James MacMillan on Musica Sacra Scotland

Please watch and circulate:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhDOnKeA-K4

www.musicasacrascotland.org.uk

Byzantine Music Concert in Leeds

If you're in or near Leeds on the weekend of 13/14th September and not involved with our own Solemn High Mass up at Brinkburn that day (which I shall write about separately nearer the time) then this is a unique opportunity to hear some fabulous music. It's very frustrating, because I'd love to go! However, despite that, I'm more than happy to give the event publicity here.

The concert is linked to the Consecration of the Romanian Orthodox church in Leeds, details of which follow:

The Concert of the Choir Saint Demetrius
The Choir, set up 14 years ago by a group of students at Theology from Craiova, Romania, aims at discovering the ancient Romanian traditions and hymns, especially those of Byzantine tradition. It is currently led by Victor Sapca, PhD student at the University of Music in Bucharest and music teacher at “St. Gregory the Theologian” Orthodox Seminary in Craiova. The Choir members performed in numerous concerts in Romania and at the San Marco Cathedral in Venice. They recorded nine compact discs with a selection of the most beautiful and expressive Byzantine chants from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf_fEnYvKzw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkE2Luj2Hmo

This concert, organized with the generous support of the Romanian Cultural Institute in London in partnership with our Parish, will feature the following musical pieces:

 The world has found you to be a great defense…, Troparion of St. Demetrius the Great Martyr, traditional melody in tone III - performed in Romanian, Greek and English.

2.   On this day Saint Constantine and blessed Helen…, Kontakion of Sts Constantine and Helen, tone III - performed in English.

3.     Our Father…, tone VIII, recent composion of Hieromonk Ghelasie Ivan from Crasna Monastery, Romania - performed in English.

4.       Let every breath praise the Lord…, Sticheraric Praises in tone III by Iakovos Protopsaltis - performed in English.

5.       Holy God…, Tone I Sticheraric,  by Parthenios of Meteora - performed in both Romanian and English.

6.       The Servants of the Lord… , Polyeleos in tone V  by Peter the Lampadar - performed in Romanian.

7.       It is meet and right…, Axion in tone VIII - performed in Romanian.

8.       Good Word…, Polyeleos on Feasts of the Theotokos in tone VIII by Nectarie the Protopsaltis - performed in Romanian.

Consecration Programme

 Friday, 13th September

19:00 - 20:00 – A Concert of the Byzantine Music performed by the choir of Saint Demetrius, Craiova, Romania (held in the Church)

20:00 - 21:00 – Common meal (Agape) inthe  Church Hall

21:00 - 23:00 –Vigil Service (Vespers, Artoklasia and Matins)

Saturday, 14th September

09:00 - 13:30 – Service of Consecration with Hierarchical Divine Liturgy

14:00 – 16:30 Common meal (Agape) in the Church Hall.

Fr. Constantin Popescu

_______________________________________

Romanian Orthodox Parish of Saint Makarios the Great

Saint Michael and All Angels Church

Lawns Lane, Farnley, Leeds, LS12 5ET
West Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Tel: 01785 212247; Mobile: 07514 524 544

Email: fr.constantin.popescu@gmail.com

Web Page(s): www.sfmacarie.org, www.leeds.mitropolia.eu

Compline tomorrow

This may be of interest to any of you in or near the York area. We'll be singing Compline tomorrow evening after our break due to the fact that two of the regular singers were in Belgium last week. :-)

I've just finished editing & saving the photos - a massive task. Some will no doubt appear on Flickr and/or Facebook in the near future.

Back to the present. Tomorrow is:

Fri 30 S ROSE of LIMA V III Cl W
Ordinary Office

Therefore: Friday psalms, Te Lucis I & Simple Salve Regina.

For some reason I thought it was a Marian feast & Compline of Sunday, but both calendar & online ordo confirm it isn't. Nevertheless, everyone is welcome! No doubt we shall adjourn to the 'vestry' afterwards for 'refreshments'. ;-)

Musica Sacra Scotland Conference

This is a super initiative and promises to be a great day. I'd love to go to this, but it sadly clashes with my own birthday and there are events, both sung and social taking place in York that day. Do go if you have the opportunity, except those of you invited to my party of course! 

If you click on the poster image, it will expand to show all the details.

More About Compline - and introducing a service schedule

It's not gone unnoticed that we're attracting more people lately, especially now that we've more or less moved back to singing on a Friday evening, which is where we started out when we were given the opportunity to sing the Office in York's oldest church some years ago.

It would still be lovely to see more, so my intention is to (time permitting) publish details of our regular services here on a weekly basis.

So, next week we shall be singing Compline again in St. Mary's, the details of which follow:

Friday 16th August 8.45pm (in all honesty, it will be nearer 9 by the time we eventually start!)

S JOACHIM, FATHER of the BVM C II Cl 
Semifestal Office

Compline will therefore be that of Sunday, concluding with the Solemn Salve Regina..

All welcome!

There are other potential developments regarding liturgical choral music & chant in York which may begin to take effect later this year. Stay tuned. If/when it happens you'll hear about it here...!

Watch this...

"The Chant Café: Propers of the Mass Channel" http://feedly.com/k/15ySjTP

I've subscribed to the channel

St. Margaret Clitherow Mass.

Watch "Solemn High Mass in honour of St. Margaret Clitherow" on YouTube

For those of you who weren't there, or would just like a reminder of the day - here's the video of the Mass.

Music for Margaret Clitherow 2013

Within a month of Ratcliffe, is the Rudgates first big event of the year, the National Pilgrimage to York in honour of St. Margaret Clitherow, transferred to 4th May (Star Wars Day!) this year due to the traditional weekend day closest to her feast being so close to Holy Week.

Like the preceding post, here are some musical highlights of what we'll be doing. The three points I made there, also apply here!

Victoria Missa Simile est Regnum Coelorum Kyrie/Gloria:
http://youtu.be/qsHyyjRbEXc

Victoria Missa Simile est Regnum Coelorum Sanctus, Benedictus & Agnus:
http://youtu.be/dWYD5wxK_RU

Bardos Audi Filia:
http://youtu.be/_3x31kBWrBo

Croce O Sacrum Convivium:
http://youtu.be/wgqNRl-Vj0E

Ratcliffe music

Holy Week is here. All too soon it will be Easter, and then the week after, Low Week, which for me means the Training conference at Ratcliffe College.

For those of you interested in these things, here are a few links to some of the music which we'll be singing throughout the week.

Monday:

Ecce Sacerdos Magnus - Victoria: http://youtu.be/tNAShUfXCJA

Introit Vultum tuum: http://youtu.be/ohB3hdVLE-0

Missa cum jubilo: http://youtu.be/0DYyWFtPmpA

Credo IV: http://youtu.be/Yja0Tp_TCPA

Ave Maria - Victoria: http://youtu.be/QlLrHWJcloA

Regina Caeli Solemn mode: http://youtu.be/iIYCRqwHA94

Tuesday:

Missa de angelis: http://youtu.be/iIYCRqwHA94

Ecce Panis Angelorum - Lotti http://youtu.be/9MeBCKagwxk

Regina Caeli Simple mode: http://youtu.be/6-EJiI_yAas

Ad RegiasAgni Dapes: http://youtu.be/M14r4KmyB0Q

Adoremus in Aeternum: http://youtu.be/XzegDFZQmeM

Wednesday:

Missa Iste Confessor - Palestrina (Kyrie & Gloria): http://youtu.be/G-_Qx3fyRLQ

Aeterne Rex Altissime: http://youtu.be/fy1BW2VYEjw

Thursday:

Missa Lux et origo Kyrie: http://youtu.be/_LhoIYoeTC8

Missa Lux et origo: Gloria: http://youtu.be/OVKC7oVWYBA

Missa Lux et origo Sanctus: http://youtu.be/pQXGNPOhofA

Missa Lux et origo Agnus Dei: http://youtu.be/mSgyYDZvSAg

Ave Verum - Byrd: http://youtu.be/vFZZMF7SRRo?t=3s

Iste Confessor: http://youtu.be/ste06UzUd6w

O Doctor optime: http://youtu.be/Zbn49NR8j-o?t=3m2s

Friday:

Victoria Requiem à 4 Kyrie: http://youtu.be/KdeCa1MzG4U

Victoria Requiem à 4 Offertorium: http://youtu.be/lg8f0PrXQi8

Absolve, Domine: http://youtu.be/np_slIOn5Jk

Dies Irae: http://youtu.be/dsn9LWh230k

Three things.

1. Obviously this list is by no means complete!

2. We won't necessarily be slavishly copying the performances recorded here. :-)

3. Any comments made are purely the opinions of those who wrote them!

If you want more, you'll just have to come along! All services are open to the public.

The conference runs from the 8th to 12th of April, commencing with Pontifical High Mass for the Solemnity of the Annunciation (transferred because 25th March falls during Holy Week) and finishes with a Solemn Requiem Mass for deceased bishops and priests. It is after all, a clergy training conference!

For what we have received..

The Benedictine Liturgical Legacy

Why we do what we do

Consumers v. Producers

Another pearl from the Chant Café

The Musical Legacy of Benedict XVI

This Weekend

Car permitting, as mine's off the road at the moment, something to do with an ECU, whatever that is. I only just bought the thing a week ago!

Saturday am: Choral Orthodox Liturgy at Ampleforth Abbey, followed no doubt by an excellent lunch. For those of you who think we're in Lent, and shouldn't be indulging, you're only partially right. The vast majority of Orthodox, and most Eastern Rite Catholics don't begin Great Lent until the first weekend in March as there is a 3 week discrepancy between the dates of Easter this year due to the different calendars in use.

Saturday pm sees a return to the Catholic Extraordinary Form for both Vespers (of the BVM) and later, Compline, both at our York base of St. Mary's Bishophill Jnr. Vespers is at 6:30pm. Compline at 8:45. New singers (and congregation) always welcome. :-)

Sunday, sees another minor (this time) calendar switch to the Ordinary Form and a trip up to co. Durham to sing Byrd's mass for 4 voices with the Darlington Ordinariate. They're desperately short of tenors, so if any of you reading this can oblige, and are free on Sunday, get in touch via the Rudgate website email link!

Music in the Diocese of Middlesbrough

I realise I'm guilty of directing readers to excellent blogs and websites in the USA regarding quality articles concerning church music, particularly catholic church music, so it's time to redress the balance a little bit.

This is very encouraging, and very close to home - I do in fact, live in this Diocese! Only a few years ago, liturgically speaking, this area of the UK was almost barren. If you wanted to hear a decent choir sing sacred music in a catholic service, you either had to follow us on our travels across Northern England, or visit Ampleforth in term time. However, the Diocese has got its act together and appointed an excellent musician, Tim Harrison, as Director of Music for both cathedral and diocese, and what a transformation he has made!

Where there were no choirs at all until recently, there are now 5 in residence at the cathedral, comprising of Cathedral Adult, Boy's & Girl's choirs + Ladies' & Mens' Schola Cantorum.

A tremendous amount of hard work has gone into this, and Tim deserves huge congratulations and a lot more publicity, something this blog can only go a little way towards achieving!

The link to the Diocesan music site can be found here.

From the excellent Chant Café

Lent Is Victoria Time

We need more Bishops like this!

Bishop Sample's Pastoral Letter on Sacred Music

Summer Tour

Whilst searching for links for the previous post on Catholic Evensong, I stumbled upon this courtesy of the excellent http://the-hermeneutic-of-continuity.blogspot.co.uk/

We're going there this summer - via Belgium!

Catholic Evensong

Much has been said this week about Catholic Evensong in the 'Deep South' and also at Oxford, so I thought it was about time to shed a little Northern Light on the subject.

The Ordinary himself, Mgr Keith Newton, is visiting the church of St. Osmund, Gainford, which now hosts the Darlington Ordinariate Community,  on Sunday 3rd February.  I shall be singing there that day and may yet be able to persuade a couple of other Rudgates to come and join me.

Details are as follows:

Sunday 3rd February - Solemn Mass at 11.15 am – Mgr. Newton
Setting: Little Organ Mass by F J Haydn

Anthem: When to the temple Mary went by Eccard

Voluntary: Dialogue sur les grand jeux by Louis Marchand 

Evensong & Benediction at 4 pm

Hymns: For Mary Mother of the Lord

Her Virgin eyes saw God incarnate born

We hail thy presence glorious

The duteous day now closeth

Psalm: 42

Preces & Reponses: Reading

Canticles: Noble in B minor

Anthem: Evening Hymn by H Balfour Gardiner

Benediction: Saint-Saens and Henschel

Voluntary: Sonata No 2 in C by Felix Mendelssohn

Do come along! A very warm welcome will be given to new singers too, especially, but not exclusively, tenors. ;-)

We may appear to be resting....

But... Plans are already at an advanced stage for the third National Pilgrimage to York in honour of St Margaret Clitherow, which this year will take place on Saturday 4th May, due to the proximity of Palm Sunday & Holy week to the Saturday nearest to her actual Feast Day - 23rd & 26th March respectively.

Music details are as follows:

Mass Setting: Missa Simile est Regnum Caelorum: Tomás Luis de Victoria (c.1548-1611)

Offertory Motet: Audi Filia: Lajos Bárdos (1899-1986)Communion Motet: O Sacrum Convivium: Giovanni Croce (1557-1609)Marian Antiphon: Regina Caeli: Samuel Webbe: (1740-1816) 
Chant Proper: from the Graduale Romanum. Mass of a Holy Woman Martyr in Paschatide, which means we mustn't forget the Alleluias. :-)

Plans are also at an advanced stage for  this,the opening Mass of which will be the transferred Feast of the Annunciation, celebrated by Bishop Malcolm McMahon, the Diocesan Bishop.

The booklet for Conference attendees and congregation is done, and being checked for any errors, which I'd rather not do myself, as it took me hours just to compile it and, needless to say, I felt like the proverbial zombie once I'd finished, hence the need for a fresh pair of eyes!

Meanwhile in York, Compline is still sung regularly, with the addition of Vespers (currently of the BVM) every third Saturday. Check our calendar for further details.

Busy weekend ahead...

Starts with the first rehearsal tomorrow am for our annual service of Lessons and Carols in York's oldest church, followed by a swift dash to Halifax tomorrow eve for a Chant High Mass celebrating the Silver Jubilee of a wonderful priest, Mgr David Smith. He was the first ever Rudgate celebrant back in 1996.

Finally on Sunday morning my conducting 'skills' are being unleashed again on the Darlington Ordinariate Choir as there's nobody else. Palestrina Matin Responsory, de Angelis & Record of John. Could be interesting... ;-)