Music for Christmas-2 (Jan 7) Epiphany

Prelude:           Noel: Dubois
Processional Hymn: 225: As With Gladness Men Of Old
Kyrie:             spoken
Gloria:            Gloria de Lourdes: Lecot/Berry
Readings:          497
Intercessions:     115: Lord hear our prayer
Offertory:         222: What Star Is This
                   (11) When Jesus Our Lord: Mendelssohn
Acclamations:      103-104-105: Mass of Creation: Haugen
Agnus Dei:         108: Mass of Creation: Haugen
Communion Hymn:    223: The First Nowell
Final Hymn:        224: We Three Kings
Postlude:          Marche des Rois Mages: Dubois

Music Notes:


Francois Clement Theodore Dubois (1837-1924) born
in Rosnay Marne France, began early musical studies at
Rheims Cathedral (with choirmaster Louis Fanart) then
attended Paris Conservatory; 1861-66 in Italy after
winning Prix de Rome; 1866 in Paris as teacher, organist,
composer; 1867 published oratorio "Les sept parole du Christ
(The Seven Last Words Of Christ)"; thereafter divided
time between Conservatory (1871- harmony prof, 1891-
composition prof, 1896-1905 director) and Church
(1868- Ste Madeleine choirmaster, 1871- Ste Clotilde
organist succeeding Cesar Franck, 1877- Ste Madeleine
organist succeeding Camille Saint-Saens). Lightly praised
and often overlooked among his
predecessors (Berlioz, Gounod),
contemporaries (Saint-Saens, Franck, Faure),
successors (Debussy, Ravel, Satie);
produced lasting religious
and secular pieces (organ, orchestral instruments, voice)
shortly before musical tastes changed from the romantic style;
wrote six textbooks on composition and harmony.


"Noel" (Twelve New Pieces 1892)
is a set of variations on a French Christmas Carol.


"Marche des Rois Mages" (Twelve Pieces 1886)
has a high-pitched "organ point" (sustained tone against which
changing harmonies are played) to represent the star guiding the
Magi as they travel, visit Herod, find the child Jesus.
On one occasion as Dubois performed it, organbuilder Cavaille-Coll
was present, heard the persistent note, thought it was a cipher,
rushed to the organ loft and started removing pipes to silence the note!


Monday we celebrate the Baptism Of The Lord, which concludes
the Christmas Season; Tuesday we enter the first week of Ordinary Time.