Music for Christmas-1-C (Dec 31) Holy Family

Prelude:           Puer nobis nascitur: Lebegue
Processional Hymn: 215: Good Christian Friends Rejoice
Kyrie:             -spoken-
Gloria:            Gloria de Lourdes: Lecot/Berry
Readings:          493 or 495
Intercessions:     115: Lord hear our prayer
Offertory:         207: Awake Awake And Greet The New Morn
Acclamations:      103-104-105: Mass of Creation: Haugen
Agnus Dei:         108: Mass of Creation: Haugen
Communion Hymn:    221: What Child Is This
Final Hymn:        417: Sing Of Mary Meek And Lowly
Postlude:          Les Cloches: Lebegue

Music Notes:


Nicholas-Antoine Lebegue (1630-1702), organist to Louis XIV,
and organist at Saint-Merry (Paris), was also a harpsichordist.
With Nivers and Gigault, he evolved music forms to exploit the
technical developments of the French organ (more manuals, more
stops, interesting sound combinations). He composed three volumes
of organ works: Book One contains suites based on each of the
eight liturgical tones; Book Two contains settings of Mass parts
(Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei) and a Magnificat for each tone;
Book Three contains pieces usable as Preludes or Postludes, several
Offertories and Elevations, and Noels (sets of variations on popular
French Christmas Carols).


"Puer nobis nascitur (A child is born for us)" presents the tune
four times: slightly ornamented above a light accompaniment;
majestically; floridly (melody hidden among many other notes);
rhythmically altered with suspensions and resolutions.


"Les Cloches (The Bells)" is a character piece based on a four-note
carillon (bell tower) sequence; it begins softly, imitating the small
bells, and gradually builds, introducing more and more of the larger
bells into the joyous clamour.

Music for Advent-4-C (Dec 24)

Prelude:           Pastorale: Zipoli
Processional Hymn: 200: Savior Of The Nations Come
Kyrie:             Missa XVII (salve): chant
Gloria:            -none-during-Advent-
Readings:          488
Intercessions:     115: Lord hear our prayer
Offertory:         217: Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming
Acclamations:      185: Missa XVIII (simplex): chant
                   104-105: Mass of Creation: Haugen
Agnus Dei:         Missa XVII (salve): chant
Communion Hymn:    196: O Come Divine Messiah
Final Hymn:        193: The King Shall Come
Postlude:          All' Elevazione II: Zipoli

Music Notes:


Domenico Zipoli (1688-1726) born in Prato Tuscany Italy,
studied in Florence (with cathedral music director) and Naples
(with Allesandro Scarlatti) and Bologna (with Lavinio Vannucci)
and Rome (with Bernardo Pasquini); became a Jesuit novice (1716);
went to Seville Spain to await passage to Argentina (1717,
Buenos Aires and Cordoba); continued his musical activities while
completing his philosophical and theological studies; died (Jan)
of tuberculosis before ordination. Old World works include
oratorios (only libretti survive), pieces for harpsichord and
organ (published 1716); New World works include masses and motets,
which have been found in missions in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru.


"Pastorale" has two rustic shepherd's pipe tunes separated by
a dance tune carried on the wind from a village to the grazing field.


"All' Elevazione II" is the second of two gentle meditations
intended for use during the Eucharistic Prayer.


On Christmas Eve starting at 11:30 pm, as a prelude to the
Midnight Mass, the Parish Choir will be accompanied by a chamber
ensemble (violins, recorders, cellos, harpsichord, organ) to present
music by Charpentier, Buxtehude, Bach, Purcell, Callaway.


Christmas Carols will be sung during Masses throughout the
Christmas Season (continues through Sun Jan 8 Epiphany).

Music for Advent-3-C (Dec 17) Gaudete

Prelude:           Conditor alme siderum: Dupre
Processional Hymn: 198: Come O Long Expected Jesus
Kyrie:             Missa XVII (salve): chant
Gloria:            -none-during-Advent-
Readings:          485
Intercessions:     115: Lord hear our prayer
Offertory:         x
                   (11) Rejoice in the Lord alway: Purcell
Acclamations:      185: Missa XVIII (simplex): chant
                   104-105: Mass of Creation: Haugen
Agnus Dei:         Missa XVII (salve): chant
Communion Hymn:    190: O Come O Come Emmanuel
Final Hymn:        6: Now Bless The God Of Israel
Postlude:          Reveillez-vous, la voix des veillerus: Dupre

Music Notes:


Marcel Dupre (1886-1971) spent much of his life at the
Paris Conservatoire: as student (1902-14) under Guilmant,
Vierne, Widor; as Professor of organ (1926-54); as Director
(1954-56). He was also at St Sulpice: as assistant organist
to Widor (1906-34), then his successor (1934-71).


"Conditor alme siderum" is the first of his "Sixteen Chorales"
(opus 38, 1942); the pieces span the liturgical year from Advent
to All Saints. Composed for students, he demands an increasing
technical skill to play each succeeding piece.


"Reveillez-vous, la voix des veillerus" is one of his
"Seventy-nine Chorales" (opus 28, 1931); the set was composed
during the Summer months and dedicated to Gustave Ogier, his banker,
who was an aspiring organist. This tune is known in German as
"Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" and in English as "Sleepers wake".

Music for Advent-2-C (Dec 10)

Prelude:           Messiah "Sinfonia": Handel
Processional Hymn: 191: People Look East
Kyrie:             Missa XVII (salve): chant
Gloria:            -none-during-Advent-
Readings:          482
Intercessions:     115: Lord hear our prayer
Offertory:         x
                   (11) Messiah "Lift up your heads": Handel
Acclamations:      185: Missa XVIII (simplex): chant
                   104-105: Mass of Creation: Haugen
Agnus Dei:         Missa XVII (salve): chant
Communion Hymn:    199: Wait For The Lord
Final Hymn:        194: On Jordan's Bank
Postlude:          Messiah "Pifa": Handel

Music Notes:


Georg Friedrich Haendel (1685-1759) was born in Halle Germany,
and started his music lessons at age 7. In 1702 the death-bed
wish of his barber-surgeon father obligated him to divert his
attention to law school; within a year he dropped out and went
to Hamburg as a violinist and composer. In 1706 he went to Italy
and became a master of its opera, chamber, vocal music; in 1710
he returned to Germany and was appointed Kappellmeister to the
Elector of Hanover, and made a brief visit to England. In 1712
he again went to England; his visit became permanent as the
Elector became George I of England.


His oratorio "Messiah (Dublin 1742)", with its power, lyricism,
sincerity, profundity, make it one of the supreme musical creations
as well as an outstanding example of devotional art. The "Sinfonia"
is the overture; the "Pifa" (pan-pipes) suggests the pastoral scene
just before the angels announce the birth of Jesus.

Music for Advent-1-C (Dec 3) Sunday C, Weekday 1

Prelude:           Conditor alme siderum (verset 1): Titelouze
Processional Hymn: (5) Stay Awake Be Ready: Walker
                   195: Creator Of The Stars Of Night
Kyrie:             Missa XVII (salve): chant
Gloria:            -none-during-Advent-
Readings:          479
Intercessions:     115: Lord hear our prayer
Offertory:         (5) 195: Creator Of The Stars Of Night
                   (11) (CFC p 206) Lo he comes: Wesley/Cennick/Willcocks
Acclamations:      103-104-105: Mass of Creation: Haugen
Agnus Dei:         Missa XVII (salve): chant
Communion Hymn:    197: My Soul In Stillness Waits
Final Hymn:        371: City Of God
Postlude:          Conditor alme siderum (verset 3): Titelouze

Music Notes:


Happy Liturgical New Year to all! The New Church Year begins
today, and for the next twelve months our Scripture texts will be
found in the Hymnals under the headings "Sunday C" and "Weekday 1".


During Advent, our Introductory Rite is noticeably more penitential:
the Kyrie becomes more prominent as we set aside the Gloria except
for feast days (Dec 8 Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception,
Dec 12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe).


This weekend at the Sat 5 pm Vigil Mass, the Music is led by the
School Choir (directed by Rebecca Monson); and Lectors are from
Grade Two and Grade Six.


We begin the seventh year of use of our
hymnals (blessed and distributed Advent-1 2000); during the past
year, of the 294 hymns available (#190 to #475 plus 8 on rear cover),
our weekend use included 156 hymns (115 sung one time, 34 sung two
times, 7 sung three or more times).


The prelude and postlude this weekend use
the melody of Hymn 195 (melody in pedals, melody hidden among
other notes in manuals and pedals).