Carols by Candlelight

12 December 2018

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	Song of God among us (Huijbers)
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	O Domina mea (J Ghosh)
Carol	The angel Gabriel

Part 2 - He shall speak peace

Reading	Micah 5:1-4 The prophet Micah looks forward to the coming reign of peace
Choir	Dona nobis pacem (round)
Carol	O little town of Bethlehem

Part 4 - Today is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord

Reading	Luke 2:1-14 St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus
Choir	Adam lay ybounden (Boris Ord)
Carol	Once in royal David's city

Part 5 - The Word was made flesh and lived among us

Reading	1 John 1:1–4 St John reflects on the Incarnation
Choir	I sing a maid (Irish arr. Joncas)
Reflection
Intercessions
Lord's Prayer & Blessing
Carol	Joy to the world

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

7 December 2018

Entrance	The angel Gabriel
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels & Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 97	Sing a new song (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Hymn of the Cherubim (Russian)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels & Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion	I sing a maid (Irish arr.. Joncas)
Final	Tell out my soul

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

11 November 2018

Entrance	Eternal rest (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 145	My soul give praise (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Hymn of the cherubim (Russian?)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	The disciples recognised (mtgf)
Communion	O taste and see (Vaughan Williams)
Final	All my hope on God

Remembrance Sunday and as our organist pointed out Vaughan Williams saw service in the First World War.

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

4 November 2018

Entrance	Love is his word
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 17	I love you, Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Ubi caritas (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	You will show me (mtgf)
Communion	Love one another (mtgf)
Final	God is love

This Sunday was the annual Mass for deceased Simmarians

6th Sunday of Easter

6 May 2018

Entrance	Love is his word
Penitential Rite	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Gloria	Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco)
Psalm 97	The Lord has shown (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	I give to you (Peter Nardone)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco)
Lamb of God	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	If you love me (mtgf)
Communion	Love one another (mtgf)
Final	God is love, his the care

We were joined by a couple of members of the University Choir who had come to sell tickets for the forthcoming concert. (The refectory does not serve breakfast until 10.30am on Sundays - to add a non sequitur.) So that they had something familiar to sing - I chnaged what I had planned to the Nardone motet which has proved a useful standby.

2nd Sunday of Lent

25 February 2018

Entrance	For God so loved the world (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Psalm 115	I will walk (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Lenten (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	O nata lux (Tallis)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Lamb of God	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Communion Antiphon	This is my beloved Son (mtgf)
Communion	Transfigure us, O Lord (Bob Hurd)
Final

Singers were with the University Choir at the Cathedrals Group Choir Festival in Birmingham.

Carols by Candlelight

12 December 2017

Part 1 - Prepare a way for the Lord

Entrance	Yonder come day (Georgia Sea Islands Spiritual)
	Soon and very soon (Crouch)
Opening Responses
Reading	Isaiah 40:1–5 The prophet Isaiah tells the people of Israel to prepare a way for the Lord
Choir	Zion hears the watchmen's voices (J S Bach)
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	No wind at the window (Irish/Bell)
Carol	The angel Gabriel

Part 2 - He shall speak peace

Reading	Micah 5:1-4 The prophet Micah looks forward to the coming reign of peace
Choir	Dona nobis pacem (round)
Carol	O little town of Bethlehem

Part 4 - Today is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord

Reading	Luke 2:1-14 St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus
Choir	Gaudete (Piae Cantiones)
Carol	Silent Night

Part 5 - The Word was made flesh and lived among us

Reading	1 John 1:1–4 St John reflects on the Incarnation
Choir	Verbum caro (Rihards Dubra)
Reflection
Intercessions
Lord's Prayer & Blessing
Carol	Joy to the world

Feedback from last year's Carol Service was that it could have been longer. So a fifth section was added to the service. Even my singers are aware, as readers of this blog must be, that I believe in recycling. So often pieces are chosen, particularly for the students which can be used used again. Not only does this make sense in terms of rehearsal but also means that thy can have a second go at it. So considering a new section the starting point was 'what have we got' - we had sung the traditional round of Dona nobis pacem on Remembrance Day and looking at the various Advent readings there was a connection between Bethlehem and peace in Micah. The one question was order. Instead of a scriptural order (OT before NT) I went for a musical order in that I think it would have been odd to have sung O little town before the Annunciation.

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

8 December 2017

Entrance	The Angel Gabriel
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels & Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 97	Sing a new song (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	No wind at the window (Irish/Bell)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels & Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion	Hail Holy Queen (mtgf)
Final	10,000 Reasons

This year the University Choir was joined by the 6pm Music Group for the first time in a number of years. The group is in a stronger position than it has been for a number of years - but also the membership of both groups overlaps. A general aim for this term is that both Sunday Masses share the same Mass settings so as not only to enable coming together of musicians but also as a worshipping community we have common settings.

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Remembrance Sunday

12 November 2017

Entrance	Eternal rest (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 62	For you my soul is thirsting (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Lead kindly light (Howard Goodall)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	The Lord is my shepherd (mtgf)
Communion	Zion hears the watchmen's voices (J S Bach)
Final	Be thou my vision

The annual visit of the University Choir - in good numbers this year. Communion was another marking of the Luther anniversary and chosen as the cantata is based on the gospel of the wise and foolish virgins - we did the 2nd and 3rd verses. The final hymn combine ideas of wisdom and military imagery.

The University Choir had also sung at the Remembrance day service on Friday contributing Abide with meand the round Dona nobis pacem.

Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary

8 December 2016

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	Angelus ad virginem (English 13th C. arr. mtgf)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion	Alma redemptoris mater (Palestrina)
Final	Tell out my soul

The College Patronal Feast - Mass followed by Meat Pie. No big changes, the psalm was a new setting and sung by the same student who sang the same psalm on Remembrance Sunday. The usual economies of repetitions are present - but to little avail when you have mostly a different set of sopranos - the vagaries of student life!

Carols by Candlelight

3 December 2016

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	There is a longing (Anne Quigley)
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	Angelus ad Virginem (13th C English arr. mtgf)
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	Night of silence (Daniel Kantor)
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	Alma redemptoris mater (Palestrina)
Reflection
Intercessions
Lord's Prayer & Blessing
Carol	Joy to the world

For the last couple of years the carol service has been on a Saturday and connected with the SU Christmas fair. This year the connection seemed to be broken and so though the numbers were O they were not what it has been for previous years.

We have followed the same format for a number of years with a few tweaks. Angelus ad Virginem is part of an effort to find something Marian which the choir would enjoy and could be used when needed. I am not sure whether it achieved this. One of the stumbling blocks was the density of the Latin and I found myself preparing an English translation on Thursday night. Not ideal but I think it made it far more manageable - we could even consider the change of person within the verses. Our American students were particularly delighted to sing that classic 'Night of Silence'. Though I have touched on 'Christmas in Advent' before it struck me that both 'O little town' and 'Joy to the world' have a not quite yet flavour to them.

Mass for Fr Desmond Beirne cm

Monday 28 November 2016

Entrance	Lord of all hopefulness
Psalm 22	The Lord is my shepherd (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Paschal Alleluia (chant)
Preparation of Gifts	There is a longing (Anne Quigley)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Mass XVIII (chant)
Communion	Good and faithful servant (Andrew Everson)
Final	Ave maris stella

Fr Desmond Beirne was Principal from 1979-1992 and the last Vincentian Principal. He died in reland earlier in the year and this was the University's opportunity to pay tribute and pray for him.

A number of the University Choir were able to attend and that partly dictated some of the choices. It seemed an appropriate occasion to sing the 'College Hymn' at the end.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

13 November 2016 - Remembrance Sunday

Entrance	Eternal rest (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 97	The Lord comes to rule (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	There is a longing (Anne Quigley)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	Amen, I say (mtgf)
Communion	Verleih uns frieden - Lord, grant us mercy (Mendelssohn)
Final	At the name of Jesus

As usual we were joined by the University Choir this morning.

I was pleased with the Mendelssohn, which is a lovely piece. The text is Luther's translation of Da pacem, Domine so in its plea for peace in times of conflict it was a fitting text for today, in its explicit reference to mercy it fitted with the ending of the Year of Mercy from this Sunday, and as a bit of Luther it also noted the anniversary of the reformation.

3rd Sunday of Lent

28 February 2016

Entrance	For God so loved the world (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Psalm 103	The Lord is compassion and love (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Lenten (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	()
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Lamb of God	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Communion Antiphon	The sparrow finds a nest (mtgf)
Communion
Final	Praise my soul

The singers were with the University Choir in Winchester for the Cathedral's Group Choirs Festival. Our organist was bravely cantor and accompanist. I err towards trying to keep the music going Sunday by Sunday and by the positive comments of the congregation it was appreciated.

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.

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.

5th Sunday of Easter

3 May 2015

Aldershot Cathedral

Entrance	Christ is the world's light
Penitential Rite	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Gloria	Mass of Angels & Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 21	You, Lord are our praise (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Restless is the heart (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Communion	Love one another (mtgf)
Final	Christ is alive

St Mary's was left without singers this morning as we had our University Choir trip to Aldershot. We has sung Restless is the heart as our solo piece at the Cathedrals Group Choirs Festival and the students like it and so it seemed a good idea to repeat it. I then realised that the latter half of the refrain (all the earth shall remember…) is from today's psalm.

Immaculate Conception - Feast Day

10 December 2014

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 maris stella (Elgar)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion	Verbum caro (Richards Dubra)
Final	Tell out my soul

Our Feast day was transferred as the Principal Celebrant, +Richard Moth, was in Salford on Monday.

We have not sung Elgar's setting of Ave maris stella for a number of years. (Our University motto is drawn from the text Monstra te esse matrem — it has always struck me as a slightly odd motto for what was founded as a male institution.) I was far more impressed by Elgar's setting this time especially the unison entries of the other parts as a soft interjection during the soprano and alto verses. The Dubra piece was new to us. It is similar to O Crux Ave in being simple homophony but here more an accompanied Soprano melody. It is part of a larger cantata and it struck me as self-consciously lovely by which I mean it was written to sound lovely - this is not criticism as the piece achieves its aim.

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica - Remembrance Sunday

9 November 2014

Entrance	Eternal rest (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 45	The waters of a river (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Locus iste (Bruckner)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	Be built up like living stones (mtgf)
Communion	In Paradisum (Fauré)
Final	Christ is made the sure foundation

I like the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. From what may at first regard seem an obscure celebration there is richness about the here and now, and the heavenly Jerusalem - November themes. Though we were also marking Remembrance Sunday - the readings from the feast and as already noted I don't think there is a clash between the two.

For those wondering the Dedication replaces the Sunday because it is a Feast of the Lord (like the Presentation earlier this year) - the original dedication of the Lateran is to Christ the Saviour. I had not noticed before but GIRM 357 suggests that such Feasts are raised to Solemnities - it is one way of indicating the differences between a Feast and a Sunday or Solemnity.

We were joined by the University Choir. This seemed a good opportunity to sing Locus iste and In Paradisum as well as being a popular choice offered a connection between feast and remembrance.

This was also the first morning Mass that our new (part-time) Chaplain had celebrated.