Sunday, September 29, 2019

Why, O Why???

Finally, I decided to break down and post something here that's not merely a music list.

This weekend, we sang hymns relating to angels.  One of them related particularly to St. Michael the Archangel.  Another related to Michael and his cohorts Raphael and Gabriel.  This was because this day (September 29 as I write this post) is also the feast of the Archangels SS. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael (or in the Extraordinary Form, St. Michael the Archangel, or in the Anglican calendar, St. Michael and All Angels).

Our recessional hymn has seen its way into some (not many) Catholic hymnals.  That is Ye Holy Angels Bright, set to the tune "Darwall's 148th" (widely known with Rejoice, the Lord is King).

Our hymn after Communion (call it a meditation hymn, hymn of praise, hymn after Communion, whatever), was a nice little 2-verse hymn based on the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel (link to the text in the hymn author's own blog) sung to the tune "Madrid" (widely known with Come, Christians, Join to Sing).

The other two hymns, the entrance and offertory, came from obvious Catholic sources.  Yet I've not seen either one in any Catholic hymnal past or present.  We had to delve into the Hymnal 1940 to get these gems.  These beautiful texts should be in many Catholic hymnals.

The entrance hymn was Christ, the Fair Glory of the Holy Angels, which is a translation of Christe Sanctorum Decus Angelorum by Rabanus Maurus - yes, the same Rabanus Maurus that gave us Veni, Creator Spiritus, from which the familiar Come, Holy Ghost (that's Come, Holy Ghost and not that insipid One Spirit, One Church, which has infested many an OCP hymnal for the last two to three decades) is translated.  The tune is the very rousing Coelites Plaudant.

The offertory hymn was Hark, Hark, My Soul! Angelic Songs Are Swelling authored by Fr. Frederick Faber, the Catholic priest who is most widely known for Faith of Our Fathers (not that goofy "A Living Faith" which has infested every GIA hymnal since the 1997 RitualSong) and There's a Wideness in God's Mercy, set to the tune "Pilgrims" by Henry Smart (who is best known for his tune "Regent Square", most commonly associated with the Christmas carol Angels from the Realms of Glory).

WHY, OH WHY are these two hymns of high quality in both text and tune not in any Catholic hymnals?  Instead we get One Spirit, One Church, A Living Faith, All Are Welcome, Here Me Is, Lord, Eagle's Claws, and One Fred, One Barney.  Enough said... for now!

(Side note regarding Father Faber: over a decade ago, when I was working for the iPadre, I chose both Faith of Our Fathers and There's a Wideness one Sunday when after Mass, a former organist of the neighboring Fall River diocese approached me and asked me, "Hey Brian, what's with all the Protestant hymns, Faith of Our Fathers?"  Yes, this was a Catholic organist who posed that question to me.  I tried my damnedest to keep a straight "professional" face, if there is such a thing, while explaining to her that Faith of Our Fathers was written by a Catholic priest.  I afterward slipped into my van and laughed my head off, sounding like the Joker in the 60's TV series version of Batman.)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Sunday XXVI at Sacred Heart

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary:
Gloria: recited or Holy Angels Mass (BMP)
Sanctus through Agnus: A Community Mass (Proulx)

Alleluia: Dom A.G. Murray, OSB

The rest:
Entrance hymn: Christ the fair glory ("Coelites Plaudant")
Psalm 146: R./ Praise the Lord, my soul (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Hark, hark my soul ("Pilgrims")
Communion music:
- (11:15) O Sacrum Convivium (Remondi)
- (all others) R./ Remember your word to your servant, O Lord (Bartlett)
Meditation hymn: Hymn to St. Michael (Michael, Archangel blest) ("Madrid")
Recessional hymn: Ye holy angels bright ("Darwall's 148th")

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

The Quarter-Hundredth Sunday of the Year

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary:
Gloria: recited or Holy Angels Mass (BMP)
Sanctus through Agnus: A Community Mass (Proulx)

Alleluia: Dom A.G. Murray, OSB

The rest:
Entrance hymn: Sing praise to God who reigns above ("Mit Freuden Zart")
Psalm 113: R./ Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor (Fr. Weber, OSB)
Offertory hymn: O Jesus, I have promised ("Day of Rest")
Communion music:
- (11:15): In heav'nly love abiding ("Nyland")
- (all others): (Psalm 119) R./ May my ways be firm in keeping your statutes (Bartlett)
Meditation hymn: Blest are the pure in heart ("Franconia")
Recessional hymn: O worship the King ("Hanover")

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

The Two-Dozenth Sunday of the Year

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary:
Gloria: recited or Holy Angels Mass (BMP)
Sanctus through Agnus: A Community Mass (Proulx)

Alleluia: Dom A.G. Murray, OSB

The rest:
Entrance hymn: Praise to the Holiest in the height ("Newman")
Psalm 51: R./ I will rise and go to my Father (Weber)
Offertory hymn: Jesus, lover of my soul ("Aberystwyth")
Communion music:
- (11:15): My song is love unknown (Ireland)
- (all others): R./ I say unto you: there is joy among the angels of God for the one sinner who repents (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: The King of love my shepherd is ("St. Columba")
Recessional hymn: Jesus, Name all names above ("St. Theocticus")

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Thursday, September 5, 2019

The Three-Day Weekend

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

First Friday (Sacred Heart Community Mass)
Friday, IX-6, at 6 PM

Low Mass with hymns
Entrance hymn: O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine
Offertory hymn: All you who seek a comfort sure ("Kingsfold")
Communion hymn: Cor dulce, Cor amabile
Recessional hymn: To Jesus' Heart, all burning ("Cor Amoris")

Sunday XXIII of the Year
Saturday, IX-7, at 5 PM; Sunday, IX-8, at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM

Ordinary:
Gloria: recited or Holy Angels Mass (BMP)
Sanctus through Agnus: A Community Mass (Proulx)

Alleluia: Dom A.G. Murray, OSB

The rest:
Entrance hymn: When morning gilds the skies ("Laudes Domini")
Psalm 90: R./ In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Take up your cross ("O Jesu, Mi Dulcissime")
Communion music:
- (11:15) Like as the hart (V. Novello)
- (all others) R./ Make your vows unto the Lord and accomplish them (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: All you who seek a comfort sure ("Kingsfold")
Recessional hymn: Lift high the cross ("Crucifer")

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP