Pentecost (2015)

Sunday, May 24 2015

 
Entrance O Spirit All-embracing (Holst, arr. Proulx)
Kyrie Kyrie for 3 voices adapted from Byrd (mcb)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 103 (David Saint)
Gospel Acclamation (i) Pentecost Sequence (arr. Proulx) (ii) Easter Alleluia (chant)
Prayers of Intercession Stay with us, Lord (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Emitte Spiritum tuum (Johann Evangelist Habert, 1833-1896)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion (i) The Call of Wisdom (Will Todd)
(ii) Spirit of the living God & Psalm 103 (John Ainslie)
Recessional Father, Lord of All Creation
 

Another piece in the Cecilian style this week, in Habert’s setting of the Psalm response and Gospel acclamation texts. We contrasted this with Will Todd’s setting of words from the book of Wisdom, in which Claire Wolfendale directed us. Nathan Jowett played the organ in Anthony’s absence.

There were about sixty candidates for Confirmation today, and at the Bishop’s request we had the rite of anointing in silence, rather than with the usual accompanying musical feast. The prayerful silence covering the whole rite worked well, I thought.

The Ascension of the Lord (2015)

Sunday, 17 May 2015

 
Entrance Praise him as he mounts the skies
Kyrie Kyrie for 3 voices adapted from Byrd (mcb)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 46 (Shaun MacCarthy)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (chant)
Prayers of Intercession Stay with us, Lord (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Viri Gallilei (William Byrd, c.1540-1623)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion There is one Lord (Taizé)
Postcommunion Ascendit Deus (Ferdinand Schaller, 1875-1921)
Recessional Alleluia, sing to Jesus

We had two contrasting choral reflections for today’s feast, in Byrd’s extended setting of the Introit, and Schaller’s simple miniature in Cecilian idiom, setting the text of the Gospel acclamation. The latter piece was another interesting CPDL find, from a composer about whom it seems hard to find very much information. (The slim biographical information available tends to be limited to a note that Herr Schaller met his tragic end in a snowstorm.) Ellie Slorach directed the Byrd, and Rebecca Fenwick the Schaller.

6th Sunday of Easter (Year B, 2015)

Sunday, 10 May 2015

 
Entrance This joyful Eastertide
Kyrie Kyrie for 3 voices adapted from Byrd (mcb)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 97 (Peter Smedley)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (chant)
Prayers of Intercession Stay with us, Lord (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Greater Love Hath No Man (John Ireland, 1879-1962)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion If there is this love (Martin Barry & Diane Murden)
Postcommunion If ye love me (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585)
Recessional Come down, O love divine
 

Today’s Gospel reading from John 15, a powerful excerpt from the Farewell Discourse, gave us the lines:

This is my commandment:
love one another, as I have loved you.
A man can have no greater love
than to lay down his life for his friends.

prompting both our Communion song – a reprise of our accompaniment to the Mandatum on Holy Thursday – and John Ireland’s dramatic meditation for Passiontide. The weight and scale of the latter piece’s more dramatic sections probably call for for large choral forces, but we gave, I thought, a credible rendition with just a dozen singers singing one and two to a part. Robin and Claire Wolfendale provided the solos.

5th Sunday of Easter (Year B, 2015)

Sunday, 3 May 2015

 
Entrance Bring to the Lord a glad new song (C.H.H. Parry/Michael Perry)
Kyrie Kyrie for 3 voices adapted from Byrd (mcb)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 21 (James Walsh)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (chant)
Prayers of Intercession Stay with us, Lord (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Alleluia Surrexit Dominus (Jacquet de Mantua, 1483-1559)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion I am the vine (John Bell) & Psalm 79(80) (Bévenot)
Postcommunion Easter Anthem (Paul Inwood)
Recessional Battle is o’er