Music for OT-8-A (May 25) Corpus Christi

Prelude:           Ecce Panis (Opus 65 Book 6): Guilmant
Processional Hymn: 256: At The Lambs High Feast We Sing
Kyrie:             Deutsche Messe: Schubert/Proulx
Gloria:            Deutsche Messe: Schubert/Proulx
Readings:          575
Intercessions:     115: Lord hear our prayer
Offertory:         432: Shepherd Of Souls In Love Come Feed Us
                   (11) Lauda Sion: Buxtehude
Sanctus/Mem/Amen:  Deutsche Messe: Schubert/Proulx
Agnus Dei:         Deutsche Messe: Schubert/Proulx
Communion Hymn:    850: Adoro Te Devote
Final Hymn:        306: Holy God We Praise Thy Name
Postlude:          Deo Gratias (Opus 65 Book 10): Guilmant

Music Notes:


This weekend the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ supersedes the Sunday Vigil/Day of Ordinary Time (Week 8).


The Communion Antiphon (Graduale Romanum Chant Proper): Qui manducat carnem meam, et bibit sanguinem meum, in me manet, et ego in eo, dicit Dominus (He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him, says the Lord).


Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) wrote the Sequence text "Lauda Sion". It summons all to endless praise of the Blessed Sacrament (lines 1-15); assigns the reason for the commemoration of its institution (lines 16-30); gives in detail the Catholic doctrine of the Sacrament (lines 31-62); shows the fulfillment of ancient types (lines 63-70); prays the Good Shepherd to feed and guard us here and make us sharers of the Heavenly Table hereafter (lines 71-80).


The Prelude by Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911) presents the chant melody (Ecce panis angelorum / Factus cibus viatorum / Vere panis filiorum / Non mittendus canibus (Behold this bread of Angels / which hath become food for us on our pilgrimage / it is truly the bread of God's children / let it never be thrown to dogs). The Offertory sung by the choir presents a portion of the text set by Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707).


Thank you to all who attended the Spring Choral Concert; it was a pleasure to see such a large audience to balance the large number of musicians (25 voice St David Of Wales Festival Choir, 50 voice Contra Costa Chorale, 15 instrument chamber orchestra).