Music for Lent-2-B (Mar 12)

Prelude:           -silence-
Processional Hymn: 329: Beautiful Savior
Penitential Rite:  Missa XI (orbis factor): chant
Gloria:            -none-during-Lent-
Readings:          506
Offertory:         x
                   (11) O Wondrous Sight: Monteverdi
Acclamations:      185: Sanctus: chant
                   Missa XI (orbis factor): chant
Agnus Dei:         Missa XI (orbis factor): chant
Communion Hymn:    413: Tis Good Lord To Be Here
Final Hymn:        298: Praise To You O Christ Our Savior
Postlude:          -silence-

Music Notes:


During the Season of Lent our music becomes more reflective.
Our instrumental music is reduced to a minimum; the "fasting"
from solo organ works provides a silence before and after Mass;
all are encouraged to prepare for the Sacred Mysteries, and to
give proper thanks at the end, without distraction. We use the
ancient chants of the Church. Our hymns help us express the themes
of the season and day; this weekend two pieces hilight the Gospel.


"Tis Good Lord To Be Here" summarizes the event and petitions
for Jesus' abiding presence. The tune was composed in 1745 by
Johann Martin Speiss (1715-1772) who also wrote numerous solos,
motets, sonatas, masses, requiems, when not performing his duties
as prior of the Benedictine Irsee Monastery (near Kaufbeuren
Schwaben Germany, from whence the tune has the title SWABIA).
The tune was adapted by Anglican pastor and hymnist (writer of
poetry and hymn tunes and harmonies) William Henry Havergal
(1793-1870); his daughter Frances was also a hymnist. The text
is a poem written in 1888 by Joseph Armitage Robinson (1858-1933),
an Anglican scholar of New Testament and Patristics.


"O Wondrous Sight" is by Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) who
was born in Cremona Italy and received his earliest training
from Marc' Antonio Ingegneri, head of music at Cremona Cathedral.
In 1590 he entered the service of the Gonzaga Dukes of Mantua
(Vincenzo, Francesco, Ferdinando) as a viol/violin player;
in 1599 he married court singer Claudia de Cattaneis (who bore
him three children before dying in 1607); in 1602 he became
master of the ducal chapel. From 1613 until his death he was
choirmaster at St Mark's in Venice; in 1632/33 he was ordained a
Catholic priest. One of the major composers in the history of
western music, he served as a transitional figure from the
Renaissance to the Baroque. His compositions were varied and many,
including: the earliest opera to retain a place in modern repertoire
[L'Orfeo (1607)]; collections of canzonettas, motets, madrigals;
service music such as Vespers for the Blessed Virgin Mary (1610); masses.