3rd Sunday of Advent (Year B, 2014)

Sunday, 14 December 2014

 
Entrance Rejoice for ever (mcb)
Kyrie Missal Chant (English)
Psalm My Soul Rejoices (Owen Alstott)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Andrew Wright)
Preparation of the Gifts Adam lay ybounden (Boris Ord, 1897-1961)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Missal Chant
Agnus Dei Missal Chant
Communion (i) O Radix Jesse (chant)
(ii) Be strong, our God has come (Psallite)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Tell out, my soul
 

Mass of Installation of Bishop John Arnold

Monday, 8 December 2014

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

 
Entrance Procession of Priests Veni Sancte Spiritus (Christopher Walker) listen
Salve Regina (Francis Poulenc, 1899-1963)
Entrance Procession of Bishops Tell out, my soul listen
Reception of Bishop Arnold Ecce Sacerdos (T.L. de Victoria, 1548-1611) listen
Gloria Glory to God (Peter Jones)
Psalm Sing a New Song (mcb) listen
Gospel Acclamation Choral Alleluia (Colin Mawby, b. 1936) listen
Creed Credo III
Preparation of the Gifts Ave Maria (Karl Jenkins, b. 1944) listen
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen English Missal Chants
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Communion Take and Eat (Michael Joncas)
O Quam Suavis (William Byrd, c.1540-1623) listen
Soul of my Saviour
Postcommunion The Deer’s Cry (Shaun Davey) listen
Recessional Salve Regina (chant) listen
Holy light on earth’s horizon listen
 

For perhaps a once-in-a-generation occasion, I aimed to compile a musical programme that would highlight the trademark diversity and accessibility of our musical fare, interspersed as usual with gems from the treasury of sacred choral music and chant.

For me the highlights included: (i) a full-throated rendition of the chant Salve Regina by the whole assembly at the end. I know that Alma Redemptoris Mater would have been seasonally appropriate, but it wouldn’t have shaken the rafters in quite the same way.

(ii) The serene opening processional song Veni Sancte, first heard at the Papal Mass in Coventry in 1982 and, for us, again in 1997 at the Mass of Installation of Bishop Terence Brain.

(iii) After Communion, the haunting and reflective setting of St Patrick’s Breastplate by Irish composer Shaun Davey. This was a special piece for Bishop John, and it had been sung at his episcopal ordination in 2006. I was delighted to have been asked to include it, and our choral scholar Emma Gent delivered the solo part with true sensitivity.

Celebration Brass were on hand, and the final hymn, especially, was another roof-raising moment. Anthony gave us Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren BuxWV 214 by Buxtehude (listen), and movements from the Suite Gothique by Boëllmann (listen). So all in all we assembled a feast, and people with many different kinds of musical taste will, I hope, have gone away feeling nourished.

2nd Sunday of Advent (Year B, 2014)

Sunday, 7 December 2014

 
Entrance Song of Consolation (Peter Jones)
Kyrie Missal Chant
Psalm Ps 84 (Elsie Wright)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Andrew Wright)
Preparation of the Gifts Deus Convertens (Wolfgang Emmerig, 1772-1839)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missal Chant
Agnus Dei Missal Chant
Communion O Adonai
There is a longing in our hearts (Anne Quigley)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Come, thou long-expected Jesus
 

The cheerful setting of today’s offertory antiphon from the Gradual was an obscure find on CPDL. I can’t find any information about the composer anywhere, other than his birth and death dates. The music looks back to Haydn and Mozart rather than echoing his more famous contemporaries.

Army Cadet Force Carol Service

Saturday, 6 December 2014

 
All O Come, All Ye Faithful
Choir    In the bleak midwinter (Gustav Holst, arr. Will Todd)
All O Little Town of Bethlehem
All Once in Royal David’s City
Choir Candlelight Carol (John Rutter)
All Stille Nacht/Silent Night
All While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
All National Anthem
All Hark the Herald Angels Sing
 

For the centenary year of the outbreak of the First World War, we sang the opening verse of Silent Night in German, in a style reminiscent of the way the story is told of Christmas 1914 in the trenches: first a lone voice began the verse, then more voices gradually took it up, and we ended the verse in choral harmony, before the whole assembly took up the second verse in English.

Will Todd’s jazz arrangement of In the bleak midwinter seems a bit of a Marmite piece – as many people told me they hated it as loved it. It worked for me.

1st Sunday of Advent (Year B, 2014)

Sunday, 30 November 2014

 
Entrance Awake, awake, fling off the night
Kyrie Missal Chant
Psalm God of hosts, bring us back (Sue Furlong)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Andrew Wright)
Preparation of the Gifts Zion hears the watchmen’s voices (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missal Chant
Agnus Dei Missal Chant
Communion O Sapientia (chant)
To you, O lord, I lift my soul (Marty Haugen)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Love divine, all loves excelling
 

Bishop Terence joined us for one final celebration before relinquishing the care of the diocese on 8 December. I’m sure we’ll see lots more of him in the future.

Christ the King (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 23 November 2014

 
Entrance Christus Vincit (chant, arr. Martin Baker)
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb) – Penitential Act
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Because the Lord is my Shepherd (Christopher Walker)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of the Gifts The Servant King (Graham Kendrick)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen German Mass (Schubert/Proulx)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion Like a shepherd he feeds his flock (Bob Dufford)
Postcommunion Hallelujah from Messiah (G.F Handel, 1685-1759)
Recessional Hail Redeemer, King Divine
 

The Gospel reading from Matthew telling of the sheep and goats was prefaced by a first reading and Psalm dwelling on the image of the good shepherd, and we had multiple references in our musical selections. We’ve never sung Bob Dufford’s Like a shepherd before at the Cathedral (and I can’t remember singing it anywhere in at least the last thirty years), but the simple singable refrain made me think it worth giving it a try. If I’d looked more carefully at the music in the verses, I might simply have put the book back on the shelf, though. We stuck it out with the first two, but gave verse three a miss.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Sunday, 16 November 2014

 
Entrance O praise ye the Lord
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb) – Kyrie
Gloria Psallite
Psalm O Blessed are those (Paul Inwood)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (plainchant)
Presentation of Confirmation Candidates Christ be our Light
Preparation of the Gifts Brother, sister, let me serve you
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen German Mass (Schubert/Proulx)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion Centre of my life (Paul Inwood)
Postcommunion Prayer of St Richard of Chichester (Malcolm Archer)
Recessional Be thou my vision
 

A swift reprise of Christ, be our light, sung during the rite of presentation of the children who will be candidates for the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Holy Communion in the coming months. Elsewhere we sang around the theme of service, to match today’s Gospel reading of the parable of the talents.

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica & Remembrance Sunday (2014)

Sunday, 9 November 2014

 
Act of Remembrance Requiem Aeternam (chant)
Two minutes’ silence
Entrance Hymn Abide with me
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb) - Kyrie
Gloria Psallite
Psalm A River Flows (Psallite)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts How lovely are thy dwellings (Johannes Brahms, 1833-1897)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen German Mass (Schubert/Proulx)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Communion Always in your presence (Philip Jakob)
Postcommunion We shall walk through the valley (trad. spiritual, arr. Moses Hogan)
Recessional Christ, be our Light (Bernadette Farrell)
 

Our observance of Remembrance Sunday took the same form as recent years, with the opening hymn leading us from our act of remembrance into the Mass for today’s feast. We sang not just about the delight of worshipping in God’s temple, in the beautiful fourth movement of Brahms’s Requiem, but also, in our closing hymn, of the challenge set out in today’s second reading from Corinthians, for ourselves to be God’s temple:

Make us your building,
sheltering others,
walls made of living stone.

All Saints (2014)

Sunday, 2 November 2014

 
Entrance Holy, holy, holy. Lord God almighty
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb) - Penitential Act
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 23 (David Saint)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts The Beatitudes (Bob Chilcott, 1955-)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen German Mass (Schubert/Proulx)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion Come to Me (Martin Barry & Diane Murden)
Postcommunion O Quam Gloriosum (T.L. de Victoria, c. 1548-1611)
Recessional For all the saints
 

We had two settings of the Beatitudes—Bob Chilcott’s fiery drama, and the more serene verses from Come to me—to match the text of today’s Communion antiphon:

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

(Matthew 5:8-10)

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 26 October 2014

 
Entrance Father, Lord of all creation
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb) - Penitential Act
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 17 (James Walsh)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts A touching place (John Bell)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen German Mass (Schubert/Proulx)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion Lord, your love has drawn us near (Stephen Dean)
Postcommunion Ubi Caritas (Ola Gjeilo, b. 1978)
Recessional O Jesus I have promised
 

Today’s readings told of love of God and love of neighbour, the first reading from Exodus in particular spelling out the consequences of the command to love, in our dealings with widows and orphans, strangers and the poor. John Bell’s A touching place sings of the same uncompromising challenges.

The ancient hymn Ubi Caritas connects our response to those challenges with God’s own presence: where charity and love are, there is God.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 19 October 2014

 
Entrance O God beyond all praising (Perry/Holst)
Kyrie Mass of the Creator Spirit (Ed Nowak)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm Ps 95 (Simon Reynolds)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of the Gifts Be still and know that I am God
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Creator Spirit
Communion Turn to me (John Foley)
Postcommunion Ab ortu solis (William Byrd, c.1540-1623)
Recessional Holy God, we praise thy name
 

As three years ago, multiple references to the rising and setting of the sun, in the first reading, the Eucharistic Prayer and our Postcommunion motet. There’s one I missed last time round, which struck me this time as we sang our closing hymn — in the third verse’s

And from morn to set of sun
through the Church the song goes on

though, ironically, this image isn’t to be found in the Te Deum which the hymn paraphrases. There it’s per orbem terrarum (that is, ‘The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee’) rather than ab ortu solis usque ad occasum. But it all fitted together pleasingly.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 12 October 2014

 
Entrance All are welcome (Marty Haugen)
Kyrie Mass of the Creator Spirit (Ed Nowak)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm Ps 22 (Boulton Smith/Gélineau)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of the Gifts The Lord is my Shepherd (John Rutter)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Creator Spirit
Communion Now in this banquet (Marty Haugen)
Postcommunion O Quam Suavis (William Byrd, c.1540-1623)
Recessional The Church’s one foundation
 

Much as three years ago, with O Quam Suavis, instead of the Magnificat, echoing the Communion antiphon’s image of the rich being turned away hungry.

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 5 October 2014

 
Entrance This is the Day (mcb)
Kyrie Mass of the Creator Spirit (Ed Nowak)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm Ps 79 (James Walsh/Laurence Bévenot)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of the Gifts You are the Lord of all (Daniel Bath)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Creator Spirit
Communion God of hosts, bring us back (Sue Furlong)
Postcommunion Vinea mea electa (Anon, Spanish 16th C.)
Recessional My song is love unknown
 

The first reading, Psalm and Gospel reading were linked by the powerful image of the vine laid waste and turned to bitterness. The same image appears on Good Friday in the third response for Tenebrae:

My chosen vine, I planted you:
How have you turned to bitterness,
that you should crucify me and release Barabbas?
I fenced round you, cleared the stones from you, and built a tower for you.

We sang an anonymous Spanish setting from (I’d guess) the sixteenth century, taking the middle section at a tempo that made the music fizz with angry reproach.

We had two settings of the Psalm, adding Sue Furlong’s more contemplative interpretation during Communion to Laurence Bévenot’s more straightforwardly declamatory setting of the verses.

Mass of Induction of Fr Michael Jones

Friday, 19 September 2014

 
Entrance Here I am, Lord
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb) - Lord have mercy
Gloria New Celtic Liturgy (Christopher Walker)
Psalm Because the Lord is my Shepherd (Christopher Walker)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Will you come and follow me (John Bell)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Take and Eat (Joncas)
Postcommunion A Clare Benediction (John Rutter)
Recessional God’s Spirit is in my heart

If I understand the historical accounts correctly, cathedrals by tradition have not had parish priests. The cathedral is the principal church (in ancient times the only church) of the diocese, and the bishop the principal pastor. In practice down the centuries, local pastoral functions relating to the cathedral community were delegated by the bishop to the provost, dean, chapter and what have you, and there was no office of parish priest in this arrangement.

I'm not sure when or why they came round to the view in these parts that this was a bad idea, but current thinking is that the Cathedral Dean (the title itself a recent creation, upgraded from Cathedral Administrator in about 2001) is also its parish priest. All of which goes to explain why tonight’s happy celebration was the first of its kind.

Our new Dean Fr Michael is not only parish priest of the Cathedral parish, but also of the neighbouring parish of St Joseph’s, Ordsall. He was keen that his Mass of induction should be a celebration for both parish communities, without anything of cathedral grandeur or solemnity. I told him we don’t especially do cathedral grandeur or etc., and instead we were happy to join forces with the music group from St Joseph’s to make music that was accessible, direct and undoubtedly parish-oriented. It wasn't a million miles from our usual fare, and included a choral welcome in the form of John Rutter’s simple and gentle prayer of blessing:

May the Lord show his mercy upon you;
May the light of his presence be your guide:
May he guard you and uphold you;
May his spirit be ever by your side.
When you sleep may his angels watch over you;
When you wake may he fill you with his grace:
May you love him and serve him all your days,
Then in heaven may you see his face.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 28 September 2014

 
Entrance Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Kyrie Mass of the Creator Spirit (Ed Nowak)
Gloria Mass of the Most Sacred Heart (Jacob Bancks)
Psalm Remember your mercy, Lord (Paul Inwood)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of the Gifts The Servant King (Graham Kendrick)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Creator Spirit
Communion Herein is Love (Macdonald/Bonighton)
Postcommunion Christus Factus Est (Felice Anerio, c.1560-1614)
Recessional Christ triumphant, ever reigning
 

The same breezier rendition of Anerio’s setting of Philippians 2:8-9 as on this Sunday three years ago, compared with a more solemn Good Friday version. One of today’s Communion antiphons, from 1 John 3:16 was

By this we came to know the love of God:
that Christ laid down his life for us;
so we ought to lay down our lives for one another.

The refrain for our Communion song:

Herein is love: God became one with us.

echoed this, and another line from the first letter of St John:

This is the love I mean:
not our love for God
but God’s love for us when he sent his son
to be the sacrifice that takes our sins away.
(4:10)

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 21 September 2014

 
Entrance Praise my soul, the King of heaven
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb) – Kyrie Eleison
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 144 (Martin Hall/James Walsh)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury Alleluia (ChristopherWalker)
Preparation of the Gifts In bread we bring you, Lord
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen German Mass (Franz Schubert, arr. Proulx)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion How good is the Lord to all (mcb)
Postcommunion Teach me, O Lord (Thomas Attwood, 1765-1838)
Recessional Praise to the holiest
 

Similar musical fare to three years ago. The Communion song reprised Ps 144(145), already heard as the Responsorial Psalm, celebrating – as did the parable of the vineyard labourers in today’s Gospel reading – the “absolute gratuitousness of the love of God”.

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross (2014)

Sunday, 14 September 2014

 
Entrance The Glory of the Cross
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb) - Penitential Act
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 77 (Eugene Monaghan)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (chant) & Adoramus te no. 2 in G minor (Antonio Lotti, 1667-1740)
Preparation of the Gifts Behold the wood of the cross (Dan Schutte)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen German Mass (Schubert, arr. Richard Proulx)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Communion Forget not what God has done (Marty Haugen)
Postcommunion O Crux Ave (Rihards Dubra, b.1964)
Recessional At the name of Jesus
 

It’s unusual for us to have an elaborately choral Gospel acclamation, but the Lectionary text for today was virtually that of Lotti’s dramatic miniature. We preceded and followed it with the chant Easter Alleluia, so the whole thing, I trust, felt like a moment for the entire assembly.

Fr Michael’s powerful homily dwelt on the word behold, so Dan Schutte’s simple invitation to adore the Crucified was (fortuitously) well-chosen.

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 7 September 2014

 
Entrance All people that on earth do dwell
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer (mcb) - Kyrie
Gloria Psallite
Psalm O that today (Chris O’Hara)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia
Preparation of the Gifts Make me a channel of your peace
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missal tone
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Communion Where two or three are gathered (Liam Lawton)
Postcommunion Sicut Cervus (G.P. da Palestrina, 1525-1594)
Recessional O God our help in ages past
 

Back with a bang, even though we were few in number in the absence, for a couple of weeks more, of our student members. We were helped along by the Catenians of Number One Province, assembled as usual on this Sunday for their annual Mass. The opening and closing hymns shook the rafters.

Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 18 ended with the words

For where two or three meet in my name,
I shall be there with them.

We sang Liam Lawton’s reflection on these words, by turns stirring and thoughtful. As I think I’ve mentioned before, the uplifting refrain more than makes up for the rather plain and uninspired verses.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 3 August 2014

 
Entrance All who hunger gather gladly
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (chant)
Preparation of the Gifts Christ be beside me
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missal Tone
Communion Eat this bread (Taizé)
Recessional Now thank we all our God
 

Summer holiday fare. With Anthony away in Lourdes for the Diocesan pilgrimage, it was yours truly on the organ; piano as well, for Rick Wakeman’s arrangement of Bunessan made famous a long time ago by Cat Stevens.

Fr Michael was away in Lourdes too, and we were privileged to have Fr Chris Hilton from the Oratorian Community at St Chad’s as our celebrant. The Eucharistic Prayer, sung in its entirety to the Missal chant, to my ear had a sense of timeless stillness.

Requiem Mass for the centenary of the outbreak of World War I

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Sunday, 27 July 2014

 
Entrance (i) Requiem Aeternam (chant)
(ii) Be thou my vision
Kyrie Mass XVIII (at Masses of the Dead)
Gloria none
Psalm Ps 118 (Simon Reynolds)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Andrew Wright) with chanted verse
Preparation of the Gifts The kingdom of God
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass XVIII and Missal tones
Agnus Dei Missa pro defunctis
Communion Forget not what God has done (Marty Haugen)
Postcommunion (i) Lux Aeterna (chant)
(ii) Justorum Animae (R R Terry, 1865-1938)
Recessional Abide with me
 

The choir – this time a skeleton crew of regular members, with no reinforcements – once again achieved remarkable results in challenging circumstances. The occasion was sprung on us, ironically for a WWI commemoration, at the eleventh hour, so with only a brief rehearsal before Mass we brushed up the plainchant Requiem, including Introit and Communio. Richard Terry’s melodramatic Edwardian miniature, which presumably dates from around a hundred years ago (I can’t find a reliable record of the publication date), and the opening and closing hymns also fed into the themes of death and war.

As well as this we had music appropriate to the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Communion antiphon for the day was from Ps 102(103):

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and never forget all his benefits.

We sang Marty Haugen’s setting of the same psalm, and rounded off three Sundays on which the Gospel reading touched on the Kingdom, with a hymn on the same subject.

That’s all for now from the choir — we’re on our annual break for the next five Sundays. Back in September.

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 20 July 2014

 
Entrance O God, thy people gather
Kyrie Kyrie from Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer
Psalm O Lord, you are good (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Andrew Wright) with chanted verse
Preparation of the Gifts All that is hidden (Bernadette Farrell)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion Here I stand (John Bell)
Postcommunion O Quam Gloriosum (T.L. de Victoria, 1548-1611)
Recessional O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
 

Ordination to the Priesthood of Alfred Rebello and Laurence Gambella

Friday, 18 July 2014

 
Entrance Lord, You Give The Great Commission
Kyrie Missa de Angelis
Gloria Missa de Angelis
Psalm I will sing forever of your love (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (chant)
Litany of the Saints chant
Illustrative Rites Veni Creator Spiritus (chant)
Kiss of Peace (i) O Quam Gloriosum (T.L. de Victoria, 1548-1611)
(ii) Ubi Caritas (Maurice Duruflé, 1902-1986)
Preparation of the Gifts Greater love hath no man (John Ireland, 1879-1962)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa de Angelis & English Missal tone
Agnus Dei Missa de Angelis
Communion (i) Whoever eats my flesh (John Ainslie)
(ii) O Sacrum Convivium (Olivier Messiaen, 1908-1992)
(iii) Sweet Sacrament Divine
Postcommunion Of the Father’s love begotten
Recessional Hail Queen of Heaven
 

A big event at this time of year, once our student members have departed for the summer, always calls for additional forces to augment the choir. I don’t know whose idea it was to have the Mass of Ordination at 7 pm on a Friday evening, but between you and me it wasn’t an inspired decision. We had about forty minutes to rehearse a rather overloaded musical programme with a semi-scratch choir, the cathedral (where the building works in Cathedral House oblige us to rehearse before a service) rapidly filling with a noisy congregation. Needless to say, I was a picture of effortless serenity. 😊

We did thoroughly well, anyway, especially in a dramatic rendition of Ireland’s Greater Love. The treble solo, as well as the responsorial psalm, were sung beautifully by Jack Topping of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. Also worthy of mention was the Communion chant, from John Ainslie’s new collection of English proper chants, a resource we are certain to make more use of in future.

Congratulations to the new priests, and also to the choir members, both regulars and guests, for such a fine musical performance on the most cursory preparation.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 13 July 2014

 
Entrance Thou whose almighty word
Kyrie Kyrie from Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer
Psalm Ps 64 (Stuart Beer)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Andrew Wright) with chanted verse
Preparation of the Gifts Eye has not seen (Marty Haugen)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion Seed scattered and sown (Dan Feiten)
Postcommunion Tantum Ergo (Duruflé)
Recessional Love Divine
 

On this Sunday eighteen years ago we sang for a live televised Mass on ITV. The Psalm setting and the Gospel acclamation then were the same as today’s, and we sang another of Duruflé’s Gregorian motets, namely Ubi Caritas. On the theme of sown seed we had Bernadatte Farrell’s Unless a grain of wheat, rather than Dan Feiten’s more cheerful and musically lightweight offering (which nonetheless incorporates the rich theology of the Didache).

It’s a long time now since ITV carried regular live broadcasts of religious services, or indeed any kind of televised worship. We had a spell of about five years when we featured regularly in the same broadcaster’s My Favourite Hymns, culminating in my trad jazz arrangement of Just a closer walk with thee one Christmas morning. But it’s about ten years since this programme too had its budget axed. It was fun while it lasted.

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 6 July 2014

 
Entrance I heard the voice of Jesus say
Kyrie Kyrie from Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer
Psalm Ps 144 (Hall)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Andrew Wright) with chanted verse
Preparation of the Gifts Come down, O love divine
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion Come to me (Martin Barry & Diane Murden)
Postcommunion For the beauty of the earth (John Rutter)
Recessional Sing of the Lord’s Goodness (Ernest Sands)
 

We welcomed our new Dean Fr Michael Jones with a reprise of Rutter’s For the beauty, which (he remembered) we sang in 2005 at his final Mass as curate at the Cathedral before he left to take up his first parish. Nice to have him back.

Saints Peter and Paul (2014)

Sunday, 29 June 2014


The choir had a rare weekend off (outside the month of August, we get three in the year), as the Cathedral community celebrated First Holy Community for children of the parish, with the music led as usual by the parish primary school.

The Body and Blood of Christ (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 22 June 2014

 
Entrance Sweet Sacrament Divine
Kyrie Penitential Act from Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer
Psalm Ps 147 (Colin Mawby)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Andrew Wright) with chanted verse
Preparation of the Gifts Oculi Omnium (Charles Wood, 1866-1926)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion Take and Eat (Michael Joncas)
Postcommunion Ave Verum Corpus (Edward Elgar, 1857-1934)
Recessional Soul of my Saviour
 

The Gradual for Corpus Christi begins with the words

The eyes of all look towards you in hope, O Lord;
and you give them their food in due season.

We sang Charles Wood’s simple prayerful setting of the same text. This and our Communion song (a third outing this year for Take and Eat) allowed a depiction of the Blessed Sacrament not solely as an object of adoration, but also as heavenly food.

Today was our last Mass with Canon Tony McBride, Cathedral Dean for the past eleven years. Throughout this time he has been a pillar of support for music in the Cathedral, not only in personal encouragement and financial underpinning for our activities, but in his own willingness to sing the liturgy, the way all priests should. Truly a hard act to follow: we wish him well in his new parish.

Trinity Sunday (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 15 June 2014

 
Entrance Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God almighty
Kyrie Penitential Act from Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer
Psalm Canticle from the Flames (Felix Goebel-Komala)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Andrew Wright) with chanted verse
Preparation of the Gifts Father, Lord of all creation
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of the Redeemer
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer
Communion God beyond all names (John Bell) & Benedicta sit sancta Trinitas (chant)
Postcommunion A Hymn to the Trinity (P.I Tchaikovsky, 1840-1893)
Recessional Holy God, we praise thy name
 

Our usual mix of music in praise of the Trinity, plus Felix Goebel-Komala’s exhilarating setting of the canticle from Daniel 3. We marked the return to ordinary time with a change of Mass setting. With the addition of a setting of the third form of the Penitential Act, and a more sedate revision of the Lamb of God than the initial version, my Mass of the Redeemer is finally complete, so we’re road-testing it for the next few weeks.

Pentecost (2014)

Sunday, 8 June 2014

 
Entrance Come down, O love divine
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 103 (David Saint)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant; verse Aimee Presswood)
Rite of Confirmation (i) Pentecost Sequence (arr. Richard Proulx)
(ii) Spirit of the living God & Psalm 103 (John Ainslie)
(iii) Hymn to the Holy Spirit (Randolph Currie)
(iv) Send forth your Spirit (Christopher Walker)
(v) Veni Sancte Spiritus (Gregorio Allegri, c. 1582-1652)
(vi) Wisdom, come softly (Martin Barry & Diane Murden)
(vii) Come, thou sweetest source of gladness (Louis Bourgeois, c.1510- c.1560)
Preparation of the Gifts Alleluia Surrexit Dominus (Jacquet de Mantua, 1483-1559)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion This is my body
Recessional Come, Holy Ghost
 

The Cathedral was packed for today’s celebration. The large number of candidates set us the challenge of finding music to cover a very extended rite of Confirmation. In best Salford Cathedral fashion, the assembled musical feast ranged over ancient and modern, choral and congregational, from the plainchant Veni Creator Spiritus (in Randolph Currie’s atmospheric arrangement) to a battery of percussion instruments in Chris Walker’s setting of Ps 103. I like the thought that we covered all the bases.

The Ascension of the Lord (2014)

Sunday, 1 June 2014

 
Entrance Praise him as he mounts the skies
Kyrie Kyrie for 3 voices adapted from Byrd (mcb)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 46 (Stephen Dean)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant; verse Ellie Slorach)
Preparation of the Gifts Viri Galilei (William Byrd, 1540-1623)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion I will see you again (Psallite)
Postcommunion Laudate Dominum (W.A. Mozart, 1756-1791)
Recessional Christ Triumphant
 

The entrance antiphon from the Missal, the first reading (from the beginning of Acts) and the offertory antiphon from the Graduale all asked the same question:

Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky?

We sang the opening five-part chorus of Byrd’s setting, alternating the enigmatic-but-excitable narrative of the two men in white with the more solidly jubilant alleluias.

By contrast later we took words from today’s responsorial Psalm to heart:

Sing praise with all your skill

in singing Mozart’s serenely beautiful setting of the opening of Ps 116(117). Aimée Presswood sang the solo role with warmth and clarity and poise.

6th Sunday of Easter (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 25 May 2014

 
Entrance This joyful Eastertide
Kyrie Kyrie 2 from A Community Mass (Richard Proulx)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 65 (Monaghan/Steel)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant; verse mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Jubilate Deo (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Live on in my love (Psallite)
Postcommunion If ye love me (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585)
Recessional Alleluia, sing to Jesus
 

Today’s responsorial Psalm (65(66)) instructed us to Cry out with joy to God all the earth. We echoed these words in Lassus’s setting of the opening of Ps 99(100). Ellie Slorach conducted us, in an exhilarating rendition.

The consoling words of both the Gospel reading (from John 14) and the Communion antiphon:

If you love me, keep my commandments, says the Lord,
and I will ask the Father
and he will send you another Paraclete,
to abide with you for ever, alleluia.

made for a gentle contrast with the exuberance of the Psalm. We sang, as usual for this Sunday, Tallis’s serene and uncluttered setting, conducted this time by Aimee Presswood. The Gospel reading had further words of consolation:

I will not leave you orphans;
I will come back to you.
which we celebrated in the second verse of our recessional hymn.

5th Sunday of Easter (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 18 May 2014

 
Entrance The stone which the builders rejected (Bernadette Farrell)
Kyrie Kyrie 2 from A Community Mass (Richard Proulx)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 32 (Alan Rees)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant; verse Anthony Hunt)
Preparation of the Gifts Regina Caeli (plainchant & Samuel Webbe, 1740-1816)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion I am the vine (John Bell) & Ps 80 (Laurence Bévenot)
Postcommunion Exsultate Justi (Lodovico Grossi da Viadana, c.1560-1627)
Recessional Battle is o’er
 

The Responsorial Psalm today was from Ps 32(33). As well as Alan Rees’s setting, we had Viadana’s exuberant version of the opening verses. Our opening song was from the second reading, from 1 Peter.

We prefaced Samuel Webbe’s sunny setting of the Eastertide Marian antiphon, mainly for upper voices, with the plainchant melody, sung by the men of the choir.

4th Sunday of Easter (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 11 May 2014

 
Entrance The living God my shepherd is
Kyrie Kyrie II from Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 22 (James Walsh)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant; verse Anthony Hunt)
Preparation of the Gifts Flocks in Pastures Green (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion You are the shepherd (Psallite)
Postcommunion Surrexit Pastor Bonus (T.L. de Victoria, 1548-1611)
Recessional Hail Redeemer, King Divine
 

Today was Good Shepherd Sunday, and our music was selected accordingly. The choir numbered eleven plus yours truly, so Victoria’s six-part setting of the Communion antiphon (a repeat performance from last Monday) was an enjoyable challenge. We did well.

40th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination of Canon Tony McBride

Monday, 5 May 2014

 
Entrance All people that on earth do dwell (arr. Vaughan Williams)
Kyrie Kyrie for 3 voices adapted from Byrd (mcb)
Gloria Glory to God (Peter Jones)
Psalm Because the Lord is my Shepherd (Christopher Walker)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant & Colin Mawby)
Preparation of the Gifts To be a pilgrim
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Communion My Peace (Taizé) & Ps 4 (James Walsh)
Soul of my Saviour
Postcommunion Surrexit Pastor Bonus (T.L. de Victoria, 1548-1611)
Recessional Hail, Queen of heaven
 

A full house and a happy celebration for our soon-to-be-departing Dean. For a priestly jubilee in Eastertide it seemed appropriate to sing about the Good Shepherd, which we did in the psalm, Gospel acclamation and postcommunion motet. The latter was Victoria’s sunny, celebratory six-part setting of next Sunday’s communion antiphon.

3rd Sunday of Easter (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 4 May 2014

 
Entrance Sing of one who walks beside us
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison from Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Centre of my life (Paul Inwood)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant; verse mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Mane Nobiscum (William Byrd, 1540-1623)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Come and eat this bread (Marty Haugen)
Postcommunion This is the Day (anon., 16th C.)
Recessional Crown him with many crowns
 

Today’s Gospel reading was St Luke’s account of the journey to Emmaus. It prompted several of our musical choices, including the opening hymn, our motet at the preparation of the gifts and our Communion processional song.

I have to confess to not being completely convinced of the artistic merits of the opening hymn text by Ralph Wright OSB. To compensate, I tried pairing the text with a Good Tune. I think it worked (though perhaps not as well as in the video clip).

Easter Sunday (2014)

Sunday, 20 April 2014

 
Entrance Jesus Christ is Ris’n Today
Kyrie Kyrie for 3 voices adapted from Byrd (mcb)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm This is the Day (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation Sequence: Victimae Paschali Laudes (William Greene)
Easter Alleluia (chant & Colin Mawby) listen
Preparation of the Gifts Haec Dies (William Byrd, 1540-1623) listen
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Now we remain (David Haas)
Postcommunion Surrexit Christus Dominus (Michael Praetorius, 1571-1621)
Recessional Go in peace, Alleluia
At the Lamb’s high feast
 

Colin Mawby’s joyful festive setting of the Easter Alleluia combines a people’s refrain, in the form of the simple chant Alleluia, with a bubbling choral fanfare on the same word, plus a more maestoso choral setting of the verse text. With thirty-five repetitions of the word Alleluia, it's probably not for everyday (or even every Sunday) use, but it’s a good one for special occasions. We last sang it at the Bridgewater Hall, for the Centenary Mass of the Catenian Association in 2008.

Byrd’s six-part setting of Haec Dies is jam-packed with dance-like exuberance. The rhythmic complexities make it a challenge for the conductor, a challenge to which our organist Anthony Hunt rose with panache on his conducting debut with the choir.

The Easter Vigil (2014)

Saturday, 19 April 2014

 
The Service of LightLumen Christi (chanted)
ExsultetPlainchant
After 1st reading (Genesis 1)Send forth your Spirit (John Ainslie)
After 2nd reading (Exodus 14-15)I will sing to the Lord (Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
After 3rd reading (Isaiah 55: come to the water)We shall draw water joyfully (Paul Inwood)
After 4th reading (Ezekiel 36: I shall give you a new heart)As the deer longs (Bob Hurd) listen
GloriaPsallite listen
Easter Alleluia + Psalm 117Plainchant, verses by Paul Inwood
Lighting of Baptismal CandlesSprings of Water (Marty Haugen) listen
SprinklingVidi Aquam (Cristóbal de Morales, c.1500-1553)
Preparation of the GiftsAlleluia Surrexit Christus (Felice Anerio, 1560-1614) listen
Sanctus, Acclamation A, AmenMass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus DeiLamb of God II (mcb) listen
CommunionTake and Eat (Michael Joncas)
DismissalGo in peace, Alleluia (chanted)
Final HymnThine be the Glory listen
 

As ever, a diverse musical banquet to match the riches of tonight’s moving liturgy.

Good Friday (2014)

Friday, 18 April 2014

 
PsalmFather, into your hands (Martin Foster)
Gospel AcclamationChristus factus est (Johann Ernst Eberlin, 1702-1762)
Adoration of the CrossBehold the wood of the Cross (Missal tone)
Adoramus Te (Eric Barnum, 1979-)
Praise to the Holiest
Crux Fidelis (attr. King John IV of Portugal) & Pange Lingua (chant) listen
Jesus, remember me (Taizé)
CommunionAve Verum Corpus (William Byrd, 1540-1623)
Soul of my Saviour

Crux Fidelis was published in the mid 1840s as a composition of King John IV of Portugal, who lived from 1604 to 1656. On stylistic and (musical) grammatical grounds it’s much more likely a product of early-to-mid 19th century archaizing Romanticism, but no less a beautiful and thoughtful work, for all that.

Eric Barnum’s harmonised chant setting of the ancient Good Friday antiphon presented a contrast of arresting simplicity. We were ably conducted in it by choral scholar Aimée Presswood.

Mass of the Lord's Supper (Holy Thursday, 2014)

Thursday, 17 April 2013


Opening Hymn When I survey the wondrous cross
Kyrie Missa Orbis Factor listen
Gloria Psallite
Responsorial Psalm The Blessing Cup (Christopher Walker)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Washing of Feet If there is this love among you (Martin Barry & Diane Murden)
Preparation of the Gifts Ubi Caritas (Ola Gjeilo, 1978-) listen
Sanctus Missa Orbis Factor listen
Memorial Acclamation BMissal Tone: When we eat this Bread
Agnus Dei Missa Orbis Factor listen
Communion O Sacrum Convivium (Martin Barry)
Procession Pange Lingua (plainchant)
Stay with me (Taizé) listen
 

Fewer familiar faces in the congregation this year, so the singing was less enthusiastic than last year’s runaway experience with Tantum Ergo. It was good that things stayed under control this time, and the choir, though I say so myself, were in fine voice. But it's sad that so many people who attend Sunday Mass at the cathedral week in, week out, somehow don't seem to regard the Holy Thursday evening Mass (nor the Easter Vigil) as a significant fixture in their personal liturgical calendar. It's as if the 1950s reforms of the Triduum services passed people by; that is, passed the parents or grandparents of today's congregation by, with knock-on effects for future generations. Maybe a bit more catechesis on the subject is called for.

The Mass of Chrism (2014)

Thursday, 17 April 2014


Opening HymnPraise, my soul, the King of heaven
KyrieKyrie Eleison fromMissa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
GloriaGlory to God (Peter Jones)
Responsorial PsalmI will sing forever (mcb)
Gospel AcclamationGlory and Praise (mcb)
Procession of the OilsO Redeemer (Paul Ford/mcb) listen
Preparation of the GiftsWe shall walk through the valley (traditional spiritual, arr. Moses Hogan) listen
Sanctus, Acclamation C, AmenMissal tone in English
Agnus DeiMissa Ubi Caritas
CommunionTake and Eat (Michael Joncas)
Ubi Caritas (Ola Gjeilo, 1978-)
Recessional HymnGuide me, O thou great redeemer listen
 

We now have a page on SoundCloud hosting some of our recordings. The links above are to live recordings from this year’s grand and festive celebration.

Palm Sunday (2014)

Sunday, 13 April 2014

 
Entrance Hosanna Filio David (chant & T.L. de Victoria, 1548-1611)
All Glory Laud and Honour
Psalm My God, my God (Liam Lawton)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Drop, drop, slow tears (Kenneth Leighton, 1929-1988)
Sanctus Missa Orbis Factor
Acclamation Missal Tone: Save us, Saviour
Agnus Dei Missa Orbis Factor
Communion Father, if this cup (Stephen Dean)
Recessional My song is love unknown
 

The last movement of Leighton’s Crucifixus pro nobis is a haunting and musically challenging meditation on the crucified Christ, setting the words of A Litany by Phineas Fletcher (1580-1650).

5th Sunday of Lent (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 6 April 2014

 
Entrance Out of the depths (Scott Soper)
Kyrie Missa Orbis Factor
Psalm Ps 129 (Peter Smedley)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts The Crown of Roses (P.I. Tchaikovsky, 1840-1893)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Orbis Factor
Agnus Dei Missa Orbis Factor
Communion I will put a new spirit within you (Stephen Dean)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Praise to the holiest
 

4th Sunday of Lent (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 30 March 2014

 
Entrance Praise we our God with joy
Kyrie Missa Orbis Factor
Psalm His goodness shall follow me (Chris O’Hara)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Hear my prayer, O Lord (Henry Purcell, 1659-1695)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Orbis Factor
Agnus Dei Missa Orbis Factor
Communion Lord, your love has drawn us near (Stephen Dean)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Out of darkness (Christopher Walker)
 

The fourth Sunday of Lent is Laetare Sunday, because of the opening words of the Entrance antiphon: Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her, and our opening hymn reflected this.

Today’s second reading from Ephesians spoke about darkness and light. Chris Walker’s stirring setting of 1 Peter 2:9 made for a powerful recessional song on the same theme.

In the Gospel story from St John, the man born blind sees his healing as proof that Jesus truly came from God, with the words We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners. In the devout hope that actually he does, we sang Purcell’s impassioned and dramatic setting of the plea for divine assistance which opens Ps 101(102). Choral scholar Ellie Slorach conducted us with skill and insight.

The responsorial psalm verses were set to the Irish folk melody She moved through the fair, beautifully sung by Evie Parker, another of our choral scholars this year.

3rd Sunday of Lent (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 23 March 2014

 
Entrance Your love is finer than life (Marty Haugen)
Kyrie Missa Orbis Factor
Psalm O that today (Chris O’Hara)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Sitivit anima mea (G.P. da Palestrina, 1525-1594)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Orbis Factor
Agnus Dei Missa Orbis Factor
Communion Come to me and drink (Bob Hurd)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Guide me, O thou great redeemer
 

Much as three years ago (minus the sprinkling).

2nd Sunday of Lent (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 16 March 2014

 
Entrance Remember your mercy (Paul Inwood)
Kyrie Missa Orbis Factor
Psalm Ps 32 (Alan Rees)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Lord, for thy tender mercy’s sake (attr. John Hilton, d. 1608)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Orbis Factor
Agnus Dei Missa Orbis Factor
Communion Here is my chosen (Psallite)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Immortal, Invisible
 

The Entrance antiphon today begins

Remember your compassion, O Lord
and your merciful love, for they are from of old.

and we sang of the same things in our Entrance song and at the preparation of the gifts. The Gospel reading was St Matthew’s account of the Transfiguration, taken up in our Communion and Recessional songs.

Rite of Election (2014)

Sunday, 9 March 2014

 
Opening Hymn The Church’s one foundation
Responsorial Psalm Teach me, O God (Christopher Walker)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Enrolment In the Lord is my true salvation (Berthier/Inwood)
After the Election of the Catechumens Who calls you my name (David Haas)
Welcome of Candidates Always in your presence (Philip Jakob)
After Welcome of Candidates Wisdom, come softly (Martin Barry & Diane Murden) - choir
Prayers of Intercession Miserere nobis from Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Recessional Hymn Love divine, all loves excelling
 

Good numbers this year, and as usual a willing singing assembly. It all made for a happy and memorable celebration.

1st Sunday of Lent (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 9 March 2014

 
Entrance Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
Kyrie Missa Orbis Factor
Psalm Ps 50 (Stephen Dean)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Emendemus in Melius (William Byrd, c. 1540-1623)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missa Orbis Factor
Agnus Dei Missa Orbis Factor
Communion Not on bread alone are we nourished (Psallite)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional Led by the Spirit (Bob Hurd)
 

Ash Wednesday (2014)

Wednesday, 5 March 2014


Entrance O God, I seek you (Marty Haugen)
Psalm Ps 50 (Stephen Dean)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Imposition of Ashes Bless the Lord, my soul (Taizé)
Sanctus, Acclamation C, Amen Missa Orbis Factor & Missal tones
Agnus Dei Missa Orbis Factor
Communion Miserere Mei (attr. G.B Pergolesi, 1710-1736)
Recessional Our Father, we have wandered
 

Since Pergolesi died young, and at the peak of his fame, he bequeathed a powerful brand name to later composers seeking a quick route to high-volume sales. I read somewhere that in catalogues of his compositions, works actually written by him are massively outnumbered by works falsely attributed to him. I've no idea whether the brief atmospheric setting of the first verse of Ps 50 (51) that we sang tonight is authentic Pergolesi: the only recorded version I know of attributes it to him unquestioningly, but there’s scant mention of the piece anywhere else, and the only respectable-looking scholarly citation suggests that the jury is still out. No matter. It’s a beautiful and dramatic miniature which I’m glad we’ve added to our repertoire.

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 2 March 2014

 
Entrance All my hope on God is founded
Kyrie Kyrie for 3 voices, adapted from Byrd (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm Ps 61 (Martin Foster)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Seek ye first the kingdom of God
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Belmont Mass (Christopher Walker)
Agnus Dei from Beneath the Tree of Life (Marty Haugen)
Communion In God alone (Taizé) & Ps 61 (Bévenot)
Postcommunion Quaerite Primum (W.A. Mozart, 1756-1791)
Recessional Lord, for tomorrow and its needs
 

The obvious musical cues in both the responsorial psalm and the Gospel reading meant that the musical selections were much the same as three years ago. We tried out two new psalm tones: during the Communion procession, we alternated Jacques Berthier’s refrain with verses from Ps 61(62) instead of Ps 127, and the responsorial psalm itself was a setting by Martin Foster.

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 23 February 2014

 
Entrance Praise my soul, the King of heaven
Kyrie Kyrie II from Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm Ps 102 (Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Will you let me be your servant
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Belmont Mass (Christopher Walker)
Agnus Dei from Beneath the Tree of Life (Marty Haugen)
Communion Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Postcommunion Love Divine (Howard Goodall)
Recessional God is love: let heaven adore him
 

Today’s readings spoke in several places of love, human and divine. Our songs at the preparation of the gifts and during the Communion procession touched on the former; our postcommunion and recessional pieces the latter.

Golden Jubilee of Priestly Ordination of Bishop Terence Brain

Feast of the Chair of St Peter

Saturday, 22 February 2014

 
Entrance (i) Ecce Sacerdos (T.L. de Victoria, 1548-1611)
(ii) Praise to the Lord, the almighty
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison (Bob Hurd, Missa Ubi Caritas)
Gloria Glory to God (Peter Jones)
Psalm Because the Lord is my shepherd (Christopher Walker)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts A Hymn to the Virgin (Benjamin Britten, 1913-1976)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missal Tone (in English)
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Communion (i) Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
(ii) Soul of my Saviour
Postcommunion Tu es Petrus (Maurice Duruflé, 1902-1986)
Recessional For All the Saints
 

Priests and people from around the Diocese, to say nothing of a couple of visiting bishops, gathered for a happy celebration of fifty years of ministry. We combined music for the occasion with music for the feast of the Chair of St Peter (lest anyone think we were singing Tu es Petrus for bishop Terence 😊). Victoria’s Ecce Sacerdos was new to us – on the few occasions we’ve needed a setting over the last twenty years or so, it’s always been Elgar. Victoria’s setting is brighter and more cheerful than Elgar’s, and it felt just right.

Britten’s A Hymn to the Virgin is a favourite piece of Bishop Terence’s. We sang it in 1997 for his installation as Bishop of Salford, and again ten years ago for his celebration of forty years of priesthood. It’s only two years until his silver jubilee of episcopal ordination, so perhaps we’ll find something different for next time.

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 16 February 2014

 
Entrance Christ is made the sure foundation
Kyrie (Dinah Reindorf)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm Ps 118 (Martin Hall)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Eye has not seen (Marty Haugen)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Belmont Mass (Christopher Walker)
Agnus Dei from Beneath the Tree of Life (Marty Haugen)
Communion Teach me, O God (Christopher Walker)
Postcommunion God so loved the world (John Stainer, 1840-1901)
Recessional Praise the Lord, ye heavens adore him
 

Songs by Marty Haugen and Chris Walker that exactly fitted the Lectionary selections today, as three years ago. One of the Missal antiphons for Communion was John 3:16, and we sang Stainer’s beautiful setting of that verse and the next from St John’s Gospel. And our opening hymn wasn’t a bad fit for the Entrance antiphon from the Missal, I thought:

Be my protector, O God,
A mighty stronghold to save me.
For you are my rock, my stronghold!
Lead me, guide me, for the sake of your name.
 

Salford Cathedral's Makin Organ finds its New Voice



A little over 12 years ago, Salford Cathedral had its brand new, state of the art digital organ installed following removal of the pipe organ some months previously. The organ speakers were the first part of the organ to be fitted, in their permanent places under the clerestory windows, in the central crossing, above the entrance porch and at ground level behind the choir. All that remained was for the actual organ console to arrive from Johannus' factory in the Netherlands. So when the small truck emblazoned with the Johannus logo finally pulled up outside the cathedral one fine autumn morning therefore, it was quite an exciting moment, especially for the organist. When the organ was delivered to the cathedral, it came with the default factory settings. This included the voicing of the stops. So in order for the organ to sound more like a typical English cathedral, the organ was fine-tuned by voicing expert, Jeremy Meager, who did a fine job with the sampling technology available at that time.

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 9 February 2014

 
Entrance Come, ring out your joy (17th c. Peruvian, arr. Martin Foster)
Kyrie Kyrie for 3 voices adapted from Byrd (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm Ps 111 (Martin Hall)
Gospel Acclamation Here in our Midst (Peter Jones)
Preparation of the Gifts Beati Eritis (Giovanni Croce, 1557-1609)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Belmont Mass (Christopher Walker)
Agnus Dei from Beneath the Tree of Life (Marty Haugen)
Communion Blest are they, the poor in spirit (David Haas)
Postcommunion O Quam Suavis (Joseph Turner, 1853-1897)
Recessional Thou whose almighty word
 

Light featured again this week as a theme in the readings, though this time it was as an attribute of the faithful servant, rather than of our Lord directly. The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright, ran the psalm response, the Gospel reading said you are the light of the world, and in Isaiah we heard if you give your bread to the hungry, ... your light will rise in the darkness. So I passed over Shine, Jesus, shine again (but it can’t be long now). Instead we had the words let there be light in our closing hymn. I don't know too many songs that treat light the way today’s readings did, though after the event someone mentioned Marty Haugen’s Bring forth the kingdom. Maybe next time.

Other musical choices reflected the antiphons in the Missal, Ps 94(95) at the entrance and O Quam Suavis at Communion, the latter echoing the words the hungry he fills with good things.

The other Communion antiphon for today in the Missal was from the Beatitudes (Mt 5:5-6), and as well as David Haas’s setting during the Communion procession, at the preparation of the gifts we sang Croce’s setting from a few lines later:

Blessed are you
when people insult you
and persecute you
and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely
on account of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward is great in heaven.
 

The Presentation of the Lord (2014)

Sunday, 2 February 2014

 
Entrance, Blessing of Candles and Sprinkling Rite Christ, be our Light (Bernadette Farrell)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm Ps 23 (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation Here in our Midst (Jones)
Preparation of the Gifts Nunc Dimittis (G.P. da Palestrina, c.1525-1594)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Belmont Mass (Christopher Walker)
Agnus Dei from Beneath the Tree of Life (Marty Haugen)
Communion Where two or three are gathered (Liam Lawton)
Postcommunion A song of the light (Simon Lole)
Recessional Tell out, my soul
 

Today was the first time since 2003 that the Feast of the Presentation (Candlemas) had fallen on a Sunday. The Missal calls for a procession with candles, but with the long-heralded building work finally under way in Cathedral House, it was judged that there was nowhere from which we could have processed into the Cathedral. The creative alternative was a blessing of all the candles (most of them still in their boxes) to be used during the coming year – evoking the annual blessing of the oils at the Mass of Chrism on Maundy Thursday. The candles are a link to our Baptism, Fr Anthony told us, and we underlined the connection with a sprinkling rite. The musical accompaniment was Christ, be our Light, which, I realised when the singing began, is a popular favourite up there with Hail, Queen of Heaven and Here I am, Lord. (A good indicator is when I try beginning with an unaccompanied choir verse, and the people take it up after a few notes. Jesus, remember me, on Good Friday, is also firmly in this league. What is it about songs with commas in their titles?)

Two Sundays in a row dealing with the theme of Christ, our Light, completely exhausted our supply of songs on the subject (though I wish I’d thought of Graham Kendrick’s Shine, Jesus, Shine). As well as the Farrell, we had a swift re-run of Simon Lole’s lyrical paraphrase of Hail, gladdening light, and Palestrina’s four-part Nunc Dimittis, in an edition from CPDL by Adrian Wall with an added editorial polyphonic setting of verse 3. We sandwiched Palestrina’s setting between repetitions of the chant antiphon for the blessing of candles in today’s liturgy, Lumen ad revelationem gentium, itself a line from the Nunc Dimittis:

A light for revelation to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 26 January 2014

 
Entrance Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
Kyrie Kyrie for 3 voices adapted from Byrd (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm Ps 26 (Paul Inwood)
Gospel Acclamation Here in our Midst (Peter Jones)
Preparation of the Gifts Cantate Domino (Giuseppe Pitoni, 1657-1743)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Belmont Mass (Christopher Walker)
Agnus Dei from Beneath the Tree of Life (Marty Haugen)
Communion The Lord is my light (Marty Haugen)
Postcommunion O Nata Lux (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585)
Recessional Forth in the peace of Christ we go
 

The first reading, psalm, Gospel reading and one of the Communion antiphons all made reference in some way to the Lord, our light. In addition to Paul Inwood’s setting of Ps 26(27), we had Marty Haugen’s paraphrase of the same text.

We also had Tallis’s setting of the office hymn for Lauds of the feast of the Transfiguration:

O Light born of Light,
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
with kindness deign to receive
the praise and prayer of supplicants.
You who once deigned to be clothed in flesh
for the sake of the lost,
grant us to be made members
of your blessed body.

Tallis’s bold harmonic language throws up repeated discords in passing – F♯ against F♮, E♭ against D – each providing fleeting glimpses of a light too dazzling to look at directly.

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 19 January 2014

 
Entrance Let all the world in every corner sing
Kyrie Kyrie I (Taizé)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm Ps 39 (Paul Inwood)
Gospel Acclamation Here in our Midst (Peter Jones)
Preparation of the Gifts Blest be the Lord, the God of Israel (Bernadette Farrell)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Belmont Mass (Christopher Walker)
Agnus Dei from Beneath the Tree of Life (Marty Haugen)
Communion Behold the Lamb of God (John Bell) & Ecce Maria genuit (chant)
Postcommunion Venite Comedite (William Byrd, c.1540-1623)
Recessional Hail to the Lord’s anointed
 

A good mix of music, I thought, encompassing plainchant, Byrd, traditional hymns, the St. Thomas More Group, Iona, Taizé and Marty Haugen. What did we leave out?

Our music for the Communion procession combined the chant item and the piece from the Iona Community. John Bell’s refrain sandwiched a psalm antiphon from second vespers for the feast of the Circumcision of the Lord:

Behold, Mary has borne a Saviour for us,
whom John saw, and cried out:
Behold the Lamb of God,
Behold him who takes away the sins of the world.

A new piece by yours truly as well - a Gloria that more or less completes the Mass setting I’ve been writing since last summer. (More or less, because there may yet be a further setting or two of the Penitential Rite.) It’s taken me a good while to feel my way around the text of the new translation of the Gloria - the opening lines have a stilted feel, rhythmically speaking, as if there was a deliberate move away from the lilting feel of the old version towards something more prosaic.

Funeral of Paul Goggins MP

Thursday, 16 January 2014

 
Entrance Guide me, O thou great Redeemer
Psalm The Cry of the Poor (John Foley)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Fanfare for the Common Man (Aaron Copland) – organ
Sanctus Mass XVIII (chant)
Acclamation B St Columba (Irish melody)
Doxology & Amen Missal Tone
Communion Be thou my vision
Postcommunion Lead, kindly light
Commendation Be still, my soul
Recessional Jerusalem
Voluntary Nimrod (Edward Elgar) – organ
 

The cathedral was packed for a moving farewell to a faithful and dedicated public servant. There was no choir: I think plans were made without considering the possibility, and then there was a decision to keep things simple. A cantor led the Psalm and Gospel Acclamation, and the hymns in the main were those which people knew well enough to sing with vigour. (There was a tussle between anacrusic and non-anacrusic versions of Be thou my vision, inevitable when people come together from different parishes.) Anthony did a thoroughly impressive job in keeping the vast singing assembly in order from the organ.

The Baptism of the Lord (Year A, 2014)

Sunday, 12 January 2014

 
Entrance On Jordan’s bank
Sprinkling Rite Springs of Water (Marty Haugen)
Gloria Gloria de Noël (Thomas Niel)
Psalm Ps 28 (McCarthy/Bévenot)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts O comfort my people
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen German Mass (Schubert/Proulx)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Here is my Servant (Psallite)
Postcommunion Jesus Christ the apple tree (Elizabeth Poston, 1905-1987)
Recessional Come down, O love divine
 

We brought the Christmas season to a close with one final outing for Thomas Niel’s Gloria adapted from Angels we have heard on high, and Elizabeth Poston’s setting of the carol Jesus Christ the apple tree. In rehearsal I told the choir that the words were written by George Washington’s father, but all I got in response was whistling wind and tumbleweed…

The Epiphany (2014)

Sunday, 5 January 2014

 
Entrance As with gladness men of old
Gloria Gloria de Noël (Thomas Niel)
Psalm Ps 71 (Monaghan/Dean)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts What child is this?
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen German Mass (Schubert/Proulx)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Laudate Omnes Gentes (Taizé) & Reges Tharsis (chant)
Postcommunion The Coventry Carol (traditional, arr. Martin Shaw)
Recessional The First Nowell
 

Christmas Morning Mass (2013)

Wednesday, 25 December 2013

 
Entrance (i) Hodie Christus natus (chant)
(ii) O Come all ye faithful
Gloria Psallite
Psalm All the ends of the earth (Johnson)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts God rest you merry gentlemen
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen German Mass (Schubert/Proulx)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion O Little Town of Bethlehem
Postcommunion Verbum Caro Factum Est (Hans Leo Hassler, 1564-1612)
Recessional Hark, the herald angels sing
 

Men’s voices as usual for Christmas morning, this year five of us singing in four parts. The musical fare was our customary mix of prayerful and joyful.

Christmas Vigil and Midnight Mass (2013)

Tuesday, 24 December 2013

 
Introit O Emmanuel (chant)
Opening Hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Reading Isaiah 11:1-10 (A shoot springs from the stock of
Jesse)
Choir Carol of the Bells (Mykola Leontovych)
Hymn In the bleak midwinter
Reading Luke 1:26-38 (The Annunciation)
Hymn Unto us is born a son
Reading John 1: 1-18 (In the Beginning was the Word)
Choir O Little One Sweet (J.S. Bach)
Bishop’s entrance and procession to the crib Adeste Fideles
Gloria Gloria de Noël (Thomas Niel)
Reading Isaiah 9:2-7 (The people that walked in darkness)
Psalm Ps 95(96)
Reading Titus 2:11-14 (God’s grace has been revealed)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Reading Luke 2:1-14 (The Nativity)
Creed Credo III & Et Incarnatus from the Mass for three voices (William Byrd, c.1540-1623)
Preparation of the gifts Ding Dong Merrily (traditional) – choir
Sanctus, Acclamation C, Amen German Mass (Schubert) & Missal tones
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion My Lord has come (Will Todd)
Silent night
Postcommunion O little town of Bethlehem
Recessional Hark the herald angels sing
 

Our usual rich pageant, with a packed congregation, Celebration Brass, and the choir in sparkling form. The choral et incarnatus during the Creed, taking a leaf from someone else’s book, made for a moment of appropriate stillness.

Happy Christmas!

4th Sunday of Advent (Year A, 2013)

Sunday, 22 December 2013

 
Entrance Come Saviour, Come/Rorate Caeli (Chant)
Kyrie Missal Chant (Lord have mercy)
Psalm Let the Lord enter in (Chris O’Hara)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Philip Duffy)
Creed Credo III
Preparation of the Gifts On the lips of an angel (J.S. Bach/Charles Gounod/Scott Soper)
Sanctus, Acclamation, Amen Missal Chant
Agnus Dei Missal Chant
Communion (i) O Clavis David (chant)
(ii) Bread of life (Bernadatte Farrell)
Postcommunion (silence)
Recessional O come, O come Emmanuel
 

Our Advent music this year has included a large measure of plainchant, to my mind rightly so in a season of restrained anticipation. More than half today’s musical fare consisted of chant items, but they all sat well together with the contemporary items by Bernadette Farrell, Chris O’Hara and the like. This to my mind is a much healthier situation than keeping chant in a ghetto surrounded by Renaissance polyphony. Chant isn’t a museum piece; it’s part of our living musical language.