November 30, 2008

Marc Chagall, Isaiah's Prayer, etching, 1931-39

Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people (NRSV, Isaiah 64:9).


Christ Church Cathedral Choir Notes
The First Sunday of Advent


Click to go immediately to:







The organ voluntaries for Choral Eucharist, November 30, are Sleepers Awake by Johann Sebastian Bach and Emma Lou Diemer.

Click for a number of different interpretations of Johann Sebastian Bach, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme,
BWV 645 (Sleepers Awake).

1972 Vierdag organ, Bethlehemkerk, The Hague


El Greco, Annunciation, Colección Santander Central Hispano, Madrid, 1608-14

Click to read about the Advent Prose to be sung at both Choral Eucharist and evensong this Sunday, November 30, as well as read about the Introit of the Roman Mass for the 4th Sunday of Advent and listen to a number of musical selections.




Conditor Alme Siderum (Creator of the Stars of Night) is the quintessential advent hymn. During advent it is always sung at Roman Catholic vespers. The prelude and postlude at evensong this Sunday, November 30, are organ versions of the hymn.

Click to read about Conditor alme siderum and to listen to a number of choral and organ arrangements.




This year the Advent Procession of Lessons and Carols will take place on the 2nd Sunday of Advent, December 7, at 4:00 pm.


Agnolo Bronzino, St. John the Baptist, Galleria Borghese, Rome, 1550-55




1730 Trost organ of the stadtkirche in Waltershausen, Germany

Click to go to Advent organ music programmes archived by Pipedreams: 2006 - 2004 - 2002 - 2001 - 2000 - 1998.





Patrick Wedd will continue his reprise of the complete organ works of Olivier Messiaen on the Wilhelm organ of Christ Church Cathedral this Saturday, November 29, at 5:00 pm.

Patrick Wedd will perform Olivier Messiaen, Livre du Saint Sacrement I-IV, XII-XVIII.

To prepare, listen to:

Jennifer Bate, Olivier Latry, Dame Gillian Weir.

St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue has online excellent programme notes.

Click here, then go to page 30 for the comments on Le livre du Saint Sacrement.

These programme notes accompany John Scott's Messiaen recitals at St. Thomas.
Click here to listen online.


Olivier Messiaen, Le Quatuor pour la fin du temps, is being performed by Simon Aldrich, clarinet; Louise Bessette, piano; Olivier Thouin, violin; Yegor Dyachkov, cello; at three Maisons de la culture, free admission, laissez-passer required, on Thursday, November 28, at 8:00 pm at Côte-de-neiges; on Friday, November 29, at 8:00 pm at La Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur; on Monday, December 2, at 8:00 pm at Frontenac.

To prepare
click to read about le Quatuor and listen to three different performances.

William Blake, Angel of the Revelation, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, c.1603


Olivier Messiaen, Les offrandes oubliées, will be performed by the McGill Symphony Orchestra, Alexis Hauser conducting, as part of a concert including Rachmaninoff, Concerto pour piano no. 3, op. 30 (Lana Henschell, piano) and Stravinsky, Petrouchka, on Friday, November 28, and Saturday, November 29, at 7:00 pm, in Pollack Hall. Admission $12.

To prepare, if one has online library access to the Naxos Music Library, listen to a performance of the piano version by Håkan Austbø. [
NML]




McGill Autumn Noon-Hour Organ Recital Series

The Wolff organ of Redpath Hall - Admission Free

Friday, November 28, at 12:30pm: Hank Knox, harpsichord & organ. Works by Frescobaldi.


Fra Angelico, Christ Glorified in the Court of Heaven, National Gallery, London, 15th cent.


Click to go to Bach Cantatas for Online Listening and Johann Sebastian Bach, Cantata 36, performed by Boy Soprano: Soloist of the Wiener Sängerknaben (no name); Alto: Paul Esswood; Tenor: Kurt Equiluz; Bass: Ruud van der Meer; Wiener Sängerknaben & Chorus Viennensis (Chorus Master - Hans Gillesberger) / Concentus Musicus Wien; Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducting

November 23, 2008

Good Shepherd, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, 5th cent.

As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness (NRSV, Ezekiel 34:12).

Christ Church Cathedral Choir Notes

The Reign of Christ / Feast of the Dedication

Click to go immediately to:
1) The Music Programme Homepage
2) The
Music Calendar for Choral Eucharist and Evensong
3) The
Concert Calendar.



Both anthems at evensong this Sunday, November 23, use the text of Glorious and powerful God.

Click to read about Orlando Gibbons and to hear his version, sung by the Clerkes of Oxenford, David Wulstan conducting (text).

Orlando Gibbons




Then click to read about Sir Charles Villiers Stanford and his version, performed by the Trinity Church Wall Street Choir (text).

Click again for the canticles for evensong: Orlando Gibbons, Second Service. Unfortunately the organ voluntaries by Stanford are not available for online listening.
Sir Charles Villers Stanford



Cipriano de Rore, of Franco-Flemish orign, was a prolific Renaissance composer of madrigals, Masses and motets while in the service of the Este family in Ferrara. His Jubilate Deo is the introit for Choral Eucharist this Sunday, November 23.

Click to read about Cipriano de Rore and listen to a variety of his madrigals and motets performed by the Ensemble Weser Renaissance Bremen.


Patrick Wedd will continue his reprise of the complete organ works of Olivier Messiaen on the Wilhelm organ of Christ Church Cathedral this Saturday, November 22, at 5:00 pm.

Patrick Wedd will perform Olivier Messiaen, Méditations sur le mystère de la Sainte Trinité.

To prepare, listen to: Jennifer Bate, Oliver Latry, Dame Gillian Weir.


St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue has online excellent programme notes. Click here, then go to page 23 for the comments on Méditations sur le mystère de la Sainte Trinité.

These programme notes accompany John Scott's Messiaen recitals at St. Thomas. Click here to listen online.

ATMA Classique is releasing a Messiaen disc on Tuesday, November 18: Fête des belles eaux and Feuillets Inédits performed by Louis Bessette, piano; and L'Ensemble d'ondes de Montréal.


Click to read about and listen to a performance of Fête des belles eaux (artists unknown).


Click for a YouTube version of the 4ème Feuillet inédit played by Jean-François Zygel (piano) and Thomas Bloch (ondes Martenot).


This year the Advent Procession of Lessons and Carols will take place on the 2nd Sunday of Advent, December 7, at 4:00 pm.




Agnolo Brozino, St. John the Baptist, Galleria Borghese, Rome, 1550-55





McGill Autumn Noon-Hour Organ Recital Series
The Wolff organ of Redpath Hall - Admission Free

Friday, November 21: Eduoardo Bellotti (Milan). Works by Old Italian Masters.


Christ of the Deesis, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, c. 1200


Click to go to Bach Cantatas for Online Listening and Johann Sebastian Bach,Cantata 182, performed by Alto: Paul Esswood; Tenor: Kurt Equiluz; Bass: Robert Holl; Tölzer Knabenchor (Chorus Master: Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden) / Concentus Musicus Wien; Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducting.

November 16, 2008

Unknown Catalan Master, Christ and the Twelve, Barcelona, c. 1100

Christ Church Cathedral Choir Notes
The Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Pentecost



The Introit for Choral Eucharist this Sunday, November 16, Awake us, Lord (C.S. Terry), is set to the music of the Chorale which closes Johann Sebastian Bach, Cantata 22, Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe / Jesus took the twelve to himself.

Click to go to Bach Cantatas for Online Listening and Johann Sebastian Bach, Cantata 22.



The Mass Setting, Missa brevis No. 7 in g, "O Westorn Wynde" and both anthems at evensong are the work of Healey Willan.

Click to read about Healey Willan, listen to the Missa brevis No. 7 in g, "O Westorn Wynde," Hail, Gladdening light and other music.




All four organ voluntaries for Choral Eucharist and evensong for this Sunday, November 16, as well as the Communion motet are by Percy Whitlock.

Click to read about Percy Whitlock and listen to all seven of Sketches on verses of the psalms, the Plymouth suite as well as other organ music.



Patrick Wedd will continue his reprise of the complete organ works of Olivier Messiaen on the Wilhelm organ of Christ Church Cathedral this Saturday, November 15, at 5:00 pm.

Patrick Wedd will perform Olivier Messiaen, Verset pour la fête de la dédicace, Monodie, Livre d'orgue.

To prepare, listen to:

Verset pour la fête de la dédicace: Jennifer Bate, Olivier Latry, Dame Gillian Weir

Monodie: Olivier Latry

Livre d'orgue: Jennifer Bate, Olivier Latry, Dame Gillian Weir.


St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue has online excellent programme notes. Click here for the comments on Verset pour la fête de la dédicace, Monodie, Livre d'orgue and then go to page 19.

These programme notes accompany John Scott's Messiaen recitals at St. Thomas. Click here to listen online.

ATMA Classique is releasing a Messiaen disc on Tuesday, November 18: Fête des belles eaux and Feuillets Inédits performed by Louis Bessette, piano; and L'Ensemble d'ondes de Montréal.

Click to read about and listen to a performance of Fête des belles eaux (artists unknown).

Click for a YouTube version of the 4ème Feuillet inédit played by Jean-François Zygel (piano) and Thomas Bloch (ondes Martenot).


McGill Autumn Noon-Hour Organ Recital Series
The Wolff organ of Redpath Hall -
Admission Free

Friday, November 14, at 12:30 pm: Yves-G. Préfontaine. Works by Titelouze and Reinken.

November 9, 2008

Albrecht Dürer, The Adoration of the Lamb, Staatliche Kunsthalle, Karlsruhe, 1497-99


Christ Church Cathedral Choir Notes
All Souls / Remembrance Sunday


O quam gloriosum / O, how glorious, in the Roman liturgy the antiphon for the Magnificat in 2nd Vespers of All Saints, is the subject of the Introit and anthem at evensong this coming Sunday, November 9.

Click to go to a number of versions in plainchant, by William Byrd, Tomás Luis de Victoria, Basil Harwood, Healey Willan and Giacomo Mezzalira.


Le premier Noël is the first concert of the the season of Musica Orbium, directed by Patrick Wedd, to be held on Sunday, November 16, at 7:30 pm, at St. George's Anglican Church, 1101 Stanley Street, Montreal (Bonaventure Metro). Click for complete information.





McGill Autumn Noon-Hour Organ Recital Series
The Wolff organ of Redpath Hall

Friday, November 7, at 12:30 pm: Martin Herchenroeder (Cologne). Works by Hambraeus, Herchenroeder, Messiaen. (Admission free)



There will be a performance at the Théâtre Gesù (1200 rue Bleury - Place des Arts Metro) on Saturday, November 8, at 8:00 pm by the Orchestre 21e Siècle with Jimmy Brière, piano; Paolo Bellomia directing; of Olivier Messiaen, Couleurs de la cité céleste, La Ville d'en haut, Un vitrail et des oiseaux; Norbert Palej, Souffle de lumière. Un hommage à Messiaen (création mondiale); Éric de Villers, Intermedio (création mondiale) $30/$20.

Listen to Messiaen to prepare:


Netherlands Wind Ensemble, Reinbert De Leeuw conducting; Peter Donohue, piano:

Couleurs de la cité céleste - La Ville d’en haut - Un Vitrail et des oiseaux


University of Kansas Wind Ensemble; Auguste Antonov, piano: Couleurs de la cité céleste

Continuing the Christ Church Cathedral Music Programme celebration of the Messiaen centenary:

There will not be an Olivier Messiaen organ recital at Christ Church Cathedral this coming Saturday, November 8. The following Saturday, November 15, at 5:00 pm, Patrick Wedd will perform Olivier Messiaen, Verset pour la fête de la dédicace, Monodie, Livre d'orgue.

To prepare, listen to:


Verset pour la fête de la dédicace:

Jennifer Bate, Olivier Latry, Dame Gillian Weir

Monodie: Olivier Latry,

Livre d'orgue:
Jennifer Bate, Olivier Latry, Dame Gillian Weir





Click to watch the complete October 28, 2008, performance of Johann Sebastian Bach, Mass in B Minor, performed by the Trinity Church (Wall Street) Choir directed by Andrew Megill with the Rebel Baroque Orchestra. Don't forget to download the programme as well.


William James Webb, The Lost Sheep, Manchester City Galleries, 1864
Click to go to Bach Cantatas for Online Listening and Johann Sebastian Bach Cantata 135 performed by Alto: René Jacobs; Tenor: Marius van Altena; Bass: Max van Egmond; Knabenchor Hannover (Chorus Master: Heinz Hennig) & Collegium Vocale Gent (Chorus Master: Philippe Herreweghe) / Leonhardt-Consort, Gustav Leonhardt conducting.

November 2, 2008

Jan van Eych, The Adoration of the Lamb from The Ghent Altarpiece, Cathedral of St. Bavo, Ghent, 1432

After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands
(NRSV, Revelation 7:9).

Christ Church Cathedral Choir Notes

All Saints Sunday


Jan de Bray, David Playing the Harp (detail), Private Collection, 1670

Annual Fundraising Concert to support the Choirs of Christ Church Cathedral:

Igor Stravinsky, Symphony of Psalms, with works by Rossi, Glick and Sweelinck, featuring the combined choirs of Christ Church Cathedral; Anne-Marie Denoncourt and Pamela Reimer, pianists.

Wednesday, November 5, at 8 pm.

$20; $15 student & seniors; $40 reserved seat and wine and cheese reception

Click to listen to Stravinsky, Symphony of Psalms, performed by the Westminster Cathedral Choir.

Click to read about Stravinsky, and listen to more of his sacred music, including two additional versions of Symphony of Psalms.

The Introit and Communion motet for Choral Eucharist this Sunday, November 2, are both by Salamone Rossi, Jewish composer of the Italian Renaissance, whose work will also be performed at the Annual Choir fundraiser on Wednesday, November 5.

Click to read about Salamone Rossi and listen to the two motets and other works.




The Mass setting for Choral Eucharist this Sunday, November 2, is Hans Leo Hassler, Missa Secunda.


Click
to read about Hans Leo Hassler and listen to his Missa super Dixit Maria and other works.




McGill Autumn Noon-Hour Organ Recital Series
The Wolff organ of Redpath Hall
Fridays at 12:30 pm
Free Admission

October 31: Matthew Provost. Works by de Cabezon, de Arauxo, Cabanillas.

November 7: Martin Herchenroeder (Cologne). Works by Hambraeus, Herchenroeder, Messiaen.

November 14: Yves-G. Préfontaine. Works by Titelouze and Reinken.

November 21: Eduoardo Bellotti (Milan). Works by Old Italian Masters.

November 28: Hank Knox, harpsichord & organ. Works by Frescobaldi.



Continuing the Christ Church Cathedral Music Programme celebration of the Messiaen centenary:

Patrick Wedd will continue his reprise of the complete organ works of Olivier Messiaen on the Wilhelm organ of Christ Church Cathedral this Saturday, November 1, at 5:00 pm, with a performance of Les Corps glorieux: Sept Visions brèves de la vie des ressuscités / Bodies in Glory: Sept Brief Visions of the Life of the Resurrected. Free admission / voluntary contribution.

For preparation, click to go to the following online performances:

Les Corps glorieux: Jennifer Bate, Susan Landale, Olivier Latry, Dame Gillian Weir.



Illustrator of Petrus Comestor's 'Bible Historiale,' The Man with Dropsy and the Ox, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, 1372

Click to go to Bach Cantatas for Online Listening and Johann Sebastian Bach Cantata 148 performed by Alto: Paul Esswood; Tenor: Kurt Equiluz; Tölzer Knabenchor (Chorus Master: Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden) / Concentus Musicus Wien; Nikolaus Harnoncourt; conducting.