Sunday, May 25, 2014

Sunday after Ascension / Easter 7 - June 1, 2014

  • Organ: Dolcezza – Percy Whitlock
  • Hymn 246 “Hail thou once despised Jesus” (In Babilone)
  • Service Music: TBA
  • Psalm 97
  • Gospel Alleluia
Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Choir: Go, make disciples of all the nations;
I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.
All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
  • Offertory Hymn 451 “King of love, O Christ, we crown you” (Hermon)
  • Anthem: God is gone up – William Croft
    God is gone up with a merry noise:
    and the Lord with the sound of the trumpet. (Psalm 47)
  • Communion Hymn 178 “Restore in us, O God” (Bellwoods)
  • Concluding Hymn 491 “The head that once was crowned with thorns” (St. Magnus)
  • Organ: Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn (Today the Son of God triumphs) BWV 630 – J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

MUSIC NOTES

Percy Whitlock (1903-1946) is not a name to fall easily from the lips of non-organists. In fact, for several decades after his death he was barely known to anyone. Whitlock worked as an organist at Rochester Cathedral and St. Stephen’s, Bournemouth in England during the 1920’s-1930’s, and after 1935 worked full-time for the Pavilion in Bournemouth. He composed quite a lot of music for organ and choir, much of which is rarely heard now – but there are gems among his compositions, many of which hold up very well against his more well-known contemporaries, including Ralph Vaughan Williams, one of Whitlock’s teachers. Percy Whitlock was born on this date (June 1) in 1903.

William Croft (1678-1727) was a distinguished organist in the late 17th and early 18th century England, He succeeded John Blow ( composer of our anthem 2 weeks ago) as organist of Westminster Abbey, and is now best known as the composer of the Funeral Sentences.

SUMMER CHOIR

We’d like to try something new and different during the summer months this year. In the past, the choir has enjoyed a well-earned break from mid-June (after St. Barnabas’ Day) to early September, and we’ll continue that tradition. However, it would be very helpful to have singers “up front” to help with the congregational singing and to that end are asking for volunteers from the congregation and any visitors who might be interested to come at 10 am on Sunday morning, beginning June 22, for a short practice in the downstairs choir room. Perhaps you’re a ‘retired’ choir member who would enjoy singing again, or someone who has never sung in a choir and would like to give it a try. Needless to say, current choristers are more than welcome to come out, but we also recognize that the summer has been a time when some can sit with their spouses in the congregation and appreciate that opportunity. While advance notice of your participation isn’t essential, it would be helpful to have an idea of who might be interested. If you are, please speak to Neil after a service in the next few weeks, or you can email him at nshoulton@gmail.com.

PS No choir robes are needed – it is often just too hot to wear them during the summer!


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

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Easter 6 - 25 May 2014

  • Organ:  Ruhig bewegt (“quietly moving” from Sonata 2 for organ) – Paul Hindemith
  • Opening Hymn 515 “Thou art the way” (St. Fulbert # 216)
  • I know that my Redeemer lives; O the sweet joy this sentence gives!
    He lives, he lives, who once was dead; he lives, my ever living Head.

    He lives triumphant from the grave, he lives eternally to save,
    he lives all-glorious in the sky, he lives exalted there on high.

    He lives to grant me rich supply, he lives to guide me with His eye,
    he lives to comfort me when faint, he lives to hear my soul's complaint.

    He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly Friend, he lives and loves me to the end;
    he lives, and while he lives, I'll sing; he lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

    He lives, all glory to his Name! he lives, my Jesus, still the same.
    oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives, I know that my Redeemer lives!
  • Service Music: Holy Trinity Service – Christopher Tambling
  • Psalm 66: 7-18
  • Gospel Alleluia
Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Choir: Jesus said: “If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him.”
All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
  • Offertory Hymn 529 “All my hope on God is founded” (Michael) 
  • Anthem: TBA 
  • Communion Hymn 633 “Lord Christ, we praise your sacrifice” (Meyrick Park) 
  • Concluding Hymn 344 “From all that dwell below the skies” (Lasst uns erfreuen) 
  • Organ: Exultate – June Nixon

SUMMER CHOIR:
We’d like to try something new and different during the summer months this year. In the past, the choir has enjoyed a well-earned break from mid-June (after St. Barnabas’ Day) to early September, and we’ll continue that tradition. However, it would be very helpful to have singers “up front” to help with the congregational singing and to that end are asking for volunteers from the congregation and any visitors who might be interested to come at 10 am on Sunday morning, beginning June 22, for a short practice in the downstairs choir room. Perhaps you’re a ‘retired’ choir member who would enjoy singing again, or someone who has never sung in a choir and would like to give it a try. Needless to say, current choristers are more than welcome to come out, but we also recognize that the summer has been a time when some can sit with their spouses in the congregation and appreciate that opportunity. While advance notice of your participation isn’t essential, it would be helpful to have an idea of who might be interested. If you are, please speak to Neil after a service in the next few weeks, or you can email him at nshoulton@gmail.com.

PS No choir robes are needed – it is often just too hot to wear them during the summer!


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


Sunday, May 11, 2014

Easter 5 - May 18 2014

  • Organ:  Jesu Dulcis and Ave Maria (from 5 Liturgical Inventions) – Victor Togni
  • Opening Hymn 515 “Thou art the way” (St. Fulbert # 216)
  • Service Music: Kyrie, Sanctus & Agnus Dei from Communion Service in D – Kenneth Leighton Gloria and Lord’s Prayer – John Merbecke
  • Psalm 31: 1-5, 15-16 (Tone VIII.1)
  • Gospel Alleluia
Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Choir: Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No-one can come to the Father except through me. 
All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
  • Offertory 459 “Christ is our cornerstone” (Harewood)
  • Anthem: “Christ being raised from the dead” – John Blow
    Christ, being raised from the dead, now dieth no more; Death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin but once: But in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye yourselves also to be dead indeed unto sin, But alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ is risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. World without end. Amen. (Romans 6: 9-11 and 1 Corinthians 15: 20-22)
  • Communion Hymn 569 “Come, my way, my truth, my life” (The Call)
  • Concluding Hymn 239 “Jesus lives! Thy terrors now” (St. Albinus)
  • Organ: Prelude for Organ – Fanny (Hensel) Mendelssohn   
Music Notes:
John Blow (1649 – 1708) was an English Baroque composer and organist, appointed to Westminster Abbey in 1669. His pupils included Henry Purcell. In 1685 he was named a private musician to James II. In 1687 he became choirmaster at St Paul's Cathedral, where many of his pieces were performed, and in 1699 he was appointed to the newly created post of Composer to the Chapel Royal. “Christ, being raised from the dead” is a verse-anthem, popular in this era, meaning that there are alternating sections between soloists and full choir.

SUMMER CHOIR:
We’d like to try something new and different during the summer months this year. In the past, the choir has enjoyed a well-earned break from mid-June (after St. Barnabas’ Day) to early September, and we’ll continue that tradition. However, it would be very helpful to have singers “up front” to help with the congregational singing and to that end are asking for volunteers from the congregation and any visitors who might be interested to come at 10 am on Sunday morning, beginning June 22, for a short practice in the downstairs choir room. Perhaps you’re a ‘retired’ choir member who would enjoy singing again, or someone who has never sung in a choir and would like to give it a try. Needless to say, current choristers are more than welcome to come out, but we also recognize that the summer has been a time when some can sit with their spouses in the congregation and appreciate that opportunity. While advance notice of your participation isn’t essential, it would be helpful to have an idea of who might be interested. If you are, please speak to Neil after a service in the next few weeks, or you can email him at nshoulton@gmail.com. PS No choir robes are needed – it is often just too hot to wear them during the summer!



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

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Easter 4 - May 11, 2014

  • Organ:  Prelude on “Tallis’ Canon” – Sir Charles Stanford 
  • Opening Hymn 521 “Dear Shepherd of your people, hear” (Winchester Old #136) 
  • Service Music: Holy Trinity Service – Christopher Tambling 
  • Psalm 23 (metrical paraphrase): Hymn 520 “The King of love my shepherd is” (Dominus regit me) 
  • Gospel Alleluia
Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Choir:  I am the good shepherd, says the Lord: I know my own sheep and my own know me. All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
  • Offertory Hymn 40 “O spirit of the living God” (Wareham) 
  • Communion ( Tallis’ Canon)  Words by George Herbert (from ‘The Temple’ 1633) Music by Thomas Tallis (Tallis’ Canon) 
  • Concluding Hymn 224 “Awake, arise, lift up your voice” (Richmond) 
  • Organ: Voluntary in C – William Croft (1678-1727)  
Music Notes:
George Herbert (1593–1633) was a Welsh-born English poet, orator and Anglican priest who is recognized as "a pivotal figure: enormously popular, deeply and broadly influential, and arguably the most skillful and important British devotional lyricist." While you might not recognize his name, you will know several of Herbert’s poems that we still use as hymns, including “Let all the world in every corner sing”, “King of glory, King of peace” and “Teach me, my God and King”. In 1633 all of Herbert's English poems were published in The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations, which, over the next 60 years, was reprinted eight times. “The God of love my shepherd is” (today’s communion hymn) is included in The Temple and is, obviously, a poetic paraphrase of Psalm 23. 

The organ prelude by Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) is based on Thomas Tallis’ tune of this morning’s communion hymn. 

William Croft (1678-1727) is best known now as the composer of the hymn tune we use for “O God, our help in ages past” and for his setting of the Burial Sentences, heard at funerals royal and otherwise (including the late Jim Flaherty at St. James’ Cathedral). Between 1708 and 1727 Croft was organist and master of the choristers at Westminster Abbey.  



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