What did you sing at church today?

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  • SpikeSpike Ecclesiantics & MW Host, Admin Emeritus
    Piglet wrote: »
    We have a king who rides on a donkey - Drunken Sailor*

    Thanks a bloody bunch. Since reading that, it’s been a bloody earworm all afternoon 😡
  • We have sung it, though not for several years. It evoked, shall we say, mixed reactions.
  • TruronTruron Shipmate
    Palm Sunday

    Parish Communion

    All glory laud and honour (St Theodulph)
    Who is this in garments gory (Ton y botel)
    O come and mourn with me awhile (Old Hall Green)
    Ride on ride on in majesty (St Drostane)

    Evensong

    The royal banners forward go (Tallis Canon)
    My song is love unknown (Love unknown)
    Man of sorrows wrapt in grief (Aberystwyth)
    Abide with me (Eventide)

    Two Welsh tunes in a day and appeared to be enjoyed, decades since I was presented with Ton y botel! I think the rather 'swoopy' tune they wanted for "O come and mourn" would be better known in RC circles but there were some whose whooping and scooping showed they both knew and revelled in it. Lovely words to "Man of sorrows" by Matthew Bridges.
  • Palm Sunday and the usual war horses trotted out:
    Setting Missa de Angelis
    Anthems
    Hosanna to the Son of David Gibbons
    O Saviour of the world Gore Ouseley
    Hymns
    All Glory, laud, and honour St Theodulph
    The royal banners forward go plainsong
    My song is love unknown Love Unknown
    Ride on! Ride on in majesty Winchester New
    Voluntary
    Marche Heroique Brewer
  • Alan29Alan29 Shipmate
    Aaah! Gibbons.
    And the plainsong melody to The Royal Banners is superb (though I have only ever sung it in Latin - Vexilla Regis.)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV_kwCLBn9U
  • I note the sense of disdain noted above for "We have a king who rides a donkey" and (perhaps to a lesser degree) "You are the king of glory". Well, I love Tallis, Gibbons and Palestrina - but I also recognise that many peoples' musical vocabulary and experience lies in a very different place. There is also merit (as Luther knew) in using well-known secular tunes in worship if we are ton "connect" with non-church people. So, in the right context of (say) an All-age service, "We have a king" may well be an appropriate choice.
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited March 2024
    Hmm. I agree up to a point, but part of my dislike of *We have a king who rides a donkey* (and also the use of donkeys in processions) is the fact that the donkey is not the central figure of Palm Sunday, and provides the wrong sort of image IYSWIM. The tune Drunken Sailor is nowadays associated by many people with the egregious former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, thanks to the Marsh Family's satirical parodies!

    Hymns and songs of various types can, of course be very helpful in *setting the scene*, so anything on Palm Sunday that leads people from the quasi-joyful entry into Jerusalem towards the looming shadow of the Cross is worthwhile. *We have a king who rides a donkey* seems to jump straight from Palm Sunday to Easter morning, with no mention of the Cross.

    Here endeth the Homily.
    :wink:

  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    edited March 2024
    Part of my dislike of *We have a king who rides a donkey* (and also the use of donkeys in processions) is the fact that the donkey is not the central figure of Palm Sunday, and provides the wrong sort of image IYSWIM.
    Agreed, although in yesterday's sermon I did talk about the donkey, taking the several OT allusions to point to the character and person of Jesus. (And we didn't sing that song!)

    The tune Drunken Sailor is nowadays associated by many people with the egregious former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, thanks to the Marsh Family's satirical parodies!
    Is it? I had no idea, and I haven't seen the video.
    Anything on Palm Sunday that leads people from the quasi-joyful entry into Jerusalem towards the looming shadow of the Cross is worthwhile. *We have a king who rides a donkey* seems to jump straight from Palm Sunday to Easter morning, with no mention of the Cross.
    This is a real problem, especially in churches which don't really "do" Holy Week, or for people who only attend on Sundays. Having said that, spending a great deal of Palm Sunday's service on the Passion seems inappropriate - it's "too soon".
    Here endeth the Homily.
    Homily? Baptists have sermons (or "messages").
    [/quote]

  • I just made the mistake of finding We have a king who rides a donkey on YT 😱 🤢 🤮
  • There is also merit (as Luther knew) in using well-known secular tunes in worship if we are ton "connect" with non-church people.
    I very much agree. But I think care has to be taken in choosing those tunes, because tunes carry connotations and associations. Singing “churchy” words to secular tunes works best when the tune is associated with moods or general feelings that work with the text; it works less well when the mood or general feelings (or words) associated with the tune work against the text. I think John Bell, for example, generally has a very good feel for this when he sets texts to Scottish folk tunes.

    I’m not familiar with the Marsh Family video, but I’d have a hard time getting the words about a drunken sailor and what to do with him until he’s sober out of my head.

  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    edited March 2024
    Nick Tamen wrote: »
    I think John Bell, for example, generally has a very good feel for this when he sets texts to Scottish folk tunes.
    I agree, though sometimes I feel that his lyrics are a bit too "worthy and wordy". We sang "Sing hey for the carpenter", not for the first time, last week and that went well. "We cannot measure how you heal" to "Banks and Braes" is IMO very successful, as is "Will you come and follo=w me" to "Kelvingrove" - though one might argue a bit about it rhythem!

    Having said that, my wife - who is Scottish - finds it hard to sing the new words to some of the tune.

    Yesterday at church we sung a Sanctus to the Welsh tune "The Ash Grove" - well, we are in Wales, and it went down well. "Come and join the joyful singing" to "Nos Galan" also serves us well at Christmas.

  • /tangential, but slightly relevant/

    For edification, here's one of the Marsh Family's *Suella Braverman* songs - it starts off with The Wellerman, and changes to Drunken Sailor a bit further in:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmj0JFGqE30&list=RDNmj0JFGqE30&start_radio=1
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    @Spike and @TheOrganist, my sincere apologies for the bad earworm. If it's any consolation, I had it too ... 🙃
  • ZappaZappa Shipmate
    edited March 2024
    (Palm/Passion Sunday ... my smaller church don't have an anthem)

    Graham Maule and John Bell's “Ride on, Ride on”
    Shirley Murray's “Lift High the Cross” (second time in about three weeks, but worth it and well received)
    Isaac Watts' “When I Survey”

    while the “choirette” sang "Who is that man?" (Words by Don Besig and Nancy Price /Music by Don Besig)

    I'm trying for a mix of traditions; and increasinly new, either new in lyrics like these, or "new"* compositions altogether. I don't pick the anthems, but have a wonderful director composer musician who leads this tiny <5 voice choir

    *being after about 1328

    Now for the triduum
  • Alan29Alan29 Shipmate
    Maunday Thursday Mass of the Last Supper.
    Entrance - Meekness and majesty - it references the foot washing which is the gospel reading.
    Gloria (with bells)
    Psalm is sung
    Before the gospel - A New Commandment
    Washing of feet - Ubi Caritas (Taize)
    Offertory - Blest are you Lord God of all creation (a metrical version of the offertory prayers which are themselves based on the Pesach blessing of bread and wine.)
    Celtic Mass
    Lamb of God Litany (Inwood)
    Communion - This is my body broken for you.
    Procession - Of the glorious body telling
    Watching at the altar of repose - Stay with me (Taize.)

    A nice mix of traditional and newer things.

  • March 24th, Palm Sunday

    Hymns
    Ride on, ride on, / Winchester New
    Prepare the royal highway, / Beredag Väg För Herran
    When His time was over, / Wakefield Street
    O sacred head sore wounded, / Passion Chorale

    Choir
    Hosanna to the Son of David, / David Halls
    The feast of palms, / Alan Bullard
  • Wednesday March 27th, Tenebrae Service

    Choral service:
    Psalm 22, / Chant by Flintoft
    Tenebrae Responsories {in english), / Peter Guy
    God so loved the world, / Bob Chilcott

  • Thursday March 28th, The Litany of the Thorns

    Hymns
    Never in all human history, / Bethlehem
    All go to God when they are sorely placed, / Sursum Corda
    God of Jeremiah, grieving with an aching heart, / Kelvin Grove
    Here hangs a man discarded, / Shrub End

    Choir
    The Litany of the Thorns, compiled by John Harper
  • The Litany of the Thorns is a new one on me - do you have a link?

    I haven't yet been told what's on the programme for Our Place this evening, but no doubt they will sing Now, my tongue, the mystery telling (to Grafton, rather than Pange Lingua) as the Blessed Sacrament is carried to the Altar of Repose, in our Lady Chapel.

    There are to be just two hymns tomorrow, at the Liturgy of the Cross, with organ music strictly forbidden by FatherInCharge. The two hymns are There is a green hill far away (Horsley) and When I survey the wondrous cross (Rockingham). IIRC, we also used to have at least part 2 (Faithful cross) of Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle (to Pange Lingua).

    BTW, FatherInCharge is sending out frantic emails, pleading for readers for tonight, for tomorrow, for the Saturday evening Vigil, and for the preparation of the church on Saturday morning. The problems of a small congregation with awkward working hours, family commitments, or trips to Away!

    Only one person has said they'd be willing to have a foot washed at tonight's Mass - in previous years, we've managed with six people participating - and my impression is that the Maundy Thursday service is rapidly becoming in need of simplification, giving the vanishingly small attendance...
  • ZappaZappa Shipmate
    Just 12 at our Footwashing, Reservation and, er Stripping last night. That's fairly normal here, the record books suggest - parking after 6:00 pm in in this Party Tourist Town is all but impossible so the locals stay away in droves. Next year I’ll hold the Maundy Thursday gig at the Other Church where some will stay away because it’s the other church, but where at least parking is possible within 1000 metres.

    Sing?
    “An upper room did our Lord prepare” (Wallywally)
    “Sing, my tongue, the Saviour's Glory” (Penguin Linguist)
    “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom”
    “Lay down your head, Lord Jesus Christ”

    Recorded Spiegel im Spiegel during the footwashing.

    Holy and still, it was stunning-beautiful. The most powerful moment for me though was before the liturgy, as our doorstep vagrant led our blind pianist up the aisle to his seat, then went back quitely to his porch outside.
  • The_RivThe_Riv Shipmate
    I miss a robust Choral Evensong. It's such a rarity in my part of the US (Mississippi).
  • Not all that common here in the UK, either, outside Cathedrals and the larger Collegiate Churches/Minsters, although there are a fair few places with a monthly (or thereabouts) Choral Evensong.

    BTW, I'm told that Our Place's Good Friday Liturgy will include Drop, drop, slow tears (to Song 46 by Orlando Gibbons), sung a capella by a couple of cantors.
  • TruronTruron Shipmate
    Maundy Thursday

    "Holy Communion in thanksgiving for the Imstitution"

    Once only once and once for all (Albano)
    Merbecke with Gloria
    Psalm 23
    The heavenly word proceeding forth (St Clement)
    Go to dark Gethsemane (Petra)
    Now my tongue the mystery telling (Grafton)
    Psalm 88 chanted during the "Stripoing of the Sanctuary"

  • DardaDarda Shipmate
    At the Tenebrae Communion Service on Maundy Thursday evening at Our Place we sang a capella

    Crown Him with Many Crowns - DIADEMATA
    There is a Green Hill Far Away - HORSLEY
    When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - ROCKINGHAM
    The Day Thou Gavest, Lord is Ended - ST. CLEMENT

    But disappointed that there was no strepitus as the final candle was extinguished
  • TwangistTwangist Shipmate
    Zappa wrote: »
    The most powerful moment for me though was before the liturgy, as our doorstep vagrant led our blind pianist up the aisle to his seat, then went back quitely to his porch outside.

    The thought of that brought on a little tear
  • Alan29Alan29 Shipmate
    Good Friday Solemn Liturgy
    Psalm 30 - sung
    Passion of St John read by 3 readers with the congregation speaking the "crowd."
    The Reproaches - sung
    When I survey the Wondrous Cross (Rockingham) Of course
    Jesus remember me (Taize)
    Soul of my Saviour (Anima Christ) A greatly loved RC Eucharistic hymn with a splendid stately tune.

  • “We sing the praise of him who died” - Warrington.
    “There is a green hill far away” - Horsley.
    “How deep the Father’s love for us” (Townend).
    “Take up your cross”, the Saviour said. - Breslau.
    “When I survey the wondrous cross” - Rockingham.
    “The head that once was crowned with thorns” - St Magnus.
  • “We sing the praise of him who died” - Warrington.
    “There is a green hill far away” - Horsley.
    “How deep the Father’s love for us” (Townend).
    “Take up your cross”, the Saviour said. - Breslau.
    “When I survey the wondrous cross” - Rockingham.
    “The head that once was crowned with thorns” - St Magnus.

    A good selection - and that final hymn is a timely reminder that Good Friday isn't the end of the story!
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    I was thinking the same, BF - and with a jolly good tune! :heart:
  • Piglet wrote: »
    I was thinking the same, BF - and with a jolly good tune! :heart:

    Indeed, and ISWYM about the tune (or the name of it, at least!). The tune was written by none other than Jeremiah Clarke - did he have an Orcadian connection?
  • Went to church (Derby Cathedral) for the first time since 2015 today. Didn't know a single hymn. Enjoyed the service but I hereby apologise for my singing being all over the shop.
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    edited March 2024
    “We sing the praise of him who died” - Warrington.
    “There is a green hill far away” - Horsley.
    “How deep the Father’s love for us” (Townend).
    “Take up your cross”, the Saviour said. - Breslau.
    “When I survey the wondrous cross” - Rockingham.
    “The head that once was crowned with thorns” - St Magnus.

    A good selection - and that final hymn is a timely reminder that Good Friday isn't the end of the story!

    Which is why I chose it.
  • Piglet wrote: »
    I was thinking the same, BF - and with a jolly good tune! :heart:

    Indeed, and ISWYM about the tune (or the name of it, at least!). The tune was written by none other than Jeremiah Clarke - did he have an Orcadian connection?

    I missed a trick though, as immediately before the hymn I used (and announced) a prayer by Rev Fraser Macnaughton of St Magnus Cathedral - and failed to make the link!
  • They were:
    Just as I am, without one plea - Saffron Walden
    It is a thing most wonderful - Herongate
    My song is love unknown - Love Unknown
    The Kingdom of God is justice and joy - Paderborn
    When I survey the wondrous cross - Rockingham
    O sacred head sore wounded - Passion Chorale.
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited March 2024
    Hmm.

    I don't recognise The Kingdom of God is justice and joy. All the rest are surely well-established classics for Passiontide, particularly (although not exclusively) in the C of E.

    Never mind - I'm glad you enjoyed the service anyway @Bob Two Owls !
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    edited March 2024
    "The Kingdom of God" is a very URC hymn! Though it can be sung to "Laudate Dominum" or "Paderborn", its "proper" tunes are "Tetherdown" or the very dated (and IMHO tricky to sing) "Out Skerries", the latter favoured by my former Music Director.
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited March 2024
    "The Kingdom of God" is a very URC hymn! Though it can be sung to "Laudate Dominum" or "Paderborn", its "proper" tunes are "Tetherdown" or the very dated (and IMHO tricky to sing) "Out Skerries", the latter favoured by my former Music Director.

    I see that it's in our default hymnbook (the much-maligned Complete Anglican Hymns Old And New), to Tetherdown. I can't recall ever having sung it, though.
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    edited March 2024
    "Tetherdown" is the name of a URC church in Muswell Hill, north London - I wonder if the tune's composer was organist there?
  • Zappa wrote: »
    Recorded Spiegel im Spiegel during the footwashing.
    Ah, that sounds wonderful.

    Holy and still, it was stunning-beautiful. The most powerful moment for me though was before the liturgy, as our doorstep vagrant led our blind pianist up the aisle to his seat, then went back quitely to his porch outside.
    And that sounds powerful indeed
  • All the rest are surely well-established classics for Passiontide, particularly (although not exclusively) in the C of E.

    Last time I went to church we didn't have a bank holiday or Sunday bus service so my only experience of Easter hymns have been very much arranged for guitar with actions for children.
  • The composer was one Gerald Barnes, born in 1935, but Hymnary.org has no biographical details.
    All the rest are surely well-established classics for Passiontide, particularly (although not exclusively) in the C of E.

    Last time I went to church we didn't have a bank holiday or Sunday bus service so my only experience of Easter hymns have been very much arranged for guitar with actions for children.
    All the rest are surely well-established classics for Passiontide, particularly (although not exclusively) in the C of E.

    Last time I went to church we didn't have a bank holiday or Sunday bus service so my only experience of Easter hymns have been very much arranged for guitar with actions for children.

    O I see - fair enough!
    :wink:
  • It was the Churches Together in Our Area's Walk of Witness for Good Friday. Started off in a Roman Catholic Church, then Anglican, then Baptist, URC and on to another Baptist. One hymn in each location - a reading and a prayer.

    Lord Jesus think on me (Southwell)
    Glory be to Jesus (Caswell)
    How deep the Father's love (Townend)
    When I survey the wondrous cross (Rockingham)
    O love that wilt not let me go (St. Margaret)
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Piglet wrote: »
    I was thinking the same, BF - and with a jolly good tune! :heart:

    Indeed, and ISWYM about the tune (or the name of it, at least!). The tune was written by none other than Jeremiah Clarke - did he have an Orcadian connection?

    Not as far as I know; I've just consulted Prof Google, and as I thought, the church it's named after is St Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge. Why there's a church in London dedicated to the patron saint of Orkney is a bit of a mystery though ... 🤔
    ... I missed a trick though, as immediately before the hymn I used (and announced) a prayer by Rev Fraser Macnaughton of St Magnus Cathedral - and failed to make the link!
    He conducted the memorial service for David; he always made a point of welcoming us whenever we were back in the choir stalls!
  • Not exactly a church service as such but it took place in a church....I was recruited by a work colleague to take part in a scratch performance of Stainer's Crucifixion interspersed with choruses from Mendelssohn's Elijah. I'd sung the former before but the Elijah was a sight reading exercise... interesting! There were more in the choir than the congregation.
  • Alan29Alan29 Shipmate
    Easter Vigil
    Exsultet

    After the Readings
    Ps 103
    Canticle of Moses, Ex 15
    Canticle in Is 12
    Ps 41/42

    Before the Gospel
    Ps117

  • Alan29Alan29 Shipmate
    Easter Vigil Part Deux (something went wrong with my previous post!)

    Renewal of Baptismal Promises
    Water of Life (Dean)
    Celtic Mass
    Lamb of God Litany (Inwood)
    All Heave'n declares
    Thine be the glory.

    Numbers have been reasonable for the Triduum so far, 119 at Maundy Thursday and 151 for Good Friday. The Vigil this evening will probably be about 100. And Easter Morning will be full with rather a lot of chocolate-fuelled children adding their noisy contribution to procedings!
  • 28 at Our Place yesterday for the midday Liturgy, and 11 at the evening Stations - given that we usually get 25 or so on a Sunday morning, FatherInCharge was understandably pleased!

    The three hymns were as I think I mentioned earlier:

    There is a green hill far away
    (Horsley)
    Drop, drop, slow tears (Song 46)
    When I survey the wondrous cross (Rockingham)

    All sung a capella, with just the cantors singing the second of the three.
  • BroJamesBroJames Purgatory Host
    Piglet wrote: »
    <snip>Why there's a church in London dedicated to the patron saint of Orkney is a bit of a mystery though ... 🤔 <snip>

    The Wikipedia entry suggests that it’s complicated.
  • And the church website has a detailed history of the church since its foundation.
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