Blessed be the God and Father

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which according to his abundant mercy
hath begotten us again unto a lively hope
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled,
that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you,
Who are kept by the power of God
through faith unto salvation
ready to be revealed at the last time.

But as he which hath called you is holy,
so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.
Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.

Love one another with a pure heart fervently.
See that ye love one another.
Love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Being born again,
not of corruptible seed,
but of incorruptible,
by the word of God.

For all flesh is as grass,
and all the glory of man
as the flower of grass.
The grass withereth,
and the flower thereof falleth away.

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.
Amen.

Composer: Samuel Sebastian Wesley

King's College Cambridge 2012 Easter Service

PART I:




PART II:



EASTER FROM KING'S: PASSIONTIDE TO EASTER DAY
With the choir of King's College, Cambridge

Music Director Stephen Cleobury
Organ Scholars: Ben-San Lau, Parker Ramsay

Dean: the Rev. Dr. Jeremy Morris
Chaplain: the Rev Richard Lloyd Morgan
Administrator: Janet Copeland

ORDER OF SERVICE

Choir: Amicus Meus "My friend betrayed me with the sign of a kiss"
(Music: Victoria (1548-1611); Words from Tenebrae Responsories)

Choir: Pater Noster "Our Father who art in heaven"
(Music: Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971); Words: The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6))

Reading: Luke 23 "The Crucifixion"

Choir: Crucifixus "He was crucified even for us"
(Music: Antonio Lotti (1667-1740); Words from the Creed)

Reading: Easter Night, Alice Meynell (1847-1922)

Choir: In Paradisum "May the angels lead you into paradise"
Music: Gabriel Fauré, from Requiem; Words liturgical)

Hymn: Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem
(Tune: St Fulbert; Words: Fulbert of Chartres (d 1028)

Reading: John 20 "The risen Christ is seen by Mary"

Choir: This Joyful Eastertide
(Words and Music: Trad. Dutch Carol, arr. Charles Wood (1866-1926))

Choir: Surrexit Dominus "The Lord has truly risen"
(Music and Words: Plainsong, arr. David Briggs (1962-))

Reading: from Kilvert's Diary, Francis Kilvert (1840-1879)

Choir: Bring Us, O Lord God, at our Last Awakening
(Music: William Harris (1883-1973); Words: John Donne (1572-1631))

Choir: Let All the World, in Every Corner, Sing
(Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958); Words: George Herbert (1593-1633))

Prayer and Blessing

Hymn: Jesus Christ is Risen Today (incomplete apologies working to fix)
(Tune: Easter Hymn arr. Stephen Cleobury (1948-);
Words: 14th century from the Compleat Psalmodist, 1749)

Organ: from Finale by Louis Vierne (1870-1937)

O Taste And See (Ralph Vaughan Williams)

O taste and see
how gracious the Lord is.
Blessed is the man
that trusteth in him!


Setting of Psalm 34

Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

The Shadows of the Evening Hours

The shadows of the evening hours fall from the darkening sky;
Upon the fragrance of the flowers the dews of evening lie;
Before Thy throne, O Lord of Heavn, we kneel at close of day;
Look on Thy children from on high, and hear us while we pray.

The sorrows of Thy servants, Lord, O do not now despise,
But let the incense of our prayers before Thy mercy rise.
The brightness of the coming night upon the darkness rolls;
With hopes of future glory, chase the shadows from our souls.

Slowly the rays of daylight fade, so fade within our heart
The hopes in earthly love and joy, that one by one depart.
Slowly the bright stars, one by one, within the heavens shine:
Give us, O Lord, fresh hopes in heaven, and trust in things divine.

Let peace, O Lord, Thy peace, O God, upon our souls descend;
From midnight fears and perils, now our trembling hearts defend.
Give us a respite from our toil; calm and subdue our woes.
Through the long day we labor, Lord, O give us now repose.

Text: Adelaide Procter (1862)

Hail! Gladdening Light (Charles Wood)

Hail! gladdening Light, of His pure glory poured
Who is th'immortal Father, heavenly, blest,
Holiest of Holies - Jesus Christ our Lord!

Now we are come to the Sun's hour of rest;
The lights of evening round us shine;
We hymn the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit divine!

Worthiest art thou at all times to be sung
With undefiled tongue,
Son of our God, giver of life, alone:
Therefore in all the world thy glories, Lord, they own. Amen.

Text: Phos Hilaron (Φῶς Ἱλαρόν), Greek, late 3rd century, trans. John Keble (1834)
Music: Charles Wood (1912)

In Te Confido (Taizé)

Jesu Christe
In te confido

Music: Jacques Berthier (English bio) (French bio)

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

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (Tune: Blaenwern)

See also: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (Tune: Hyfrydol)

Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.

Come, almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee:
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.

See also: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (Tune: Hyfrydol)


Historical Information

Text: Charles Wesley, 1747
Tune: BLAENWERN 87.87D