December 2007
Arthur Hughes: A Christmas Carol at Bracken Dene
CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL
MONTREAL, QUEBEC
CHORAL EUCHARIST AND EVENSONG
December 2007
Fra Angelico, Christ the Judge, Duomo, Orvieto, 1447
'Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming (NRSV, Matthew 24:42).’
December 2, 2007: First Sunday of Advent [Comments]
10:00 am Choral Eucharist Men's Voices
Prelude: Sleepers, wake! BWV 645, J.S. Bach (1685-1750) [BNQ] Mass Setting: Missa XVII Adventus et Quadrigesimae, Plainsong mode 1
Introit: The Advent Prose, Plainsong mode 1 Motet: Ad te Domine, Plainsong mode 2
Postlude: Sleepers, Wake! Emma Lou Diemer (b. 1927)
4:00 pm A Procession with Lessons and Carols for Advent
The Cathedral Singers
Prelude: Wachet auf, BWV 645, J.S. Bach (1675-1750) [BNQ]
A Lovely Rose is Blooming, Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) [BNQ]Introit: Wachet auf, ruf uns die stimme, Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) [BNQ]
Antiphon: O Emmanuel, Healey Willan (1880-1968) [BNQ]
Carol: Conditor alme siderum, Tomás Luis Victoria (1548-1611) [BNQ] Antiphon: O Radix Jesse, Healey Willan Carols: Lo, how a rose e'er blooming, Michael Praetorius, arr. Phil Mattson
The Gates of Heaven, Alan Hoddinott (b. 1929) Antiphon: O Virgo Virginum, Healey Willan Carols: Nova! Nova!, Bob Chilcott (b. 1955)
Ne Timeas Maria, Tomás Luis de Victoria Antiphon: O Oriens, Healey Willan Carols: Canite Tuba, Jacob Handl (1550-91)
People, look east, French traditional, arr. Martin Shaw (1875-1958) Antiphon: O Rex Gentium, Healey Willan Carols: Never weather-beaten sail, Richard Shepherd (b. 1949)
Rorate coeli, G.P. da Palestrina (1525-94) [BNQ] Postlude: Fantasia "Wachet auf!" Emma Lou Diemer (b. 1927)
Domenico Ghirlandaio, Preaching of St. John the Baptist, Cappella Tornabuoni, Santa Maria Novella, Florence, 1486-90
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near (NRSV, Matthew 3:1-2).'
December 9, 2007: Second Sunday of Advent [Comments]
10:00 am Choral Eucharist
Women's Voices
Prelude: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 660,
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) [BNQ]
Mass Setting: Missa Brevis, Nancy Telfer (b. 1950)
Introit: The Linden Tree Carol (text), Trad. German, arr John Rutter (b. 1945) [BNQ]
Motet: Adam lay ybounden (text), Matthew Larkin (b. 1963) [BNQ]
Postlude: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 661, J.S. Bach
Mass Setting: Missa Brevis, Nancy Telfer (b. 1950)
4:00 pm Choral Evensong Woman's Voices
Prelude: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BuxWV 211, Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
[BNQ] & BWV 659, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) [BNQ]
Introit: There is no rose (text), Benjamin Britten (1913-76) [BNQ] Preces and Responses: Plainsong Canticles: Women's Voices, Patrick Wedd (b. 1948) [BNQ] Anthem: I sing of a maiden (text), Patrick Hadley (1889-1973) Postlude: Praeludium in g, BuxWV 149, Dietrich Buxtehude
Alexander Master, St. John the Baptist Arrested and Imprisoned, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague, 1430
'This is the one about whom it is written, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you (NRSV,Matthew 11:10).”'
December 16, 2007: Third Sunday of Advent [Comments]
10:00 am Choral Eucharist
The Choir of Trebles and Adults
Prelude: Es ist ein Ros', James Woodman (b. 1957)
Mass Setting: Missa Brevis 2 for Advent, Healey Willan (1880-1968) [BNQ]
Introit: People look east, French, arr. Martin Shaw (1875-1958) [BNQ]
Motet: Venez, divin Messie, French, arr. Godfrey Ridout (1918-84)
Postlude: Come, Saviour of the Nations, Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) [BNQ]
Mass Setting: Missa Brevis 2 for Advent, Healey Willan (1880-1968) [BNQ]
4:00 pm A Festival of Lessons and Carols The Choir of Trebles and Adults
Prelude: Les Bergers (listen) from La Nativité du Seigneur (listen),
Olivier Messiaen (1908-92) [BNQ] Carols: People look east, French, arr. Martin Shaw (1875-1958) [BNQ]
Good Christians all, rejoice, German, arr. Alice Parker (b. 1925)
Gaudete, Christus est natus, Piae Cantiones (1582)
Josef, lieber Josef mein, Leonhard Schroeter (1532-1601)
O Sanctissima, Sicilian, arr. Robert Shaw (1916-1999) [BNQ]
Fum, Fum, Fum, Spanish Dance Carol Postlude: In dulci jubilo, BWV 729, J.S. Bach (1685-1750) [BNQ]
Philippe de Champaigne, The Vision of St. Joseph, National Gallery, London, 1642-43
‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins (NRSV, Matthew 1:20b-21).’
December 23, 2007: Fourth Sunday of Advent [Comments]
10:00 am Eucharist for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
with the music of a French baroque organ Mass
from the 17th century.
The Roman Catholic Low Mass, until the Second Vatican Council, was in general read quietly by the priest with responses made only by the altar server. The congregation might follow along in a hand missal or with private devotions like the rosary. In the German Singmesse the congregation would sing hymns appropriate to the parts of the Mass. During the baroque period in France, it was common for the organ to play background music. The organ could, as well, alternate with a cantor who would sing parts of a Mass setting. This Sunday at Christ Church Cathedral, in the manner of the French baroque organ Mass, Patrick Wedd will perform on the organ Nicolas Lebègue’s Messe des festes solemnelles, alternating with Cantor Normand Richard who will chant verses from the plainsong setting, Missa XII Pater cuncta.
At Communion, Patrick will perform Lebègue, Trio a l’élevation. ("L’élevation" refers to the raising of the Bread and the Cup in the Roman rite after the words of institution have been said.) Conditor Alme Siderum (Creator of the Stars of Night) is the quintessential advent hymn. During advent it is always sung at Roman Catholic vespers. The organ version by Jean Titelouze (1563-1633) (MIDI file) will provide the prelude and postlude at this Sunday's Eucharist. The congregation will sing the hymn during the offertory.
Martin Schongauer, Nativity, Staatliche Museen, Berlin, c. 1480
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn (NRSV, Luke 2:7).
December 24/25, 2007: The Nativity of Our Lord [Comments]
4:00 pm A Festival of Lessons and Carols The Cathedral Singers
Voluntary: Les desseins éternels (listen) from La Nativité du Seigneur (listen), Olivier Messiaen (1908-92) [BNQ]
Carols: Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem (text), Bartolemeus Gesius (1560-1613) Psallite unigenito (text) (listen), Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) [BNQ] Lux Aurumque(text & listen), Eric Whitacre (b. 1970) The Holly and the Ivy, Arr. Richard Lloyd (b. 1933) A Spotless Rose (text), Herbert Howells (1892-1983) [BNQ] Bogoroditsye Dyevo (text) (listen), Arvo Pärt (b. 1935) [BNQ] There is No Rose (text), John Joubert (b.1927) Dans cette étable (text), Humphrey Clucas (b.1941) So Said the Angel (text), Peter Skellern (b. 1947) Hill-side Carol (text), Alan Bullard (b. 1947) Hodie Christus natus est (text) (MIDI file), Luca Marenzio (c.1553-99) [BNQ] Voluntary: Dieu parmi nous (listen) from La Nativité du Seigneur (listen), Olivier
Messiaen
11:00 pm Procession, Blessing of the Crib & Choral Eucharist
The Cathedral Singers
Prelude: In dulci jubilo, BWV 751, 608, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) [BNQ] La Vierge et l'enfant (listen) from La Nativité du Seigneur (listen), Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) [BNQ] Mass Setting: Missa de Beata Virgine, Gregor Aichinger (1565-1628)
Introit: All My Heart This Night Rejoices (text) (MIDI file), Johann Ebeling (1637-76)
Motet: Beata Viscera (text), Gregor Aichinger Lux Aurumque (text) (listen), Eric Whitacre (b. 1970) Hodie Christus Natus Est (text), Luca Marenzio (c.1553-99) [BNQ]
Postlude: Von Himmel Hoch (From Heaven High I Come), Martin Luther (1483-1546), Toccata arr., Garth Edmundson (1900-71)
10:00 am Choral Eucharist
Prelude: Sonata in F (Adagio & Allegro), George Frideric Handel (1685-1758) [BNQ]Mass Setting: Carol Mass, Rubert Lang (b. 1948)
Music during Communion: Berceuse, Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) [BNQ]
Postlude: Noël suisse (listen), Louis-Claude Daquin (1694-1772)
10:00 am Choral Eucharist
Prelude: Sonata in F (Adagio & Allegro), George Frideric Handel (1685-1758) [BNQ]Mass Setting: Carol Mass, Rubert Lang (b. 1948)
Music during Communion: Berceuse, Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) [BNQ]
Postlude: Noël suisse (listen), Louis-Claude Daquin (1694-1772)
Vittore Carpaccio, The Flight into Egypt, The National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., c. 1515
An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him (NRSV, Matthew 2:13)."
December 30, 2007: First Sunday after Christmas [Comments]