16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 22 July 2018

 

Entrance	Praise we our God with joy
Kyrie	Peter Jones
Gloria	Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm	Ps 22 (Fintan O’Carroll)
Gospel Acclamation	St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts	The Lord is my shepherd (John Rutter)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei	Peter Jones
Communion	I stand at the door (mcb)
Recessional	Hail Redeemer, King divine

 

One last Sunday under my direction, before calling time on twenty-three years of the unalloyed privilege of leading the music here. We ended with two pieces that felt special to me: one last chance to sing a new song to the Lord, in a setting of one of today’s Communion antiphons, with verses from psalm 33(34); and then an old warhorse of a hymn that’s been one of our signature tunes right since the beginning. I’ll miss the place, and its wonderful people.

Ordination to the Priesthood of Callum Brown

Saturday, 21 July 2018

 

Entrance	Lord, you give the great commission
Kyrie	Missa de Angelis
Gloria	Missa de Angelis
Psalm	I will sing forever of your love (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation	Easter Gospel Acclamation (Brian Luckner)
Litany of the Saints	Chant
Illustrative Rites	Veni Creator Spiritus (Chant & T.L de Victoria, c. 1548-1611)
Kiss of Peace	Ubi Caritas (Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986) & chant)
Preparation of the Gifts	Alleluia, sing to Jesus
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Missa de Angelis & Missal tones
Agnus Dei	Missa de Angelis
Communion	(i) Whoever eats my flesh (John Ainslie) (ii) Sweet Heart of Jesus (iii) O Sacrum Convivium (Olivier Messiaen, 1908-1992)
Recessional	Holy light on earth’s horizon

 

For the Kiss of Peace – a lengthy rite in which the new priest is greeted by all the other priests present – we spun out the Duruflé by alternating the antiphon with chant verses not set by the composer. It was a haunting mixture, and timed to perfection. Before that, we raised the roof with the Gospel Acclamation, which struck exactly the right note of power and drama for a grand gathering of the diocese for a truly special event.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 15 July 2018

 

Entrance	All are welcome (Marty Haugen)
Kyrie	Peter Jones
Gloria	Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm	Ps 84 (Elsie Wright)
Gospel Acclamation	St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts	Litany to the Holy Spirit (Peter Hurford, b.1930)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei	Peter Jones
Communion	Whoever eats my flesh (John Ainslie)
Recessional	Tell out, my soul

The first reading from Ephesians had the words

you too have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit of the Promise, the pledge of our inheritance.

We sang Peter Hurford’s setting of Robert Herrick’s well-known poem invoking the Spirit’s comfort. Sue Milligan sang the solo beautifully.

Diocesan Mass for Musicians, 2018

Saturday of Week 14 in Ordinary Time

14 July 2018

 

Entrance	All that is hidden (Bernadette Farrell)
Kyrie	Kyrie Eleison (Dinah Reindorf)
Psalm	The Lord is King (Paul Wellicome)
Gospel Acclamation	St Agatha Alleluia (Martin Barry)
Preparation of the Gifts	A Hymn to the Trinity (P.I. Tchaikovsky)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen	Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei	Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Communion	Taste and See (CJM)
Recessional	Thanks be to God (Stephen Dean)

The Mass for Musicians came at the end of a magnificent training day for the musicians of the Diocese, linked to the Hope in the Future initiative. The Cathedral Centre was packed to overflowing, for a day of talks and workshops (led by Daniel Bath, Nick Baty, Anthony Hunt and yours truly), ending in a Mass for all the participants. The packed timetable had left us with very little rehearsal time before Mass, but we managed to master everything, from Tchaikovsky to CJM’s Taste and See, which at one point involved sixteen voice parts.

The music was all chosen to fit the texts of today’s Mass, which included the angels crying Holy, Holy in Isaiah (for which the Tchaikovsky fitted like a glove), and everything now hidden will be made clear from chapter 10 of Matthew. Paul Wellicome’s boisterous psalm setting might have been written for the occasion, and taste and see was the Communion antiphon.

The day itself felt as though it met a huge need, and the feedback afterwards was certainly appreciative. I hope there are many more such days to come.

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 8 July 2018

 

Entrance	Praise to the Lord, the almighty
Kyrie	Peter Jones
Gloria	Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm	Ps 122 (Mount St Bernard)
Gospel Acclamation	St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts	Make me a channel of your peace
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei	Peter Jones
Communion	O Taste and See (Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958) Come to me (Martin Barry and Diane Murden)
Recessional	Forth in the peace of Christ

Catherine Otokhina was the soprano soloist in Vaughan Williams’s gentle antidote to pomp and circumstance, composed for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 1 July 2018

 

Entrance	All people that on earth do dwell
Kyrie	Peter Jones
Gloria	Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm	I will praise you Lord (Daniel Bath)
Gospel Acclamation	St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts	Do not be afraid (Philip Stopford)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei	Peter Jones
Communion	Bless the Lord, my soul (Taizé)
Recessional	Thanks be to God

The Nativity of John the Baptist (2018)

Sunday, 24 June 2018

 

Entrance	On Jordan’s bank
Kyrie	Peter Jones
Gloria	Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm	O God, you search me (Bernadette Farrell)
Gospel Acclamation	St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts	Et tu puer from the Benedictus (T.L. de Victoria, c. 1548-1611)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei	Peter Jones
Communion	Behold the Lamb of God (John Bell) [I/78] & Ecce Maria genuit (chant)
Recessional	Blest be the Lord, the God of Israel (Bernadette Farrell)

As on previous occasions for this feast day, we sang Bernadette Farrell’s lovely setting of psalm 138(139) in responsorial mode, using the last two lines of the final verse (“for the wonder of who I am I praise you, safe in your hands all creation is made new”) as the people’s response, and allowing the choir to sing the choral arrangements of the verses.

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 17 June 2018

 

Entrance	All things bright and beautiful
Kyrie	Peter Jones
Gloria	Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm	Ps 91 (Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
Gospel Acclamation	St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts	Lord hear my voice (mcb)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei	Peter Jones
Communion	Oculi Omnium (Charles Wood, 1866-1926) There is one thing (Chris O’Hara)
Recessional	The kingdom of God

 

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 10 June 2018

 

Entrance	Your hands, O Lord
Kyrie	Peter Jones
Gloria	Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm	Ps 129 (Peter Smedley)
Gospel Acclamation	St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts	Ubi Caritas (Maurice Duruflé, 1902-1986)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei	Peter Jones
Communion	You are my refuge (Christopher Walker)
Recessional	All my hope on God is founded

 

Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord (2018)

Sunday, 3 June 2018

 

Entrance	Of the glorious body telling
Kyrie	Peter Jones
Gloria	Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm	Ps 115 (Stephen Dean/Psallite)
Gospel Acclamation	(i) Sequence: Lo! The angel’s food is given (ii) St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts	Tantum Ergo (Gabriel Fauré, 1845-1924)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei	Peter Jones
Communion	Take and Eat (Michael Joncas)
Recessional	Soul of my Saviour

 

We sang the sequence in English to the traditional plainchant melody, taking it from the New English Hymnal, starting at part 2, as permitted because the unabridged form is so long. The little-known setting of Tantum Ergo by Fauré has a charming melody, sung first by a soloist and then taken up in the second verse by the full choir. The solo was beautifully executed by choral scholar Hana Ilčić.

Trinity Sunday (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 27 May 2018

 

Entrance	Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God almighty
Kyrie	Peter Jones
Gloria	Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm	Ps 32 (Robert Sherlaw-Johnson)
Gospel Acclamation	St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts	A Hymn to the Trinity (P.I. Tchaikovsky, 1840-1893)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei	Peter Jones
Communion	God beyond all names (John Bell) & Benedicta sit sancta Trinitas (chant)
Recessional	Holy God, we praise thy name

 

Annual Diocesan International Mass (2018)

Saturday, 26 May 2018

 

Entrance	Siyahamba/We are marching/Marcharemos
Kyrie	Mass of St Luke (CJM)
Gloria	Mass of St Luke (CJM)
Psalm	Qué Alegría (Jaime Cortez)
Gospel Acclamation	Mimi Nasikeya
Creed	—
Intercessions	Stay with us Lord (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts	Eh Batata
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Mass of St Luke (CJM)
Agnus Dei	Mass of St Luke (CJM)
Communion	Laudate omnes gentes (Taizé)
Postcommunion	Rebecca St James - In Me (signed)
Recessional	Our God Reigns

An exuberant mix of music for this second annual celebration of migrants in our community. The Cathedral Choir joined forces with two African choirs, and Daniel Bath and I shared duties on piano, organ and guitar. There were drummers too, to say nothing of an Irish violinist, and a children’s choir giving a sign language interpretation of a song by Rebecca St James. We should do more of this.

Anniversary of the Manchester Arena Bombing

Tuesday of Week 7 in Ordinary Time (2018)

22 May 2018

 

Entrance	All my hope on God is founded
Kyrie	Jones
Psalm	Because the Lord is my shepherd (Christopher Walker)
Gospel Acclamation	St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts	God be in my head (Philip Wilby, 1949-)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen	Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei	Jones
Communion	Do not be afraid (Philip Stopford, 1977-)
Recessional	Thine be the glory

No doubt about it, the Holy Spirit had a (playful) hand in my choice of music for tonight’s thoughtful commemoration of Manchester’s tragedy and resilience. It took someone else to point out to me the bee theme: God be in my head, Do not be afraid, Thine be the glory and (cough) Because the Lord is my shepherd. (Yes, yes, and Memorial Acclamation B.) The whole event was reflective and prayerful, concluding (as we did last year) with a hymn celebrating Christ’s triumph over death.

Pentecost (2018)

Sunday, 20 May 2018

 

Entrance	O Spirit All-embracing (Delufner/Parry)
Kyrie	Kyrie for 3 voices (Byrd/mcb)
Gloria	Psallite
Psalm	Send forth your Spirit (Christopher Walker)
Sequence	Pentecost Sequence (arr. Proulx)
Gospel Acclamation	Easter Gospel Acclamation (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts	Come Holy Ghost (Thomas Attwood, 1765-1838)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei	Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion	Spirit of the living God (Daniel Iverson) & Psalm 103 (John Ainslie)
Recessional	God, whose almighty word

 

7th Sunday of Easter (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 13 May, 2018

 

Entrance	Praise my soul, the King of heaven
Kyrie	Kyrie for 3 voices (Byrd/mcb)
Gloria	Psallite
Psalm	Ps 102 (Welch)
Gospel Acclamation	Easter Alleluia (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts	Alleluia surrexit Dominus (Jacquet de Mantua, 1483-1559)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei	Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion	Live on in my love (Psallite)
Recessional	Alleluia sing to Jesus

 

Vigil Mass of The Ascension (Year B, 2018)

Wednesday, 9 May 2018

 

Entrance	Praise him as he mounts the skies
Gloria	Psallite
Psalm	Ps 46 (Dean)
Gospel Acclamation	Easter Gospel Acclamation (O Filii) (Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts	Viri Galilei (William Byrd, c. 1540-1623)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Communion	Do not be afraid (Philip Stopford)
Recessional	L’Ascension (Olivier Messiaen 1908-1992) (organ)

The Cathedral Sunday evening Mass moved to Saturday evening a few months ago, and it was decided to follow the same pattern of a Vigil Mass on feast days too. Tonight was the first time the choir slotted into this new regime. With Mass starting at 5.30 pm, there was no time for more than a few minutes’ preparation, but the small band of singers (I think there were seven of us) had no trouble giving an exuberant rendition of the opening section for five voices of Byrd’s setting of the Introit. As well as that, we had a first outing for Philip Stopford’s lovely reworking of Gerald Markland’s hymn text.

It’s always fun to sing in the Cathedral with a very small congregation, so tonight fitted the bill. I kept the music list fairly short, but with our usual trademark mix of old and new.

 

6th Sunday of Easter (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 6 May 2018

 

Entrance	God is love, his the care
Kyrie	Kyrie for 3 voices (Byrd/mcb)
Gloria	Psallite
Psalm	Ps 97 (Peter Smedley)
Gospel Acclamation	Easter Alleluia (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts	If ye love me (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei	Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion	A new commandment (Anon.) & Ps 137 (Laurence Bévenot)
Postcommunion	Come down, O love divine
Recessional	O purest of creatures Regina Caeli

 

We moved the normal recessional hymn to immediately after Communion, to make space for a paraliturgical crowning of the statue of Our Lady, to mark the beginning of May. Before that, we sang about God’s love, reflecting what we heard in today’s second reading and Gospel.

5th Sunday of Easter (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 29 April 2018

 

Entrance	Bring to the Lord a glad new song (Perry/Parry)
Kyrie	adapted from the Byrd Mass for 3 voices (mcb)
Gloria	Psallite
Psalm	Ps 21 (James Walsh)
Gospel Acclamation	Easter Alleluia (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts	Jesu Salvator Saeculi (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei	Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion	I am the vine (John Bell) & Ps 80 (Laurence Bévenot)
Recessional	Battle is o’er

 

4th Sunday of Easter (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 22 April 2018

 

Entrance	All people that on earth do dwell
Kyrie	adapted from the Byrd Mass for 3 voices (mcb)
Gloria	Psallite
Psalm	The stone which the builders rejected (Bernadette Farrell)
Gospel Acclamation	Easter Alleluia (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts	Ego sum pastor bonus (Heinrich Isaac, c.1450-1517)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei	Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion	Now we remain (David Haas)
Recessional	Hail Redeemer, King divine

 

3rd Sunday of Easter (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 15 April 2018

 

Entrance	This Joyful Eastertide
Kyrie	Adapted from the Byrd Mass for 3 voices (mcb)
Gloria	Psallite
Psalm	Ps 4 (James Walsh)
Gospel Acclamation	Easter Alleluia (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts	Surrexit Christus (adapted from G.B Pergolesi by Richard Proulx)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen	Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei	Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion	Come and eat this bread (Marty Haugen)
Recessional	Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour