the procession to venerate the cross.

Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Holy Thursday, 2013)

Thursday, 28 March 2012


Opening Hymn The glory of the cross (John Ainslie)
Gloria Psallite
Responsorial Psalm The Blessing Cup (A Gregory Murray)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Washing of Feet If there is this love among you (Martin Barry & Diane Murden)
Preparation of the Gifts Ubi Caritas (Maurice Duruflé, 1902-1986)
Sanctus Missa Orbis Factor
Memorial Acclamation BMissal Tone: When we eat this Bread
Agnus Dei Missa Orbis Factor & Missa Aeterna Christi Munera (G.B. da Palestrina, 1525-1594)
Communion Take and Eat (Michael Joncas)
Procession Pange Lingua (plainchant)
Stay with me (Taizé)
 

It’s not a bad problem to have when the assembly run away with a song. Things came a bit unstuck in Pange Lingua: we were allowing a break in the music after the fourth verse, while the procession completed its progress to the altar of repose, so that we could begin Tantum Ergo at the appropriate time. Last year people were content to follow the choir’s lead, but this time a determined subset of the assembly sang their way through the whole of the fifth verse despite being evidently in the minority. It seemed more charitable for us to resume at verse six, rather than to sing verse five again properly, so to speak. Next time round I’ll make sure the instructions are clear in the service sheet; and I’ll make sure the organ plays something incompatible with forging ahead obliviously at that point.

Anyway, if there’s a choice between the people singing and the people not singing, I know which I prefer.

The Mass of Chrism (2013)

Thursday, 28 March 2013


Opening HymnBe thou my vision
KyrieMissal tone in English
GloriaGlory to God (Peter Jones)
Responsorial PsalmI will sing forever (mcb)
Gospel AcclamationGlory and Praise (mcb)
Procession of the OilsO Redeemer (Paul Ford/mcb)
Preparation of the GiftsO Crux Ave (Rihards Dubra, 1964-)
Sanctus, Acclamation C, AmenMissal tone in English
Agnus DeiMissal tone in English & Missa super Laudate Dominum (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594)
CommunionWhere two or three are gathered (Liam Lawton)
Ave Verum Corpus (Colin Mawby, 1936-)
Recessional HymnTell out, my soul
 

The usual festive mix of ancient and modern for our grand, happy gathering of the Diocese. Celebration Brass made their customary splash, and the choir shone, not least in the choral items by Dubra and Mawby.

Our communion song was a fairly recent offering from the pen of Liam Lawton. The anthem-like people’s refrain is very appealing, and the assembly picked it up quickly and sang with commitment. The verses, “emulating a chant style”, it says in the publisher’s promotional material, are to my mind very weak in comparison. It’s a great pity the composer didn’t aim for something more imaginative and well-crafted. But the uplifting refrain perhaps makes up for them.

Palm Sunday (2013)

Sunday, 24 March 2013

 
Entrance Hosanna to the Son of David (Chris Mueller)
All Glory Laud and Honour
Psalm My God, my God (Alan Smith)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Stabat Mater (G.B. Pergolesi (1710-1736) & plainchant
Sanctus Missa Orbis Factor
Acclamation Missal Tone: Save us, Saviour
Agnus Dei Missa Orbis Factor & Missa O Quam Gloriosum (T.L de Victoria, 1548-1611)
Communion Father, if this cup (Stephen Dean)
Recessional My song is love unknown
 

We’s been singing the responsorial Psalm throughout Lent with a solo cantor singing the verses, so today we took the version of Alan Smith’s setting of Ps 21(22) published in Music for the Mass 2, rather than the choral version we’ve used in previous years. The solo voice, it seemed to me, is much better suited to the intensity of the psalmist’s lament here.

The upper voices of the choir sang the haunting opening movement of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, flanked by chant verses sung by the men: to follow, we had the second verse of the same hymn (Cuius animam gementem), while beforehand, we took the verse Virgo virginum praeclara, which the Liber Usualis gives as the opening verse of the alternate text to be sung to the same tune as Stabat Mater. A moving combination, anyway.

5th Sunday of Lent (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 17 March 2013

 
Entrance Lord Jesus, think on me
Kyrie Missa Orbis Factor
Psalm Ps 125 (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Thou knowest, Lord (Henry Purcell, 1659-1695)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Orbis Factor
Agnus Dei Missa Orbis Factor
Communion You are my refuge and strength (Christopher Walker)
Postcommunion Tu es Petrus (Maurice Duruflé, 1902-1986)
Recessional When I survey the wondrous cross
 

Our communion song was prompted by words in the entrance antiphon:

From the deceitful and cunning rescue me,
for you, O God, are my strength.

The forgiveness extended to the woman taken in adultery in today’s Gospel reading led us both to our opening hymn, and to the prayer for mercy from Purcell’s Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary. In the latter we were ably directed by choral scholar Aimée Presswood.

After Communion, we broke with our customary Lenten silence, to celebrate the election of Pope Francis with Duruflé’s appropriately joyful setting.

4th Sunday of Lent (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 10 March 2013

 
Entrance Our Father, we have wandered
Kyrie Missa Orbis Factor (chant)
Psalm Ps 33 (Eugene Monaghan/Christopher Steel)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts I will arise (Robert Creighton, 1636-1734)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Orbis Factor
Agnus Dei Missa Orbis Factor
Communion Taste and See (Anne Ward)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Praise we our God with joy
 

The Gospel story of the prodigal son prompted two of today’s musical choices. Our opening hymn was Kevin Nichols’s reflection on the story, set to the Hassler/Bach passion chorale, including the words:

In haste you come to meet us
and home rejoicing bring.
In gladness there to greet us
with calf and robe and ring.

Then choral scholar (and able assistant organist) Jen Law conducted us in Robert Creighton’s simple polyphonic setting of the prodigal son’s words, which we also heard in today’s Gospel acclamation:

I will arise, and go to my father,
and will say “father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee,
and am no more worthy to be called thy son”.

3rd Sunday of Lent (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 3 March 2013

 
Entrance Attende Domine/Hear us, O Lord
Kyrie Missa Orbis Factor (chant)
Psalm Ps 102 (A Gregory Murray)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts The Crown of Roses (P.I. Tchaikovsky, 1840-1893)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass XVIII
Agnus Dei Mass XVIII
Communion Give us, Lord, a new heart (Bernadette Farrell)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Praise my soul, the king of heaven
 

Charles Smith, one of our choral scholars, conducted us in Tchaikovsky’s affecting miniature, portraying the infant Christ encountering suffering while tending his garden. (It kind of tied in with the Gospel parable of the fig tree, which we heard today.) Another of our choral scholars, Tim Round, gave a confident rendition of the (immensely challenging) cantor’s part in Bernadette Farrell’s gently reflective penitential song, which we sang at Communion.

Gremlins of my own making meant that the wrong Sanctus and Agnus crept on to today’s people’s sheet. The simpler setting today made for a more vigorous response than we’ve so far had with Missa Orbis Factor, but we’ll persevere with the challenge. It’s Lent, after all.

Mass of Thanksgiving for the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI

Thursday, 28 February 2013

 
Entrance Faith of our fathers
Kyrie Missa Orbis Factor
Psalm Ps 1 (Paul Inwood)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Tu es Petrus (Jacobus Clemens non Papa, c.1510-c.1556)
Sanctus, Acclamation C, Amen Mass XVIII & Missal tones
Agnus Dei Mass XVIII & Missa Aeterna Christi Munera (G.P. da Palestrina, 1525-1594)
Communion Come to Me (Martin Barry/Diane Murden)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Full in the panting heart of Rome (words: Joanna Bogle and Fiorella Sultana de Maria)
 

Strictly speaking, by the time our celebration began we were into sede vacante, but the management felt that a few rousing choruses of God bless our Pope would nonetheless give people a needed opportunity to wish Pope Benedict well on the way to retirement. I steered proceedings away from the triumphalism of Cardinal Wiseman’s original version, towards the updated version published in Faith magazine in July 2005.

All the same, it not unexpectedly felt as though relatively few in the congregation were familiar with the tune, which I think is called Wiseman.

2nd Sunday of Lent (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 24 February 2013

 
Entrance Remember your mercy (Paul Inwood)
Kyrie Missa Orbis Factor (chant)
Psalm Ps 26 (Paul Inwood)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Domine Exaudi Orationem Meam (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Orbis Factor
Agnus Dei Missa Orbis Factor
Communion Be still, for the presence of the Lord
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Immortal, Invisible
 

The Gospel story of the transfiguration today prompted our Communion and recessional hymns. Before that, we sang Lassus’s setting of lines from Ps 101 (102) to echo the words from the responsorial Psalm (26 (27)):

O Lord, hear my voice when I call;
have mercy and answer.

Rite of Election (2013)

Sunday, 17 February 2013

 
Opening Hymn The Church’s one foundation
Responsorial Psalm There is one thing I ask of the Lord (Chris O’Hara)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Enrolment How lovely is your dwelling place (Paul Wellicome)
After the Election of the Catechumens God has chosen me (Bernadette Farrell)
Welcome of Candidates Always in your presence (Philip Jakob)
After Welcome of Candidates Love Divine (Howard Goodall) - choir
Prayers of Intercession Through our lives and by our prayers (John Bell)
Recessional Hymn Now thank we all our God
 

A smaller gathering than last year’s, but no less happy a celebration. We made a fine sound in Howard Goodall’s Love Divine, I thought, with a choir of just ten.

1st Sunday of Lent (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 17 February 2013

 
Entrance Led by the Spirit (Bob Hurd)
Kyrie Missa Orbis Factor (chant)
Psalm Ps 90 (Peter Smedley)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Emendemus in Melius (William Byrd, 1540-1623)
Sanctus, Acclamation C, Amen Missa Orbis Factor & English Missal tones
Agnus Dei Missa Orbis Factor
Communion Not on bread alone (Psallite)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Guide me, O thou great redeemer
 

Unlike the Sanctus and Agnus Dei of Missa Orbis Factor, the Kyrie has a simple and memorable melody which seems to engage our singing assembly well. First time through, some people were thrown by the non-repetition in the last pair of Kyries, but (writing a couple of weeks later) that doesn't seem to have troubled anyone in subsequent weeks.

Ash Wednesday (2013)

Wednesday, 13 February 2013


Entrance O God, I seek you (Marty Haugen)
Psalm Ps 50 (Stephen Dean)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Imposition of Ashes Lord, Cleanse my heart (Psallite)
Sanctus, Acclamation C, Amen Missa Orbis Factor & Missal tones
Agnus Dei Missa Orbis Factor
Communion Miserere Mei (Antonio Lotti, c.1667-1740)
Recessional Our Father, we have wandered
 

A Latin chant setting as usual for Lent. This year we're going back to Mass XI (Missa Orbis Factor), which we last sang four years ago. In the past, we've done the Kyrie and Sanctus from Mass XI, coupled with the Agnus from Mass XVIII, but the fact that we've sung the latter in English during Advent for the last two years seemed a good excuse to add the Agnus from Mass XI to our repertoire this time round. It's beautiful, but fairly challenging for a singing assembly, with little of the repetition that makes other chant settings a bit easier to assimilate. I'm hoping our assembly will have mastered it by the time we get to Holy Thursday.

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 10 February 2013

 
Entrance Come, ring out your joy (arr. Martin Foster)
Kyrie Belmont Mass (Christopher Walker)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Before the angels (Daniel Bath)
Gospel Acclamation Wright
Preparation of the Gifts Lord of All Hopefulness (Laurence Caldecote) – choir
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Belmont Mass
Agnus Dei Belmont Mass
Communion Come to me (Martin Barry/Diane Murden)
Postcommunion O Quam Suavis (Willam Byrd, c.1540-1623)
Recessional Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty
 

The entrance antiphon O come, let us worship God gave us our opening song. The first reading, from Isaiah, told of the angels crying out Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts, which prompted the final hymn. Our two items at Communion reflected the two antiphons in the Missal: the hungry he fills with good things, and Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. And for the responsorial Psalm Before the angels I will bless you, O Lord we had Daniel Bath’s bright and uplifting setting in African Gospel style.

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 3 February 2013

 
Entrance Save us, Lord our God (Christopher Walker)
Kyrie Belmont Mass (Christopher Walker)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 70 (Sebastian Wolff)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Andrew Wright) with chanted verse
Preparation of the Gifts The Beatitudes (Bob Chilcott)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Belmont Mass
Agnus Dei Belmont Mass
Communion If there is this love (Martin Barry & Diane Murden)
Postcommunion The Lord bless you and keep you (John Rutter)
Recessional All my hope on God is founded
 

Today’s second reading from 1 Corinthians ended with the words

These are three things that last:
faith, hope and love;
and the greatest of these is love.

The second verse of If there is this love is based on the same text. The piece was originally written to accompany the washing of feet on Holy Thursday, and the refrain and three of the verses (including the text from 1 Corinthians) are taken from the Missal antiphons proper to the rite. We omitted the first verse with its direct reference to foot washing; the remainder of the song served well as a Communion processional song centred on the theme of divine love.

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 27 January 2013

 
Entrance Bring to the Lord a glad new song (Perry/Parry)
Kyrie Belmont Mass (Christopher Walker)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 18 (McCarthy/Bévenot)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Andrew Wright) with chanted verse
Preparation of the Gifts God has chosen me (Bernadette Farrell)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Belmont Mass
Agnus Dei Belmont Mass
Communion Taste and See (Richard Proulx)
Postcommunion O nata lux (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585)
Recessional Thou whose almighty word
 

Similar musical fare to our last three celebrations of the third Sunday in Ordinary time. Our postcommunion motet, Tallis’s brief but intense hymn fragment, reflected on the words of the Communion antiphon I am the light of the world:

O Light of light, by love inclined,
Jesus, Redeemer of mankind,
with loving-kindness deign to hear
from suppliant voices praise and prayer.

Thou who to raise our souls from hell
didst deign in fleshly form to dwell,
vouchsafe us, when our race is run,
in thy fair body to be one.

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 20 January 2013

 
Entrance The Church’s one foundation
Kyrie Belmont Mass (Christopher Walker)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 95 (Monaghan/Murray)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (Plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Cantate Domino (Giuseppe Pitoni, 1657-1743)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Belmont Mass
Agnus Dei Belmont Mass
Communion Draw nigh and take the body of the Lord
Postcommunion Venite Comedite (William Byrd, c. 1540-1623)
Recessional O praise ye the Lord
 

Today’s first reading from Isaiah included the words

as the bridegroom rejoices in his bride,
so will your God rejoice in you

which found a resonance in our opening hymn:

From heaven he came and sought her
to be his holy bride.
With his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.
and our postcommunion motet, with the (Latin) words

Come and eat my bread,
and drink the wine I have poured out for you.

evoked the wine flowing in abundance at the wedding feast at Cana, recounted in today’s Gospel reading from St John.

The Baptism of the Lord (Year C, 2013)

Sunday, 13 January 2013

 
Entrance On Jordan’s Bank
Sprinkling Rite Springs of Water (Marty Haugen)
Gloria Gloria de Noël (Thomas Niel)
Psalm Ps 103 (Laurence Bévenot)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Songs of thankfulness and praise
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Here is my Servant (Psallite)
Postcommunion Beatus Auctor Saeculi (Tarik O’Regan, 1978-)
Recessional Come down, O love divine
 

Tarik O’Regan’s haunting Christmas motet sets a fifth-century Latin text (the second and third stanzas of the abecedarian poem A solis ortus cardine, attributed to Caelius Sedulius) found in the eleventh-century liturgical almanac the Portiforium of St Wulstan. The music alternates moments of sparse discord with richer chordal writing, but always infused with serenity. (In rehearsal I told the choir not to wake the baby.) In the composer’s own explanation, the particular verses set were chosen apparently for the vagueness of their religious allusions:

I specifically chose to set only two of the eight extant stanzas in the manuscript as I was aware that these were the most ecumenical (sic) in their reading, referring in metaphor only to a ‘blest author’.

but the text itself (given here in the translation by J.M. Neale) looks unambiguously Christian to me:

Blest Author of this earthly frame,
To take a servant’s form he came,
That liberating flesh by flesh,
Whom he had made might live afresh.

In that chaste parent’s holy womb,
Celestial grace hath found its home;
And she, as earthly bride unknown,
Yet calls that Offspring blest her own.

I’m guessing, then, that the composer came at the work from a fairly non-religious perspective. But for all that, it makes for a beautiful reflection on the mystery of the incarnation.

There’s a sumptuous recording of the piece on this web page (and also – a little more complex to link to – on the composer’s own web site). I think it’s the choir of Clare College, Cambridge, for whom the piece was commissioned. Click the second link down on the right hand side of the page. And enjoy.

The Epiphany (2013)

Sunday, 6 January 2013

 
Entrance As with gladness men of old
Gloria Gloria de Noël (Thomas Niel)
Psalm Ps 71 (Monaghan/Dean)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Laudate Omnes Gentes (Taizé) & Reges Tharsis (chant)
Postcommunion Here is the little door (words: Frances Chesterton, 1869-1938; music: Herbert Howells, 1892-1983)
Recessional The First Nowell
 

The poet and playwright Frances Blogg Chesterton lived and wrote in the shadow of her more famous husband (G.K.); so much so that information about her is hard to come by. Both Wikipedia and the Dictionary of National Biography relegate her to a couple of mentions in articles about her husband. Her poetry is striking, however, not least in Here is the little door, where gifts offered tenderly to the infant Christ are returned as the trappings of battle and death:

Here is the little door, lift up the latch, oh lift!
We need not wander more but enter with our gift;
Our gift of finest gold,
Gold that was never bought nor sold;
Myrrh to be strewn about his bed;
Incense in clouds about his head;
All for the Child who stirs not in his sleep.
But holy slumber holds with ass and sheep.

Bend low about his bed, for each he has a gift;
See how his eyes awake, lift up your hands, O lift!
For gold, he gives a keen-edged sword
(Defend with it thy little Lord!),
For incense, smoke of battle red.
Myrrh for the honoured happy dead;
Gifts for his children terrible and sweet,
Touched by such tiny hands and
Oh such tiny feet.