16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 22 July 2018

 
Entrance Praise we our God with joy
Kyrie Peter Jones
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm Ps 22 (Fintan O’Carroll)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts The Lord is my shepherd (John Rutter)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Peter Jones
Communion I stand at the door (mcb)
Recessional Hail Redeemer, King divine
 

One last Sunday under my direction, before calling time on twenty-three years of the unalloyed privilege of leading the music here. We ended with two pieces that felt special to me: one last chance to sing a new song to the Lord, in a setting of one of today’s Communion antiphons, with verses from psalm 33(34); and then an old warhorse of a hymn that’s been one of our signature tunes right since the beginning. I’ll miss the place, and its wonderful people.

Ordination to the Priesthood of Callum Brown

Saturday, 21 July 2018

 
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 Gospel Acclamation (Brian Luckner)
Litany of the Saints Chant
Illustrative Rites Veni Creator Spiritus (Chant & T.L de Victoria, c. 1548-1611)
Kiss of Peace Ubi Caritas (Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986) & chant)
Preparation of the Gifts Alleluia, sing to Jesus
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Missa de Angelis & Missal tones
Agnus Dei Missa de Angelis
Communion (i) Whoever eats my flesh (John Ainslie)
(ii) Sweet Heart of Jesus
(iii) O Sacrum Convivium (Olivier Messiaen, 1908-1992)
Recessional Holy light on earth’s horizon
 

For the Kiss of Peace – a lengthy rite in which the new priest is greeted by all the other priests present – we spun out the Duruflé by alternating the antiphon with chant verses not set by the composer. It was a haunting mixture, and timed to perfection. Before that, we raised the roof with the Gospel Acclamation, which struck exactly the right note of power and drama for a grand gathering of the diocese for a truly special event.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 15 July 2018

 
Entrance All are welcome (Marty Haugen)
Kyrie Peter Jones
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm Ps 84 (Elsie Wright)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Litany to the Holy Spirit (Peter Hurford, b.1930)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Peter Jones
Communion Whoever eats my flesh (John Ainslie)
Recessional Tell out, my soul

The first reading from Ephesians had the words

you too have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit of the Promise, the pledge of our inheritance.

We sang Peter Hurford’s setting of Robert Herrick’s well-known poem invoking the Spirit’s comfort. Sue Milligan sang the solo beautifully.

Diocesan Mass for Musicians, 2018

Saturday of Week 14 in Ordinary Time

14 July 2018

 
Entrance All that is hidden (Bernadette Farrell)
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison (Dinah Reindorf)
Psalm The Lord is King (Paul Wellicome)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (Martin Barry)
Preparation of the Gifts A Hymn to the Trinity (P.I. Tchaikovsky)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Paschal Mass (Alan Rees)
Communion Taste and See (CJM)
Recessional Thanks be to God (Stephen Dean)

The Mass for Musicians came at the end of a magnificent training day for the musicians of the Diocese, linked to the Hope in the Future initiative. The Cathedral Centre was packed to overflowing, for a day of talks and workshops (led by Daniel Bath, Nick Baty, Anthony Hunt and yours truly), ending in a Mass for all the participants. The packed timetable had left us with very little rehearsal time before Mass, but we managed to master everything, from Tchaikovsky to CJM’s Taste and See, which at one point involved sixteen voice parts.

The music was all chosen to fit the texts of today’s Mass, which included the angels crying Holy, Holy in Isaiah (for which the Tchaikovsky fitted like a glove), and everything now hidden will be made clear from chapter 10 of Matthew. Paul Wellicome’s boisterous psalm setting might have been written for the occasion, and taste and see was the Communion antiphon.

The day itself felt as though it met a huge need, and the feedback afterwards was certainly appreciative. I hope there are many more such days to come.

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 8 July 2018

 
Entrance Praise to the Lord, the almighty
Kyrie Peter Jones
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm Ps 122 (Mount St Bernard)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Make me a channel of your peace
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Peter Jones
Communion O Taste and See (Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958)
Come to me (Martin Barry and Diane Murden)
Recessional Forth in the peace of Christ

Catherine Otokhina was the soprano soloist in Vaughan Williams’s gentle antidote to pomp and circumstance, composed for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 1 July 2018

 
Entrance All people that on earth do dwell
Kyrie Peter Jones
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm I will praise you Lord (Daniel Bath)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Do not be afraid (Philip Stopford)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Peter Jones
Communion Bless the Lord, my soul (Taizé)
Recessional Thanks be to God

The Nativity of John the Baptist (2018)

Sunday, 24 June 2018

 
Entrance On Jordan’s bank
Kyrie Peter Jones
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm O God, you search me (Bernadette Farrell)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Et tu puer from the Benedictus (T.L. de Victoria, c. 1548-1611)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Peter Jones
Communion Behold the Lamb of God (John Bell) [I/78] & Ecce Maria genuit (chant)
Recessional Blest be the Lord, the God of Israel (Bernadette Farrell)

As on previous occasions for this feast day, we sang Bernadette Farrell’s lovely setting of psalm 138(139) in responsorial mode, using the last two lines of the final verse (“for the wonder of who I am I praise you, safe in your hands all creation is made new”) as the people’s response, and allowing the choir to sing the choral arrangements of the verses.

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 17 June 2018

 
Entrance All things bright and beautiful
Kyrie Peter Jones
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm Ps 91 (Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Lord hear my voice (mcb)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Peter Jones
Communion Oculi Omnium (Charles Wood, 1866-1926)
There is one thing (Chris O’Hara)
Recessional The kingdom of God
 

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 10 June 2018

 
Entrance Your hands, O Lord
Kyrie Peter Jones
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm Ps 129 (Peter Smedley)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Ubi Caritas (Maurice Duruflé, 1902-1986)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Peter Jones
Communion You are my refuge (Christopher Walker)
Recessional All my hope on God is founded
 

Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord (2018)

Sunday, 3 June 2018

 
Entrance Of the glorious body telling
Kyrie Peter Jones
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm Ps 115 (Stephen Dean/Psallite)
Gospel Acclamation (i) Sequence: Lo! The angel’s food is given (ii) St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Tantum Ergo (Gabriel Fauré, 1845-1924)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Peter Jones
Communion Take and Eat (Michael Joncas)
Recessional Soul of my Saviour
 

We sang the sequence in English to the traditional plainchant melody, taking it from the New English Hymnal, starting at part 2, as permitted because the unabridged form is so long. The little-known setting of Tantum Ergo by Fauré has a charming melody, sung first by a soloist and then taken up in the second verse by the full choir. The solo was beautifully executed by choral scholar Hana Ilčić.

Trinity Sunday (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 27 May 2018

 
Entrance Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God almighty
Kyrie Peter Jones
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm Ps 32 (Robert Sherlaw-Johnson)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts A Hymn to the Trinity (P.I. Tchaikovsky, 1840-1893)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Peter Jones
Communion God beyond all names (John Bell) & Benedicta sit sancta Trinitas (chant)
Recessional Holy God, we praise thy name
 

Annual Diocesan International Mass (2018)

Saturday, 26 May 2018

 
Entrance Siyahamba/We are marching/Marcharemos
Kyrie Mass of St Luke (CJM)
Gloria Mass of St Luke (CJM)
Psalm Qué Alegría (Jaime Cortez)
Gospel Acclamation Mimi Nasikeya
Creed
Intercessions Stay with us Lord (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Eh Batata
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of St Luke (CJM)
Agnus Dei Mass of St Luke (CJM)
Communion Laudate omnes gentes (Taizé)
Postcommunion Rebecca St James - In Me (signed)
Recessional Our God Reigns

An exuberant mix of music for this second annual celebration of migrants in our community. The Cathedral Choir joined forces with two African choirs, and Daniel Bath and I shared duties on piano, organ and guitar. There were drummers too, to say nothing of an Irish violinist, and a children’s choir giving a sign language interpretation of a song by Rebecca St James. We should do more of this.

Anniversary of the Manchester Arena Bombing

Tuesday of Week 7 in Ordinary Time (2018)

22 May 2018

 
Entrance All my hope on God is founded
Kyrie Jones
Psalm Because the Lord is my shepherd (Christopher Walker)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts God be in my head (Philip Wilby, 1949-)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Agnus Dei Jones
Communion Do not be afraid (Philip Stopford, 1977-)
Recessional Thine be the glory

No doubt about it, the Holy Spirit had a (playful) hand in my choice of music for tonight’s thoughtful commemoration of Manchester’s tragedy and resilience. It took someone else to point out to me the bee theme: God be in my head, Do not be afraid, Thine be the glory and (cough) Because the Lord is my shepherd. (Yes, yes, and Memorial Acclamation B.) The whole event was reflective and prayerful, concluding (as we did last year) with a hymn celebrating Christ’s triumph over death.

Pentecost (2018)

Sunday, 20 May 2018

 
Entrance O Spirit All-embracing (Delufner/Parry)
Kyrie Kyrie for 3 voices (Byrd/mcb)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Send forth your Spirit (Christopher Walker)
Sequence Pentecost Sequence (arr. Proulx)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Gospel Acclamation (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts Come Holy Ghost (Thomas Attwood, 1765-1838)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Spirit of the living God (Daniel Iverson) & Psalm 103 (John Ainslie)
Recessional God, whose almighty word
 

7th Sunday of Easter (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 13 May, 2018

 
Entrance Praise my soul, the King of heaven
Kyrie Kyrie for 3 voices (Byrd/mcb)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 102 (Welch)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts Alleluia surrexit Dominus (Jacquet de Mantua, 1483-1559)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Live on in my love (Psallite)
Recessional Alleluia sing to Jesus
 

Vigil Mass of The Ascension (Year B, 2018)

Wednesday, 9 May 2018

 
Entrance Praise him as he mounts the skies
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 46 (Dean)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Gospel Acclamation (O Filii) (Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts Viri Galilei (William Byrd, c. 1540-1623)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Communion Do not be afraid (Philip Stopford)
Recessional L’Ascension (Olivier Messiaen 1908-1992) (organ)

The Cathedral Sunday evening Mass moved to Saturday evening a few months ago, and it was decided to follow the same pattern of a Vigil Mass on feast days too. Tonight was the first time the choir slotted into this new regime. With Mass starting at 5.30 pm, there was no time for more than a few minutes’ preparation, but the small band of singers (I think there were seven of us) had no trouble giving an exuberant rendition of the opening section for five voices of Byrd’s setting of the Introit. As well as that, we had a first outing for Philip Stopford’s lovely reworking of Gerald Markland’s hymn text.

It’s always fun to sing in the Cathedral with a very small congregation, so tonight fitted the bill. I kept the music list fairly short, but with our usual trademark mix of old and new.

 

6th Sunday of Easter (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 6 May 2018

 
Entrance God is love, his the care
Kyrie Kyrie for 3 voices (Byrd/mcb)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 97 (Peter Smedley)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts If ye love me (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion A new commandment (Anon.) & Ps 137 (Laurence BĂ©venot)
Postcommunion Come down, O love divine
Recessional O purest of creatures
Regina Caeli
 

We moved the normal recessional hymn to immediately after Communion, to make space for a paraliturgical crowning of the statue of Our Lady, to mark the beginning of May. Before that, we sang about God’s love, reflecting what we heard in today’s second reading and Gospel.

5th Sunday of Easter (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 29 April 2018

 
Entrance Bring to the Lord a glad new song (Perry/Parry)
Kyrie adapted from the Byrd Mass for 3 voices (mcb)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 21 (James Walsh)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts Jesu Salvator Saeculi (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion I am the vine (John Bell) & Ps 80 (Laurence BĂ©venot)
Recessional Battle is o’er
 

4th Sunday of Easter (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 22 April 2018

 
Entrance All people that on earth do dwell
Kyrie adapted from the Byrd Mass for 3 voices (mcb)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm The stone which the builders rejected (Bernadette Farrell)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts Ego sum pastor bonus (Heinrich Isaac, c.1450-1517)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Now we remain (David Haas)
Recessional Hail Redeemer, King divine
 

3rd Sunday of Easter (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 15 April 2018

 
Entrance This Joyful Eastertide
Kyrie Adapted from the Byrd Mass for 3 voices (mcb)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 4 (James Walsh)
Gospel Acclamation Easter Alleluia (Brian Luckner)
Preparation of the Gifts Surrexit Christus (adapted from G.B Pergolesi by Richard Proulx)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion Come and eat this bread (Marty Haugen)
Recessional Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour
 

Easter Sunday (2018)

Sunday, 1 April 2018

 
Entrance Jesus Christ is Ris’n Today
Kyrie adapted from Byrd Mass for 3 Voices (mcb)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm This day was made by the Lord (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation Sequence: Victimae Paschali Laudes (William Greene)
Easter Gospel Acclamation (Brian Luckner)
Sprinkling Springs of Water (Marty Haugen)
Preparation of the Gifts This is the Day (attr. Osbert Parsley, 1511-1585)
Sanctus, Acclamation C, Amen Spring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Lamb of God II (mcb)
Communion How can I repay the Lord (Stephen Dean)
Recessional Go in peace, Alleluia
At the Lamb’s high feast
 

Happy Easter!

The Easter Vigil (2018)

Saturday, 31 March 2018

 
The Service of LightLumen Christi (chant)
ExsultetPlainchant
After 1st reading (Genesis 1)Send forth your Spirit (Stephen Dean)
After 2nd reading (Genesis 22)Preserve me (mcb)
After 3rd reading (Exodus 14-15)I will sing to the Lord (Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
After 4th reading (Isaiah 54)I will praise you Lord (Psallite)
After 5th reading (Isaiah 55)We shall draw water joyfully (Paul Inwood)
After 6th reading (Baruch 3)You Lord, have the message (Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
After 7th reading (Ezekiel 36)Like the deer (mcb)
GloriaPsallite
Easter Alleluia + Psalm 117Plainchant, verses by Paul Inwood
Litany of the SaintsMissal Chant
SprinklingVidi Aquam (T.L. de Victoria, 1548-1611)
Preparation of the GiftsConfitemini Domino (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594)
Sanctus, Acclamation C, AmenSpring Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus DeiLamb of God II (mcb)
CommunionCome and Eat this Bread (Marty Haugen)
DismissalGo in peace, Alleluia (chanted)
Final HymnThine be the Glory
 

Tonight we had three adult Baptisms including, delightfully, one of our current choral scholars. We also had all seven Old Testament readings, for the first time in the twenty-eight years I’ve been attending the Cathedral. But I have to say I didn’t notice the time passing. We got through it all in a jam-packed two and a half hours, anyway.

Office of Readings and Morning Prayer (Holy Saturday, 2018)

Celebration of the Lord’s Passion (Good Friday, 2018)

30 March 2018

 
PsalmFather, into your hands (chant, arr. Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
Gospel AcclamationChristus factus est (Felice Anerio, c.1560-1614)
Adoration of the CrossBehold the wood of the Cross (Missal tone)
O sacred head, ill-usèd
Miserere Mei (Gregorio Allegri, c.1582-1652)
Jesus, remember me (Taizé)
CommunionAve Verum Corpus (William Byrd, 1540-1623)
Soul of my Saviour

Office of Readings and Morning Prayer (Good Friday, 2018)

30 March 2018

Mass of the Lord’s Supper (2018)

Holy Thursday, 29 March 2018

 
Opening Hymn The Glory of the Cross (John Ainslie)
Kyrie Mass XVII (chant)
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 (Bob Hurd)
Sanctus Mass XVII
Memorial Acclamation B, AmenMissal Tone
Agnus Dei Mass XVII & Mass in A minor (Claudio Casciolini, 1697-1760)
Communion O Sacrum Convivium (mcb)
Procession Pange Lingua (plainchant)
Stay with me (Taizé)
 

The Mass of Chrism (2018)

Wednesday, 28 April 2018

 
Opening HymnPraise to the Lord, the Almighty
KyrieKyrie 2 from A Community Mass (Richard Proulx)
GloriaPsallite
Responsorial PsalmI will sing forever of your love (mcb)
Gospel AcclamationGlory and Praise (mcb)
Procession of the OilsO Redeemer (Paul Ford/mcb)
Preparation of the GiftsA joy for all the earth (Ephrem Feeley)
Sanctus, Acclamation C, AmenMissal tone in English
Agnus DeiMass XVIII (chant) & Mass in A minor (Claudio Casciolini, 1697-1760)
CommunionCome and eat this bread (Marty Haugen)
Christus Factus Est (Felice Anerio, 1560-1614)
O bread of heaven
Cantique de Jean Racine (Gabriel Fauré, 1845-1924)
Recessional HymnHoly God, we praise thy name
 

Ephrem Feeley’s A joy for all the earth is the official hymn for the World Meeting of Families 2018, taking in place in Dublin in August. Inspired by the document Amoris Laetitiathe Joy of Love – written in 2016 by Pope Francis following the Synods on the Family held the preceding two years, the text sets well-known words from 1 Corinthians 13, with a simple but strong people’s refrain. It was a good choice for our annual grand gathering of the Diocesan family.

Palm Sunday (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 25 March 2018

 
Entrance Hosanna Filio David (Victoria)
All Glory Laud and Honour
Psalm My God, my God (John Ainslie)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts O Crux Ave (Rihards Dubra, b. 1964)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass XVII
Agnus Dei Mass XVII
Communion Father, if this cup (Stephen Dean)
Recessional My song is love unknown
 

Our responsorial psalm was a new setting by John Ainslie, taken from his yet unpublished collection Sing the Psalms Lyrically.

5th Sunday of Lent (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 18 March 2018

 
Entrance Unless a grain of wheat (Bernadette Farrell)
Kyrie Mass XVII
Psalm Ps 50 (Tony Barr)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts (Henry Purcell, 1659-1695)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass XVII
Agnus Dei Mass XVII
Communion Give us Lord, a new heart (Bernadette Farrell)
Recessional Praise to the holiest
 

4th Sunday of Lent (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 11 March 2018

 
Entrance Rejoice, the Lord is King
Kyrie Mass XVII
Psalm Ps 136 (Julia Rowntree)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts God so loved the world (John Stainer, 1840-1901)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass XVII
Agnus Dei Mass XVII
Communion O Jerusalem (David Haas)
Recessional Praise we our God with joy
 

3rd Sunday of Lent (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 4 March 2018

 
Entrance When I survey the wondrous cross
Kyrie Mass XVII
Psalm Ps 18 (Geoffrey Boulton Smith)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts How lovely are thy dwellings (Johannes Brahms, 1833-1897)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass XVII
Agnus Dei Mass XVII
Communion Crucem tuam (Taizé)
Recessional Christ triumphant
 

At the Preparation of the Gifts, we sang words from the Brahms Requiem, echoed in today’s Communion Antiphon: Blessed are they who dwell in your house, for ever singing your praise.

2nd Sunday of Lent (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 25 February 2018

 
Entrance Be still for the presence of the Lord
Kyrie Mass XVII
Psalm Ps 115 (McCarthy/Bévenot)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Visionem Quam Vidistis (Malcolm Hill, b. 1944)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass XVII
Agnus Dei Mass XVII
Communion Turn to me (John Foley)
Recessional Immortal, Invisible
 

At the end of today’s Gospel narrative of the Transfiguration, we hear Jesus’s stern instruction: As they came down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. (Mark 9:2-10). Malcolm Hill’s fiery medieval dance-like setting takes the corresponding words from Matthew, where our Lord’s words are given directly rather than reported: Tell no one about the vision you have seen, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead. (Mt 17:9) The music, to my untutored ear reminiscent of Machaut or something similar from the fourteenth century*, was written in 1971 for the choir of St Mary the Virgin, Primrose Hill, where the composer was organist and choirmaster. An interesting find on the ICSLP web site.

*update: a bit of digging suggests maybe Léonin or Pérotin, which would make it late twelfth or early thirteenth century respectively. Medieval Parisian, anyway. Anyone more knowledgeable care to offer an opinion?

1st Sunday of Lent (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 18 February 2018

 
Entrance Led by the Spirit (Bob Hurd)
Kyrie Mass XVII (chant)
Psalm Ps 24 (Boulton Smith/Dean)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Intercessions (said)
Preparation of the Gifts Emendemus in Melius (William Byrd, c. 1540-1623)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass XVII
Agnus Dei Mass XVII
Communion Not on bread alone are we nourished (Psallite)
Recessional Guide me, O thou great redeemer

Ash Wednesday (2018)

Wednesday, 14 February 2018

 
Entrance Lord Jesus, think on me
Psalm Ps 50 (Stephen Dean)
Gospel Acclamation Glory and Praise (mcb)
Imposition of Ashes Lord, Cleanse my heart (Psallite)
Preparation of the Gifts Miserere Mei (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass XVII (chant)
Agnus Dei Mass XVII
Communion Bless the Lord, my soul (Taizé)
Recessional Our Father, we have wandered
 

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 11 February 2018

 
Entrance Christ is made the sure foundation
Kyrie Community Mass Kyrie 2 (Richard Proulx)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 31 (Dean/Forrester)
Gospel Acclamation Here in our Midst (Peter Jones)
Preparation of the Gifts You are my hiding place (Michael Ledner)
Exsultate Justi (Lodovico Grossi da Viadana, 1560-1627)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen German Mass (Schubert, arr. Proulx)
Agnus Dei Hurd Mass
Communion Forget not what God has done (Marty Haugen)
Recessional Alleluia, sing to Jesus

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 4 February 2018

 
Entrance Come, ring out your joy (17th c. Peruvian, arr. Martin Foster)
Kyrie Community Mass Kyrie 2 (Richard Proulx)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 146 (Ward/BĂ©venot)
Gospel Acclamation Here in our Midst (Peter Jones)
Preparation of the Gifts We cannot measure how you heal
Locus Iste (Anton Bruckner, 1824-1896)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen German Mass (Schubert, arr. Proulx)
Agnus Dei Hurd Mass
Communion Eye has not seen (Marty Haugen)
Recessional Tell out, my soul
 

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 28 January 2018

 
Entrance Save us, Lord our God (Christopher Walker)
Kyrie Community Mass Kyrie 2 (Richard Proulx)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Listen to the voice of the Lord (Patrick Geary)
Gospel Acclamation Here in our Midst (Peter Jones)
Preparation of the Gifts Lord, for tomorrow
A song of the light (Simon Lole, b.1957)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen German Mass (Schubert, arr. Proulx)
Agnus Dei Hurd Mass
Communion Blest are they, the poor in spirit (David Haas)
Recessional Your hands, O Lord, in days of old
 

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 21 January 2018

 
Entrance Awake, awake, fling off the night
Kyrie Community Mass Kyrie 2 (Proulx)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 24 (Boulton Smith/Dean)
Gospel Acclamation Here in our Midst (Peter Jones)
Preparation of the Gifts God has chosen me (Bernadette Farrell)
Cantate Domino (Giuseppe Pitoni, 1657-1743)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen German Mass (Schubert, arr. Proulx)
Agnus Dei Hurd Mass
Communion Teach me, O God (Christopher Walker)
Recessional God whose almighty Word

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, 2018)

Sunday, 14 January 2018

 
Entrance Dear Lord and Father of mankind
Kyrie Community Mass Kyrie 2 (Richard Proulx)
Gloria Psallite
Psalm Ps 39 (Paul Inwood)
Gospel Acclamation Here in our Midst (Peter Jones)
Preparation of the Gifts The Lamb (John Tavener, 1944-2013)
Will you come and follow me
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen German Mass (Schubert, arr. Proulx)
Agnus Dei Hurd Mass
Communion Jesus, Lamb of God (Bernadette Farrell)
Recessional Forth in the peace of Christ
 

The Epiphany (2018)

Sunday, 7 January 2018

 
Entrance O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison (Missa Ubi Caritas – Bob Hurd)
Gloria Missa Ubi Caritas
Psalm Every Nation on Earth (Marty Haugen)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts Bethlehem Down (Peter Warlock, 1894-1930)
Angel voices richly blending
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion Laudate Omnes Gentes (Taizé) & Reges Tharsis (chant)
Recessional The First Nowell
 

Christmas Day (2017)

Sunday, 25 December 2017

 
Entrance Hodie Christus natus (chant)
O Come all ye faithful
Kyrie Kyrie Eleison (Missa Ubi Caritas, Bob Hurd)
Gloria Missa Ubi Caritas
Psalm All the ends of the earth (Alan Johnson)
Gospel Acclamation St Agatha Alleluia (mcb)
Preparation of the Gifts God rest you merry, gentlemen
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion O little town of Bethlehem
Postcommunion Coventry Carol (Anon. 14th c., arr Shaw)
Recessional Hark, the herald angels sing

The usual robust fare for men’s voices!

The Nativity of the Lord: Mass during the night (2017)

Saturday, 24 December 2016

 
Opening Hymn Adeste Fideles
Reading Isaiah 11:1-10 (A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse)
Choir Lo, how a rose e’er blooming (David Blackwell)
Hymn Once in royal David’s city
Reading Micah 5:1-4 (Out of you, Bethlehem, will be born the one…)
Choir Candlelight Carol (John Rutter)
Hymn O little town of Bethlehem
Reading Isaiah 52: 7-10 (How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of one…)
  Christmas Proclamation
Gloria Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Reading Isaiah 9:2-7 (The people that walked in darkness)
Psalm Today a Saviour has been born (Martin Foster)
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 In the bleak midwinter (Holst)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Agnus Dei Missa Ubi Caritas
Communion My Lord has come (Will Todd) – Choir
Silent Night
Recessional Hark the herald angels sing

We kept to last year’s pattern, which seemed to work so well. Bob Hurd’s vigorous and festive setting of the Gloria was given added energy by the addition of brass and drum.

4th Sunday of Advent (Year B, 2017)

Sunday, 24 December 2017

 
Entrance The Angel Gabriel
Kyrie Missal Chant
Psalm Ps 88 (mcb)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia: Show us your mercy (Alan Rees)
Preparation of the Gifts Ave Maria (Franz Schubert, 1797-1828, arr. Proulx)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Missal Chant
Communion O Clavis David (chant)
Come Saviour, come like dew
Recessional O come, O come Emmanuel
 

On the most ‘Marian’ regular Sunday of the liturgical year, we sang Richard Proulx’s arrangement of Schubert’s gem, setting the Latin text of the prayer firstly for soloist (on this occasion choral scholar Chris Warrington), and then for four-part choir.

3rd Sunday of Advent (Year B, 2017)

Sunday, 17 December 2017

 
Entrance Rejoice for ever (mcb)
Kyrie Missal Chant
Psalm My Soul Rejoices (Owen Alstott)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia: Show us your mercy (Alan Rees)
Preparation of the Gifts O Radix Jesse (chant)
Magnificat Octavi Toni (Orlande de Lassus, 1532-1594)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Missal Chant
Communion Be strong, our God will come (Psallite)
Recessional Hark! a herald voice
 

2nd Sunday of Advent (Year B, 2017)

Sunday, 10 December 2017

 
Entrance Song of Consolation (Peter Jones)
Kyrie Missal Chant
Psalm Ps 84 (Elsie Wright)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia: Show us your mercy (Alan Rees)
Preparation of the Gifts Adam lay ybounden (Boris Ord, 1897-1961)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Missal Chant
Communion O Adonai (chant)
Wait for the Lord (Taizé)
Recessional Come, thou long-expected Jesus
 

Christmas is Coming! (2017)

Music and Readings for Advent and Christmas

Sunday, 3 December 2017

 
Cathedral Choir & Notability There is no rose (Alan Smith)
All O Come, O come Emmanuel
Cathedral Choir Wake, o wake with tidings thrilling (Philipp Nicolai/ J.S Bach)
Adam lay ybounden (Boris Ord)
All The angel Gabriel
Notability The night he was born (Helen Dunmore/Bob Chilcott)
Mary, did you know? (Mark Lowry/Buddy Greene)
Anthony Hunt Schlafe, mein Liebster (J. S. Bach)
All Once in royal David’s city
Notability Stille Nacht
Born on a New Day (John David)
Cathedral Choir Lo, how a rose e’er blooming (David Blackwell)
Cathedral Choir & Notability My Lord has come (Will Todd)
All God rest ye merry, gentlemen
All Lo he comes with clouds descending
Anthony Hunt Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (J.S. Bach)

1st Sunday of Advent (Year B, 2017)

Sunday, 3 December 2017

 
Entrance Let all mortal flesh keep silence
Kyrie Missal Chant in English
Psalm God of hosts, bring us back (Sue Furlong)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia: Show us your mercy (Alan Rees)
Preparation of the Gifts Wake, O Wake with tidings thrilling (Philipp Nicolai, 1556-1608, arr. mcb, & J. S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Sanctus, Acclamation B, Amen Simple Sanctus (mcb)
Agnus Dei Missal Chant in English
Communion O Sapientia (chant)
To you, O lord, I lift my soul (Marty Haugen)
Recessional Lo he comes with clouds descending
 

A return to my Simple Sanctus for Advent, this time sung a cappella.

Christ the King (Year A, 2017)

Sunday 26 November 2017

 
Entrance Crown him with many crowns
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer - Kyrie (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm Because the Lord is my Shepherd (Christopher Walker)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Andrew Wright) with chanted verse
Preparation of the Gifts Christ be our light (Bernadette Farrell)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of Christ the Saviour (Dan Schutte)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Communion Christ our peace (Marty Haugen)
Postcommunion Jesu, joy of man’s desiring (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Recessional Hail Redeemer, King divine

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2017)

Sunday, 19 November 2017

 
Entrance Awake, awake, fling off the night
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer - Kyrie (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm O Blessed are those (Paul Inwood)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Andrew Wright) with chanted verse
Preparation of the Gifts Brother, sister, let me serve you
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of Christ the Saviour (Dan Schutte)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Communion Take, O take me as I am (John Bell)
Postcommunion Prayer of St Richard of Chichester (Malcolm Archer)
Recessional O praise ye the Lord

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A, 2017)

Remembrance Sunday

Sunday, 12 November 2017

 
Entrance (i) Requiem Aeternam (chant)
(ii) Last Post
(iii) Abide with me
Kyrie Mass of the Redeemer – Kyrie (mcb)
Gloria Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Psalm Ps 62 (James Walsh)
Gospel Acclamation Advent Gospel Acclamation (Andrew Wright) with chanted verse
Preparation of the Gifts O God I seek you (Marty Haugen)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Mass of Christ the Saviour (Dan Schutte)
Agnus Dei Mass of the Redeemer (mcb)
Communion Come and eat this bread (Marty Haugen)
Postcommunion Wisdom, Come Softly (Martin Barry & Diane Murden)
Recessional The king of love my shepherd is
 

Our usual pattern for Remembrance Sunday, with the addition, as on Friday, of the last post, supplied in a haunting rendition by Chris Warrington.

Centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele

Friday, 10 November 2017

 
Entrance (i) Requiem Aeternam (chant)
(ii) Abide with me
Kyrie Missa pro defunctis
Psalm His goodness shall follow me (Chris O’Hara)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Mode 2 (plainchant)
Preparation of the Gifts Justorum Animae (R.R. Terry, 1865-1938)
Sanctus, Acclamation A, Amen Missa pro defunctis
Agnus Dei Missa pro defunctis
Communion Come to Me (Martin Barry & Diane Murden)
Postcommunion In Paradisum (Gabriel Fauré , 1845-1924)
2 minutes’ silence
Last Post
Recessional O Day of Peace

Mainly plainchant for a solemn occasion with Bishop John, with some other gentle, thoughtful items, including Fauré’s angelic setting of the prayer invoking the heavenly welcoming committee (as a blog somewhere puts it).

Chris Warrington played the last post after our two minutes’ silence.