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!

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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!

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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!

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

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.  

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Easter 3 – Baptism - May 4 2014

• Organ:  “Prelude on St. Botolph” – Eugene Hill 
• Opening Hymn 481 “May the grace of Christ our Saviour” (Halton Holgate) 
• Service Music: Holy Trinity Service – Christopher Tambling 
• Psalm 116: 1-3, 10-17 (Tone II.1) 
• Hymn before Baptism  (Tune: Franconia) (Text: Anon) 

Jesus, our Lord and King, To You our praises rise;
To You our bodies we present, A living sacrifice.

Now justified by grace, And made alive to God,
Formed for Yourself to show Your praise, We sound Your love abroad.

As dead indeed to sin, We rise to walk anew,
Henceforth, as not our own, but Yours, We follow only You.

Baptized into Your death, With You again we rise,
To newness of a life of faith, To new and endless joys. 

• Gospel Alleluia

Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Choir:  Lord Jesus, explain the scriptures to us.
Make our hearts burn within us as you talk to us.
All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

• Offertory Hymn 364 “Splendour and honour” (Iste Confessor) 
• Anthem: “Draw us in the Spirit’s tether” – Harold Friedell 

  Draw us in the Spirit’s tether; For when humbly, in thy name,
  Two or three are met together, Thou art in the midst of them:
  Alleluya! Alleluya! Touch we now thy garment’s hem.
  
  As the faithful used to gather In the name of Christ to sup,
  Then with thanks to God the Father Break the bread and bless the cup,
  Alleluya! Alleluya! So knit thou our friendship up.
  
  All our meals and all our living Make as sacraments of thee,
  That by caring, helping, giving, We may true disciples be.
  Alleluya! Alleluya! We will serve thee faithfully.

• Communion (St. Botolph)  

O Jesus, King most wonderful, Thou Conqueror renowned,
Thou Sweetness most ineffable, In Whom all joys are found!

When once Thou visitest the heart, Then truth begins to shine,
Then earthly vanities depart, Then kindles love divine.

O Jesus, Light of all below, Thou Fount of life and fire,
Surpassing all the joys we know, And all we can desire!

Thy wondrous mercies are untold, Through each returning day;
Thy love exceeds a thousand fold, Whatever we can say.

May every heart confess Thy Name; And ever Thee adore;
And seeking Thee, itself inflame, To seek Thee more and more.

Thee may our tongues forever bless; Thee may we love alone;
And ever in our lives express The image of Thine own.

• Concluding Hymn 377 “To the name of our salvation” (Oriel) 
• Organ: “Rigadoun” – André Campra (1660-1744) 

Music Notes:

Composer, organist and choirmaster Harold Friedell (1905-1958), a native of New York state, is perhaps best known for his anthem “Draw us in the Spirit’s tether.” Friedell took his first job as organist at age sixteen. He studied at Juilliard – later taking a teaching post there – and held positions as 

organist/choirmaster as well as being an important figure in the development of the American Guild of Organists. Friedell’s last position was at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopalian Church in New York City. He died at the age of 53, leaving behind a body of around 100 works, including many anthems, hymn tunes and organ pieces.

André Campra was born in Aix-en-Provence and became one of the leading opera composers of the very late 17th and early 18th centuries. Between 1694 and 1700 he was music director of Notre Dame in Paris and it was during this time that Campra’s interests turned to composing for the theatre. His first works in this genre had to be published under his brother’s name, however, to avoid creating a scandal within the church; but another minor scandal resulted from his introduction of stringed instruments into the services at Notre Dame, something which had never been done before. A rigadoun, incidentally, is a sprightly 17th-century French folk dance for couples. Traditionally, the folkdance was associated with provinces in southern France, and it became popular as a court dance during the reign of Louis XIV. 

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Easter 2 - April 27 2014

• Organ: “Air and Gavotte” – Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1766 - 1837) 
• Opening Hymn 220 “Christ is risen” (All Saints) 
• Service Music: Holy Trinity Service – Christopher Tambling 
• Psalm 16 (to be read responsively) 
• Gospel Alleluia

Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Choir:  Jesus said: “You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.”
All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

• Offertory Hymn 206 “Christ the Lord is risen today” (Llanfair) 
• Anthem: “Christ the Lord is risen again” – Philip Stopford (born 1977) 
• Communion Hymn 74 “For the bread which you have broken” (Omni die dic Maria) 
• Concluding Hymn 210 “Yours be the glory” (Maccabeus) 
• Organ: “Toccata in E minor” – Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) 

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Easter Day - April 20 2014

• Organ: 
• Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn (Today the Son of God triumphs) BWV 630 – J.S. Bach (1685-1750) 
• Andante (from ‘Organ Concerto in g Op. 4 No. 1’) – G. F. Handel (1685-1758)
• Opening Hymn 203 “Christ the Lord is risen today” (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!

• Introit: “Terra tremuit” – William Byrd (1539/40-1623)
  

  The earth trembled and was still, when God arose in judgment, alleluia.

• Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24 (Tone VI)
• Gospel Alleluia

Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Choir: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:
therefore let us keep the feast.
All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

• Offertory Hymn 205 “The day of resurrection” (Ellacombe)

The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;
the Passover of gladness, the Passover of God.

From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky,
our Christ hath brought us over, with hymns of victory.

Our hearts be pure from evil, that we may see aright
the Lord in rays eternal of resurrection light;

and listening to his accents, may hear so calm and plain
his own "All hail!" and, hearing, may raise the victor strain.

Now let the heavens be joyful! Let earth her song begin!
The round world keep high triumph, and all that is therein!

Let all things seen and unseen their notes in gladness blend,
for Christ the Lord is risen, our joy that hath no end.

• Anthem: “Hallelujah, Amen” (from ‘Judas Maccabeus’) – G. F. Handel (1685-1758)

Hallelujah, Amen,
O Judah, rejoice, in songs divine,
With cherubim and seraphim harmonious join.

• Communion Hymn 48 “Let all mortal flesh keep silence” (Picardy)

Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to us approacheth, our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture, in the body and the blood,
he will give to all the faithful his own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of light descendeth from the realms of endless day,
that the powers of hell may vanish as the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six-wing-ed seraph, cherubim, with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the presence, as with ceaseless voice they cry,
“Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, Lord most high!”

• Communion Motet: “Now the green blade rises” – 15th C. French, arranged by Martin Shaw

The text of this carol can be found at #237 in the blue hymnbook.

• Closing Hymn 216 “Ye choirs of new Jerusalem” (St. Fulbert)

Ye choirs of new Jerusalem, your sweetest notes employ,
the Paschal victory to hymn in strains of holy joy.

For Judah's Lion bursts his chains, crushing the serpent's head;
and cries aloud through death's domains to wake the imprisoned dead.

Devouring depths of hell their prey at his command restore;
his ransomed hosts pursue their way where Jesus goes before.

Triumphant in his glory now to him all power is given;
to him in one communion bow all saints in earth and heaven.

All glory to the Father be, all glory to the Son,
all glory, Holy Ghost, to thee, while endless ages run.

Organ: Chorale Prelude on ‘O mensch bewein’ – J.S. Bach

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Organ: Chorale Prelude on ‘Erhalt uns Herr’ – Dietrich Buxtehude