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26 December 2014

2014 Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols (Live Recording) from King's College, Cambridge

Live Sound Recording from BBC Radio of the 2014 Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols, sung by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge at 3:00pm, 24 December 2014.



Link: Program Booklet for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2014 (PDF)

See also: the live voice recordings of the "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" at 3:00 pm every Christmas Eve:
See also: King's College, Cambridge's Carols from King's from previous years:
The Choir of King's College, Cambridge's recent CD release: Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols

25 December 2014

1954 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College, Cambridge (UPDATE: 2014 digitally remastered version)

2014 DIGITALLY REMASTERED VERSION




ORIGINAL (1954) RECORDING


Historical recording of the 1954 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College, Cambridge under the direction of Boris Ord.

Hymn - Once in royal David's city 
Bidding Prayer
Carol - And there were shepherds (JS Bach) 
First Lesson - Genesis 3
Carol - Up! good Christen folk (Piae Cantiones)
Carol - In dulci jubilo (Pearsall)
 
Second Lesson - Luke 1
Carol - Hail, Blessed Virgin Mary! (arr. Charles Wood) 
Third Lesson - Matthew 1 
Carol - A virgin most pure (arr. Charles Wood) 
Fourth Lesson - Luke 2
Hymn - While shepherds watched 
Fifth Lesson - Matthew 2 
Carol - The Three Kings (Peter Cornelius)
Carol - Sing lullaby (arr. Edgar Pettman)

 Sixth Lesson - John 1
Collect and Blessing
 
Hymn - O Come all ye faithful
.
The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, directed by Boris Ord
Organ Scholar - Hugh McLean

UPDATED - 25 Dec 2014:
To mark 60 years of the BBC broadcast of Carol's from King's College Cambridge; BBC screened a digitally remastered copy of the 1954 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.

See also: the live voice recordings of the "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" at 3:00 pm every Christmas Eve:
See also: King's College, Cambridge's Carols from King's from previous years:
The Choir of King's College, Cambridge's recent CD release: Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols

60 Years of Carols from King's 2014 (BBC Documentary)





An amazing documentary broadcast on the BBC Christmas Day 2014. Features rare footage from many years of the Carol broadcasts since 1954 and revealing interviews with giants of Choral composing today such as John Rutter and Bob Chilcott, both past choral scholars at Kings. As well as an interview with Jonathan Willcocks son of the great Sir David Willcocks who will be 95 this year. An unbelievably good Christmas gift and treat.

See also: the live voice recordings of the "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" at 3:00 pm every Christmas Eve:
See also: King's College, Cambridge's Carols from King's from previous years:
The Choir of King's College, Cambridge's recent CD release: Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols


24 December 2014

2014 Carols from King's (Choir of King's College, Cambridge)





Carols from King's 2014, the pre-recorded version as televised on BBC TWO.

Hymn - Once in royal David’s city
Carol - Up! Good Christen Folk (Piae Cantiones)
 
First reading - Isaiah 9 
Carol - A tender shoot (Otto Goldschmidt)
Carol - Sussex Carol (arr. David Willcocks)
 
Second reading - Letter from Private Cunningham of the 5th Scottish Rifles 
Carol - Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! (arr. Stephen Cleobury)
Carol - In the bleak mid-winter (Gustav Holst)
Hymn - It came upon the midnight clear
 
Third reading - Luke 1 
Carol - The angel Gabriel (arr. Edgar Pettman)
Carol - Benedicamus Domino (Peter Warlock)
 
Fourth reading - Whereto shall we liken (Christina Rossetti) 
Carol - A Spotless Rose (Herbert Howells)
Carol - Joys Seven (arr. Stephen Cleobury)
 Hymn - God rest you merry, gentlemen
 
Fifth reading - Luke 2 
Carol - The lamb (John Tavener)
Carol - Ding! Dong! merrily on high (arr. Mack Wilberg & Peter Stevens)
 
Sixth reading - Matthew 2 
Carol - Noel nouvelet (Stephen Jackson) 
Seventh reading - Royal Presents (Nathaniel Wanley) 
Carol - The three kings (Peter Cornelius)
Carol - A babe is born all of a may (William Mathias)
 
Eighth reading - John 1
Carol - God is with us (John Tavener)
Hymn - Hark! the herald-angels sing

Voluntary - Vom Himmel hoch BWV 606 (JS Bach)
.
The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, directed by Stephen Cleobury
Organ Scholar: Douglas Tang

See also: the live voice recordings of the "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" at 3:00 pm every Christmas Eve:
See also: King's College, Cambridge's Carols from King's from previous years:
The Choir of King's College, Cambridge's recent CD release: Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols
.

Après la longue attente (Taizé)



Après la longue attente,
Après le rude hiver,
La nouvelle éclatante
Ebranle l’univers.
Fini le dur tourment,
Le Messie va paraître,
L’annonce des prophètes

S’accomplit maintenant.
Les humbles de la terre,
Les pauvres du Seigneur
Pourront lever la tête
Et réjouir leur cœur.
L’amour de Dieu s’étend
Sur tous ceux qui le craignent,
La splendeur de son règne
Eclaire les vivants.

O Seigneur, ta puissance
Nous soutient chaque jour,
Eveillant l’espérance
De ton prochain retour.
Le désespoir n’est plus
Car ta bonté fidèle
Est la vie éternelle:
Oh! viens, Seigneur Jésus!

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English 

Voici l'Étoile du Matin (Taizé)



Voici l'Étoile du Matin
Que fait lever l'amour du divin,
Pure et sainte lumière,
Répands dans nos cœurs ta clarté,
Viens dissiper l'obscurité
Qui règne sur la terre.
Seigneur, Sauveur, Fils du Père,
Ta lumière Salutaire
Nous conduit et nous éclaire.

Tu viens Jésus pour nous chercher
dans notre nuit et nous guider
à travers nos détresses.
Tu vois nos peines, nos malheurs,
tu deviens le libérateur
du mal qui nous oppresse
Seigneur, Sauveur, Fils du Père,
ta lumière salutaire
nous conduit et nous éclaire.

Laissant la puissance et l'honneur,
tu parais comme un serviteur,
pauvre et dans la souffrance.
Tu prend sur toi tous nos péchés
et ton amour nous rend a paix,
la joie et l'espérance.
Seigneur, Sauveur, Fils du Père,
ta lumière salutaire
nous conduit et nous éclaire.

Text: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, by Philipp Nicolai

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

23 December 2014

En regardant au loin (Taizé)



En regardant au loin,
voici que je vois venir la puissance de Dieu,
et la nuée couvre toute la terre.

Response for the First Sunday of Advent

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

J'ecoute (Taizé)







J'écoute: que dit le Seigneur?
Ce que dit le Seigneur, c'est la paix:
La paix pour son peuple, ses amis,
ceux qui reviennent à lui de tout coeur.
Proche est son salut pour qui l'adore.
Et la Gloire habitera notre terre.
Béni soit celui qui vient, le roi, au nom du Seigneur.
paix dans le ciel et gloire au plus haut des cieux. Amen.

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

22 December 2014

Psalm 147 (Taizé)



Glorifie le Seigneur, Jérusalem !
Célèbre ton Dieu, ô Sion !

Il renforça les barres de tes portes,
il a chez toi béni tes enfants;
il assure ton sol dans la paix,
de la graisse du froment te rassasie.

Il envoie son verbe sur terre,
rapide court sa parole;
il dispense la neige comme laine,
répand le givre comme cendre.

Il jette sa glace par morceaux:
à sa froidure, qui peut tenir?
Il envoie sa parole et fait fondre,
il souffle son vent, les eaux coulent.

Il révèle à Jacob sa parole,
ses lois et jugements à Israël;
pas un peuple qu'il ait ainsi traité,
pas un qui ait connu ses jugements.

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

Cantiques pour moi tes volontés (Taizé)



Cantiques pour moi tes volontés,
je me rappelle dans la nuit ton nom.


Text: Ps 119, 54-55

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

Voici Dieu qui vient á mon secours (Taizé)



See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

14 September 2014

Lord, Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing (SICILIAN MARINERS)



1 Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing;
Fill our hearts with joy and peace;
Let us each, thy love possessing,
Triumph in redeeming grace:
O refresh us, O refresh us,
Traveling through this wilderness.

2 Thanks we give, and adoration
For thy gospel's joyful sound:
May the fruits of thy salvation
In our hearts and lives abound!
Ever faithful, ever faithful
To the truth may we be found!

3 So whene'er the signal's given
Us from earth to call away,
Born on angel's wings to heaven,
Glad the summons to obey
May we ever, may we ever
Reign with Christ in endless day!

Text: John Faw­cett (stanzas 1-2), 1773; God­frey Thring (stan­za 3)
Tune: SICILIAN MARINERS

13 September 2014

30 August 2014

Hvalite imia Gospodnie (Taizé)










Hvalite imia Gospodnie, hvalite, rabi, Gospoda.
Blagoslovjen Gospod ot Siona, živy vo Ierusalimie.
Ispoviedaitiesia Gospodievi, iako Blag, iako v viek milost iego.
Ispoviedaitiesia Bogu Niebiernomu, iako v viek milost iego.
Aliluia, aliluia, aliluia.


Louez le nom du Seigneur, louez, serviteurs du Seigneur, Alleluia.
Beni soit le Seigneur depuis Sion, lui qui habite Jerusalem.
Rendez grace au Seigneur, car il est bon, car eternel est son amour.
Rendez grace au Dieu du ciel, car eternel est son amour. Alleluia.

Praise the name of the Lord, give praise, servants of the Lord. Alleluia.
Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who resides in Jerusalem.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his love is everlasting.
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his love is everlasting. Alleluia.


Words: Psalm 135, 1.21; 136, 1.26.
Music: Dimitry Arzumanov

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

14 August 2014

As Lovely As The Dawn / Mẹ Đẹp Tươi (Mẹ Maria)



See also the Vietnamese original:  Mẹ Đẹp Tươi

1. As lovely as the dawn
with all beauty you are blest.
More radiant than the moon,
night departs with your caress.

Refrain
Holy Mary, we do bow
for you are set apart;
like the lily, blameless
as the pure of heart.
2. Your fragrance, like a flower,
pierces all creation's guile.
A pure and sinless lifed that
no malice could defile.

3. A humble peasant girl,
yet majestic as a queen.
What treasure, fame or crown
could transcend our high esteem?

4. Unfailing is your love,
like the waves against a shore,
embracing weary hearts,
as a mother feeds the poor.

5. The people of each age
honor you as full of grace,
forever you are loved
by the One whom you embrace.

English translation: Rufino Zaragoza

See also the Vietnamese original:  Mẹ Đẹp Tươi

Mẹ Maria đẹp tươi như bình minh chiếu rạng ngời
Vầng trăng lung linh trời đêm so với mẹ còn kém xa
Con thành tâm kính mừng mẹ mừng mẹ đầy ơn phúc
Lòng khiết trinh như huệ thắm xinh muôn đời hiển vinh

Mẹ như hoa thơm ngàn hương luôn tỏa bay chín tầng trời
Mọi âu lo không hề vương!Ôi xác hồn mẹ sáng tươi
Con thành tâm kính mừng mẹ mừng mẹ đầy ơn phúc
Lòng khiết trinh như huệ thắm xinh muôn đời hiển vinh

Mẹ oai phong nơi tòa cao như đoàn viên tiến vào trần
Mười hai sao thêu triều thiên nhân Đức Mẹ ngời sáng hơn
Con thành tâm kính mừng mẹ mừng mẹ đầy ơn phúc
Lòng khiết trinh như huệ thắm xinh muôn đời hiển vinh

Composer: Kim Long (1965)


See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series

Mẹ Đẹp Tươi (Kim Long)







See also the English version: As Lovely As The Dawn

Mẹ Maria đẹp tươi như bình minh chiếu rạng ngời
Vầng trăng lung linh trời đêm so với mẹ còn kém xa
Con thành tâm kính mừng mẹ mừng mẹ đầy ơn phúc
Lòng khiết trinh như huệ thắm xinh muôn đời hiển vinh

Mẹ như hoa thơm ngàn hương luôn tỏa bay chín tầng trời
Mọi âu lo không hề vương!Ôi xác hồn mẹ sáng tươi
Con thành tâm kính mừng mẹ mừng mẹ đầy ơn phúc
Lòng khiết trinh như huệ thắm xinh muôn đời hiển vinh

Mẹ oai phong nơi tòa cao như đoàn viên tiến vào trần
Mười hai sao thêu triều thiên nhân Đức Mẹ ngời sáng hơn
Con thành tâm kính mừng mẹ mừng mẹ đầy ơn phúc
Lòng khiết trinh như huệ thắm xinh muôn đời hiển vinh

See also the English version: As Lovely As The Dawn

Tác giả: Kim Long (1965)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series

15 July 2014

De noche (Taizé)








De noche iremo, de noche
que para encontrar la fuente,
solo la sed nos alumbra,
solo la sed nos alumbra.


See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

15 June 2014

Viens, Saint-Esprit (Taizé)






Viens, Saint Esprit du ciel fait jaillir l'éclat de ta splendeur.
Viens, père des pauvres.
Viens, Esprit généreux,
viens, lumière des coeurs.

Toi le parfait consolateur, merveilleuse fraîcheur,
dans notre âme tu fais habiter la paix.
Dans la peine, tu es le repos, dans l'épreuve la force,
dans la tristesse la consolation.

Lumière bienfaisante,
pénètre l'intimité de nos coeurs car nous te sommes fidèles,
sans ta présence dans l'homme il n'y a rien, rien qui soit pur.

Lave notre péché, abreuve notre sécheresse,
guéris notre blessure, fléchis notre rigidité,
enflamme notre tiédeur, redresse notre égarement.

A ceux qui se confient en toi et te reçoivent dans la foi,
accorde tous tes dons, donnes-leur de grandir en toi,
de persévérer dans le salut.
Donne-leur la joie qui demeure.

Text: Veni Sancte Spiritus (Sequence for Pentecost)

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

08 May 2014

Chantons le Seigneur (Taizé)







Chantons le Seigneur
car il a fait eclater sa gloire.
Il est ressuscite, alleluia!

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

07 May 2014

At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing (Tune: Salzburg)









See also: At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing (Tune: Sonne der Gerechtigkeit)

At the Lamb's high feast we sing
praise to our victorious King,
who hath washed us in the tide
flowing from his pierced side;
praise we him, whose love divine
gives his sacred Blood for wine,
gives his Body for the feast,
Christ the victim, Christ the priest.

Where the Paschal blood is poured,
death's dark angel sheathes his sword;
Israel's hosts triumphant go
through the wave that drowns the foe.
Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal victim, Paschal bread;
with sincerity and love
eat we manna from above.

Mighty victim from on high,
hell's fierce powers beneath thee lie;
thou hast conquered in the fight,
thou hast brought us life and light:
now no more can death appall,
now no more the grave entrall;
thou hast opened paradise,
and in thee thy saints shall rise.

Easter triumph, Easter joy,
sin alone can this destroy;
from sin's power do thou set free
souls newborn, O Lord, in thee.
Hymns of glory and of praise,
Risen Lord, to thee we raise;
Holy Father, praise to thee,
with the Spirit, ever be.

See also: At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing (Tune: Sonne der Gerechtigkeit)

Text: Ad re­gi­as Ag­ni da­pes, 6th c., tr. Robert Campbell, 1849

Tune: SALZSBURG 77.77 D, by Jakob Hintze (1622-1702)

06 May 2014

At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing (Tune: Sonne der Gerechtigkeit)



See also: At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing (Tune: Salzburg)

At the Lamb's high feast we sing
praise to our victorious King,
who hath washed us in the tide
flowing from his pierced side.

Praise we him, whose love divine
gives his sacred Blood for wine,
gives his Body for the feast,
Christ the victim, Christ the priest.

Where the Paschal blood is poured,
death's dark angel sheathes his sword;
Israel's hosts triumphant go
through the wave that drowns the foe.

Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal victim, Paschal bread;
with sincerity and love
eat we manna from above.

Mighty victim from on high,
hell's fierce powers beneath thee lie;
thou hast conquered in the fight
thou hast brought us life and light.

Now no more can death appall,
now no more the grave entrall;
thou hast opened paradise,
and in thee thy saints shall rise.

Easter triumph, Easter joy,
sin alone can this destroy;
from sin's power do thou set free
souls newborn, O Lord, in thee.

Hymns of glory and of praise,
Risen Lord, to thee we raise;
Holy Father, praise to thee,
with the Spirit, ever be.

See also: At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing (Tune: Salzburg)

Text: Ad re­gi­as Ag­ni da­pes, 6th c., tr. Robert Campbell, 1849

Tune: SONNE DER GERECHTIGKEIT, 77.77

26 April 2014

This Is The Feast of Victory



Refrain:

This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
Whose blood set us free to be people of God? (Refrain)

Power, riches and wisdom and strength,
And honor and blessing and glory are his. (Refrain)

Sing with all the people of God
And join in the hymn of all creation. (Refrain)

Blessing and honor and glory and might
Be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen. (Refrain)

For the Lamb who was slain
has begun his reign. Alleluia. (Refrain)

Text: based on Revelation 5. Text (c) Copyright 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship
Tune: FESTIVAL CANTICLE, Irr. By Richard Hillert (1975).

25 April 2014

Easter from King's 2014





In a tradition dating from 2004 the renown King's College Choir presents Easter from Kings, Passiontide to Easter Day from the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge.

Hymn - There is a green hill far away
Welcome
Miserere mei, Deus (Gregorio Allegri)
Reading - Mark 11
Hosianna dem sohne Davids (Bartholomäus Gesius)
Reading - Upon the asse that bore our Saviour (Richard Crashaw)
Hymn - Ride on, ride on in majesty (arr. Philip Ledger)
Reading - Mark 14
Panis angelicus (César Franck)
Ave verum corpus (William Byrd)
Reading - Mark 14
Ah, holy Jesu (Crüger / JS Bach / Johann Heerman)
Lacrimosa from Requiem in D-Minor (K.626) (Wolfgang A. Mozart)
Reading Mark 15
Crux fidelis (John IV of Portugal)
O Saviour of the world (Frederick AG Ouseley)
When I survey the wondrous cross (arr. Stephen Cleobury)
Reading - Good Friday 1613 (John Donne)
Christe, adoramus te (Claudio Monteverdi)
Where you there? (arr. James Whitbourn)
Reading - Luke 24
This joyful Eastertide (arr. Charles Wood)
Hallelujah Chorus (G.F. Handel)
Reading - I got me flowers (George Herbert)
Reading - Everyone Sang (Siegfried Sassoon)
Let all the world, from The Five Mystical Songs (Ralph Vaughan Williams)
Blessing
Hymn - Jesus Christ is risen today (arr. Stephen Cleobury)
Voluntary - Christ lag in todesbanden BWV 625 (J S Bach)

See also - Easter from King's from previous years:

22 April 2014

Jesus Christ is Risen Today (Tune: EASTER HYMN)

















Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly king, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
Now above the sky he’s king, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as his love; Alleluia!
Praise him, all you heavenly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

Words: Paraphrase of Surrexit Christus hodie (c. 1372) in Lyra Davidica (1708)
Tune: EASTER HYMN 77.77 + Alleluias (Lyra Davidica, 1708)

21 April 2014

The Strife is O'er







Antiphon: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
The strife is o'er, the battle done;
the victory of life is won;
the song of triumph has begun:
Alleluia!

The powers of death have done their worst,
but Christ their legions hath dispersed;
let shouts of holy joy outburst:
Alleluia!

The three sad days are quickly sped;
he rises glorious from the dead;
all glory to our risen Head!
Alleluia!

Lord, by the stripes which wounded thee,
from death's dread sting thy servants free,
that we may live, and sing to thee:
Alleluia!

Text: Finita iam sunt praelia, Latin, 12th c, tr. Francis Pott, 1832-1909
Tune: VICTORY 888 + Alleluias, by Giovanni P. da Palestrina (1525-1594), adapted by William H. Monk (1823-1889).

20 April 2014

Hail Thee Festival Day (Easter) [Tune: SALVE FESTA DIES]









See also: Hail Thee, Festival Day (Pentecost)

Refrain:

Hail thee, festival day!
Blest day that art hallowed forever;
day wherein Christ arose,
breaking the kingdom of death.
Lo, the fair beauty of earth,
from the death of the winter arising,
every good gift of the year
now with its Master returns. (Refrain)

He who was nailed to the Cross
is God and the Ruler of all things;
all things created on earth
worship the Maker of all. (Refrain)

God of all pity and power,
let thy word be assured to the doubted;
light on the third day returns:
rise, Son of God, from the tomb! (Refrain)

Ill doth it seem that thy limbs
should linger in lowly dishonor;
ransom and price of the world,
veiled from the vision of men. (Refrain)

Loosen, O Lord, the enchained,
the spirits imprisoned in darkness;
rescue, recall into life those
who are rushing to death. (Refrain)

Ill it beseemeth that thou,
by whose hand all things are encompassed,
captive and bound shouldst remain,
deep in the gloom of the rock. (Refrain)

Rise now, O Lord, from the grave
and cast off the shroud that enwrapped thee;
thou art sufficient for us;
nothing without thee exists. (Refrain)

Mourning they laid thee to rest,
who art Author of life and creation;
treading the pathway of death,
life thou bestowedst on man. (Refrain)

Show us thy face once more,
that the ages may joy in thy brightness;
give us the light of day,
darkened on earth at thy death. (Refrain)

Out of the prison of death
thou art rescuing numberless captives;
freely they tread in the way
whither their Maker has gone. (Refrain)

Jesus has harrowed hell;
he had led captivity captive;
darkness and chaos and death
flee from the face of the light. (Refrain)

See also: Hail Thee, Festival Day (Pentecost)

For a different version, see: Welcome, Happy Morning!

Text: Salve Festa Dies by Venantius Fortunatus (c. 530-c. 600/609)
Translator: Maurice Frederick Bell (The English Hymnal, 1906)

Music: SALVE FESTA DIES 79.77+Refrain, by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

18 April 2014

Jesús inclinó la cabeza a la hora de nona (Taizé)







Jesús inclinó la cabeza a la hora de nona.

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The Reproaches (John Sanders)





O my people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!

I led you out of Egypt, from slavery to freedom, but you led your Saviour to the cross.

O my people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!

Holy is God! Holy and strong! Holy immortal One, have mercy on us.

For forty years I led you safely through the desert. I fed you with manna from heaven, and brought you to a land of plenty; but you led your Saviour to the cross.

Holy is God! Holy and strong! Holy immortal One, have mercy on us.

What more could I have done for you? I planted you as my fairest vine, but you yielded only bitterness: when I was thirsty you gave me vinegar to drink, and you pierced your Saviour's side with a lance.

Holy is God! Holy and strong! Holy immortal One, have mercy on us.

I opened the sea before you, but you opened my side with a spear.
I led you on your way in a pillar of cloud, but you led me to Pilate's court.

O my people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!

I bore you up with manna in the desert, but you struck me down and scourged me.
I gave you saving water from the rock, but you gave me gall and vinegar to drink.

O my people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!

I gave you a royal sceptre, but you gave me a crown of thorns.
I raised you to the height of majesty, but you have raised me high on a cross.

O my people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!

Composer: John Sanders (1933-2003)

17 April 2014

Portant des rameaux, Hosanna (Taizé)



Portant des rameaux, ils allaient au devant du Seigneur et l'acclamaient:
Hosanna, qu'il soit beni celui qui vient au nom du Seigneur! 

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13 April 2014

This Day God Gives Me (Tune: ANDREA)







1. This day God gives me
Strength of high heaven,
Sun and moon shining,
Flame in my hearth,
Flashing of lightning,
Wind in its swiftness,
Deeps of the ocean,
Firmness of earth.

2. This day God sends me
Strength as my guardian,
Might to uphold me,
Wisdom as guide.
Your eyes are watchful,
Your ears are list’ning,
Your lips are speaking,
Friend at my side.

3. God’s way is my way,
God’s shield is ’round me,
God’s host defends me,
Saving from ill.
Angels of heaven,
Drive from me always
All that would harm me,
Stand by me still.

4. Rising I thank you,
Mighty and Strong One,
King of creation,
Giver of rest,
Firmly confessing
Threeness of Persons,
Oneness of Godhead,
Trinity blest.

Text: James Quinn
Tune: ANDREA

Psalm 137 (Taizé)



Je chanterai le Seigneur,
en présence des anges

De tout mon coeur, Seigneur, je te rends grâce :
tu as entendu les paroles de ma bouche.
Je te chante en présence des anges,
vers ton temple sacré, je me prosterne.

Je rends grâce à ton nom pour ton amour et ta vérité,
car tu élèves, au-dessus de tout, ton nom et ta parole.
Le jour où tu répondis à mon appel,
tu fis grandir en mon âme la force.

Tous les rois de la terre te rendent grâce
quand ils entendent les paroles de ta bouche.
Ils chantent les chemins du Seigneur :
« Qu'elle est grande, la gloire du Seigneur ! »

Si haut que soit le Seigneur,
il voit le plus humble ;
de loin, il reconnaît l'orgueilleux.
Si je marche au milieu des angoisses,
tu me fais vivre,
ta main s'abat sur mes ennemis en colère.

Ta droite me rend vainqueur.
Le Seigneur fait tout pour moi !
Seigneur, éternel est ton amour :
n'arrête pas l'oeuvre de tes mains.

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O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High (Tune: DEUS TUORUM MILITUM)



See alternate tune: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High (Tune: DEO GRACIAS)

1. O love, how deep, how broad, how high,
it fills the heart with ecstasy,
that God, the Son of God, should take
our mortal form for mortals' sake!

2. For us baptized, for us he bore
his holy fast and hungered sore,
for us temptation sharp he knew;
for us the tempter overthrew.

3. For us he prayed; for us he taught;
for us his daily works he wrought;
by words and signs and actions thus
still seeking not himself, but us.

4. For us to evil power betrayed,
scourged, mocked, in purple robe arrayed,
he bore the shameful cross and death,
for us gave up his dying breath.

5. For us he rose from death again;
for us he went on high to reign;
for us he sent his Spirit here,
to guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.

6. All glory to our Lord and God
for love so deep, so high, so broad:
the Trinity whom we adore,
forever and forevermore.


See alternate tune: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High (Tune: DEO GRACIAS)

Text: Latin 15th century, attributed to Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471). Trans. Benjamin Webb (1819-1885)

Tune: DEUS TUORUM MILITUM LM, from the Grenoble Antiphoner (1753)

12 April 2014

O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High (TUNE: DEO GRACIAS)



See alternate tune: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High (Tune: DEUS TUORUM MILITUM)

1. O love, how deep, how broad, how high,
it fills the heart with ecstasy,
that God, the Son of God, should take
our mortal form for mortals' sake!

2. For us baptized, for us he bore
his holy fast and hungered sore,
for us temptation sharp he knew;
for us the tempter overthrew.

3. For us he prayed; for us he taught;
for us his daily works he wrought;
by words and signs and actions thus
still seeking not himself, but us.

4. For us to evil power betrayed,
scourged, mocked, in purple robe arrayed,
he bore the shameful cross and death,
for us gave up his dying breath.

5. For us he rose from death again;
for us he went on high to reign;
for us he sent his Spirit here,
to guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.

6. All glory to our Lord and God
for love so deep, so high, so broad:
the Trinity whom we adore,
forever and forevermore.

See alternate tune: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High (Tune: DEUS TUORUM MILITUM)

Text: Latin 15th century, attributed to Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471). Trans. Benjamin Webb (1819-1885)

Music: DEO GRACIAS LM, "Agincourt Carol" (Trinity College MS, circa 1415)

Shepherd Me, O God (Marty Haugen)







Refrain:

Shepherd me, O God,
beyond my wants,
beyond my fears,
from death into life.
God is my shepherd,
so nothing shall I want,
I rest in the meadows
of faithfulness and love,
I walk by the quiet waters of peace. (Refrain)

Gently you raise me
and heal my weary soul,
you lead me by pathways
of righteousness and truth,
my spirit shall sing
the music of your name. (Refrain)

Though I should wander
the valley of death,
I fear no evil,
for you are at my side,
your rod and your staff,
my comfort and my hope. (Refrain)

You have set me a banquet of love
in the face of hatred,
crowning me with love
beyond my pow’r to hold. (Refrain)

Surely your kindness and mercy
follow me all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of my God
forevermore. (Refrain)

Setting of Psalm 23 (Dominus regit me).

Words & Music: Marty Haugen (b. 1950)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

11 April 2014

07 March 2014

Alleluia de Kiev (Taizé)



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Psalm 42: Comme un cerf altéré brâme (Taizé)



Comme un cerf altéré brâme
Après le courant des eaux,
Ainsi soupire mon âme,
Seigneur, après tes ruisseaux;
Elle a soif du Dieu vivant,
Et s'écrie, en le suivant :
"Mon Dieu, mon Dieu! quand sera-ce
Que mes yeux verront ta face?"

Psaume 42

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14 February 2014

O Jésus, ma joie (Taizé)



O Jésus, ma joie,
que Dieu nous envoie,
soutien de nos vies.

Si dans nos détresses
en nous tout se blesse,
ton amour guérit.

Dans nos cœurs est ton bonheur,
chaque jour tu nous éclaires
et tu nous libères.

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08 February 2014

Psalm 43 Justifie-moi, mon Dieu (Taizé)



Justifie-moi, mon Dieu, défends ma cause
Contre des gens sans pitié;
De l'homme perfide et pervers,
Seigneur, délivre-moi.

Envoie ta lumière et ta vérité:
Qu'elles soient mon guide
Et me ramènent vers ta sainte montagne,
Au lieu de ta demeure.

Et j'irai vers l'autel du Seigneur,
Près du Dieu de la joie.
J'exulterai, je te louerai sur la harpe,
Seigneur mon Dieu.

Qu'as-tu, mon âme, à défaillir,
A gémir sur moi?
Espère en Dieu: je le louerai encore,
Mon Sauveur et mon Dieu!

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17 January 2014

Jubelt und freut (Taizé)



Jubelt und freut euch über den Herrn,
er hat Großes an uns getan,
Jubelt und freut euch,
fürchtet euch nicht. Alleluja, alleluja.

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I am risen and behold (Michael Barger)


Antiphon:
I am risen and behold and am with you, Alleluia!
You have placed you hand on me, Alleluia!
O God, how wonderf'lly you know me, Alleluia!
1. O Lord, you search me and you know me.
You know when I sit down and rise up again, Alleluia! (Antiphon)

2. Behold, Lord, you know all things both ancient and new.
You have conceived me, and laid your hand upon me, Alleluia! (Antiphon)

3. Glory be to the Father of Love,
And to the Son, who is risen from the dead,
And to the Spirit giving us new life,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and every shall be, Alleluia! (Antiphon)

Composer: Michael Barger 
Michael Barger grew up in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. His work is highly influenced by Islamic and Byzantine Arabic chant and especially by the Lebanese Byzantine chanter, Sister Marie Keyrouz

Composer's Notes:
The text of I Am Risen is that of the Introit (Entrance chant) of the Roman rite celebration of the Eucharist on Easter day, Resurrexi et adhuc tecum sum, which serves as the antiphon for the chanting of Psalm 139. The composition was inspired by the recording of Resurrexi et adhuc tecum sum on Ensemble Organum's recording,  Chants of the Church of Roman - Byzantine Period. It is devoted to chants of the Church of Rome when most of the popes came from the churches of the Byzantine Empire ( 590-752), coinciding with the rise of the Prophet Muhammad (550-632) and the Umayyad Caliphate (660-750). Liturgies were celebrated with chants in both Greek and Latin. Musically the hymn is in the Mixolydian mode and marked by chords of the ninth.

Heruvicul lui / Cherubic Hymn (Ioan Zmeu)


Carii pe heruvimi cu taină închipuim,
Şi făcătoarei de viaţă Treimi întreit-sfântă cântare aducem,
Acum toată grija cea lumească să o lepădăm,
Ca pe Împăratul tuturor, să primim,
Pe Cel înconjurat în chip nevăzut de cetele îngereşti.
We, who in a mystic way represent the Cheubim
And sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-giving Trinity,
Let us now lay aside all earthly care
So that we may welcome the King of All,
Who comes escorted by invisible angelic hosts.
Ioan Zmeu was a great 19th century chanter, composer, and professor of Romanian Orthodox music. He was born January 30, 1860, in Botoşani where he studied with his father Emanoil Zmeu at the School of Church Music. He completed his studies in Constantinople and Jerusalem. He served as protopsalt (head chanter) and professor of vocal music at the the School for Church Singers in Rimnicu Vilcea (1882-1886), the great monastery of Curtea de Argeş (1886-1894), and from friom 1894 to 1901 at the Metropolitanate (subsequently as of 1922, the Patriarchate) in Bucharest. He returned to Curtea de Argeş and spent the last twenty-one years of his life there dying on April 28, 1922 at the age of sixty-two.

Zmeu was one of the greatest composers of Romanian Byzantine chant in the 19th and early 20th centuries with numerous compositions and editions of books of chant to his credit. There was an explosion of interest in chant in Romania beginning in the early 19th century with the printing and composing activities of such great names as Anton Pann and Dimitrie Suceveanu, and Zmeu is one of the outstanding figures of the era.

Unlike composers in the Latin Church, Romanian composers continued to compose liturgical chants well into the 20th century. The last major plain chant masses in the Gregorian tradition in the West were composed during the French Baroque period by Henri Dumont (1610-1684) and Michel-Richard de Lalande (1657-1726) and remained in the repertorie of some French parishes into the early 20th century.

This Heruvic or Cherbuic Hymn is among the greatest of Zmeu's compositions. The Cherubic hymn accompanies the preparation of the eucharistic gifts for the Great Entrance of the Byzantine Divine Liturgy. Since the ritual and prayers invoved may be quite lengthy, Cherubic Hymns may last as long as ten minutes and more. The length of time required by the liturgical action make the Cherubic Hymn the longest piece of music by far in the Divine Liturgy allowing composers ample scope for their art.

The Heruvic is sung by the group Psalmodia under the direction of Dr. Archdeacon Sebastian Barbu-Bucur (b. Feburary 6, 1930).

03 January 2014

Psalm 145 (Taizé)



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Psalm 72: Revêts, Seigneur, de ta justice (Taizé)



Revêts, Seigneur, de ta justice
Le Prince de la paix
Et parmi nous qu'il établisse
Son royaume à jamais.
En lui, les plus humbles du peuple
Trouvent un défenseur,
Délivrant les fils de la veuve
Et brisant l'oppresseur.
Qu'il règne sur toute la terre,
Sur tous les océans,
Tant que le soleil les éclaire
Jusqu'à la fin des temps.
Dans son royaume sans frontières
Les grands s'inclineront;
Et tous les peuples qu'il libère
En paix le serviront.

Paraphrase of Psalm 72:1-3

Text:Théodore de Bèze (1562)
Music: L. Bourgeois 1543

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Taizé Eucharistie (Setting: Joseph Gelineau)

I. KYRIE ELEISON


II. GLORIA


III. CREDO


IV. SANCTUS


V. AGNUS DEI



Composer: Joseph Gelineau

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