2nd Sunday of Advent (Year A, 2016)

Sunday, 4 December 2016

 
Entrance Song of Consolation (Peter Jones)
Kyrie Belmont Mass (Christopher Walker)
Psalm In his days (David Ogden)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia: Show us your mercy (Alan Rees)
Preparation of the Gifts Hierusalem Surge (Heinrich Isaac, 1450-1517)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Belmont Mass
Agnus Dei Belmont Mass
Communion O Adonai (chant)
There is a longing in our hearts (Anne Quigley)
Postcommunion (silent prayer)
Recessional Come, thou long expected Jesus
 

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force Carol Service

Saturday, 3 December 2016

 
All O Come, All Ye Faithful
Choir    Myn Liking (R.R. Terry)
All O Little Town of Bethlehem
All Once in Royal David’s City
Choir Gaudete (anon. 15th century, arr. Craig Kingsbury)
All Stille Nacht/Silent Night
All While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
All National Anthem
All Hark the Herald Angels Sing
 

1st Sunday of Advent (Year A, 2016)

Sunday, 27 November 2016

 
Entrance Let all mortal flesh keep silence
Kyrie Belmont Mass (Christopher Walker)
Psalm I rejoiced (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia: Show us your mercy (Alan Rees)
Preparation of the Gifts Zion hears the watchmen’s voices (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Belmont Mass
Agnus Dei Belmont Mass
Communion O Sapientia (chant)
Wait for the Lord (Taizé)
Postcommunion (silent prayer)
Recessional Lo he comes with clouds descending
 

Christ the King (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 20 November 2016

 
Entrance Christus Vincit (chant)
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer
Psalm Qué Alegría (Jaime Cortez)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic Alleluia
Preparation of the Gifts The Servant King (Graham Kendrick)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion Te saeculorum principem (chant) & Jesus, remember me (Taizé)
Postcommunion O Nata Lux (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585)
Recessional Hail Redeemer, King Divine
 

One of those Sundays when the mix of music was as eclectic and wide-ranging as it was possible to be, within the bounds (though I say so myself) of good taste and liturgical propriety. It was a new departure for us to sing Jaime Cortez’s bilingual English/Spanish psalm setting in both languages, complete with guitar, piano and percussion accompaniment. It garnered an enthusiastic response from the congregation, not least our sizeable Latin American contingent. I’m looking for more good bilingual items, not just Spanish, but languages of West Africa too. Any suggestions?

Closing Celebration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy

Sunday, 13 November 2016

 
Entrance Misericordes Sicut Pater (Inwood)
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison from Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Gloria Missa Ubi Caritas
Psalm Ps 97 (Eugene Monaghan)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic Alleluia
Preparation of the Gifts Blest are the merciful (Jakub Blycharz, tr. Henry Michael Kurylewski)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion If ye love me (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585)
In the Lord (Taizé)
Postcommunion My Soul Rejoices (Owen Alstott)
Recessional Praise my soul, the King of heaven
 

I imagine every Cathedral in the country had to solve the problem of Rome’s scheduling the closing celebration for the Year of Mercy on Remembrance Sunday. Bishop John had to be elsewhere in the morning, so we gathered in the evening to close the Holy Door. The musical fare included Paul Inwood’s official hymn for the jubilee year, and (by request) our take on the official hymn for World Youth Day 2016.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 13 November 2016

 
Act of Remembrance Requiem Aeternam (chant)
Entrance Abide with me
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer
Psalm Ps 97 (Eugene Monaghan)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (Plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Be not afraid
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion There is a longing in our hearts (Anne Quigley)
Postcommunion O Lord, support us (John Henry Newman & Maurice Besly)
Recessional O day of peace

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 6 November 2016

 
Entrance Awake, awake, fling off the night
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer
Psalm Ps 16 (Stephen Dean)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Let my prayer rise before you like incense (Christopher Walker)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion At your word our hearts are burning (Psallite)
Postcommunion The Lord is my Shepherd (John Rutter)
Recessional Love divine, all loves excelling

We sang Chris Walker’s simple prayerful setting for cantor and ostinato chorus of today’s Offertory antiphon from the Gradual, with words from Psalm 140(141): dirigatur oratio mea sicut incensum in conspectu tuo, Domine. It was a good match for the Entrance antiphon too (from Psalm 87(88)): Let my prayer come into your presence.

All Souls (2016)

Wednesday, 2 November 2016

 
Entrance Requiem: Introit (Fauré)
Kyrie Requiem: Kyrie (Fauré)
Psalm His goodness shall follow me (Chris O’Hara)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Requiem: Libera Me (Fauré)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa pro Defunctis (chant)
Agnus Dei Missa pro Defunctis (chant)
Communion Requiem: Pie Jesu (Fauré)
Recessional Requiem: In Paradisum (Fauré)
 

A sung Mass for All Souls was a new departure for the Cathedral, and we were happy to rise to the opportunity with a choral setting of (parts of) the Requiem Mass. I wanted to leave the people’s proper sung role intact, which meant chant for the Sanctus in place of Fauré’s setting, and for other items not included in a Tridentine Requiem such as Fauré’s, including the Gospel Acclamation, and the Memorial Acclamation in the Eucharistic Prayer. The Introit and Kyrie, a single movement in Fauré’s setting, was conveniently divisible into two, which allowed it to sit comfortably with new (that is, post-Vatican II) Order of Mass. It would not have been so easy to pause between the Agnus Dei and Communion Antiphon (Lux aeterna), since the transition from one to the other is one of the most memorable and arresting moments in the Fauré. So we opted for chant here as well.

The very small congregation (it was, after all, a new venture that received hardly any publicity) meant that we more or less sang to ourselves, but musically it was a rewarding exercise. Our thanks go to Joseph Matthews, who accompanied in Anthony’s absence tonight as well as the previous evening. I hope we see more of him.

All Saints (2016)

Tuesday, 1 November 2016

 
Entrance Holy, holy, holy. Lord God almighty
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison (Hurd)
Gloria Missa Ubi Caritas
Psalm Ps 23 (David Saint)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Justorum Animae (R.R. Terry, 1865-1938)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion Come to me (Martin Barry & Diane Murden)
Postcommunion O Quam Gloriosum (T.L. de Victoria, c. 1548-1611)
Recessional For all the saints

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 30 October 2016

 
Entrance O God beyond all praising (Michael Perry/Gustav Holst, arr Proulx)
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer
Psalm Ps 144 (Martin Hall)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts O God, you search me and you know me (Bernadette Farrell)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion How good is the Lord to all (mcb)
Postcommunion God so loved the world (John Stainer, 1840-1901)
Recessional O praise our great and gracious Lord

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 23 October 2016

 
Entrance Rejoice, the Lord is King
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer
Psalm The Poor Called (mcb/Richard Proulx)
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 Mass of the Redeemer
Communion The cry of the poor (John Foley)
Postcommunion Adoremus in aeternum (adapted from Gregorio Allegri, c. 1582-1652)
Recessional Fight the good fight
 

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 16 October 2016

 
Entrance Lord of all hopefulness
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer
Psalm Ps 120 (Lee/Dean)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Bambelela
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion I lift up my eyes (David Ogden)
Postcommunion Cantique de Jean Racine (Gabriel Fauré, 1845-1924)
Recessional Lord, for tomorrow and its needs
 

The parable of the importunate widow today prompted the choice of Bambelela, a word meaning never give up in Zulu and Xhosa. We sang it in English too.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 9 October 2016

 
Entrance Your hands, O Lord, in days of old
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer
Psalm Ps 97 (Peter Smedley)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic Alleluia (Fintan O’Carroll)
Preparation of the Gifts Si Iniquitates (Samuel Wesley, 1766-1837)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
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)
 

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 2 October 2016

 
Entrance O thou who camest from above
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer
Psalm O that today (Chris O’Hara)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic Alleluia (Fintan O’Carroll)
Preparation of the Gifts You are the Lord of all (Daniel Bath)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion One bread, one body (John Foley)
Postcommunion Jubilate Deo (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594)
Recessional All my hope on God is founded
 

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 25 September 2016

 
Entrance Immortal, Invisible
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer
Psalm Ps 145 (Stephen Dean)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic Alleluia (Fintan O’Carroll)
Preparation of the Gifts A touching place (John Bell)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Postcommunion O Quam Suavis (William Byrd, c. 1540-1623)
Recessional Lord, whose love in humble service
 

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 18 September 2016

 
Entrance Praise my soul, the King of heaven
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer
Psalm Ps 112 (Wellicome)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic Alleluia (Fintan O’Carroll)
Preparation of the Gifts Christ, be our light (Bernadette Farrell)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion The Lord hears the cry of the poor (Foley)
Postcommunion Teach me, O Lord (Thomas Attwood, 1765-1838)
Recessional Tell out, my soul

The Cathedral was packed today, our normal congregation bolstered by the annual visit of the Catenians from Province Number One. There was plenty of music for an enthusiastic singing congregation to join in with, but that didn’t hamper the selection of a number of pieces to reflect the strong social justice theme of today’s first reading, responsorial psalm and Gospel reading.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 11 September 2016

 
Entrance Our Father, we have wandered
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer
Psalm Ps 50 (Boulton Smith/Gélineau)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic Alleluia (Fintan O’Carroll)
Preparation of the Gifts Misericordes Sicut Pater (Paul Inwood)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion The blessing cup (Sue Furlong)
Postcommunion Miserere Mei Domine (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594)
Recessional O God, our help in ages past

The Gospel of the prodigal son gave us a good opportunity to sing the official hymn for the Year of Mercy once again: be merciful, like the Father. It isn’t a piece our congregation have taken to warmly, and as usual for pieces with multiple repetitions of a simple refrain, we found ourselves by the end singing it on the people’s behalf, rather than with them. I wonder what I should do differently?

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday 4 September 2016

 
Entrance All people that on earth do dwell
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer
Psalm Lord, you have been our refuge (John Bell)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic Alleluia (Fintan O’Carroll)
Preparation of the Gifts Where your treasure is (Marty Haugen)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion As the deer longs (Bob Hurd)
Postcommunion Sicut Cervus (G.P da Palestrina, c.1525-1594)
Recessional O God, our help in ages past
 

Funeral Masses for Fr Anthony Grimshaw

Mass with Reception of the Body

Tuesday, 30 August 2016

 
Entrance Be thou my vision
Kyrie Missal Chant (English)
Psalm As the deer longs (Bob Hurd)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (chant)
Preparation of the Gifts The Lord’s my Shepherd
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Missal Chant (English)
Agnus Dei Missal Chant (English)
Communion Come to me (Martin Barry and Diane Murden)
Recessional Immaculate Mary
 

Funeral Mass

Wednesday, 31 August 2016

Entrance Requiem Aeternam (chant)
Be thou my vision
Kyrie Missa pro Defunctis
Psalm Because the Lord is my Shepherd (Christopher Walker)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (chant)
Universal Prayer Salve Regina
Preparation of the Gifts If ye love me (Thomas Tallis, 1505-1585)
In bread we bring you, Lord
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Missa pro Defunctis & English Missal chant
Agnus Dei Missa pro Defunctis
Communion Lux Aeterna (chant)
O Bread of Heaven
Commendation In Paradisum (chant)
Recessional Holy God, we praise thy name

Fr Anthony was for a short time a resident of the retired priests’ accommodation in the newly-refurbished Cathedral House. He was a musician himself, having directed the music at the English College in Rome, and at St Bede’s College in Manchester, and we often chatted after Mass on a Sunday about the day’s music. For his funeral Masses we had a mix of new and (mainly) old, and choral and (mainly) congregational. Raising a choir for weekday services in August is something of a challenge, and this was as much the explanation for the simple, chant-based musical fare as the inkling that that might have been Fr Anthony’s preference. I thought we did a good job of bringing out the noble simplicity of the Roman Rite.

Universa Laus, 2016

Universa Laus is an international study group for liturgical music, which was influential in developing and implementing the musical aspects of the liturgical reforms of Vatican II. This year was the 50th anniversary of its foundation. It was my first time attending, but I was part of a sizeable English contingent, including doyen John Ainslie, who I think has been attending almost since the beginning. We met at the enchanting Villa Cagnola in Gazzada, about 30 miles north of Milan, for a relaxed but interesting programme focussing mainly on liturgical aesthetics, including keynote lectures by Michael Driscoll and Paul Inwood. The first meeting 50 years ago was in Lugano, just over the border in Switzerland, and we had a celebratory day trip to the place where it all started, with talks on the history and the lasting achievements of the group, and Mass with the local bishop. (And the ladies of the Cathedral choir served us a sumptuous lunch, pausing only to serenade Mr Inwood with his own hymn for the Year of Mercy, Misericordes sicut Pater.)

Villa Cagnola is also home to an extraordinary art collection, donated (like the Villa itself) to the Vatican in 1850. We were treated to a private viewing, and the reward for those who endured the longueurs of the porcelain collection—evidently the life’s obsession of our very knowledgeable tour guide—was the amazing, breathtaking collection of Medieval and Renaissance painting.

En route home we called in at the Duomo in Milan for Sunday morning Mass in the Ambrosian Rite. A group of seven or eight male singers sang more or less to themselves, with no attempt to provide a role for the sizeable congregation. A nice enough sound, but not what you’d call actuosa participatio.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (2016)

Sunday, 14 August 2016

 
Entrance O Purest of Creatures
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison from Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 44 (Stephen Dean)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic Alleluia (Fintan O’Carroll)
Preparation of the Gifts Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod, arr. Proulx)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion The Almighty works marvels for me (Peter Jones)
Recessional Hail Queen of Heaven
 

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 24 July 2016

 
Entrance Praise to the Lord, the almighty
Kyrie Mass for John Carroll (Michael Joncas)
Gloria Mass for John Carroll
Psalm Ps 137 (McCarthy)
Gospel Acclamation Mass for John Carroll
Preparation of the Gifts Seek ye first the kingdom of God
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass for John Carroll
Communion Forget not what got has done (Marty Haugen)
Postcommunion Our Father (Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, 1844-1908)
Recessional Thanks be to God (Stephen Dean)

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 17 July 2016

 
Entrance O God our help in ages past
Kyrie Mass for John Carroll (Michael Joncas)
Gloria Mass for John Carroll
Psalm Ps 14 (Dean/Bévenot)
Gospel Acclamation Mass for John Carroll
Preparation of the Gifts Be still, for the presence of the Lord
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass for John Carroll
Communion Here I stand (John Bell)
Postcommunion Panis Angelicus (Franck)
Recessional Lord of all hopefulness
 

Ordination to the Priesthood of Michael Deas and Richard Howard

Saturday, 16 July 2016

 
Entrance Praise to the Holiest
Kyrie Missa de Angelis
Gloria Missa de Angelis
Psalm The almighty works marvels (Josephine Cheong) listen
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Litany of the Saints Chant
Illustrative Rites Veni Creator Spiritus (Chant & T.L de Victoria, c. 1548-1611) listen
Kiss of Peace Mary Immaculate, Star of the Morning listen
If ye love me (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585) listen
Creed Credo III
Preparation of the Gifts The Lord is now about to enter his temple (André Gouzes)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Missa de Angelis & Missal tones
Agnus Dei Missa de Angelis
Communion Where two or three are gathered (Liam Lawton)
Ubi Caritas (Maurice Duruflé, 1902-1986)
Postcommunion In the Lord (Taizé) listen
Recessional Hail Queen of Heaven listen

As usual, a mix of music with something for everyone, in a grand and happy celebration. Josephine Cheong’s lovely setting of the Magnificat was a youtube find; the composer also has the sheet music available for download. I played around a little with the verses, and added vocal harmonies, to make a simple, charming choral and congregational setting, which we will come back to.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 10 July 2016

 
Entrance All are welcome (Marty Haugen)
Kyrie Mass for John Carroll (Michael Joncas)
Gloria Mass for John Carroll
Psalm Ps 68 (Dean/Forrester)
Gospel Acclamation Mass for John Carroll
Preparation of the Gifts Teach me, O God (Christopher Walker)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass for John Carroll
Communion Whoever eats my flesh (John Ainslie)
Postcommunion Ubi Caritas (Maurice Duruflé, 1902-1986)
Recessional Immortal, Invisible

Requiem Mass for the Centenary of the Battle of the Somme (July 2016)

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Sunday, 3 July 2016

 
Entrance (i) Requiem Aeternam (chant)
(ii) Abide with me
Kyrie Mass XVIII (at Masses of the Dead)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 65 (Monaghan/Steel)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts When I survey the wondrous cross
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass XVIII
Agnus Dei Missa pro defunctis
Communion (i) Lux Aeterna (chant)
(ii) Come to Me (Martin Barry & Diane Murden)
Postcommunion We shall walk through the valley (trad. arr. Moses Hogan)
Recessional O day of peace

Bishop John led us in a commemoration of one of the bloodiest battles in human history (as Wikipedia puts it). Much of the music was from the plainchant requiem, but the closing hymn, to the tune of Jerusalem, was a stirring plea for an end to wars:

May swords of hate fall from our hands,
our hearts from envy find release,
till by God’s grace our warring world
shall see Christ’s promised reign of peace.

Saints Peter and Paul (2016)

Wednesday, 29 June 2016

 
Entrance Fight the good fight
Kyrie Mass for John Carroll (Michael Joncas)
Gloria Mass for John Carroll
Psalm Ps 33 (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation Mass for John Carroll
Preparation of the Gifts Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass for John Carroll
Communion Taste and See (Richard Proulx)
Postcommunion Tu Es Petrus (Jacob Clemens non Papa, c. 1510-1556)
Recessional For all the saints
 

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 26 June 2016

 
Entrance Brother, sister, let me serve you
Kyrie Mass for John Carroll (Michael Joncas)
Gloria Mass for John Carroll
Psalm Centre of my life (Paul Inwood)
Gospel Acclamation Mass for John Carroll
Preparation of the Gifts Will you come and follow me?
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass for John Carroll
Communion This is my body
Postcommunion Ave Verum Corpus (Edward Elgar, 1857-1934)
Recessional Praise my soul, the King of heaven
 

Visit of the Relics of St Anthony of Padua

Tuesday, 21 June 2016

 
Entrance Come down, O love divine
Kyrie Missa de Angelis
Gloria Missa de Angelis
Psalm I will sing forever (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts God has chosen me
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa de Angelis
Agnus Dei Missa de Angelis
Communion Come to Me (Martin Barry & Diane Murden
Postcommunion O Quam Gloriosum (T.L. de Victoria, 1548-1611)
Recessional Praise to God, Almighty Father (Christopher Phillips, adapted)
 

When the Cathedral hosted the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux in 2009, the queues reached several times round the block. For some reason the visit of St Anthony of Padua was less of a draw, and the congregation for Mass celebrated in the presence of his relics was a bit smaller than that for a normal Sunday. But we were treated to fine preaching from a friar from Padua, and the celebration – for which we followed the readings and, indirectly, the propers for the feast of St Anthony, was friendly and down to earth. I found the final hymn on the internet, and just tweaked the words a little. We sang it to the tune Blaenwern.

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 19 June 2016

 
Entrance Firmly I believe and truly
Kyrie Mass for John Carroll (Michael Joncas)
Gloria Mass for John Carroll
Psalm Ps 62 For you my soul is thirsting
Gospel Acclamation Mass for John Carroll
Preparation of the Gifts Your love is finer than life (Marty Haugen)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass for John Carroll
Communion Because the Lord is my shepherd (Christopher Walker)
Postcommunion Oculi Omnium (Charles Wood, 1866-1926)
Recessional At the Lamb’s high feast
 

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 12 June 2016

 
Entrance Misericordes Sicut Pater (Inwood)
Kyrie Mass for John Carroll (Michael Joncas)
Gloria Mass for John Carroll
Psalm Ps 30 (Stephen Dean/Harry Bramma)
Gospel Acclamation Mass for John Carroll
Preparation of the Gifts You are my hiding place (Michael Ledner)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass for John Carroll
Communion There is one thing I ask (Chris O’Hara)
Postcommunion Exsultate Justi (Viadana);
Prayer for the Queen Domine Salvam Fac (chant)
God Save the Queen
Recessional Praise we our God with Joy
 

Today’s readings dealt with the theme of forgiveness, so it seemed a good opportunity to sing Paul Inwood’s hymn for the Year of Mercy again, complete with its arresting choral ending. Elsewhere, two of our songs (for the preparation of the gifts, and after Communion) reprised verses from today’s responsorial psalm.

Before the blessing and dismissal, in honour of the Queen’s (official) ninetieth birthday celebrations, we recited the prayer for the Queen, and then sang some of the same words before a hearty rendition of the national anthem.

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 5 June 2016

 
Entrance Your hands, O Lord, in days of old
Kyrie Mass for John Carroll (Michael Joncas)
Gloria Mass for John Carroll
Psalm I will praise you (Psallite)
Gospel Acclamation Mass for John Carroll
Preparation of the Gifts The Lord is my light (Marty Haugen)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass for John Carroll
Communion You are my refuge (Christopher Walker)
Postcommunion Ubi Caritas (Ola Gjeilo, 1978-)
Recessional God is love, his the care
 

The Body and Blood of Christ (2016)

Sunday, 29 May 2016

 
Entrance All who hunger, gather gladly
Kyrie Mass for John Carroll (Michael Joncas)
Gloria Mass for John Carroll
Psalm Ps 109 (Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
Sequence Lauda Sion (Chris Mueller)
Gospel Acclamation Mass for John Carroll
Preparation of the Gifts Godhead here in hiding
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass for John Carroll
Communion One bread we break (Stephen Dean)
Postcommunion Ave Verum Corpus (W.A. Mozart)
Recessional O praise our great and gracious Lord
 

We hadn't sung Godhead here in hiding for many years, and by the time we got to verse 3 or 4 I'd remembered why. I don't think Gerard Manley Hopkins’s poetry, engaging and intriguing as it is, works terribly well for public declamation in a hymn text.

Trinity Sunday (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 22 May 2016

 
Entrance Father, Lord of all creation
Kyrie Mass for John Carroll (Michael Joncas)
Gloria Mass for John Carroll
Psalm Ps 8 (Sebastian Wolff)
Gospel Acclamation Mass for John Carroll
Preparation of the Gifts St Patrick’s Breastplate (C.V. Stanford, 1852-1924)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass for John Carroll
Communion God beyond all names (John Bell) & Benedicta sit sancta Trinitas (chant)
Postcommunion O Lux Beata Trinitas (T.L. de Victoria, 1548-1611)
Recessional Holy God, we praise thy name
 

Michael Joncas’s Mass for John Carroll was a staple of our repertoire in the years before the new Missal translation was issued, and the Gloria in particular, I think, was a congregational favourite. We’ve come back to it now to try out the revised version of the Gloria, updated for the new Missal text, together with other items from the Mass where the text didn’t change. I’m not, in all honesty, bowled over by the new version of the Gloria. As with quite a few of the old well-loved settings, the revision seems to have had as its aim to keep the music from the old version as intact as possible, rather than rewriting the music to fit the new words. The result in places feels uncomfortably like wearing ill-fitting shoes, especially in the opening choral ‘verse’, where the new words …and on earth peace to people of good will occupy the same space as once filled by …and peace to his people on earth. But the enthusiastic singing of the refrain showed that people liked it and hadn’t forgotten it. We’ll persevere, and maybe it will grow on me.

Pentecost (2016)

Celebration of First Holy Communion

Sunday, 15 May 2016

 
Entrance Come Holy Ghost
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison from Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Gloria Missa Ubi Caritas
Psalm Send forth your Spirit (Paul Wellicome)
Gospel Acclamation (i) Pentecost Sequence (arr. Richard Proulx)
(ii) Easter Alleluia (chant)
Preparation of the Gifts Here I am, Lord (Dan Schutte)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion (i) One bread we break (Stephen Dean)
(ii) This is my body (Jimmy & Carol Owens)
Postcommunion My heart, your home – children
Recessional Christ be our light (Bernadette Farrell)
 

Someone took their eye off the calendar when scheduling this year’s celebration of First Holy Communion, but the inadvertent linking with the feast of Pentecost was to good effect: as Fr Michael put it in his homily to the children, the Spirit makes us one. The first of our Communion songs, by Stephen Dean, brought out the same connection:

One bread we break in the love of Christ,
One cup we share in the life of Christ;
One faith we hold, one Lord we serve,
One Spirit gathers us here.

I aimed for a fairly family-friendly feel to today’s music, including Paul Wellicome’s boisterous psalm setting, and the two favourites Here I am, Lord and Christ, be our light, both of which found a good response in the voices of the congregation, especially the children themselves.

After Communion the children sang along to the Hillsong Kids song My heart, your home, complete with signing. It was a treat.

The Ascension of the Lord (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 8 May 2016

 
Entrance New praises be given
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison from Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Gloria Missa Ubi Caritas
Psalm Ps 46 (Shaun MacCarthy)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Ego sum resurrectio (Rihards Dubra, b.1964)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion Psallite Domino (Taizé)
Postcommunion Non vos relinquam orphanos (William Byrd, c.1540-1623)
Recessional Alleluia, sing to Jesus
 

Latvian composer Rihards Dubra’s simple and serene O Crux Ave has long been a staple of our Holy Week repertoire, so I had a good (metaphorical) leaf through his catalogue for other pieces to add to our collection. Ego Sum Resurrectio is a more complex and challenging piece: in some ways it reminds me of Bob Chilcott’s setting of the Beatitudes, another miniature packed with drama. But the tonal and harmonic language here is perhaps a bit more wide ranging. There are plenty more items in the catalogue to explore.

6th Sunday of Easter (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 1 May 2016

 
Entrance This joyful Eastertide
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison from Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Gloria Missa Ubi Caritas
Psalm Ps 66 (Chris McCurry)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Regina Caeli (Samuel Webbe, 1740-1816)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion My peace (Taizé)
Postcommunion If ye love me (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585)
Recessional Thine be the glory
 

5th Sunday of Easter (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 24 April 2016

 
Entrance A New Commandment
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison from Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Gloria Missa Ubi Caritas
Psalm Ps 144 (Martin Hall)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Cantate Domino (Giuseppe Pitoni, 1657-1743)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion I am the vine (John Bell) & Ps 80 (Laurence Bévenot)
Postcommunion Easter Anthem (Paul Inwood)
Recessional Christ triumphant
 

Solemnity of St George, Martyr

Silver Jubilee of Episcopal Ordination
of Bishop Terence Brain

23 April, 2016

 
Entrance (i) Ecce Sacerdos (Edward Elgar, 1857-1934)
(ii) Bring to the Lord a glad new song (C.H.H. Parry/Michael Perry)
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison from Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Gloria Glory to God (Peter Jones)
Psalm What marvels the Lord worked for us (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts A Hymn to the Virgin (Benjamin Britten, 1913-1976)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Missal Tone (in English)
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion (i) Unless a grain of wheat (Bernadette Farrell)
(ii) Soul of my Saviour
(iii) Take and Eat (Michael Joncas)
Postcommunion O Quam Gloriosum (T.L. de Victoria, 1548-1511)
Recessional Praise to the holiest
 

A joyful celebration of twenty-five years of episcopal ministry. The Britten is a particular favourite of Bishop Terence’s, and we sang it once more at his request – the fourth time, after his installation in 1997, his 40th anniversary of priesthood in 2004 and the golden jubilee of priesthood a couple of years ago. Praise to the Holiest was Bishop Terence’s other request, and it was fitting too, I dare say, on the feast of St George to sing both Elgar and (the tune of) Jerusalem. Anyway, the music list as a whole, I thought, was an effective illustration of our trademark eclecticism.

Peter Jones’s refrain setting of the Gloria has been a staple of Catholic liturgical music in the English-speaking world since its composition in 1982 for the Papal Mass at Coventry Airport. The revised version for the 2010 Missal may even, I think, be an improvement on the original; we have used it successfully on many big occasions, including today’s. Peter died too young on 10 April, after a long illness. It was my sad privilege to sing at his funeral on 3 May. As I posted somewhere else, not many people have done more for music and liturgy in the Church in this country. May he rest in peace.

4th Sunday of Easter (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 17 April 2016

 
Entrance All people that on earth do dwell
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison from Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Gloria Missa Ubi Caritas
Psalm We are his people (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Flocks in Pastures Green (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion You are the shepherd (Psallite)
Postcommunion O Quam Gloriosum (T.L. de Victoria, 1548-1611)
Recessional The King of love my shepherd is
 

The readings and propers today speak mainly of the Shepherd and his sheep, but the second reading from Apocalypse 7 talks instead of the Lamb:

they were standing in front of the throne
and in front of the Lamb,
dressed in white robes
and holding palms in their hands.

O Quam Gloriosum sets a similar text (an antiphon from Vespers for the feast of All Saints), which paraphrases the same scriptural source:

O how glorious is the kingdom
in which all the saints rejoice with Christ.
Robed in white,
they follow the Lamb
wherever he will go.

3rd Sunday of Easter (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 10 April 2016

  Crown him with many crowns
Entrance
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison from Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Gloria Missa Ubi Caritas
Psalm I will praise you, Lord (Daniel Bath)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Surrexit Christus (Taizé)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion Come and eat this bread (Marty Haugen)
Postcommunion Surrexit Christus (G.B Pergolesi, 1710-1736, adapted Richard Proulx)
Recessional Battle is o’er

Easter Sunday (2016)

Sunday, 27 March 2016

 
Entrance Jesus Christ is Ris’n Today
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison from Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Gloria Missa Ubi Caritas
Psalm This is the Day (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation Sequence: Victimae Paschali Laudes (William Greene)
Easter Alleluia (chant)
Sprinkling Springs of Water (Marty Haugen)
Preparation of the Gifts Awake, thou wintry earth (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750, arr. Richard Marlow)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion Confitemini Domino (Taizé) & Ps 117 (Laurence Bévenot)
Postcommunion This is the Day (anon, c.1600)
Recessional Go in peace, Alleluia
At the Lamb’s high feast

The Easter Vigil (2016)

Saturday, 26 March 2016

 
The Service of LightLumen Christi (chant)
ExsultetPlainchant
After 1st reading (Genesis 1)Send forth your Spirit (Stephen Dean)
After 2nd reading (Genesis 22)Preserve me (mcb)
After 3rd reading (Exodus 14-15)I will sing to the Lord (Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
After 4th reading (Isaiah 55)I will praise you, Lord (Psallite)
After 5th reading (Ezekiel 36)We shall draw water joyfully (Paul Inwood)
GloriaPsallite
Easter Alleluia + Psalm 117Plainchant, verses by Paul Inwood
Litany of the SaintsMissal Chant
Blessing of WaterSprings of Water (Marty Haugen)
SprinklingVidi Aquam (T.L. de Victoria, c.1548-1611)
Preparation of the GiftsChristus Resurgens (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, AmenMissa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Agnus DeiMissa Ubi Caritas
CommunionJesus, Lamb of God
DismissalGo in peace, Alleluia (chanted)
Final HymnThine be the Glory
 

Confusion reigns supreme regarding the order of Psalms when a Baptism takes place at the Easter Vigil, as it did tonight. The Lectionary says:

The psalm to be used after the Seventh Reading (i.e. the fifth for us, from Ezekiel) varies from place to place and it depends on whether a baptism is being celebrated at the Easter Vigil. In the USA: If there is no baptism, either Isaiah 12 or Psalm 50(51) is used. If there is a baptism, Psalm 41(42) is used. In the English-speaking world: If there is no baptism, Psalm 41(42) is used. If there is a baptism, either Isaiah 12 or Psalm 50(51) MUST be used instead. In the rest of the world: If there is no baptism, Psalm 41(42) is used. If there is a baptism, either Isaiah 12 or Psalm 50(51) MAY be used instead.

(though in my hand Missal, The CTS New Sunday Missal (People’s Edition), a typo leads not to the Isaiah 12 Canticle, but to Psalm 29 (I will praise you Lord), which would normally occur after the reading from Isaiah 54, which we usually omit.) The Lectionary is silent on what to have after the Isaiah 55 reading, where the Isaiah 12 canticle would normally come, if you choose to have the latter after the Ezekiel reading instead. So I took a liberty, and put in Ps 29 after the Isaiah 55 reading. This to my mind was a better option than having the more subdued and penitential Ps 50(51) after the Ezekiel reading, since it concluded our exploration of the Hebrew scriptures on an uplifting note, and led us on, via the resurrection narrative, to a joyful celebration of the sacrament of Baptism (accompanied by two receptions, and therefore three celebrations of the sacrament of Confirmation) later in our feast.

I told you it was confusing. But not many people seemed to mind, judging from the relatively few puzzled scowls from the pews as we tried to find our way through the Parish Mass Book, and the Psalms were just right, I reckon, where they ended up. Happy Easter!

Office of Readings and Morning Prayer (Holy Saturday, 2016)

Saturday, 26 March 2016

Again a repeat of last year’s service. It was pleasing to hear the small but willing congregation grow in confidence in joining in with the singing of the psalms.

Celebration of the Lord's Passion, Good Friday (2016)

Friday, 25 March 2016

 
PsalmFather, into your hands (chant, arr. Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
Gospel AcclamationChristus factus est (Johann Ernst Eberlin, 1702-1762)
Adoration of the CrossBehold the wood of the Cross (Missal tone)
Praise to the Holiest
Vexilla Regis (G.P. da Palestrina, c.1525-1594, & chant)
O Crux Ave (Rihards Dubra, 1964-)
Jesus, remember me (Taizé)
CommunionAve Verum Corpus (William Byrd, 1540-1623)
Soul of my Saviour

The motets during the Adoration of the Cross both set verses from the plainchant hymn Vexilla Regis, so we linked the two seamlessly with chant verses.

Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Holy Thursday, 2016)

Thursday, 24 March 2016


Opening Hymn The Glory of the Cross (John Ainslie)
Kyrie Mass XVII (chant)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Responsorial Psalm The Blessing Cup (Christopher Walker)
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 (Bob Hurd)
Sanctus Mass XVII
Memorial Acclamation B, AmenMissal Tone
Agnus Dei Mass XVII & Missa super Laudate Dominum (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594)
Communion O Sacrum Convivium (mcb) listen
Procession Pange Lingua (plainchant)
Stay with me (Taizé)
 

The Mass of Chrism (2016)

Wednesday, 23 March 2016

 
Opening HymnO God beyond all praising
KyrieKyrie Eleison fromMissa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
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 GiftsHear my prayer, O Lord (Henry Purcell, 1659-1695)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, AmenMissal tone in English
Agnus DeiMass XVIII (chant) & Missa Aeterna Christi Munera (G.P. de Palestrina, c.1525-1594)
CommunionO Lord, I will sing of your constant love (Christopher Walker)
Prayer of St Richard of Chichester (Malcolm Archer)
Now we remain (David Haas)
Recessional HymnPraise to the Holiest
 

It was a new departure (and, I’m told, a permanent change) to have the Mass of Chrism on morning of the Wednesday of Holy Week, rather than the Thursday. From the musicians’ point of view, once diaries were brought up to date with the late-breaking announcement of the change, it probably makes life easier, with the week’s exertions spread over one more day, and the the luxury of a whole rehearsal later the same day dedicated to the impending Triduum.

Palm Sunday (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 20 March 2016

 
Entrance (i) Hosanna Filio David (Plainchant & T.L. de Victoria, 1548-1611)
(ii) All Glory Laud and Honour
Psalm My God, My God (Alan Smith)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Hear my prayer, O Lord (Henry Purcell, 1659-1695)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Mass XVII & English Missal tones
Agnus Dei Mass XVII
Communion Father, if this cup (Stephen Dean)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional My song is love unknown

5th Sunday of Lent (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 13 March 2016

 
Entrance Lord Jesus, think on me
Kyrie Mass XVII (chant)
Psalm Ps 125 (Romuald Simpson)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Lord, for thy tender mercy’s sake (attr. John Hilton the elder, c.1565-1609)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Mass XVII & English Missal tones
Agnus Dei Mass XVII
Communion I will put a new spirit within you (Stephen Dean)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional When I survey the wondrous cross
 

4th Sunday of Lent (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 6 March 2016

 
Entrance Our Father, we have wandered (Kevin Nichols/J.S. Bach)
Kyrie Mass XVII (chant)
Psalm Ps 33 (Monaghan/Steel)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts I will arise (Robert Creighton, 1636-1734)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Mass XVII & English Missal tones
Agnus Dei Mass XVII
Communion O the love of my Lord is the essence (Estelle White)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Praise we our God with joy
 

Choir member Martin Griffiths is a student on the Salford University BA (Hons) programme in Television and Radio. For an assignment on the theme of working lives he (and fellow student Marcus Gale) put together a short film about the job of musical director here, including snippets of music from today’s Mass, all themed around today’s Gospel story of the Prodigal Son.

24 Hours for the Lord (2016)

Friday, 4 March 2016

 
Entrance Day is done, but love unfailing
Psalm Have mercy on us O Lord, for we have sinned (CJM)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts O God, I seek you (Marty Haugen)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion This is my body (Jimmy & Carol Owens)
Recessional Stay with us, Lord on our journey (mcb)
 

24 Hours for the Lord (the Internet tells me) is a worldwide initiative called for by Pope Francis to invite all people to receive the mercy of God through Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Here at the Cathedral it turned out to be 36 hours for the Lord, since the two periods originally planned—9 am to 9 pm on consecutive days—were added to by popular demand with an all-night vigil linking the two. We provided the music for a late-night Mass to mark the start of the vigil. The musical fare was simple and thoughtful, led by a handful of singers and yours truly at the piano. I think it set the right tone for a night of contemplation.

3rd Sunday of Lent (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 28 February 2016

 
Entrance Be still, for the presence of the Lord
Kyrie Mass XVII (chant)
Psalm Ps 102 (A. G. Murray)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Thou knowest, Lord (Henry Purcell, 1659-1695)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Mass XVII & English Missal chants
Agnus Dei Mass XVII
Communion How lovely is your dwelling place (Paul Wellicome)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Praise my soul, the King of heaven
 

2nd Sunday of Lent (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 21 February 2016

 
Entrance Remember your mercy (Paul Inwood)
Kyrie Mass XVII (chant)
Psalm Ps 26 (Paul Inwood)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Hic est Filius meus dilectus (Diego de las Muelas, 1698-1743)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass XVII & English Missal chants
Agnus Dei Mass XVII
Communion Sweet sacrament divine
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Shine, Jesus, Shine (Graham Kendrick)
 

Two contrasting reflections on the Transfiguration, in today’s Gospel, from Diego de las Muelas and Graham Kendrick; the latter in the fine choral arrangement from the RSCM. Diversity is our trade mark!

Rite of Election (2016)

Sunday, 14 February 2016

 
Opening Hymn The Church’s one foundation
Responsorial Psalm As the deer longs (Bob Hurd)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Enrolment There is one thing I ask (Chris O’Hara)
After the Election of the Catechumens God has chosen me (Bernadette Farrell)
Welcome of Candidates God, fill our lives (John Bell)
After Welcome of Candidates Love Divine (Howard Goodall) - choir
Prayers of Intercession Miserere Nobis from Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Recessional Hymn Stay with us, Lord (mcb)
 

1st Sunday of Lent (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 14 February 2016

 
Entrance Led by the Spirit (Bob Hurd)
Kyrie Mass XVII (chant)
Psalm Ps 90 (Peter Smedley)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Emendemus in Melius (William Byrd, c.1540-1623)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass XVII & English Missal chants
Agnus Dei Mass XVII
Communion On eagles’ wings (Michael Joncas)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Guide me, O thou great redeemer
 

Ash Wednesday (2016)

10 February 2016

nbsp;
Entrance O God, I seek you (Marty Haugen)
Psalm Ps 50 (Stephen Dean)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Imposition of Ashes Bless the Lord, my soul (Taizé)
Preparation of the Gifts Miserere Mei (G.B. Pergolesi, 1710-1736)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Mass XVII & English Missal chants
Agnus Dei Mass XVII
Communion Misericordes Sicut Pater (Paul Inwood)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Our Father, we have wandered
 

For Lent this year, a return to Mass XVII. The Sanctus and Agnus Dei seem to draw a more enthusiastic response from our singing assembly than Mass XI (Missa Orbis Factor), which we've had in Lent for the last three years. The ‘major key’ feel of Mode 5 has something to do with it, I think, and the Orbis Factor Agnus Dei is a particularly tricky one.

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 7 Feb 2016

 
Entrance Come, ring out your joy (arr. Martin Foster)
Kyrie Kyrie II from Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm Before the angels (Daniel Bath)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (Plainchant)
Creed (said)
Preparation of the Gifts Here I am Lord (Dan Schutte)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Communion Come to me (Martin Barry and Diane Murden)
Postcommunion He hath filled the hungry (Felix Mendelssohn, 1809-1847)
Recessional Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty
 

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 31 January 2016

 
Entrance Save us, Lord our God (Christopher Walker)
Kyrie Kyrie II from Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm Ps 70 (Sebastian Wolff)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (Plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Communion If there is this love (Martin Barry and Diane Murden)
Postcommunion The Lord bless you and keep you (John Rutter)
Recessional Love divine, all loves excelling

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 24 January 2016

 
Entrance Bring to the Lord a glad new song
Kyrie Kyrie II from Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm Ps 18 (McCarthy/Bévenot)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (Plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts God has chosen me (Bernadette Farrell)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Communion Taste and See (Richard Proulx)
Postcommunion Haec Dies (Charles Wood, 1866-1926)
Recessional God whose almighty Word
 

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 17 January 2016

 
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 Ps 95 (Monaghan/Murray)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (Plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Shout to the Lord (Darlene Zsech)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Communion Spirit of the living God
Postcommunion Venite Comedite (William Byrd, 1540-1623)
Recessional O praise ye the Lord

Simple Sanctus is my adaptation of the chant Sanctus from the 2010 English Missal (itself adapted from the 13th century Mass XVIII, Deus Genitor Alme). I added choral and keyboard harmonies, a regular pulse (first 3/2 and then 2/2), and the piece’s musical signature, recurring in the Memorial Acclamations and Amen, of an Fadd9 to harmonise the final supertonic (to be anachronistic about things) against a tonic chord. The end result aims to occupy a similar space to the Sanctus from Bob Hurd’s Missa Ubi Caritas. We’ll give it a go for the next few weeks of Ordinary Time, to see if it works.

The Baptism of the Lord (Year C, 2016)

Sunday, 10 January 2016

 
Entrance On Jordan’s Bank
Sprinkling Rite Springs of Water (Marty Haugen)
Gloria Gloria de Noël (Thomas Niel)
Psalm Ps 103 (Hall/Forrester)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Songs of thankfulness and praise
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Here is my Servant (Psallite)
Postcommunion O Nata Lux (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585)
Recessional Come down, O love divine

Funeral Mass of Fr Anthony Sudlow

Friday, 8 January 2016

 
Entrance Sweet Heart of Jesus
Kyrie Mass XVI (chant)
Psalm Because the Lord is my shepherd (Christopher Walker)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (chant)
Preparation of the Gifts If ye love me (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585)
In bread we bring you, Lord
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass XVIII
Agnus Dei Mass XVIII
Communion O Bread of Heaven
Ave Verum Corpus (William Byrd, c.1540-1623)
Come to me (Martin Barry & Diane Murden)
Commendation Song of farewell (Ernest Sands)
Recessional Hail Queen of Heaven

Fr Anthony served at the Cathedral from 2010 to 2014, immediately after his ordination to the priesthood at the age of 69, after some years of widowhood and a long career in banking. He was a wonderful priest: gentle, humble, engagingly self-deprecating and with a strong ars celebrandi, reverent, focussed and unfussy. He sang the Mass willingly, with a fine voice. In his last e-mail to me he said I didn’t realise how much I missed your music until I was sat in Cathedral this morning. It brought back some good memories.

For his Funeral Mass we had a good mix of music, old and new, congregational and choral, and I think he would have liked it. There was a fine eulogy too, delivered after Communion by his nephew Brian. Fr Anthony’s death is a sudden and sad loss.

The Epiphany (2016)

Sunday, 3 January 2016

 
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
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Laudate Omnes Gentes (Taizé) & Reges Tharsis (chant)
Postcommunion Videntes Stellam (Francis Poulenc, 1899-1963)
Recessional The First Nowell

Christmas Day (2015)

Friday, 25 December 2015

 
Entrance Hodie Christus natus (chant)
O Come all ye faithful
Gloria Psallite
Psalm All the ends of the earth (Alan Johnson)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Bread of Life (Bernadette Farrell)
Postcommunion A Noble Flower of Judah (Michael Praetorius, 1571-1621) - Choir
Recessional Hark, the herald angels sing

Men’s voices as usual for Christmas morning. Just five of us this year, but in exuberant form as ever.

Vigil and First Mass of Christmas (2015)

Thursday, 24 December 2015

 
Opening Hymn Adeste Fideles
Reading Isaiah 11:1-10 (A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse)
Choir Wake, O wake with tidings thrilling (Philipp Nicolai, arr. J.S. Bach/mcb)
Hymn Once in royal David’s city
Reading Micah 5:1-4 (Out of you, Bethlehem, will be born the one…)
Choir Angel voices richly blending (trad. German, words by James Quinn)
Hymn O little town of Bethlehem
Reading Isaiah 52: 7-10 (How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of one…)
Gloria Gloria de Noël (Thomas Niel)
Reading Isaiah 9:2-7 (The people that walked in darkness)
Psalm Today a Saviour has been born (Martin Foster)
Reading Titus 2:11-14 (God’s grace has been revealed)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Reading Luke 2:1-14 (The Nativity)
Creed Credo III & Et Incarnatus from the Mass for three voices (William Byrd, c.1540-1623)
Preparation of the gifts A Noble Flower of Judah – Choir & Celebration Brass
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Still, still, still (Austrian trad., arr. Janet Janzen) – Choir
Bread of Life (Bernadette Farrell)
Recessional Hark the herald angels sing

Our usual rich banquet of readings and songs, led by Bishop John. The choral items had a German/Austrian theme – arrangements of traditional Christmas melodies, including an energetic, dance-like rendition of Es ist ein’ Ros’ entsprungen with choir, brass and organ taking it in turns to sparkle.

Merry Christmas everyone!

4th Sunday of Advent (Year C, 2015)

Sunday, 20 December 2015

 
Entrance Come Saviour, Come/Rorate Caeli (chant)
Kyrie Missal Chant (Lord have mercy)
Psalm God of hosts, bring us back (Sue Furlong)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamations (Alan Smith)
Preparation of the Gifts On the lips of an angel (J.S. Bach/Charles Gounod/Scott Soper)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Missal Chant
Agnus Dei Missal Chant
Communion O Clavis David (chant)
Veni Immanuel (John Bell)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional O come, O come Emmanuel

3rd Sunday of Advent (Year C, 2015)

Rite of Opening of the Door of Mercy

Sunday, 13 December 2015

 
Rite of Introduction Misericordes Sicut Pater (Paul Inwood)
Procession to the Cathedral Stay with us Lord (mcb)
Showing of the Book of the Gospels I am the gate (mcb)
Entrance Rejoice, the Lord is King
Remembrance of Baptism Asperges Me from Miserere Mei (Antonio Lotti, 1667-1740) & Psalm 50(51) (Bévenot)
Psalm Is 12 (Laurence Bévenot)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Alan Smith)
Preparation of the Gifts Rejoice in the Lord (anon, c.1600)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Missal Tone
Agnus Dei Missal Tone
Communion O Radix Jesse (chant)
Bread of Life (Bernadette Farrell)
Concluding Rites Salve Regina (chant)
Recessional Hail to the Lord’s Anointed

Bishop John led the celebration for the opening of the holy door for the Year of Mercy. We began in the Cathedral cloister, singing the “official hymn” for the Year, as people, and then clergy, gathered, ending with a choral flourish in Paul Inwood’s arresting polyphonic coda. Processing around to the (liturgical) north side of the building via the Cathedral yard and then Chapel Street, we sang the refrain to my Stay with us, Lord. This seemed to hit the right spot – with the choir at the front of the procession and Anthony (on his very fine portable instrument) anchoring things in the cloister, we kept together well, and the people seemed willing to maintain the singing until the whole of the procession had arrived. Testament to the power of repetition, I think, not just in procession, but over the period from Lent to Pentecost last year, when we made it the refrain for the Universal Prayer every Sunday.

The moment before the entrance through the newly opened door called for a sung antiphon I am the gate, while the Bishop held up the Book of the Gospels. I estimated the length of time Bishop John might reasonably be expected to hold up a heavy book (I gave him twenty seconds), and came up with a lively choral fanfare in 7/8 time. Later, we had an excerpt from Lotti’s Miserere, with repetitions of the relevant section interspersed with psalm verses during the lengthy sprinkling of a full Cathedral.

Christmas is Coming!

Music and Readings for Advent and Christmas

Sunday, 6 December 2016

 
Cathedral Choir & Notability The Truth From Above (Vaughan Williams)
All O come, O come Emmanuel
Notability Ave Maria (Vytautas Miškinis)
Candlelight Carol (John Rutter)
All The angel Gabriel
Cathedral Choir A maiden most gentle (Andrew Carter)
Anthony Hunt (Organ) Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her (J.S. Bach, BWV 700)
Cathedral Choir & Notability Bogoroditse Devo (Rachmaninov)
All Once in royal David’s city
Notability Ding Dong! Merrily on high (G R Woodward, Christopher Cotton)
Mary’s Boy Child (Jester Hairston)
Cathedral Choir Videntes Stellam (Francis Poulenc)
Angels we have heard on high (Eric Pazdziora)
All O come, all ye faithful
Cathedral Choir & Notability O Magnum Mysterium (Morten Lauridsen)
All God rest ye merry, gentlemen
All Lo he comes with clouds descending
Anthony Hunt Fanfare on Antioch (Gerre Hancock)

An end at last to the building work in Cathedral House meant that we had the space to put on our Advent and Christmas service-cum-concert again this year, in support of, and with the help of, our two charities Caritas Diocese of Salford and Salford Loaves and Fishes. Bishop John presided, with words of welcome and a final blessing, and the Bishop of Manchester Rt Rev David Walker gave an address. Musically speaking, there was a good mix of Advent and Christmas-themed music, but the beginning and end of the celebration made it clear, I hope, that Christmas had yet to arrive.

2nd Sunday of Advent (Year C, 2015)

Sunday, 6 December 2015

 
Entrance Song of Consolation (Peter Jones)
Kyrie Missal Tone
Psalm What marvels the Lord worked for us (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamations (Alan Smith)
Preparation of the Gifts Hierusalem Surge (Heinrich Isaac, c.1450-1517)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missal Tone
Agnus Dei Missal Tone
Communion O Adonai (chant)
Wait for the Lord (Taizé)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Come, thou long expected Jesus

1st Sunday of Advent (Year C, 2015)

Sunday, 29 November 2015

 
Entrance Awake, awake, fling off the night
Kyrie Missal Tone
Psalm To you, O lord, I lift my soul (Marty Haugen)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamations (Alan Smith)
Preparation of the Gifts Ad te Levavi (F.X. Witt, 1834-1888)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missal Tone
Agnus Dei Missal Tone
Communion O Sapientia (chant)
There is a longing in our hearts (Anne Quigley)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Love divine, all loves excelling

Christ the King (Year B, 2015)

Sunday, 22 November 2015

 
Entrance Crown him with many crowns
Kyrie Kyrie from Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm The Lord is King (Paul Wellicome)
Gospel Acclamation Sing a New Song (John Bell)
Presentation of Candidates Christ be our light (Bernadette Farrell)
Preparation of the Gifts The truth from above (Trad., arr Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Communion Take and Eat (Michael Joncas)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Hail Redeemer, King divine

Today saw the presentation of candidates for Confirmation and first Holy Communion next year, accompanied by our customary rite with Baptismal candles, and Bernadette Farrell’s uplifting invocation of Christ our light. In this song the line longing for truth, we turn to you referenced one of the key words in today’s Gospel reading, as did Vaughan Williams’s hauntingly simple arrangement of the Herefordshire Carol.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2015)

Sunday, 15 November 2015

 
Entrance O Jesus Christ Remember
Kyrie Kyrie from Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm Ps 15 (John Ainslie)
Gospel Acclamation Sing a New Song (John Bell)
Preparation of the Gifts In Paradisum from the Requiem by Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Communion Centre of my life (Paul Inwood)
Postcommunion Dextera Domini (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594)
Recessional Lo he comes with clouds descending

Fauré’s In Paradisum was a late substitution to honour the dead in the horrific attacks in Paris two days previously.

The psalm was taken from John Ainslie’s new collection, Sing the Psalms Simply. This is a welcome new addition to the repertoire, and the responsses in particular, in my view, are finely crafted.