Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

31 December 2017

Entrance	What child is this
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Christmas (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 104	He, the Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Carol of the Bethlehem Cave (arr. Walker)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Comfort & Joy (mtgf)
Lamb of God	Christmas (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Our God has appeared (mtgf)
Communion	Song of Simeon (mtgf)
Final	Unto us is born a Son

The full set of Year B readings with the strong images of older people discovering new life.

Nativity of the Lord - Mass during the Day

25 December 2017

Entrance	Once in royal David's city
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Christmas (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 97	All the ends of the earth (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Peace child (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Comfort & Joy (mtgf)
Lamb of God	Christmas (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	All the ends of the earth (mtgf)
Communion	Away in a manger
Final	O little town

The comments about last night also apply here.

And to note one of the occasions where the last line of the first reading is the response of the psalm.

Nativity of the Lord - Mass during the Night

25 December 2017

Carol	Once in royal David's city
Choir	Long is our winter (German)
Carol	While shepherds watched
Choir	Sing we the Virgin (Anon/Niles)
Carol	O little town of Bethlehem
Entrance	O come all ye faithful
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Christmas (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 95	Today a Saviour (Bernadette Farrell)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Profession of Faith	Credo III (chant + Josquin)
Preparation of Gifts	What shall we give (Catalan arr. Dean)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Comfort & Joy (mtgf)
Lamb of God	Christmas (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	The Word became flesh (mtgf)
Communion	Night of Silence (Daniel Kantor)
	Silent Night
Final	Joy to the world

It had never struck me before that Baumstark's laws of historical liturgy play out in some ways at a micro level in musical choices. Firstly that at more solemn seasons the older elements have greater tenacity and secondly that change is organic (changes take place first along side then replace). At this Mass there are elements which have been the same for probably 20 years (the same would be true of the Triduum) but there are also developments - but in some ways nothing too radical. So the last carol has changed - it has usually been Hark the herald angels sing, though God rest you merry gentlemen has also been sung. Perhaps more radical is a change of Eucharistic Acclamations - but the intentions is that this not a one year change, it becomes part of the 'tradition'. Beforehand is a little more flexible and usually reflects something of the Advent Sundays but is also dependent on resources etc. This year I was very grateful to those, including visitors, who were inveigled to sing along. I have rehearsed before the advantages both to musicians and congregation of a certain familiarity - but one which always open to change

I am also aware of the possible antithesis which are those celebrations which do not seem to have settled into a familiar pattern. One example of this would be, for me, the Epiphany, where I never find the music chosen wholly right -it has not found its 'traditional' form yet. (It will be interesting seeing how the holydays move will further affect this.)

3rd Sunday of Advent

17 December 2017

Entrance	Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Kyrie Salve (mtgf)
Magnificat	My soul rejoices (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Helmsley Alleluia (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	Rorate caeli (chant)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Advent (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Say to the faint of heart (mtgf)
Communion	Song of God among us (Huijbers)
Final	Awake, awake fling off the night

It struck me that the juxtaposition of Isaiah and the Magnificat means that when Jesus repeats the Isaiah text in Luke 4 he has been brought up by his mother to know these things - he is, in some ways, carrying out his mother's business.

4th Sunday of Advent

24 December 2017

Entrance	Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Kyrie Salve (mtgf)
Psalm 88	I will sing for ever (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Helmsley Alleluia (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	O child of promise (Andrew Maries)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Comfort and Joy (mtgf)
Lamb of God	Advent (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Behold, a Virgin (mtgf)
Communion	O holy Mary (Owen Alstott)
Final	O come, O come Emmanuel

At the back of my mind for a number of years has been how can we further mark Christmas as a season musically, i.e. by having settings specific to it. We usually sing the Mass of Creation Eucharistic Acclamations from September until the beginning of January. As I have noted before this allows it to be 'embedded' as a common setting. However in the middle of December I saw how a carol we rarely sing God rest you merry gentlemen, but remains well known, could provide the basis for a set of Acclamations. I decide to introduce them on the 4th Sunday, given its proximity to Christmas this year, as they could be briefly introduced before Mass which I would be less inclined to do before Midnight - and it meant that those who came to both would have a head start. Though part of the reason for the setting is that people may feel they know them even if they have never sung them before. I do wonder about the tastefulness of such endeavours and I am sure that there are places where it would not work. However the setting is very much based on rather than the liturgical text adapted to the pre-exiting tune. The setting also received more than usual positive comments, it did enable participation and it puts a smile on people's faces

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.

2nd Sunday of Advent

10 December 2017

Entrance	Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Kyrie Salve (mtgf)
Psalm 84	Let us see, O Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Helmsley Alleluia (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	There is a longing (Anne Quigley)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Advent (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Jerusalem arise (mtgf)
Communion	Winding Ways (Bill Tamblyn)
Final	Come, thou long expected Jesus

The new Kyrie is based on the chant Mass for the Sundays of Advent and, for me at least, has a different form. Rather than AA, BB, CC, it is AB, CB, DB which seems to work, though I decided to change the word underlay between finishing the leaflet and finishing the setting - i.e. the congregation had something slightly different to what was sung. I think we understood the instructions on Bill Tamblyn's Winding Ways for the first time - insight taken them at face value.

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.

1st Sunday of Advent

3 December 2017

Entrance	Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Kyrie Salve (mtgf)
Psalm 79	God of hosts (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Helmsley Alleluia (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 (mtgf)
Communion	Long is our winter (German)
Final	Hark a herald voice

A new Kyrie.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

26 November 2017

Entrance	The king of love my shepherd is
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 22	The Lord is my shepherd (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Christ the glory (Lalouette)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	The Lord sits as King (mtgf)
Communion	Jesus, you are the bread (Bernadette Farrell)
Final	Crown him with many crowns

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

19 November 2017

Entrance	All people that on earth do dwell
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 127	O blessed are those (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Come my way (Vaughan Williams)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	To be near God (mtgf)
Communion	Good and faithful servant (Evinson)
Final	Now let us from this table rise.

As promised it was the second go at the final hymn and it will appear once again before the year is out - hopefully to embed it. The psalm was used again later in the week at the funeral of the wife of one of the community.

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.