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.