Lectionaries seem to vary a bit during Eastertide. Our Place kept Good Shepherd Sunday today, as did the Old Catholics in the Netherlands, but some Swedish Lutherans observed it last Sunday.
Did anyone have The Lord's my Shepherd (Crimond) at Their Place? I always associate that hymn and tune with funerals...
Good Christians All (GELOBET SEI GOTT)
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need (RESIGNATION)
The King of Love (the sublime ST COLUMBA)
Jesus, our Mighty Lord (MONK'S GATE)
Oddly enough, that hymn (or a paraphrase of it in Swedish) was sung towards the end of the service at Purmo Church, Finland, yesterday. That part of bi-lingual Finland is mostly Swedish-speaking, hence the language used.
Alas! it was played rather too slowly IMHO on the church organ.
Choir
God is my shepherd, / A. Dvorak
Br. James Air, / arr. Alan Bullard
Hymns
God we praise you, God we bless you, / Rustington
Worship, honour, glory, blessing, / Austria
The King of love my shepher is, / Dominus Regit me
All hail the power of Jesus’ name , / Diadem
Good Shepherd Sunday, and no sign of Crimond! Maybe it's not just me that associates that tune with funerals...
Did anyone's Place sing George Herbert's version of Psalm 23? It's The God of love my shepherd is, and the tune in our default hymn book is University, by Charles Collignon (1725-1785). IMHO, this is a cheerful and lively tune, ideally suited to a West Gallery band and quire...
At 9 o'clock communion:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks to the Risen Lord - ALLELUIA
Before the Throne of God Above - BEFORE THE THRONE
Jesus Lives! The Terrors Now - ST. ALBINUS
I wasn't singing much today as I was serving, which was probably just as well, as two of the hymns* weren't familiar at all:
O praise ye the Lord - Laudate Dominum Christ's is the world - A Touching Place A new commandment - A New Commandment Ubi caritas et amor - Ubi Caritas (and certainly not the Durufle version!) The church's one foundation - Aurelia
* I use the term in its loosest sense ...
It's pretty bad when Aurelia comes as a blessèd relief!
Personally I think that's a pretty good selection for a mixed congregation. I don't know "A Touching Place" but I'm assuming it's a Wild Goose song with a Scottish melody.
We had a united Christian Aid service with:
God is love, let heaven adore him - Blaenwern.
Beauty for brokenness (Kendrick).
The kingdom of God is justice and joy - Laudate Dominum (Parry).
Where can we find you, Lord Jesus our Master? - Epiphany Hymn (written by a late member of my church).
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun - Truro.
@Piglet I kinda like Malcolm Archer. He's come to our shack a few times and has been just lovely + ISTM he has a bit more variety of form than R*tter.
Anyway, this morning:
Light's glittering morn bedecks the sky (Lasst uns enfreuen)
O thou who at the eucharist did pray (Song 1)
I come with joy a child of God (St Botolph)
O jesus I have promised (Wolvercote)
Mass setting: Martin How's Shrewsbury Mass
Anthem: Nardone's A New Commandment
Song 1 bass line is a banger. I usually find St Botolph a bit beige, but it was moving today to those words. Lasst uns enfreuen features an octave-and-a-half jump in the bass line as we move from harmony to unison towards the end - a bit of interest certainly.
I though EVERYONE would be singing the Nardone this morning, what with the gospel reading and all - no sign of that happening here yet.
How's mass setting is a surprise hit with the congregation. There's not even a recording on youtube - does anyone else sing it?
If you're referring to A new commandment, this is now a golden oldie, authorship unknown, but the text was copyrighted in 1984. Ubi caritas et amor is, if it's the version in the Orange Book, one of Jacques Berthier's compositions for the Taize Community.
Aurelia would not come as a blessed relief to me, I'm afraid, but tastes differ.
Easter 5 at Our Place, and another suitably paschal selection:
Ye choirs of new Jerusalem (St Fulbert) Love is his word (Cresswell) Good Christians all, rejoice and sing (Vulpius) The day of resurrection (Ellacombe)
Personally I think that's a pretty good selection for a mixed congregation. I don't know "A Touching Place" but I'm assuming it's a Wild Goose song with a Scottish melody.
<snip>
Words by John Bell, usually sung to a Scottish folk tune called Dream Angus.
We had:
Come, now is the time to worship
Spirit of the living God
From heaven you came
Lord for the years
The church's one foundation
I don't mind any of then particularly, and rather like TCOF, but there's a line in the first one that I'm not sure about: "still the greatest treasure remains for those who gladly choose you now". It seems somewhat contrary to Christ's teaching e.g. the workers in the vineyard.
Personally I think that's a pretty good selection for a mixed congregation. I don't know "A Touching Place" but I'm assuming it's a Wild Goose song with a Scottish melody.
<snip>
Words by John Bell, usually sung to a Scottish folk tune called Dream Angus.
Here's a lovely rendition, though IMHO it needs to be sung a little quicker with a congregation:
Morning Communion so just the three songs. Sermon text was Habakkuk 3.
Rejoice! the Lord is King (Gopsal)
All is well with my Soul (Ville du Havre)
God is our Strength and Refuge (Dambuster's March)
If you're referring to A new commandment, this is now a golden oldie, authorship unknown, but the text was copyrighted in 1984.
Yes, and as I pointed out this morning, "Beauty for brokenness" is over 30 years old although its sentiments sadly remain as valid today.
Lots of Taize chants popular (in some Places) today were written by Jacques Berthier, who died in 1994. Many more have, of course, been added to the list since then.
If you're referring to A new commandment, this is now a golden oldie, authorship unknown, but the text was copyrighted in 1984. Ubi caritas et amor is, if it's the version in the Orange Book, one of Jacques Berthier's compositions for the Taize Community.
Yes, I quite like Berthier’s Ubi caritas, but it’s not intended to be sung as a hymn and doesn’t work particularly well as a hymn.
Today, we had:
“For the Beauty of the Earth”/DIX
“Take, O Take Me as I Am”/TAKE ME AS I AM
“What Is the World Like”/NEW WORLD
“O for a World”/AZMON
If you're referring to A new commandment, this is now a golden oldie, authorship unknown, but the text was copyrighted in 1984. Ubi caritas et amor is, if it's the version in the Orange Book, one of Jacques Berthier's compositions for the Taize Community.
Yes, I quite like Berthier’s Ubi caritas, but it’s not intended to be sung as a hymn and doesn’t work particularly well as a hymn.
<snip>
Well, it can be sung as a simple repetitive chant, which I suppose isn't really a hymn, as that word is usually understood. However, in the reviled Orange Book, it has five verses, which can be sung by a cantor (or cantors) over the refrain. This is how it's sometimes done at Taize, and it's easy enough if you have one or two competent cantors to lead. We've done it like that at Our Place in the past, so I know whereof I speak.
It's one of those songs which might best be sung during Communion, though, by the cantors, and those not otherwise engaged...
If you're referring to A new commandment, this is now a golden oldie, authorship unknown, but the text was copyrighted in 1984. Ubi caritas et amor is, if it's the version in the Orange Book, one of Jacques Berthier's compositions for the Taize Community.
Yes, I quite like Berthier’s Ubi caritas, but it’s not intended to be sung as a hymn and doesn’t work particularly well as a hymn.
<snip>
Well, it can be sung as a simple repetitive chant, which I suppose isn't really a hymn, as that word is usually understood. However, in the reviled Orange Book, it has five verses, which can be sung by a cantor (or cantors) over the refrain. This is how it's sometimes done at Taize, and it's easy enough if you have one or two competent cantors to lead. We've done it like that at Our Place in the past, so I know whereof I speak.
Yes, and that’s how it was written. It works well as a meditative or prayerful chant, perhaps (as you say) during Communion, or during foot-washing on Maundy Thursday, which is the original liturgical context of the text. Or it works simply as a form of prayer.
But as a hymn—as you say, as that term is usually understood—I don’t think it works at all. That’s simply not the use for which it was intended.
So do I - very nice chap. And if I remember rightly, he may have coined the expression "I can't believe it's not Rutter" - I'm fairly sure it was he from whom I first heard it!
His Rejoice the Lord is King does have a very Rutteresque feel to it, from the jaunty 7/8 time signature to the obligatory "we have now changed key!" in the penultimate verse. It was quite an enjoyable sing though.
"A Touching Place" was indeed a John Bell confection; as I didn't know the tune (and it wasn't being played very well) and didn't have a copy of the music, it was a bit of a bollocks as far as I was concerned. It was also patently obvious that the congregation didn't know it either, and there were only two of the "choir" there, who weren't much help on their own.
Both "Love Divine" and "Guide me, o though great Jehovah" this morning so much lusty singing. As I will sing the former at my mother's funeral, which will be fairly soon, and I was staying with them this weekend, this did not leave me entirely dry-eyed.
No morning service at Our Place, as we are in interregnum.
Evensong, full on 1662, no short cuts, led by the former parish priest who retired about 20 years ago. He even prayed ‘ O Lord, save the Queen’.
Introit: If ye love me ( Tallis)
Allelujah! Hearts to heaven - Lux Eoi
Rock of Ages - Petra
Now the green blade rises - Noël nouvelet
Light’s abode, celestial Salem - Regent Square
"A Touching Place" was indeed a John Bell confection; as I didn't know the tune (and it wasn't being played very well) and didn't have a copy of the music, it was a bit of a bollocks as far as I was concerned. It was also patently obvious that the congregation didn't know it either, and there were only two of the "choir" there, who weren't much help on their own.
If you're referring to A new commandment, this is now a golden oldie, authorship unknown, but the text was copyrighted in 1984. Ubi caritas et amor is, if it's the version in the Orange Book, one of Jacques Berthier's compositions for the Taize Community.
Yes, I quite like Berthier’s Ubi caritas, but it’s not intended to be sung as a hymn and doesn’t work particularly well as a hymn.
<snip>
Well, it can be sung as a simple repetitive chant, which I suppose isn't really a hymn, as that word is usually understood. However, in the reviled Orange Book, it has five verses, which can be sung by a cantor (or cantors) over the refrain. This is how it's sometimes done at Taize, and it's easy enough if you have one or two competent cantors to lead. We've done it like that at Our Place in the past, so I know whereof I speak.
It's one of those songs which might best be sung during Communion, though, by the cantors, and those not otherwise engaged...
We keep it for the foot washing on Maundy Thursday where it is a proper text. It's simple repetitive nature means everyone can watch the action, and it is an easy matter to stop it when normal service resumes. We don't do the verses. They aren't particularly tuneful.
If you're referring to A new commandment, this is now a golden oldie, authorship unknown, but the text was copyrighted in 1984. Ubi caritas et amor is, if it's the version in the Orange Book, one of Jacques Berthier's compositions for the Taize Community.
Yes, I quite like Berthier’s Ubi caritas, but it’s not intended to be sung as a hymn and doesn’t work particularly well as a hymn.
<snip>
Well, it can be sung as a simple repetitive chant, which I suppose isn't really a hymn, as that word is usually understood. However, in the reviled Orange Book, it has five verses, which can be sung by a cantor (or cantors) over the refrain. This is how it's sometimes done at Taize, and it's easy enough if you have one or two competent cantors to lead. We've done it like that at Our Place in the past, so I know whereof I speak.
It's one of those songs which might best be sung during Communion, though, by the cantors, and those not otherwise engaged...
We keep it for the foot washing on Maundy Thursday where it is a proper text. It's simple repetitive nature means everyone can watch the action, and it is an easy matter to stop it when normal service resumes. We don't do the verses. They aren't particularly tuneful.
We've also sung it (without the verses) during the foot-washing, though we've had it once or twice at other services with the verses.
Choir
I give you a new commandment, / Aston
And I saw a new heaven, / Archer
Hymns
God is love, let heaven adore him, / Abbots Leigh
Father welcomes all his children, / Kristin, Robin Mann
When I needed a neighbour, / Neighbour, Sydney Carter
Great is Your (sic) Faithfulness, / Faithfulness
The one we had that nobody seemed to know at Sundays Christian Aid Parade service was The Compassion Song (Townend/Getty). I had sung it before but don't know it well and without a copy of the music on this occasion we were all floundering.
Great is thy faithfulness (Faithfulness) Hail, thou once despised Jesus (Lux Eoi) Peace, perfect peace is the gift of Christ our Lord (Kevin Mayhew) Ride on, ride on in majesty (Winchester New)
FatherInCharge has threatened promised hymns at both Masses on Ascension Day next Thursday.
Paul and Silas and the Macedonian vision + confirmations.
“I will sing the wondrous story” - Hyfrydol.
“When the road is rough and steep” ("Golden Oldie" time again!).
"Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us” - Mannheim.
“Put now your trust in God” - Venice (yes, I know it should be Ich Halte Treulich Still, but we know that even less than the tune I did choose!).
“O Jesus, I have promised” - Hatherop Castle (are we the only church that still sings this?).
For once, we had an absolutely banging selection of hymns today:
Crown him with many crowns - Diademata Breathe on me, breath of God - Carlisle God of mercy, God of grace - Heathlands O thou, who at thy Eucharist didst pray - Song 1 Guide me, O thou great Redeemer - Cwm Rhondda - also
Didn't go this morning, but I'm reliably informed the hymns were
How Sweet The Name Of Jesus Sounds (St. Peter)
Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer (Cwm Rhonda)
Trust and obey (Trust and obey)
Come, People of The Risen King (Townend)
We had:
Blessed assurance
I rejoiced when I heard them say (a setting of Psalm 122 by Bernadette Farrell which was new to me but with which I'm rather taken - no-doubt-eventually St Bernadette has a pretty high strike rate of decent hymns)
Great is the faithfulness
Will you come and follow me
To God be the glory
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea (Indescribable) God, I look to you, I won't be overwhelmed (I will love you, Lord my strength) Father of Creation (Let your glory fall in this room) I've heard a thousand stories of what they think you're like (Good, good Father) How great the chasm that lay between us
We had God of Grace and God of Glory this morning. Two on your list have been sung recently, though, with the other two being on my lists within the next couple of weeks.
Mass of St Thomas
City of God, how broad and far ( Richmond)
God is love, let heaven adore him (Blaenwern)
There is a redeemer - Melody Green
Love is his word (Cresswell)*
O Jesus I have promised ( Hatherop Castle)
We had not practised any hymns, and the tunes were chosen by the organist after some discussion, or Churchwarden in the case of the last one.
Only three choir members present today.
*none of us knew this Communion hymn but we acquitted ourselves well enough over seven verses plus refrain. Quite an attractive hymn. What was annoying was that the congregation did not join in. Some even talked throughout.
Comments
Did anyone have The Lord's my Shepherd (Crimond) at Their Place? I always associate that hymn and tune with funerals...
Good Christians All (GELOBET SEI GOTT)
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need (RESIGNATION)
The King of Love (the sublime ST COLUMBA)
Jesus, our Mighty Lord (MONK'S GATE)
Alas! it was played rather too slowly IMHO on the church organ.
Choir
God is my shepherd, / A. Dvorak
Br. James Air, / arr. Alan Bullard
Hymns
God we praise you, God we bless you, / Rustington
Worship, honour, glory, blessing, / Austria
The King of love my shepher is, / Dominus Regit me
All hail the power of Jesus’ name , / Diadem
Did anyone's Place sing George Herbert's version of Psalm 23? It's The God of love my shepherd is, and the tune in our default hymn book is University, by Charles Collignon (1725-1785). IMHO, this is a cheerful and lively tune, ideally suited to a West Gallery band and quire...
Here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDUWSg4YuWM&list=RDuDUWSg4YuWM&start_radio=1
Would that tune be St Columba?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhrheiAd51I
Introit: Ascendit Deus - Phillips
Responses: Ayleward
Psalm 47 - Turle
Mag & Nunc: Brewer in D
Anthem: Rejoice, the Lord is king - Malcolm Archer*
Hymns:
Love's redeeming work is done - Savannah
Ye choirs of new Jerusalem - St Fulbert
* Nice piece, but I can't believe it's not Rutter ...
We sang really well, in a good acoustic, and with an excellent organ - happy piglet.
That's the one. I much prefer it to the plodding 4/4 tune.
It is a good sing, isn't it? I quite like it - but I also like Dominus regit me, if played with some sparkle...
Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks to the Risen Lord - ALLELUIA
Before the Throne of God Above - BEFORE THE THRONE
Jesus Lives! The Terrors Now - ST. ALBINUS
O praise ye the Lord - Laudate Dominum
Christ's is the world - A Touching Place
A new commandment - A New Commandment
Ubi caritas et amor - Ubi Caritas (and certainly not the Durufle version!)
The church's one foundation - Aurelia
* I use the term in its loosest sense ...
It's pretty bad when Aurelia comes as a blessèd relief!
We had a united Christian Aid service with:
God is love, let heaven adore him - Blaenwern.
Beauty for brokenness (Kendrick).
The kingdom of God is justice and joy - Laudate Dominum (Parry).
Where can we find you, Lord Jesus our Master? - Epiphany Hymn (written by a late member of my church).
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun - Truro.
Anyway, this morning:
Light's glittering morn bedecks the sky (Lasst uns enfreuen)
O thou who at the eucharist did pray (Song 1)
I come with joy a child of God (St Botolph)
O jesus I have promised (Wolvercote)
Mass setting: Martin How's Shrewsbury Mass
Anthem: Nardone's A New Commandment
Song 1 bass line is a banger. I usually find St Botolph a bit beige, but it was moving today to those words. Lasst uns enfreuen features an octave-and-a-half jump in the bass line as we move from harmony to unison towards the end - a bit of interest certainly.
I though EVERYONE would be singing the Nardone this morning, what with the gospel reading and all - no sign of that happening here yet.
How's mass setting is a surprise hit with the congregation. There's not even a recording on youtube - does anyone else sing it?
Cheers
Heron
Aurelia would not come as a blessed relief to me, I'm afraid, but tastes differ.
Easter 5 at Our Place, and another suitably paschal selection:
Ye choirs of new Jerusalem (St Fulbert)
Love is his word (Cresswell)
Good Christians all, rejoice and sing (Vulpius)
The day of resurrection (Ellacombe)
Words by John Bell, usually sung to a Scottish folk tune called Dream Angus.
Come, now is the time to worship
Spirit of the living God
From heaven you came
Lord for the years
The church's one foundation
I don't mind any of then particularly, and rather like TCOF, but there's a line in the first one that I'm not sure about: "still the greatest treasure remains for those who gladly choose you now". It seems somewhat contrary to Christ's teaching e.g. the workers in the vineyard.
Here's a lovely rendition, though IMHO it needs to be sung a little quicker with a congregation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVdC4DyCaVM
Rejoice! the Lord is King (Gopsal)
All is well with my Soul (Ville du Havre)
God is our Strength and Refuge (Dambuster's March)
Lots of Taize chants popular (in some Places) today were written by Jacques Berthier, who died in 1994. Many more have, of course, been added to the list since then.
Today, we had:
“For the Beauty of the Earth”/DIX
“Take, O Take Me as I Am”/TAKE ME AS I AM
“What Is the World Like”/NEW WORLD
“O for a World”/AZMON
Well, it can be sung as a simple repetitive chant, which I suppose isn't really a hymn, as that word is usually understood. However, in the reviled Orange Book, it has five verses, which can be sung by a cantor (or cantors) over the refrain. This is how it's sometimes done at Taize, and it's easy enough if you have one or two competent cantors to lead. We've done it like that at Our Place in the past, so I know whereof I speak.
It's one of those songs which might best be sung during Communion, though, by the cantors, and those not otherwise engaged...
But as a hymn—as you say, as that term is usually understood—I don’t think it works at all. That’s simply not the use for which it was intended.
His Rejoice the Lord is King does have a very Rutteresque feel to it, from the jaunty 7/8 time signature to the obligatory "we have now changed key!" in the penultimate verse. It was quite an enjoyable sing though.
"A Touching Place" was indeed a John Bell confection; as I didn't know the tune (and it wasn't being played very well) and didn't have a copy of the music, it was a bit of a bollocks as far as I was concerned. It was also patently obvious that the congregation didn't know it either, and there were only two of the "choir" there, who weren't much help on their own.
Evensong, full on 1662, no short cuts, led by the former parish priest who retired about 20 years ago. He even prayed ‘ O Lord, save the Queen’.
Introit: If ye love me ( Tallis)
Allelujah! Hearts to heaven - Lux Eoi
Rock of Ages - Petra
Now the green blade rises - Noël nouvelet
Light’s abode, celestial Salem - Regent Square
Anthem : A new commandment ( Nardone)
I agree that it's not the easiest one to sing, but the same could be said of a fair few of John Bell's works...
We keep it for the foot washing on Maundy Thursday where it is a proper text. It's simple repetitive nature means everyone can watch the action, and it is an easy matter to stop it when normal service resumes. We don't do the verses. They aren't particularly tuneful.
We've also sung it (without the verses) during the foot-washing, though we've had it once or twice at other services with the verses.
And yes, I’ve more often heard the Berthier version without the sung verses, but with instrumental countermelodies (as at the link above.)
Choir
I give you a new commandment, / Aston
And I saw a new heaven, / Archer
Hymns
God is love, let heaven adore him, / Abbots Leigh
Father welcomes all his children, / Kristin, Robin Mann
When I needed a neighbour, / Neighbour, Sydney Carter
Great is Your (sic) Faithfulness, / Faithfulness
https://www.youtube.com/live/MbVpxjGdakI?si=faEffSPG_IBhgDuC
This should be The Compassion Hymn
https://www.youtube.com/live/MbVpxjGdakI?si=8iEYFGQ5iHUrSfQw&t=2271
Thank you for the clarification. It's a completely new one to me.
Great is thy faithfulness (Faithfulness)
Hail, thou once despised Jesus (Lux Eoi)
Peace, perfect peace is the gift of Christ our Lord (Kevin Mayhew)
Ride on, ride on in majesty (Winchester New)
FatherInCharge has threatened promised hymns at both Masses on Ascension Day next Thursday.
“I will sing the wondrous story” - Hyfrydol.
“When the road is rough and steep” ("Golden Oldie" time again!).
"Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us” - Mannheim.
“Put now your trust in God” - Venice (yes, I know it should be Ich Halte Treulich Still, but we know that even less than the tune I did choose!).
“O Jesus, I have promised” - Hatherop Castle (are we the only church that still sings this?).
Crown him with many crowns - Diademata
Breathe on me, breath of God - Carlisle
God of mercy, God of grace - Heathlands
O thou, who at thy Eucharist didst pray - Song 1
Guide me, O thou great Redeemer - Cwm Rhondda - also
Result: happy piglet.
How Sweet The Name Of Jesus Sounds (St. Peter)
Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer (Cwm Rhonda)
Trust and obey (Trust and obey)
Come, People of The Risen King (Townend)
Blessed assurance
I rejoiced when I heard them say (a setting of Psalm 122 by Bernadette Farrell which was new to me but with which I'm rather taken - no-doubt-eventually St Bernadette has a pretty high strike rate of decent hymns)
Great is the faithfulness
Will you come and follow me
To God be the glory
God, I look to you, I won't be overwhelmed (I will love you, Lord my strength)
Father of Creation (Let your glory fall in this room)
I've heard a thousand stories of what they think you're like (Good, good Father)
How great the chasm that lay between us
We had God of Grace and God of Glory this morning. Two on your list have been sung recently, though, with the other two being on my lists within the next couple of weeks.
GMOTGR rattled the rafters. It was magical!
Mass of St Thomas
City of God, how broad and far ( Richmond)
God is love, let heaven adore him (Blaenwern)
There is a redeemer - Melody Green
Love is his word (Cresswell)*
O Jesus I have promised ( Hatherop Castle)
We had not practised any hymns, and the tunes were chosen by the organist after some discussion, or Churchwarden in the case of the last one.
Only three choir members present today.
*none of us knew this Communion hymn but we acquitted ourselves well enough over seven verses plus refrain. Quite an attractive hymn. What was annoying was that the congregation did not join in. Some even talked throughout.