Advent 1 - November 30, 2014

• Organ:  Nun komm der heiden Heiland (Come now, Saviour of the Gentiles) – J.S. Bach 
• Opening Hymn: 599 “Awake! Awake! fling off the night”
• Service Music:  New Plainsong – David Hurd 
• Psalm 80: 1-7
• Gradual:

Cantor: For all they that look for thee  Choir: shall not be ashamed O Lord. 
Cantor: Make known to me thy ways O Lord Choir: and teach me thy paths. 
Cantor: Show us thy mercy O Lord  Choir: and grant us thy salvation.

• Offertory Hymn 114 “Lo, he comes with clouds descending”
• Communion Hymn 92 “O day of God, draw nigh”
• Communion Motet: “Kindle a flame” – Michael Fleming

Kindle a light to lighten the darkness, Kindle a light each nation and race:
God in the poor is coming to meet us, Kindle a light to shine on His face.

Kindle a light to lighten the darkness, Kindle a light for all who despair:
God in the poor is coming to judge us, Kindle a light with fasting and prayer.

Kindle a light to lighten the darkness, Kindle a light in places of shame,
God in the poor is coming to heal us, Kindle a light with hope in its flame.

Kindle a light to lighten the darkness, Kindle a light for sorrow to cease:
God in the poor is coming to free us, Kindle a light for justice and peace.

• Concluding Hymn 97 “Jesus came, the heavens adoring”
• Organ: “Sleepers, wake” – Siegfried Karg-Elert

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• Music Notes 
  Each week during Advent the organ prelude is based on the same German chorale, or hymn tune – Nun komm der heiden Heiland – by four different composers of the baroque era. Two names will be familiar to you – Bach and Pachelbel (of the famous Pachelbel’s Canon); and two less familiar – Sweelinck and Zachow. Today it’s the turn of J.S. Bach (1685-1750) and one of his most beautiful chorale preludes. Here is a translation of the first verse of the hymn by Martin Luther:
  

  Now come, Saviour of the gentiles,
  recognised as the child of the Virgin,
  so that all the world is amazed
  God ordained such a birth for him.

  Likewise, on the first three Advent Sundays the organ postlude is based on the tune of “Sleepers, wake” – the first by a Romantic era composer, Siegfried Karg-Elert; the second by a 20th century German, Herbert Collum; the last, and most well-known, by J.S. Bach.

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View/download leaflet including hymn, anthem and psalm texts -  see here»

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Visit St. Barnabas on the Danforth (at Chester Station) map » or visit the website here »<

The Reign of Christ - 23 November 2014

• Organ:  Intermezzo (from 5 Pieces for Organ Opus 177) – Healey Willan 
• Opening Hymn: 306 “O for a thousand tongues to sing” 
• Service Music:  A Community Mass – Richard Proulx 
• Psalm 100 - Anglican chant
• Gospel Alleluia:
  May he rule from sea to sea / and from the River to the ends of the earth:
  May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.
• Offertory Hymn 375 “At the name of Jesus”
• Anthem: Te Deum – Sir Charles Villiers Stanford

We praise thee, O God : we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee : the Father everlasting. To thee all Angels cry aloud : the Heavens, and all the Powers therein. To thee Cherubim and Seraphim : continually do cry, Holy, Holy, Holy : Lord God of Hosts; Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty : of thy glory. The glorious company of the Apostles : praise thee. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets : praise thee. The noble army of Martyrs : praise thee. The holy Church throughout all the world : doth acknowledge thee; The Father : of an infinite Majesty; Thine honourable, true : and only Son;
Also the Holy Ghost : the Comforter. Thou art the King of Glory : O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son : of the Father. When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man : thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death : thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God : in the glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come : to be our Judge. We therefore pray thee, help thy servants : whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with thy Saints : in glory everlasting. O Lord, save thy people : and bless thine heritage. Govern them : and lift them up for ever. Day by day : we magnify thee; And we worship thy Name : ever world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord : to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us : have mercy upon us. O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us : as our trust is in thee. O Lord, in thee have I trusted : let me never be confounded.

• Communion Hymn  “O Jesus, King most wonderful” (St. Botolph)
• Concluding Hymn 322 “All hail the power of Jesus’ name
• Organ: Urbs beata Jerusalem (Blessed city of Jerusalem) – Healey Willan

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• View/download leaflet including hymn, anthem and psalm texts -  see here»

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• Visit St. Barnabas on the Danforth (at Chester Station) map » or visit the website here »

Pentecost 23 - 16 November, 2014

• Organ:  Gaston Litaize, Prélude liturgique XVI Maurice Duruflé, Chant donné (Hommage à Jean Gallon) 
• Opening Hymn: 577 “God of grace and God of glory” 
• Service Music:  
• John Merbecke (Kyrie and Gloria) 
• Messe basse – Gabriel Fauré (Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei) 
• Psalm 123
• Gospel Alleluia: Abide in me as I abide in you: those who abide in me bear much fruit.
• Offertory Hymn 325 “Angel voices, ever singing”
• Anthem: Examine me – William Boyce

Examine me, O Lord, and prove me,
try out my reins and my heart.
For thy loving-kindness is ever before mine eyes
and I will walk in thy truth.

• Communion Hymn 87 “Strengthen for service, Lord
• Concluding Hymn 586 “Rise up, O saints of God”
• Organ: Gaston Litaize, Messe basse pour tous les temps: 1. Prélude (played by Peter Dunphy

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• View/download leaflet copy with hymn, anthem text and pointed text of psalm, see here»

Music Notes

First, a heartfelt thanks from the choir to everyone who supported us at the Remembering concert last Sunday. It was a grand success overall, and we’ll soon be able to report how much we can contribute to the Organ Restoration Fund.

This morning’s service will be sung only by the women of the choir, giving the gentlemen a break (the women’s turn will come soon!). The music of the Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei is from the Messe Basse by Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924), one of the most influential French composers of his generation. This setting of music for the Eucharist was written in 1881 and was originally called “Messe des pêcheurs de Villerville” (Mass of the fishermen of Villerville). A century and a half earlier, William Boyce (1711-1779) occupied an equally important place in English music as a composer and organist. Our anthem today, “Examine me” is a setting of Psalm 26: 2-3.

Visit St. Barnabas on the Danforth (at Chester Station) map » or visit the website here »

All Souls - November 9, 2014

• Organ:  God’s Time is the Best Time (Sinfonia from Cantata 106) – J.S. Bach 
• Opening Hymn: 528 “O God our help in ages past”  
• Service Music:  New Plainsong – David Hurd 
• O Canada
• Psalm 116: 1-8 
• Offertory Hymn  587 “Once to every man and nation”
• Communion Hymn 520 “The king of love my shepherd is”
• Communion Motet: Russian Kontakion for the Departed
• Concluding Hymn “Eternal rest grant them, we pray” (Tallis’s Canon)
• Organ: lle Menschen müssen sterben (All men must die) BWV 643 – J.S. Bach

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• View/download leaflet copy with hymn, anthem text and pointed text of psalm, see here»

Concert @ 4 pm
Sunday, November 9, the choir is presenting a programme of music and readings entitled “Remembering” in honour of our war veterans and those who did not return from either World War. Featured are bagpiper Brendan Culver, organist Simon Walker, our own choir and leads plus guest tenor Christopher Mayell. The concert is at 4 pm and tickets are available from choir members or the church office, or at the door at $15 (youth under 16 free of charge). Please invite your family, friends, neighbours and all others on your Christmas card list to join you. This was a highly successful event in 2012 and we want to make it an even great success this year, with proceeds going to the organ restoration fund.  See poster here »

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All Saints’ - November 2, 2014

• Organ:  Two Chorale Preludes – Johannes Brahms O wie selig (O how blest are ye whose toils are ended) Schmucke dich (Deck thyself my soul with gladness) 
• Opening Hymn: 276 “For all the saints”  
• Service Music: A Community Mass – Richard Proulx 
• Psalm 149 
• Gospel Alleluia: They are before the throne of God: and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
• Offertory Hymn  286 “Give me the wings of faith” 
• Anthem: And I saw a new heaven – Edgar Bainton
• Communion Hymn 282 “Let saints on earth in concert sing”
• Concluding Hymn 281 “Who are these like stars appearing”  
• Organ: Prelude on ‘Sine nomine’ (For all the saints) – Thomas Crawford

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• View/download leaflet copy with hymn, anthem text and pointed text of psalm, see here»

Music Notes

Edgar Bainton (1880-1956) was an English-born musician who spent the later part of his career in Australia. Although best known for his church music, Bainton composed a great many works for chamber groups, orchestra and solo voice, many of which are coming back into vogue after being neglected for decades. Today’s anthem, “And I saw a new heaven”, is his most widely performed work.

Thomas Crawford, for many years organist of Timothy Eaton Church here in Toronto and the composer of this morning’s postlude, is a kind of “musical grandfather” to Neil Houlton as he was the main teacher of Neil’s first organ teacher.

Next Sunday, November 9, the choir is presenting a programme of music and readings entitled “Remembering” in honour of our war veterans and those who did not return from either World War. Featured are bagpiper Brendan Culver, organist Simon Walker, our own choir and leads plus guest tenor Christopher Mayell. The concert is at 4 pm and tickets are available from choir members or the church office, or at the door at $15 (youth under 16 free of charge). Please invite your family, friends, neighbours and all others on your Christmas card list to join you. This was a highly successful event in 2012 and we want to make it an even great success this year, with proceeds going to the organ restoration fund.  See poster here »

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Visit St. Barnabas on the Danforth (at Chester Station) map » or visit the website here »