/prolonging this interesting tangent a bit further/
St Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge, is well worth a visit for those who like their Anglo-Catholicism to have a distinctly Baroque flavour. Somehow, Wren's architecture lends itself to both nose-bleed High and Prayer Book low churchmanship (albeit perhaps not in the same place)!
I recall a lunch-time Ascension Day Mass (many years ago) at which a choir of four sang - most beautifully - a Mass setting by Mozart, and at which the altar was sometimes not clearly visible through the incense...the attendance wasn't bad, either - maybe 30-40 in the congregation, along with the three clergy, thurifer, servers etc., and it's not an especially large church.
We’re out of town, doing a visit to where our son will be in grad school starting in the fall, so we weren’t around for Maundy Thursday or Good Friday services (the latter being a joint enterprise between our place and neighboring Lutherans, Methodists,
UCCers and Disciples).
But while son was doing his thing yesterday (Good Friday) afternoon, my wife and I found ourselves in the Washington National Cathedral. No service was going on. There were a fair number of visitors, but not a mob, and a number of people making preparations for services yet to come.
We spent maybe an hour and a half there. Toward the end of that time, we just sat in the nave, soaking up the atmosphere (more on that below), and suddenly a small choir (8–12) began to practice for the evening service. They were singing “Were You There?,” which I think may be required at every American Good Friday service—at least, I’ve never attended one where it wasn’t sung, either by the congregation, the choir or a soloist.
It was absolutely heavenly.
Meanwhile, the entire time we were there, a priest was making a circuit around the cathedral with a thurible. Incense permeated the space without being overpowering.
All in all, a good substitute for actually getting to a service.
Sing my tongue the glorious battle (St Thomas) in place of the Venite
Ps 22 (1-21j
Ps 51 in place of Te Deum
Benedictus
Glory be to Jesus (Caswall)
Litany
When I survey (Rockingham)
It is a thing most wonderful (Herongate)
A good attendance at this but a rather 'tired' feel with singing even more dreary than usual by the norm at this particular place.
Evensong
Ps 143
Faithful Cross above all other (Mannheim)
It is finished blessed Jesus (Cross of Jesus)
Rock of ages (Petra)
Praise to the holiest (Gerontius)
Last night it was a small number but a very good sound especially in the last hymn.
Just back from "The Easter Liturgy" as tonight's place called it but was puzzled that it began with some very lengthy readings in a dark church before the fire and candle were lit. In other places the scripture has always followed the Exultet, maybe others have experienced it the other way round?
When finally the candle had been brought in they sang very lustily a three verse metrical Exultet to "Woodlands" which wenr very well. This was followed by the Gloria which was a metrical form from NEH sung to "Camberwell".
Jesus Christ is risen today (Easter Hymn) was sung before the Gospel reading.
They processed to the font singing -
With Christ we share a mystic grave (St Stephen)
After the vows etc the peace was given (still at the font) and the Offertory hymn began.
Lord emthroned in heavenly splemdour (St Helen)
All heaven declares the glory of the risen Lord
Ye choirs of new Jeeusalem (St Fulbert)
Easter Morning
Majesty
All Heav'n declares
Bread of Life - a modern carflick ditty. Its a bit drippy for my taste.
Jesus Christ is ris'n today
Feeling very weary after yesterday's Vigil and losing an hour of sleep thanks to British Summer Time.
You deserve a rest @Alan29, your liturgical schedule has been a marathon!
Thank you that's very thoughtful. Adrenaline keeps me going, and the joy of being able to lead the music for these wonderful liturgies. But now I am in my mid 70s, I need to be doing less.
Predictable offerings at our 9 o'clock Easter communion.
Jesus Christ is Risen Today - EASTER HYMN
In Christ Alone - (Getty / Townend)
Thine be the Glory - JUDAS MACCABEUS
“Jesus Christ is risen today” - Easter Hymn.
“Jesus is risen, alleluia!” (Tanzanian).
“Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord”.
“Jesus lives! Thy terrors now” - St Albinus.
“Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son”. - Judas Maccabeus.
Jesus Christ is risen today (Easter Hymn)
Salazar Gloria
Verses from Psalm 118
Alleluia give thanks to the risen Lord
Alleluia Alleluia (Lux Oei)
Celtic Sanctus
All heaven declares
Jesus liges thy terrors mow (St Albinus)
Back to the same place but with a full house and singing that showed much joy and happiness!
Easter Vigil at Our Place last night had only 9 in attendance - I have no idea as to what (if anything) was sung. I'm told there were less than 20 at the Maundy Thursday Mass.
OTOH, this morning's Mass saw 66 in church, including a number of teenagers and children, along with some of our regular Indian students (the University doesn't break up until later this week...) and a family of German Lutherans, some of whom are living/working in the parish and attend whenever they're not back in Germany!
Hymns were:
Jesus Christ is risen today (Easter Hymn) The strife is o'er (either Vulpius or Victory - we know both) Jesus lives! thy terrors now (St Albinius)
Something from The Sheet as Communion Hymn - my Spy couldn't recall what it was... Thine be the glory (Maccabaeus)
Two established classics - Jesus Christ is Risen Today and Thine be the Glory. One modern classic - Before the throne of God above. And one I'd never encountered before (and sadly can't remember what it was called... good tune tho!). Plus the choir sang 'Now the Green Blade Riseth' - very appropriate in our largely agricultural community!
We had the best congregation that we've had since I arrived in 2017 - and that with a few regulars away. Very encouraging (but we'll probably feel flat next week!)
At 7.00am (BCP plus Easter Anthems)
Thine be the glory
Jesus Christ is ris’n today
East facing (stone altar against the East wall) with fine view of the fells through the plain glass East window. Bacon butties afterwards.
At 10.00am (Common Worship: Times and Seasons - very similar to Lent Holy Week and Easter, but less handy volume)
Metrical Exsultet (Woodlands)
Now the green blade
How deep the Father’s love for us
Thine be the glory
(Music choices in consultation with welcome but limited amateur pianist.)
We had the best congregation that we've had since I arrived in 2017 - and that with a few regulars away. Very encouraging (but we'll probably feel flat next week!)
Yes, ours was the best Easter attendance for at least 10 years! Next week, we'll have a few regulars still in Away, and some at least of our students may well be visiting friends and/or family in Away, too. Our newly-acquired Lutheran contingent will probably be in German Away.
Madam Sacristan and I recall a *Low Sunday* (the popular name for the Sunday after Easter in the C of E), some years ago, when we had more in church on that Sunday (39) than we'd had on Easter Sunday (34 or so). We were in interregnum at the time, and the visiting priest was quite surprised to see such a goodly (for us) number...
We had a big congregation this morning too. However most of the regulars went to the Vigil, so this morning's crowd didn't know any of the music, so they were largely mute. That is very dispiriting for the organist.
Jesus Christ is risen today - Easter Hymn The day of resurrection - Ellacombe Crown him with many crowns - Diademata When I survey the wondrous cross - Rockingham Guide me, O thou great Redeemer - Cwm Rhondda*
* this was due to a brainfart on the part of the lady who chooses the hymns and runs the choir; she had asked for requests for a rousing hymn to finish choir practice with a couple of weeks ago, and I instinctively suggested Cwm Rhondda. I also mentioned that I'd really missed singing Thine be the glory when I lived in Newfoundland as it wasn't in the book they used, and could we have it on Easter Sunday ...
We didn't, however she said she'd put it in next week. <rolleyes>
“Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”/EASTER HYMN
”Alleluia! Alleluia! Give Thanks to the Risen Lord”/ALLELUIA NO. 1
“Day of Delight and Beauty Unbounded”/IN DIR IST FREUDE
“This Is the Day the Risen Lord Has Made”/ENGELBERG
“Rise, O Church, like Christ Arisen”/SURGE ECCLESIA
Brass and tympani were along for the ride. And for a choral postlude, the Hallelujah Chorus, because why not.
Jesus Christ is risen today (Easter Hymn)
Low in the grave he lay (Christ Arose)
Thine be the glory (Judas Maccabeus)
In Christ Alone (Townend)
Smaller than usual attendance at the 9 am service. but we had been encouraged to go to the all-age Easter service - and the clock change wasn't favourable either.
Easter Anthems
Psalms 113 and 114
O Christ the heaven's eternal King (Church Triumphant)
Come ye faithful raise the strain (St John Damascene)
On the resurrection morning (Mansfield)
Good Joseph had a garden (Hambridge)
The strife is o'er (Victory)
Te Deum
A surprisingly good number showed up and sang heartily. As others have said there seems to have been good attendances in a few places this year. It is many years since I was asked to play "Mansfield" usually "Hornsey" is the favoured tune. Somehow I doubt a lot of people now would know a lot of what I get asked to play 🤔
Amazing numbers in the congregations on Good Friday and Easter Day to the extent that we ran out of hymn books, service sheets and room to sit. Easter Day was very traditional with exuberant congregational participation.
Easter anthems (traditional plainsong)
The strife is o'er (Vulpius - one of my favourites)
The day of resurrection (Ellacombe)
Christ the Lord is risen again (Orientis Partibus)
Jesus Christ is risen today Alleluia (Easter hymn)
Choir
O sons and daughters let us sing - Alleluia (O Fili et Flilae)
It's interesting to note how many of us are reporting good attendances, at least at some services.
Our Place's low numbers on Maundy Thursday - although probably a good 50%-60% of our usual Sunday total! - may have been partly due to bad weather (wind and rain), which does make a difference. A service starting at 8pm is going to rule out young families anyway, or most of them (one parent might attend)...
Never mind! Our Easter Monday Mass had a visitor who had found details thereof on our website, so my continued maintenance of that website has been duly appreciated by FatherInCharge...
Sorry ... had to dig out the service bulletin ....
March 31, Easter Sunday:
Processional Hymn: Jesus Christ is Risen Today, (Easter Hymn)
Hymn of Praise: (from) Laudes regiae, (Noyon/Hancock)
Sequence Hymn: Alleluia No. 1, (Fishell)
Recessional Hymn: Hail thee, festival day,(Salve festa dies, Vaughn Williams)
The choir did Ye choirs of new Jerusalem, (Villiers) and Alleluia, I heard a voice, (Weelkes). Organ postlude was of course Widor's Toccata, with a program note saying the piece is "actually not a time trial demanding the fastest possible tempo. The piece really is more effective when played at a stately pace." Having said that, the organist definitely chose a bright tempo, and it was very nice.
At our 9 o'clock "Hymns of Praise" service, maintaining the Easter theme.
Thine be the Glory - JUDAS MACCABEUS
How Deep the Father's Love for Us - (Stuart Townend)
We Have a Gospel to Proclaim - GERMANY
Lord, for the Years - LORD OF THE YEARS
Great is Thy Faithfulness - FAITHFULNESS
Alleluia, alleluia, hearts to heaven and voices raise (Lux Eoi)
Something from The Sheet for the Offertory Hymn
Caribbean Our Father The Lord is risen indeed (Narenza) Lord of the Dance (Carter) Joy to thee O Queen of Heaven (Easter Hymn)
Come, ye faithful, raise the anthem - Neander At the Lamb's high feast we sing - Salzburg Thine be the glory - Maccabaeus Saviour, again to thy dear name we raise* - Ellers From the very depths of darkness - Battle Hymn of the Republic - where's that "rolleyes" smilie when I need it?
* bloody silly choice of hymn for the middle of a morning service (and with a horrid old wailer of a tune), but what would I know?
O dear. The first three are fine, but the other two...
At least From the very depths of darkness is an Easter hymn (though the tune always reminds me of He jumped from forty thousand feet without a parachute...), but why would anyone feel the need to sing about a calm and peaceful death during a Sunday morning Eucharist?
Perhaps at Evensong you'll get Awake my soul and with the sun...
Very Low Sunday at ours. 250+ on Easter Morning down to 105 today. No servers tipped up. Priest has a throat infection so the deacon read his homily and said all the postcommunion prayers etc.
I changed some of the music on the fly after the dismal singing of the opening hymn.
“Christ is risen! hallelujah!” - Morgenlied.
“See what a morning, gloriously bright” (Townend).
“Now the green
“Low in the grave he lay” - Christ Arose.
“I hear creation groaning” - Salley Garden.
“We have a gospel to proclaim”- Fulda.
Low Sunday gave us our usual Sunday attendance of around 25, which, given that many people are still at Away, and the schools are on holiday for at least another full week, wasn't too bad.
The hymn from The Sheet was Easter glory fills the sky, to Llanfair (usually associated with Hail the day that sees him rise, so lots of Alleluias!).
My Spy tells me that Lord of the dance was played on the grand piano, with some sparkle, by our Organist Number 2.
In fairness, I will always hear it in the dulcet tones of the Men of Orkney, a choir made up of gentlemen from the two Baptist churches in the county (and a finer group of Christian gentlemen you couldn't wish to meet).
This morning we sang
Glorious things of thee are spoken ( Austria)
Ye choirs of new Jerusalem ( St. Fulbert)
Thou whose almighty word( Moscow)
Now the green blade riseth ( Noel nouvelet)
Hail the day that sees him rise( Llanfair)
No sung service.
4pm special service of lessons and carols, the story of Easter, with augmented choir of 40.
Ride on, ride on in majesty ( Winchester New)
O Saviour of the world. GOSS
Brother, sister, let me serve you (Servant Song)
God so loved the world. STAINER
When I survey ROGER JONES
O Lord, hear my prayer ( Taizé)
Jesus Christ is risen today (Easter Hymn)
This joyful Eastertide WOODWARD
The Easter Song of Praise SHEPHERD
Thine be the glory ( Maccabaeus)
Alleluia, O sons and daughters, let us sing! (O filii et filiae)
Christ is alive! Let Christians sing (Truro)
We walk by faith, and not by sight (St Botolph)
This joyful Eastertide (Vruechten)
Choral:
Howells: Office of Holy Communion "Collegium Regale" (1956)
James MacMillan: Mitte manum tuam, from The Strathclyde Motets (2006)
Hail to the Lord's Anointed (Cruger)
I Cannot Tell Why He, Whom Angels Worship (Londonderry Air)
Be Still, For The Presence Of The Lord (Evans)
Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending (Helmsley)
The theme was "Ascension". Presumably next week will be Pentecost and the week after Christmas.
“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”/NETTLETON
“Rain Down”/RAIN DOWN
“We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight”/DUNLAP’S CREEK
“Let All Things Now Living”/THE ASH GROVE
Jesus lives (St Albinus)
Easter Anthems
Te Deum
Jubilate
O voice of the beloved (Aurelia)
Forty days thy seer of old (Vienna)
O sons and daughters let us sing (Victory)
A very ancient collection of hymns even for this place, they had insisted on having Mattins as Easter was the last Sunday of the month so they had not had it then, all very amusing. Singing better than normal here but the two middle hymns (from the very old A&M) had obscure words and were unknown to me before today, and that after 50 years on the organ!
Easter 2 / High Mass
Choral:
Howells: Office of Holy Communion "Collegium Regale" (1956) ..
Ooh ... Coll Reg!
It being the first Sunday of the month, we had Evensong, at which we sang our usual Mag & Nunc chants, part of Psalm 116 to a chant by Richard Massey and the following hymns:
The strife is o'er - Gelob't sei Gott Were you there when they crucified Lord? - Were you There God, you meet us in our weakness - Love Divine The day thou gavest - St Clement
I'm afraid that last time I heard 'Up from the grave he arose' I was overcome with laughter as I was struck with the image of a jack in a box. Others may love the hymn, but I find my mirth is so uncontrolled that I have to go outside to recover.
I'm afraid that last time I heard 'Up from the grave he arose' I was overcome with laughter as I was struck with the image of a jack in a box. Others may love the hymn, but I find my mirth is so uncontrolled that I have to go outside to recover.
I should hope that the Almighty, being possessed of a perfect sense of humour, would be quite understanding of your uncontrolled mirth!
Comments
St Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge, is well worth a visit for those who like their Anglo-Catholicism to have a distinctly Baroque flavour. Somehow, Wren's architecture lends itself to both nose-bleed High and Prayer Book low churchmanship (albeit perhaps not in the same place)!
I recall a lunch-time Ascension Day Mass (many years ago) at which a choir of four sang - most beautifully - a Mass setting by Mozart, and at which the altar was sometimes not clearly visible through the incense...the attendance wasn't bad, either - maybe 30-40 in the congregation, along with the three clergy, thurifer, servers etc., and it's not an especially large church.
UCCers and Disciples).
But while son was doing his thing yesterday (Good Friday) afternoon, my wife and I found ourselves in the Washington National Cathedral. No service was going on. There were a fair number of visitors, but not a mob, and a number of people making preparations for services yet to come.
We spent maybe an hour and a half there. Toward the end of that time, we just sat in the nave, soaking up the atmosphere (more on that below), and suddenly a small choir (8–12) began to practice for the evening service. They were singing “Were You There?,” which I think may be required at every American Good Friday service—at least, I’ve never attended one where it wasn’t sung, either by the congregation, the choir or a soloist.
It was absolutely heavenly.
Meanwhile, the entire time we were there, a priest was making a circuit around the cathedral with a thurible. Incense permeated the space without being overpowering.
All in all, a good substitute for actually getting to a service.
Mattins and Litany
Sing my tongue the glorious battle (St Thomas) in place of the Venite
Ps 22 (1-21j
Ps 51 in place of Te Deum
Benedictus
Glory be to Jesus (Caswall)
Litany
When I survey (Rockingham)
It is a thing most wonderful (Herongate)
A good attendance at this but a rather 'tired' feel with singing even more dreary than usual by the norm at this particular place.
Evensong
Ps 143
Faithful Cross above all other (Mannheim)
It is finished blessed Jesus (Cross of Jesus)
Rock of ages (Petra)
Praise to the holiest (Gerontius)
Last night it was a small number but a very good sound especially in the last hymn.
Just back from "The Easter Liturgy" as tonight's place called it but was puzzled that it began with some very lengthy readings in a dark church before the fire and candle were lit. In other places the scripture has always followed the Exultet, maybe others have experienced it the other way round?
When finally the candle had been brought in they sang very lustily a three verse metrical Exultet to "Woodlands" which wenr very well. This was followed by the Gloria which was a metrical form from NEH sung to "Camberwell".
Jesus Christ is risen today (Easter Hymn) was sung before the Gospel reading.
They processed to the font singing -
With Christ we share a mystic grave (St Stephen)
After the vows etc the peace was given (still at the font) and the Offertory hymn began.
Lord emthroned in heavenly splemdour (St Helen)
All heaven declares the glory of the risen Lord
Ye choirs of new Jeeusalem (St Fulbert)
Happy Easter everyone!
Majesty
All Heav'n declares
Bread of Life - a modern carflick ditty. Its a bit drippy for my taste.
Jesus Christ is ris'n today
Feeling very weary after yesterday's Vigil and losing an hour of sleep thanks to British Summer Time.
You deserve a rest @Alan29, your liturgical schedule has been a marathon!
Thank you that's very thoughtful. Adrenaline keeps me going, and the joy of being able to lead the music for these wonderful liturgies. But now I am in my mid 70s, I need to be doing less.
Jesus Christ is Risen Today - EASTER HYMN
In Christ Alone - (Getty / Townend)
Thine be the Glory - JUDAS MACCABEUS
“Jesus is risen, alleluia!” (Tanzanian).
“Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord”.
“Jesus lives! Thy terrors now” - St Albinus.
“Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son”. - Judas Maccabeus.
Family Communion
Jesus Christ is risen today (Easter Hymn)
Salazar Gloria
Verses from Psalm 118
Alleluia give thanks to the risen Lord
Alleluia Alleluia (Lux Oei)
Celtic Sanctus
All heaven declares
Jesus liges thy terrors mow (St Albinus)
Back to the same place but with a full house and singing that showed much joy and happiness!
OTOH, this morning's Mass saw 66 in church, including a number of teenagers and children, along with some of our regular Indian students (the University doesn't break up until later this week...) and a family of German Lutherans, some of whom are living/working in the parish and attend whenever they're not back in Germany!
Hymns were:
Jesus Christ is risen today (Easter Hymn)
The strife is o'er (either Vulpius or Victory - we know both)
Jesus lives! thy terrors now (St Albinius)
Something from The Sheet as Communion Hymn - my Spy couldn't recall what it was...
Thine be the glory (Maccabaeus)
Thine be the glory
Jesus Christ is ris’n today
East facing (stone altar against the East wall) with fine view of the fells through the plain glass East window. Bacon butties afterwards.
At 10.00am (Common Worship: Times and Seasons - very similar to Lent Holy Week and Easter, but less handy volume)
Metrical Exsultet (Woodlands)
Now the green blade
How deep the Father’s love for us
Thine be the glory
(Music choices in consultation with welcome but limited amateur pianist.)
Yes, ours was the best Easter attendance for at least 10 years! Next week, we'll have a few regulars still in Away, and some at least of our students may well be visiting friends and/or family in Away, too. Our newly-acquired Lutheran contingent will probably be in German Away.
Madam Sacristan and I recall a *Low Sunday* (the popular name for the Sunday after Easter in the C of E), some years ago, when we had more in church on that Sunday (39) than we'd had on Easter Sunday (34 or so). We were in interregnum at the time, and the visiting priest was quite surprised to see such a goodly (for us) number...
Jesus Christ is risen today - Easter Hymn
The day of resurrection - Ellacombe
Crown him with many crowns - Diademata
When I survey the wondrous cross - Rockingham
Guide me, O thou great Redeemer - Cwm Rhondda*
* this was due to a brainfart on the part of the lady who chooses the hymns and runs the choir; she had asked for requests for a rousing hymn to finish choir practice with a couple of weeks ago, and I instinctively suggested Cwm Rhondda. I also mentioned that I'd really missed singing Thine be the glory when I lived in Newfoundland as it wasn't in the book they used, and could we have it on Easter Sunday ...
We didn't, however she said she'd put it in next week. <rolleyes>
“Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”/EASTER HYMN
”Alleluia! Alleluia! Give Thanks to the Risen Lord”/ALLELUIA NO. 1
“Day of Delight and Beauty Unbounded”/IN DIR IST FREUDE
“This Is the Day the Risen Lord Has Made”/ENGELBERG
“Rise, O Church, like Christ Arisen”/SURGE ECCLESIA
Brass and tympani were along for the ride. And for a choral postlude, the Hallelujah Chorus, because why not.
Low in the grave he lay (Christ Arose)
Thine be the glory (Judas Maccabeus)
In Christ Alone (Townend)
Smaller than usual attendance at the 9 am service. but we had been encouraged to go to the all-age Easter service - and the clock change wasn't favourable either.
Christ the Lord is Risen Today (I'm sure someone will be able to tell me why They messed with the perfectly good words of Jesus Christ is Risen Today)
I Cast my Mind to Calvary
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
Easter Anthems
Psalms 113 and 114
O Christ the heaven's eternal King (Church Triumphant)
Come ye faithful raise the strain (St John Damascene)
On the resurrection morning (Mansfield)
Good Joseph had a garden (Hambridge)
The strife is o'er (Victory)
Te Deum
A surprisingly good number showed up and sang heartily. As others have said there seems to have been good attendances in a few places this year. It is many years since I was asked to play "Mansfield" usually "Hornsey" is the favoured tune. Somehow I doubt a lot of people now would know a lot of what I get asked to play 🤔
Easter anthems (traditional plainsong)
The strife is o'er (Vulpius - one of my favourites)
The day of resurrection (Ellacombe)
Christ the Lord is risen again (Orientis Partibus)
Jesus Christ is risen today Alleluia (Easter hymn)
Choir
O sons and daughters let us sing - Alleluia (O Fili et Flilae)
It's interesting to note how many of us are reporting good attendances, at least at some services.
Our Place's low numbers on Maundy Thursday - although probably a good 50%-60% of our usual Sunday total! - may have been partly due to bad weather (wind and rain), which does make a difference. A service starting at 8pm is going to rule out young families anyway, or most of them (one parent might attend)...
Never mind! Our Easter Monday Mass had a visitor who had found details thereof on our website, so my continued maintenance of that website has been duly appreciated by FatherInCharge...
Hymns
Christ the Lord is risen today, / Easter Hymn
At the dawning of salvation, / Nettleton
Yours be the glory, / Maccabaeus
Choir
Christ is risen from the dead, / Elvey
Easter song of praise, / Richard Shephard
March 31, Easter Sunday:
Processional Hymn: Jesus Christ is Risen Today, (Easter Hymn)
Hymn of Praise: (from) Laudes regiae, (Noyon/Hancock)
Sequence Hymn: Alleluia No. 1, (Fishell)
Recessional Hymn: Hail thee, festival day, (Salve festa dies, Vaughn Williams)
The choir did Ye choirs of new Jerusalem, (Villiers) and Alleluia, I heard a voice, (Weelkes). Organ postlude was of course Widor's Toccata, with a program note saying the piece is "actually not a time trial demanding the fastest possible tempo. The piece really is more effective when played at a stately pace." Having said that, the organist definitely chose a bright tempo, and it was very nice.
Aleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the Risen Lord
Now the green blade riseth
All heave'n declares
Majesty
Thine be the Glory - JUDAS MACCABEUS
How Deep the Father's Love for Us - (Stuart Townend)
We Have a Gospel to Proclaim - GERMANY
Lord, for the Years - LORD OF THE YEARS
Great is Thy Faithfulness - FAITHFULNESS
Alleluia, alleluia, hearts to heaven and voices raise (Lux Eoi)
Something from The Sheet for the Offertory Hymn
Caribbean Our Father
The Lord is risen indeed (Narenza)
Lord of the Dance (Carter)
Joy to thee O Queen of Heaven (Easter Hymn)
Come, ye faithful, raise the anthem - Neander
At the Lamb's high feast we sing - Salzburg
Thine be the glory - Maccabaeus
Saviour, again to thy dear name we raise* - Ellers
From the very depths of darkness - Battle Hymn of the Republic - where's that "rolleyes" smilie when I need it?
* bloody silly choice of hymn for the middle of a morning service (and with a horrid old wailer of a tune), but what would I know?
At least From the very depths of darkness is an Easter hymn (though the tune always reminds me of He jumped from forty thousand feet without a parachute...), but why would anyone feel the need to sing about a calm and peaceful death during a Sunday morning Eucharist?
Perhaps at Evensong you'll get Awake my soul and with the sun...
I changed some of the music on the fly after the dismal singing of the opening hymn.
“See what a morning, gloriously bright” (Townend).
“Now the green
“Low in the grave he lay” - Christ Arose.
“I hear creation groaning” - Salley Garden.
“We have a gospel to proclaim”- Fulda.
The hymn from The Sheet was Easter glory fills the sky, to Llanfair (usually associated with Hail the day that sees him rise, so lots of Alleluias!).
My Spy tells me that Lord of the dance was played on the grand piano, with some sparkle, by our Organist Number 2.
The one with this refrain?
In fairness, I will always hear it in the dulcet tones of the Men of Orkney, a choir made up of gentlemen from the two Baptist churches in the county (and a finer group of Christian gentlemen you couldn't wish to meet).
It is a very Baptist hymn, I think!
Glorious things of thee are spoken ( Austria)
Ye choirs of new Jerusalem ( St. Fulbert)
Thou whose almighty word( Moscow)
Now the green blade riseth ( Noel nouvelet)
Hail the day that sees him rise( Llanfair)
No sung service.
4pm special service of lessons and carols, the story of Easter, with augmented choir of 40.
Ride on, ride on in majesty ( Winchester New)
O Saviour of the world. GOSS
Brother, sister, let me serve you (Servant Song)
God so loved the world. STAINER
When I survey ROGER JONES
O Lord, hear my prayer ( Taizé)
Jesus Christ is risen today (Easter Hymn)
This joyful Eastertide WOODWARD
The Easter Song of Praise SHEPHERD
Thine be the glory ( Maccabaeus)
Alleluia, O sons and daughters, let us sing! (O filii et filiae)
Christ is alive! Let Christians sing (Truro)
We walk by faith, and not by sight (St Botolph)
This joyful Eastertide (Vruechten)
Choral:
Howells: Office of Holy Communion "Collegium Regale" (1956)
James MacMillan: Mitte manum tuam, from The Strathclyde Motets (2006)
I Cannot Tell Why He, Whom Angels Worship (Londonderry Air)
Be Still, For The Presence Of The Lord (Evans)
Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending (Helmsley)
The theme was "Ascension". Presumably next week will be Pentecost and the week after Christmas.
“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”/NETTLETON
“Rain Down”/RAIN DOWN
“We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight”/DUNLAP’S CREEK
“Let All Things Now Living”/THE ASH GROVE
BCP Mattins
Jesus lives (St Albinus)
Easter Anthems
Te Deum
Jubilate
O voice of the beloved (Aurelia)
Forty days thy seer of old (Vienna)
O sons and daughters let us sing (Victory)
A very ancient collection of hymns even for this place, they had insisted on having Mattins as Easter was the last Sunday of the month so they had not had it then, all very amusing. Singing better than normal here but the two middle hymns (from the very old A&M) had obscure words and were unknown to me before today, and that after 50 years on the organ!
It being the first Sunday of the month, we had Evensong, at which we sang our usual Mag & Nunc chants, part of Psalm 116 to a chant by Richard Massey and the following hymns:
The strife is o'er - Gelob't sei Gott
Were you there when they crucified Lord? - Were you There
God, you meet us in our weakness - Love Divine
The day thou gavest - St Clement
I have been advised, by one of my members, of alternative words, viz: "Up from the grave he arose, with a mighty pimple on his nose".
I should hope that the Almighty, being possessed of a perfect sense of humour, would be quite understanding of your uncontrolled mirth!
Well, make your mind up ...