Sunday, November 25, 2012

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

25 November 2012

EntranceRejoice the Lord is king
Penitential RiteSt Gabriel (mtgf)
GloriaAngels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 92Lord, you are king (Christopher Walker)
Gospel AcclamationSalisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of GiftsChrist the glory (J F Lalouette)
Eucharistic AcclamationsCreation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of GodAngels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion AntiphonThe Lord sits as king for ever (mtgf)
CommunionAve verum (Mozart)
FinalO worship the king

At one during Mass I though that some of the choices were inspired by misreadings. The final hymn was partly chosen to lead into the organ voluntary — a Kenneth Leighton fantasia on the melody. As Laudate uses the hymn to begin the section Praise of the Creator it may seem wrongly addressed but context made sense of it.

I commented before that we choose music according to various levels, most Sundays it is the scripture as the predominant guide. On feasts it can be our image of the day that dictates our choices. I noted that one of the available liturgy guides for the choices for a choir was heavily into Ascension fare. This maybe theologically astute but the images from the text of the Mass provided ideas. Indeed 2 out of the 3 years the Gospel is Passion-related. It was the image of truth from John's gospel which led me to Ave verum but I think it's passion imagery fitted well.

Monday, November 19, 2012

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

18 November 2-12

EntranceLet all mortal flesh
Penitential RiteSt Gabriel (mtgf)
GloriaAngels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 15Preserve me, God (Christopher Walker)
Gospel AcclamationSalisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of GiftsIn God's good time (Stephen Dean)
Eucharistic AcclamationsCreation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of GodAngels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion AntiphonAmen, I say to you (mtgf)
CommunionHow far is the night (Huijbers)
FinalLove divine

We had never sung Stephen Dean's eschatological hymn before - I think it is one of his strongest pieces - and it fitted with the readings about the end times. We have done the Huijbers before - and I am always struck by its simplicity and effectiveness - on paper it is a mundane idea, descending chords and a 3 part echo but it works.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Remembrance)

11 November 2012

EntranceEternal Rest (mtgf)
GloriaAngels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 145 My soul give praise (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationSalisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of GiftsHow lovely is thy dwelling place (Brahms)
Eucharistic AcclamationsCreation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of GodAngels and Saints (Steven Janco)
CommunionHe that shall endure (Mendelssohn)
FinalO God beyond all praising (Holst arr. Proulx )

For Remembrance Sunday we are joined by the College Choir and this influenced some of the choices. The Choir will be singing Brahms' German Requiem next March in Birmingham and this was a step on the way. The Mendelssohn seemed harder than I remembered - all the notes were there but its texture means that it needs a sustained, balanced singing. At the beginning we recall the students who died in the First World War and use Eternal rest to add our prayers.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

4th November 2012

EntranceCome praise the Lord
Penitential RiteSt Gabriel (mtgf)
GloriaAngels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 17I love you, Lord (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationSalisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of GiftsThese words (Tom Lowenthal)
Eucharistic AcclamationsCreation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of GodAngels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion AntiphonYou will show me (mtgf)
CommunionUbi caritas (Bob Hurd)
FinalFor the healing of the nations
VoluntaryMusic for the Royal Fireworks (Handel)

The choice seemed at one remove this morning - not quite what the readings were about. A generic hymn of praise in some ways to start - I would have liked something closer to the first commandment. These words springs out of the easing from Deuteronomy and Ubi caritas captures of love of God and of others. In the evening it was love all the way.