The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph

27 December 2015

Entrance	Of the Father's love begotten
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Christmas Gloria (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 83	They are happy (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Carol at Bethlehem Cave (Spanish arr. Walker)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Christmas (Ebeling arr.mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Behold our God (mtgf)
Communion	Jesus the word (French)
Final	See amid the winter's snow

Of the Father's love begotten we have not done before - though it is one of my favourite Christmas songs. Such a generous melody.

We used the optional year C readings. One of the differences in the 2nd edition of the Lectionary of 1983/84? was the addition of sets of readings for Years B & C for a number of Solemnities and Feasts of the Lord. Today it reminds us among other things that there is much to be said about families.

Nativity of the Lord - Day Mass

25 December 2015

Entrance	Once in royal David's city
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Christmas Gloria (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 97	All the ends of the earth (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Sing we the virgin Mary (arr. mtgf)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Christmas (Ebeling arr.mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	All the ends (mtgf)
Communion	Away in a manger
Final	O little town of Bethlehem

Again the chapel was full and people sang well. As all the musicians had also been at Mass at midnight it is important to recognise that for the majority of the congregation this is their first Mass of Christmas and keep the energy levels up.

Nativity of the Lord - Mass during the Night

25 December 2015

Carol	Once in royal David's city
Choir	On Jordan's bank (Monteverdi)
Carol	While shepherds watched
Choir	Peace Child (Bernadette Farrell)
Carol	O little town of Bethlehem
Choir	In the bleak midwinter (Holst)
Entrance	O come all ye faithful
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Christmas (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 95	Today a Saviour has been born (Bernadette Farrell)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Profession of Faith	Credo III - Et incarnatus (Josquin)
Preparation of Gifts	What shall we give (Catalan arr. Dean)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Christmas (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	The Word became flesh (mtgf)
Communion	Night of Silence/ Silent Night (Daniel Kantor)
Final	Hark the herald angels

We learnt the lessons of last year and restored the readings and ended with a 'choir carol'. Both things are practical and about stamina. Continuous music beforehand, even with variety, is a little exhausting - so the readings provide a break (and, of course, have a value in themselves!). Finishing with an unaccompanied carol before the beginning of Mass allows for our organist to get to the organ. It was good to repeat Peace child from the carol service, The Monteverdi was i part suggested by our violinist being there. It is an adaptation of one his hymn settings from Selva morale e spirituale. To be honest the English text does not fit well - the mis accents are not interesting verbal syncopations.

We again repeated Credo III with the inserted Josquin. After a moment's hesitation the genuflection worked and though people were singing it is hard to gauge how well it is known to what is a 40%, I would guess, unfamiliar or annual congregation. I do need to make a note to include the responses as they were definitely uncertain.

4th Sunday of Advent

20 December 2015

Entrance	Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Kyrie 'Orbis factor'
Psalm 79	God of hosts (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Helmsley Alleluia (adp. mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	Ave maris stella (Monteverdi)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Advent (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Behold, a virgin (mtgf)
Communion	O holy Mary (Owen Alstott)
Final	O come, O come Emmanuel

Though to go through Advent and not sing O come, O come Emmanuel at Sunday Mass would seem odd; it somehow does not seem to fit this Sunday. Perhaps it is a final shout

Carols by Candlelight

12 December 2015

Part 1 - Prepare a way for the Lord

Entrance	Yonder come day (Georgia Sea Islands Spiritual)
Opening Responses
Reading	Isaiah 40:1–5 The prophet Isaiah tells the people of Israel to prepare a way for the Lord
Choir	O comfort my people (Irish arr. mtgf)
Hymn	O come, O come Emmanuel

Part 2 - Behold the virgin will conceive

Reading	Luke 1: 26-38 St Luke tells of the Incarnation of Jesus
Choir	Ave Maria (Arcadelt)
Carol	O little town of Bethlehem

Part 3 - Today is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord

Reading	Luke 2:1-14 St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus
Choir	All this time (Walton)
Carol	Silent Night

Part 4 - The Word was made flesh and lived among us

Reading	1 John 1:1–4 St John reflects on the Incarnation
Choir	Peace Child (Bernadette Farrell)
Reflection
Intercessions
Lord's Prayer & Blessing
Carol	Joy to the world

This followed much the same pattern as last year - once again it was the end of a community festival. I hope the music covered a wide range of styles and that there was something for everyone. It was the melody of Bernadette Farrell's Peace Child that I have found myself humming the most times over the last month while we have been preparing.

Immaculate Conception of the BVM

8 December 2015

Entrance	The angel Gabriel
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 97	Sing a new song (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Ave Maria (Arcadelt)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion	O holy Mary (Owen Alstott)
Final	Tell out my soul

For the last few years the Mass has been in the early evening. This year it was at 1pm. One of the effects of this is that it was harder to get singers as students did not want miss one of the final lectures of the term.

Owen Alstott's O holy Mary is a lovely piece of quasi-chant with a simple descant that adds a whole sense of space to the music.

3rd Sunday of Advent

13 December 2015

Entrance	Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Kyrie 'Orbis factor'
Psalm - Isaiah 12	Sing and shout for joy (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Helmsley Alleluia (adp. mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	My song is mercy and justice (mtgf)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Advent (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Say to the faint of heart (mtgf)
Communion	O radiant dawn (James MacMillan)
Final	Blest be the Lord, the God of Israel

I am not sure how long we have been singing James MacMillan 'hit' but this morning was when it felt confidence in all parts. Not that we have done it badly before - just that difference between adrenaline and confidence.

My song is mercy and justice we sang for the beginning of the Year of Mercy. It is one of a series of Psalms and Songs of Mercy I have prepared. This piece is about 20 years old in its origins. This year gave an impetus for it to find its final form.

2nd Sunday of Advent

6 December 2015

Entrance	Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Kyrie 'Orbis factor'
Psalm 125	What marvels the Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Helmsley Alleluia (adp. mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	O comfort my people (Irish arr. mtgf)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Advent (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Jerusalem, arise (mtgf)
Communion	Winding ways (Bill Tamblyn)
Final	The voice of God

It was the first time we have used Bill Tamblyn's Winding ways. He has such a gift for melody. What struck me singing it this morning were those refugees travelling across unfamiliar terrain for whom winding ways may become straight.

1st Sunday of Advent

29 November 2015

Entrance	Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Kyrie 'Orbis factor'
Psalm 24	To you, O Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Helmsley Alleluia (adp. mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	There is a longing (Anne Quigley)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Advent (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	The Lord will bestow his bounty (mtgf)
Communion	Rorate Caeli (chant)
Final	Hark a herald voice

It is a while, I think, since we have done Rorate Caeli. We sing the response in Latin with English verses. People May picked up the references to the melody in the Advent Lamb of God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King

22 November 2015

Entrance	Rejoice the Lord is king
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 92	The Lord is king (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Christ the glory (Laloulette)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	The Lord sits as king (mtgf)
Communion	Exultant Deo (Cruger)
Final	Hail Redeemer

It can be surprising the pieces of music that I think are relatively simple and then find the singers find difficult. We first looked at the Crüger 2 years ago - now though we did not look at it every week it did come out from time to time. There were two aspects that I think were more difficult or tricky than I realisedL the relationship between duple and triple sections and what threw the women was that the top 2 were effectively equal voices - so the soprano was not always on top. Anyway we celebrated Christ the King with - and I look forward to doing it again at a festive occasion.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

15 November 2015

Entrance	Let all mortal flesh
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 15	Preserve me, God (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Long is our winter (German, 14th c.)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	To be near God (mtgf)
Communion	Love divine (Purcell)
Final	Lo, he comes on clouds

One of my favourite bits of 'trivia' is that Wesley wrote the words of Love divine' to the tune of Purcell's Fairest Isle. We sang it as a choir piece and not only do the words fit well I think there is a also an element of 'parody' (in the purest sense) of Dryden's original words.

I think this is the first time we have sung Lo, he comes as a hymn. Following last year it serves as a preparation for our Advent 'Helmsley Alleluia'.

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Remembrance

8 November 2015

Entrance	Eternal rest (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 145	My soul give praise to the Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Teach me, O Lord (Atwood)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	The Lord is my shepherd (mtgf)
Communion	Cast thy burden (Mendelssohn)
Final	Praise my soul

In previous years I think we have done a better job in choosing music which bridges the readings of the day and Remembrance.

All Saints

1 November 2015

Entrance	For all the Saints
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 23	Blessed are they (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Gaudent in caelis (Dering)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	Blessed are the clean (mtgf)
Communion	What does the Lord require (mtgf)
Final	Holy God, we praise thy name

I had hoped to use Peter Jones' We praise you, O God at the end of Mass but with a number of possible visitors I had second thoughts. This was the annual Mass for deceased Simmarians. It is only in the last couple of years that we have separated this from Remembrance Sunday. I can see the pros and cons both ways - what make it challenge is that last year we had it on Christ the King, and this year All Saints, While I would be the first to argue that through the Paschal Mystery it is possible to proclaim Resurrection and consolation within in any Sunday liturgy - it does feel that there is a tug in a number in two directions. Also if you wish to encourage students who may not come to Mass every week to come and pay tribute to their predecessors there seem to me advantages of their meeting their living predecessors.