IIRC in the various places where David was in charge of music, the hymns, settings and anthems were picked on a monthly basis; he'd have a meeting with the clergy and sort it in advance.
He had a particular interest in hymnody; it was one of his specialisms when he did the Archbishop's Diploma in Church Music, and knew what he was talking about. I think it's the contrast between that and J, who'll pick something because she thinks it's "a lovely hymn" (which it quite often isn't), with very little regard to whether or not it fits.
The other day she said she'd found a "new" tune that she liked and was thinking of writing words for it - heaven help us ...
Being in the country this Sunday is always kept as Rogation Sunday and today, as ever, they processed out of the church singing the Litany to a nearby farm to ask for a blessing on the crops. This is much less common now than it used to be but the Rogation theme was followed to a large degree during the seevice.
Parisn Communion
Litany on the way to the fields
Through the night of doubt and sorrow (St Oswald) on return
For the beauty of the earth (Noricum)
Psalm 65 (chant by Garrett)
Lord in thy name thy servants plead (Belmont)
To thee O God we fly (Gopsal)
Father who dost thy children feed (Stella)
Alleluia Alleluia (Lux Oei)
All rather enthusiastically sung even if some of the tunes were not those I might expect to play. This all seems like a different world from most reports I read 😏
Played for a funeral for a beloved local professor yesterday...the church was packed! The fullest I'd ever seen it, and probably the fullest it will be for a long time, and the family picked an excellent selection of hymns, being church musicians themselves.
Immortal, Invisible (ST. DENIO)
Abide With Me (EVENTIDE)
The King of Love My Shepherd Is (ST. COLUMBA)
Nearer My God To Thee (BETHANY)
Be Thou My Vision (SLANE)
For All The Saints (SINE NOMINE) — all 8 verses!
It was a bit of a workout, considered there were also a few pieces of service music dotted about, too, but a well-done service nonetheless.
Hail the day (Llanfair)
Nicholson in G
Psalm 47
Eternal Monarch King most high (Gonfalon Royal)
Alleluia sing to Jesus (Hydrofoil)
The golden gates are lifted up (St Stephen)
See the conqueror mounts in triumph (Rex gloriae)
This was a late morning service followed by a lunch for the Mothers Union in local parishes. Well attended and well sung so a pleasure to accompany, I always enjoy the feast of the Ascension!
A good idea to couple the Feast of the Ascension with another event, involving other churches.
Some years ago, prior to FatherInCharge's arrival, we went to a neighbouring Place for an evening united Eucharist to begin the *Thy Kingdom Come* prayer week. Several other local churches - not all of them C of E - were in attendance, and were treated to a proper Sarum Use High Mass, with three Sacred Ministers, incense, bells, and the like...
It went down rather well IIRC, though it took one or two of the local Evangelical Places by surprise.
All hail the power of Jesus' name - Miles Lane Breathe on me, breath of God - Carlisle Come, let us join our cheerful songs - Nativity Take my life, and let it be - Innocents Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour - St Helen
Easter 7 (aka Sunday after Ascension Day) at Our Place:
The head that once was crowned with thorns (St Magnus) Hail the day that sees him rise (probably Llanfair) At the name of Jesus (Camberwell) See the conqueror mounts in triumph (Hyfrydol)
Phew!
I don't know what, if anything, was sung on Ascension Day itself, as the total attendance over the two Masses was just 15...
All hail the power of Jesus' name - Miles Lane Breathe on me, breath of God - Carlisle Come, let us join our cheerful songs - Nativity Take my life, and let it be - Innocents Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour - St Helen
Not a bad bunch, really.
Prefer Bryn Calfaria to St Helen’s but each to her own
Tuned in to St-Pat’s-in-the-West for Ascension Mass and it was a knockout:
Introit Viri Galilei ( Gregorian chant) Mass setting Langlais Messe Solennelle ( including Sanctus which is normally sung by congo ( at least in theory) and choir; Ascendens Christus of Victoria and God is gone up of Croft.
Beautiful singing with expert direction; organ improvisations and postlude to die for.
Cathedral packed on a dreary wet day.
Might have to schlep the 25 km there for Pentecost next week
“God is gone up on high” - Darwall's 148th.
“Gloria, gloria” (Clapping Gloria).
“Jesus is the name we honour” (Phil Lawson Johnson).
“Faith of our fathers” - St Catherine.
“All for Jesus” - All for Jesus.
O! A Non-Conformist Conventicle celebrating St Matthias the Apostle!
Our Place will probably be the only C of E Place in Our Town (apart from the Cathedral) even noticing the poor chap, on whom the lot fell...we have our usual Mass on Tuesday.
To God be the Glory (To God be the Glory)
All Glory, Laud, And Honour (St. Theodulph)
Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us (Mannheim)
God is Our Strength and Refuge (Dambusters' March)
Sunday after Ascension / Feast of St Matthias/ Bell Sunday.
Not my usual church or parish or diocese
Evensong sung by a visiting semi- professional group- only five singers today. Normally 8.
Preces and Responses- Byrd
Canticles- Palestrina
Anthem - Ascendit deus - Philips
A Hymn about bells, sung to Woodlands
Crown him with many crowns
Ding dong merrily on high
The head that once was crowned with thorns.
We are away on the Inner Hebrides, so joined with the "Piskies" where we sang
Jesus Shall Reign Where'ere The Sun - DUKE STREET
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise - ST DENIO
Be Still For The Presence Of The Lord - David Evans
Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks To The Risen Lord - ALLELUIA NO. 1
All hail the power of Jesus' name - Miles Lane Breathe on me, breath of God - Carlisle Come, let us join our cheerful songs - Nativity Take my life, and let it be - Innocents Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour - St Helen
Not a bad bunch, really.
Prefer Bryn Calfaria to St Helen’s but each to her own
I noticed that Bryn Calfaria was the "second" tune set in the hymnal. It's a jolly good tune, although I don't think I've ever actually sung it; I've heard Welsh male voice choirs sing it, and David used to play a piece by Vaughan Williams based on it.
All hail the power of Jesus' name - Miles Lane Breathe on me, breath of God - Carlisle Come, let us join our cheerful songs - Nativity Take my life, and let it be - Innocents Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour - St Helen
Not a bad bunch, really.
Prefer Bryn Calfaria to St Helen’s but each to her own
I noticed that Bryn Calfaria was the "second" tune set in the hymnal. It's a jolly good tune, although I don't think I've ever actually sung it; I've heard Welsh male voice choirs sing it, and David used to play a piece by Vaughan Williams based on it.
Weirdly, growing up, my church sang "Come Ye Sinners" to Bryn Calfaria rather than Restoration, as seems to be the most common tune for those words over here.
Anyway, Ascension-y flavored Easter VII.
Crown Him With Many Crowns (DIADEMATA)
Alleluia, Alleluia (ALLELUIA #1)
Church's One Foundation (AURELIA)*
O God, Beyond All Praising (THAXTED)
*my rather unpopular opinion is that I quite like Aurelia as a tune. Fun bass part and some nice chords.
We departed from lectionary themes today, as we were dedicating digital ranks added to our pipe organ in memory of my wife’s sister. This was the second and final round of digital additions planned some time ago, the previous additions having been done about 10 years ago. The hymns today, with organ, brass and tympani, were:
“Come Sing, O Church, in Joy”/DARWELL’S 148TH
“Come, Worship God” (Ps. 95)/O QUANTA QUALIA
“Holy, Holy, Holy”/NICEA
“Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above”*/MIT FREUDEN ZART
* Aside from being a great text and tune, this also provided a nod to Mother’s Day, with the line “as with a mother’s tender hand, God gently leads the chosen band.”
Holy Ghost illuminator (Rex Gloriae)
A man there lived in Galilee (Tyrolese)
Crown him with many crowns (Diademata)
Lord Jesus Christ (Living Lord)
Jesus shall reign (Truro)
Evensong
Hail thou once despised Jesus (Lux Oei)
O Jesu King most womderful (St Botolph)
Where high the heavenly temple stands (Wareham)
Look ye Saints the sight is glorious (Regent Square)
All hail the power (Diadem)
A good day, they much enjoyed the rather jiggy Tyrolese tune to the Gradual hymn I noticed and everything was well sung. Supplying at a very conservative evangelical church for Evensong where there was very lusty singing (I think local Methodists join them) parricularly noticeable in "Diadem". I was asked to play the Psalm and the two alternatives to the Gospel cancticles (Ps 98 and 67) but not the versicles which was regarded there as 'high church' to my immense amusement. Afterwards as I was leaving the Lord's Supper complete with Vicar at the north end was starting which is something you wouldn't see much these days I suspect 🤔
Sunday morning’s service- All-age communion for Pentecost should prove interesting. Our vicar is very good at putting together inclusive services, but these do not usually include Communion and robed choir.
At choir practice this evening we were mainly working on music for Choral Evensong, but needed to spend a bit of time on two of the morning hymns which nobody knew. Well I may have sung them once elsewhere, without the musack in front of me. They were musically unacceptable to most of us. I wonder how well they will be sung on Sunday. Our Choir Director commented, with irony, “ My brief is to maintain our musical standards”.
Pentecost today at Our Place (and at just about every other Place, I guess!).
A rather mixed bag of hymns and ditties:
Breathe on me, breath of God (Carlisle) Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost (Capetown) Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire (Mechlin - sung by cantors during Communion) Our blest Redeemer, ere he breathed (St Cuthbert) Lord, the light of your love (Shine, Jesus, shine)
There was a certain ghastly inevitability about that last piece of egregious and loathsome dross. No sign of Come down, O Love divine, to the tune by RVW, or Stephen Langton's Come, thou Holy Spirit, come...
All-Age service for Pentecost, with Holy Communion.
Only one child was present, so bringing down the average age below 65+
All the words of the liturgy and the hymns were on the screens, plus illustrations and artwork for the sermon. This is a first.
On the day of Pentecost - Puer Nobis
O Lord, the clouds are gathering*
Spirit of the Living God -Iverson
Spirit of God- Skye boat song, but due to a clerical error, the words did not fit. Should have been Spirit of God, unseen as the wind, not Spirit of God, come dwell with me, which is set to Leaving of Lismore.
During Communion the choir sang
Come down, O love divine- Down Ampney
O God of cleansing, burning flame, send the fire today * sung along to a video of Graham Kendrick singing, words on screen. A few unexpected repeats, but the choir had at least had sight of the music and managed to sound confident.
Candles lit individually and bubbles with the intercessions added to the mix, which seemed to work, thanks to a good liturgy.
6pm Evensong- in a different church which normally has a said service.
Introit: Be still for the presence of the Lord - arr. Shepherd
O thou who camest from above - Hereford
Come down O love divine- Down Ampney
O worship the king- Dominus regit me.
All creatures of our God and king. - Lasst uns erfreuen.
Lead kindly light- tune tba
Preces and Responses- Ferial Southwell
Sevenfold Amen
Sung Lord’s Prayer
Anthem: Do not be afraid ( Stopford)
@Puzzler - a fine selection for both services. I take it that the two you marked with an * are those which you and the choir were a bit uncertain about?
Shame about the error re the Skye Boat Song! I know and like both of the tunes you refer to, but no, they're not interchangeable!
Philip Stopford was David's successor at Belfast Cathedral, and was subjected to much the same treatment as David was at the hands of the same Dean. Belfast really is a bit of a poisoned chalice for choirmasters.
I wasn't at church today; I was having fun singing Evensong at the Cathedral of the Isles yesterday, at which our offerings were:
Introit: Rage, wisdom and our lives inflame - Sal MacDougall
Morland Responses - Graham Ellis
Psalm 48 - chant by Stanley Vann
Mag & Nunc - King's College Service - Joanna Forbes L'Estrange
Anthems: Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire - Thomas Attwood I will sing with the Spirit - John Rutter
Hymns: Holy Spirit, come confirm us - All for Jesus Come down, O Love divine - Down Ampney
Well, as you had such a wonderful selection to sing (including Down Ampney), I think you could be excused from missing church today...after all, First Evensong of the Sunday surely counts?
Pentecost - focussing everyone hearing God speaking in their own language.
“O for a thousand tongues to sing” - Lyngham. We did Wesley proud (and I said so)!
“’Tis the Church triumphant singing” - Ar Hyd Y Nos (I'd have preferred the James Mountain tune but couldn't find a recording).
“Speak forth your word, O Father” - Llangloffan.
“Go forth and tell” - Woodlands.
Another good selection.
BTW, versions of Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire (to Mechlin) were sung at a Reformed Church in the Netherlands, and as the Offertory Hymn at Uppsala Cathedral, Sweden - a good example of a hymn and/or tune crossing denominational boundaries.
I suspect that @Alan29 has blotted the list from his memory...
There are many excellent Pentecost hymns, old and new(er), apart from the hideous and eldritch Shiny Song*, and some of them only get an outing once a year (or maybe twice, if you have a confirmation service at Your Place).
*an earlier version was probably sung by the adherents of The Church Of Starry Wisdom in the stories by H P Lovecraft and Robert Bloch:
I was struck down with ¥e Plague this week so don't know what was had here. I availed myself of the SEC's offering from St John's, Princes Street, which was MOTR choral eucharist. The choir seemed accomplished and sang a newly composed mass setting and a motet composed by their DoM.
O Breath of life, come sweeping through us (Spiritus Vitae)
Spirit of God (Skye boat song)
Spirit of the Living God (Iverson)
O God of cleansing, burning flame (Tucker)
Singing of the final hymn was not good. I guess it's because we only sing it once a year.
Yes, we finished with that song.
Started with All over the World. Which is utter sh1te.
The sequence (Holy Spirit Lord of light) was read not sung.
Offertory - Chris Walkers Veni Sancte Spiritus without the solos that turn it into something interesting.
Communion - This is my body. Which is OK as its based on one of the Last Supper discourses in John. But it's so dreary.
I've been at this lark for 60 years now. Today I felt every second.
Yes, we finished with that song.
Started with All over the World. Which is utter sh1te.
The sequence (Holy Spirit Lord of light) was read not sung.
Offertory - Chris Walkers Veni Sancte Spiritus without the solos that turn it into something interesting.
Communion - This is my body. Which is OK as its based on one of the Last Supper discourses in John. But it's so dreary.
I've been at this lark for 60 years now. Today I felt every second.
O dear. I sympathise - dross indeed, and yes, This is my body is very dreary...
Come Holy Ghost creator come (Tallis Ordinal)
Nicholson in C
Cime thou Holy Spirit come (Veni sancte spiritus)
Come down O love divine (Down Ampney)
Our blest Redeemere ere he breathed (St Cuthbert)
Spirit of mercy truth and love (Easter song)
Evensong
When God of old came down from heaven (Winchester Old)
Come Holy Ghost our souls inspire (Veni creator)
Breathe on me breath of God (Trentham)
O Holy Ghost thy people bless (St Timothy)
Both services went well and had good singing, the final hymn in the morning (which I would normally play to "Melcombe" or "Warrington") was sung to the tune of "All creatures of oir God and King" with lusty Alleluias and was a very good conclusion. I could have done without dreary old "Winchester Old" tonight though and "Trentham" makes the breath of God sound like an anaesthetic. A good day though all in all.
I sang the little Organ Mass by Haydn, Come Holy Ghost by Attwood, Karl Jenkins's Laudamus Te from his Gloria, and various hymns, including Come Down, o Love Divine.
I love singing chorally in full liturgies, but would find being in a regular choir overwhelming. Such are the joys.
I am all sung out, but I think the Choral Evensong was appreciated. I even managed a descant for the introit that I was very uncertain about. My fellow sopranos had missed a rehearsal on this material and it showed. Our Vicar did very well, keeping on pitch for the collects, which she normally says.
@Puzzler - a fine selection for both services. I take it that the two you marked with an * are those which you and the choir were a bit uncertain about?
Yes, BF
Shame about the error re the Skye Boat Song! I know and like both of the tunes you refer to, but no, they're not interchangeable!
Comments
He had a particular interest in hymnody; it was one of his specialisms when he did the Archbishop's Diploma in Church Music, and knew what he was talking about. I think it's the contrast between that and J, who'll pick something because she thinks it's "a lovely hymn" (which it quite often isn't), with very little regard to whether or not it fits.
The other day she said she'd found a "new" tune that she liked and was thinking of writing words for it - heaven help us ...
The differences between homilies and sermons could be an interesting new thread, if people wanted to continue the tangent.
/Hostly Hint
Long may Rogation services continue.
Immortal, Invisible (ST. DENIO)
Abide With Me (EVENTIDE)
The King of Love My Shepherd Is (ST. COLUMBA)
Nearer My God To Thee (BETHANY)
Be Thou My Vision (SLANE)
For All The Saints (SINE NOMINE) — all 8 verses!
It was a bit of a workout, considered there were also a few pieces of service music dotted about, too, but a well-done service nonetheless.
Sung Eucharist
Hail the day (Llanfair)
Nicholson in G
Psalm 47
Eternal Monarch King most high (Gonfalon Royal)
Alleluia sing to Jesus (Hydrofoil)
The golden gates are lifted up (St Stephen)
See the conqueror mounts in triumph (Rex gloriae)
This was a late morning service followed by a lunch for the Mothers Union in local parishes. Well attended and well sung so a pleasure to accompany, I always enjoy the feast of the Ascension!
Some years ago, prior to FatherInCharge's arrival, we went to a neighbouring Place for an evening united Eucharist to begin the *Thy Kingdom Come* prayer week. Several other local churches - not all of them C of E - were in attendance, and were treated to a proper Sarum Use High Mass, with three Sacred Ministers, incense, bells, and the like...
It went down rather well IIRC, though it took one or two of the local Evangelical Places by surprise.
All hail the power of Jesus' name - Miles Lane
Breathe on me, breath of God - Carlisle
Come, let us join our cheerful songs - Nativity
Take my life, and let it be - Innocents
Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour - St Helen
Not a bad bunch, really.
The head that once was crowned with thorns (St Magnus)
Hail the day that sees him rise (probably Llanfair)
At the name of Jesus (Camberwell)
See the conqueror mounts in triumph (Hyfrydol)
Phew!
I don't know what, if anything, was sung on Ascension Day itself, as the total attendance over the two Masses was just 15...
Come, now is the time to worship
Let the King of my heart be the mountain where I run
God I look to you, I won't be overwhelmed
This is my desire, to honour you
Prefer Bryn Calfaria to St Helen’s but each to her own
Introit Viri Galilei ( Gregorian chant) Mass setting Langlais Messe Solennelle ( including Sanctus which is normally sung by congo ( at least in theory) and choir; Ascendens Christus of Victoria and God is gone up of Croft.
Beautiful singing with expert direction; organ improvisations and postlude to die for.
Cathedral packed on a dreary wet day.
Might have to schlep the 25 km there for Pentecost next week
“God is gone up on high” - Darwall's 148th.
“Gloria, gloria” (Clapping Gloria).
“Jesus is the name we honour” (Phil Lawson Johnson).
“Faith of our fathers” - St Catherine.
“All for Jesus” - All for Jesus.
Our Place will probably be the only C of E Place in Our Town (apart from the Cathedral) even noticing the poor chap, on whom the lot fell...we have our usual Mass on Tuesday.
To God be the Glory (To God be the Glory)
All Glory, Laud, And Honour (St. Theodulph)
Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us (Mannheim)
God is Our Strength and Refuge (Dambusters' March)
Not my usual church or parish or diocese
Evensong sung by a visiting semi- professional group- only five singers today. Normally 8.
Preces and Responses- Byrd
Canticles- Palestrina
Anthem - Ascendit deus - Philips
A Hymn about bells, sung to Woodlands
Crown him with many crowns
Ding dong merrily on high
The head that once was crowned with thorns.
Jesus Shall Reign Where'ere The Sun - DUKE STREET
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise - ST DENIO
Be Still For The Presence Of The Lord - David Evans
Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks To The Risen Lord - ALLELUIA NO. 1
I noticed that Bryn Calfaria was the "second" tune set in the hymnal. It's a jolly good tune, although I don't think I've ever actually sung it; I've heard Welsh male voice choirs sing it, and David used to play a piece by Vaughan Williams based on it.
Here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxkbBakVGuM
And here's the arrangement by RVW:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtmpnnsSRKs
Anyway, Ascension-y flavored Easter VII.
Crown Him With Many Crowns (DIADEMATA)
Alleluia, Alleluia (ALLELUIA #1)
Church's One Foundation (AURELIA)*
O God, Beyond All Praising (THAXTED)
*my rather unpopular opinion is that I quite like Aurelia as a tune. Fun bass part and some nice chords.
“Come Sing, O Church, in Joy”/DARWELL’S 148TH
“Come, Worship God” (Ps. 95)/O QUANTA QUALIA
“Holy, Holy, Holy”/NICEA
“Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above”*/MIT FREUDEN ZART
* Aside from being a great text and tune, this also provided a nod to Mother’s Day, with the line “as with a mother’s tender hand, God gently leads the chosen band.”
Parish Communion
Holy Ghost illuminator (Rex Gloriae)
A man there lived in Galilee (Tyrolese)
Crown him with many crowns (Diademata)
Lord Jesus Christ (Living Lord)
Jesus shall reign (Truro)
Evensong
Hail thou once despised Jesus (Lux Oei)
O Jesu King most womderful (St Botolph)
Where high the heavenly temple stands (Wareham)
Look ye Saints the sight is glorious (Regent Square)
All hail the power (Diadem)
A good day, they much enjoyed the rather jiggy Tyrolese tune to the Gradual hymn I noticed and everything was well sung. Supplying at a very conservative evangelical church for Evensong where there was very lusty singing (I think local Methodists join them) parricularly noticeable in "Diadem". I was asked to play the Psalm and the two alternatives to the Gospel cancticles (Ps 98 and 67) but not the versicles which was regarded there as 'high church' to my immense amusement. Afterwards as I was leaving the Lord's Supper complete with Vicar at the north end was starting which is something you wouldn't see much these days I suspect 🤔
At choir practice this evening we were mainly working on music for Choral Evensong, but needed to spend a bit of time on two of the morning hymns which nobody knew. Well I may have sung them once elsewhere, without the musack in front of me. They were musically unacceptable to most of us. I wonder how well they will be sung on Sunday. Our Choir Director commented, with irony, “ My brief is to maintain our musical standards”.
A rather mixed bag of hymns and ditties:
Breathe on me, breath of God (Carlisle)
Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost (Capetown)
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire (Mechlin - sung by cantors during Communion)
Our blest Redeemer, ere he breathed (St Cuthbert)
Lord, the light of your love (Shine, Jesus, shine)
There was a certain ghastly inevitability about that last piece of egregious and loathsome dross. No sign of Come down, O Love divine, to the tune by RVW, or Stephen Langton's Come, thou Holy Spirit, come...
Only one child was present, so bringing down the average age below 65+
All the words of the liturgy and the hymns were on the screens, plus illustrations and artwork for the sermon. This is a first.
On the day of Pentecost - Puer Nobis
O Lord, the clouds are gathering*
Spirit of the Living God -Iverson
Spirit of God- Skye boat song, but due to a clerical error, the words did not fit. Should have been Spirit of God, unseen as the wind, not Spirit of God, come dwell with me, which is set to Leaving of Lismore.
During Communion the choir sang
Come down, O love divine- Down Ampney
O God of cleansing, burning flame, send the fire today * sung along to a video of Graham Kendrick singing, words on screen. A few unexpected repeats, but the choir had at least had sight of the music and managed to sound confident.
Candles lit individually and bubbles with the intercessions added to the mix, which seemed to work, thanks to a good liturgy.
6pm Evensong- in a different church which normally has a said service.
Introit: Be still for the presence of the Lord - arr. Shepherd
O thou who camest from above - Hereford
Come down O love divine- Down Ampney
O worship the king- Dominus regit me.
All creatures of our God and king. - Lasst uns erfreuen.
Lead kindly light- tune tba
Preces and Responses- Ferial Southwell
Sevenfold Amen
Sung Lord’s Prayer
Anthem: Do not be afraid ( Stopford)
Shame about the error re the Skye Boat Song! I know and like both of the tunes you refer to, but no, they're not interchangeable!
Philip Stopford was David's successor at Belfast Cathedral, and was subjected to much the same treatment as David was at the hands of the same Dean. Belfast really is a bit of a poisoned chalice for choirmasters.
I wasn't at church today; I was having fun singing Evensong at the Cathedral of the Isles yesterday, at which our offerings were:
Introit: Rage, wisdom and our lives inflame - Sal MacDougall
Morland Responses - Graham Ellis
Psalm 48 - chant by Stanley Vann
Mag & Nunc - King's College Service - Joanna Forbes L'Estrange
Anthems:
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire - Thomas Attwood
I will sing with the Spirit - John Rutter
Hymns:
Holy Spirit, come confirm us - All for Jesus
Come down, O Love divine - Down Ampney
“O for a thousand tongues to sing” - Lyngham. We did Wesley proud (and I said so)!
“’Tis the Church triumphant singing” - Ar Hyd Y Nos (I'd have preferred the James Mountain tune but couldn't find a recording).
“Speak forth your word, O Father” - Llangloffan.
“Go forth and tell” - Woodlands.
Plenty of regulars were away. People didn't want to sing.
Pentecostal used to buzz. Today it bored.
At the risk of inducing more nausea, did you have the execrable Shiny Song?
Another good selection.
BTW, versions of Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire (to Mechlin) were sung at a Reformed Church in the Netherlands, and as the Offertory Hymn at Uppsala Cathedral, Sweden - a good example of a hymn and/or tune crossing denominational boundaries.
In fact, what did you have?
There are many excellent Pentecost hymns, old and new(er), apart from the hideous and eldritch Shiny Song*, and some of them only get an outing once a year (or maybe twice, if you have a confirmation service at Your Place).
*an earlier version was probably sung by the adherents of The Church Of Starry Wisdom in the stories by H P Lovecraft and Robert Bloch:
https://lovecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Church_of_Starry_Wisdom
Spirit of God (Skye boat song)
Spirit of the Living God (Iverson)
O God of cleansing, burning flame (Tucker)
Singing of the final hymn was not good. I guess it's because we only sing it once a year.
Started with All over the World. Which is utter sh1te.
The sequence (Holy Spirit Lord of light) was read not sung.
Offertory - Chris Walkers Veni Sancte Spiritus without the solos that turn it into something interesting.
Communion - This is my body. Which is OK as its based on one of the Last Supper discourses in John. But it's so dreary.
I've been at this lark for 60 years now. Today I felt every second.
O dear. I sympathise - dross indeed, and yes, This is my body is very dreary...
Parish Communion
Come Holy Ghost creator come (Tallis Ordinal)
Nicholson in C
Cime thou Holy Spirit come (Veni sancte spiritus)
Come down O love divine (Down Ampney)
Our blest Redeemere ere he breathed (St Cuthbert)
Spirit of mercy truth and love (Easter song)
Evensong
When God of old came down from heaven (Winchester Old)
Come Holy Ghost our souls inspire (Veni creator)
Breathe on me breath of God (Trentham)
O Holy Ghost thy people bless (St Timothy)
Both services went well and had good singing, the final hymn in the morning (which I would normally play to "Melcombe" or "Warrington") was sung to the tune of "All creatures of oir God and King" with lusty Alleluias and was a very good conclusion. I could have done without dreary old "Winchester Old" tonight though and "Trentham" makes the breath of God sound like an anaesthetic. A good day though all in all.
I love singing chorally in full liturgies, but would find being in a regular choir overwhelming. Such are the joys.
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire (Veni Creator Spiritus)
Come, thou Holy Spirit bright (Veni Sancte Spiritus)
Our Lord, his passion ended (Naphill)
Spirit of mercy, truth, and love (Cornish)
Come down, O Love divine (Down Ampney)
Choral:
Jean Langlais: Missa Misericordiae Domini (1958)
Howard Helvey: O lux beatissima (2002)
Byrd: Factus est repente
Wind Who Makes All Winds That Blow (ABERYSTWYTH)
Come Down, O Love Divine (DOWN AMPNEY)
There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit (SWEET, SWEET SPIRIT)
Usual Celtic Alleluia for the sequence and Schubert for the Sanctus, but I'll probably mix it up pretty soon.
Introit : Spiritus Domini
Mass setting: Pax et Bonum by the late Richard Connolly
Motets: Loquebantur variis linguis and O Lord give Thy holy Spirit ( Tallis)
Sequence chanted ( with alternating polyphonic verses as per Madame la Directrice)
Hymns: O Spirit of the Living God ( Gonfalon Royal) and O breathe on me breth of God ( St Columba)
Well worth the 25 km schlep and uplifting sermon by + Vincent Parramattensis.
By and large, I find most of Kendrick's efforts to be inoffensive, if not a bit schmaltzy sometimes.
The Trumpets Sound, The Angels Sing can be what my generation deems a "banger", though, if one leans into the Caribbean/Hispanic flavor sufficiently.