December 23, 2012

 
 Pieter Bruegel the Elder, The Census at Bethlehem, Musées royaux des beaux-arts, Brussels, 1566

 But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days [NRSV, Micah 2:5].

 Christ Church Cathedral Choir Notes
Fourth Sunday of Advent


Click to go immediately to:

1) The Music Programme Homepage

 2) The Music Calendar for Choral Eucharist and Ceremony of Lessons and Carols

3) The Concert Calendar


Patrick Wedd will perform Olivier Messiaen, La Nativité du Seigneur, on the 1980 Wilhelm organ of Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday, December 22, at 4:30 pm. Admission free / voluntary contribution. 

 Messiaen's La Nativité du Seigneur performed by Jennifer Bate,  Olivier Latry, and Simon Preston (Click on name.)

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The Mass setting for Choral Eucharist is Hans Leo Hassler, Missa "Dixit Maria," based on his motet which will be the Communion anthem. Click to read about Hans Leo Hassler and listen to his Mass performed by the Ensemble Vocal Européen, Philippe Herreweghe conducting, and a number of versions of Hassler's motet.



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[O-Eric-Gill-739634.jpg]

Eric Gill: O

The O Antiphons are very much a part of Advent prayer.  They had their origin as antiphons for the Magnificat in Roman Catholic vespers during the week before Christmas.  



Click to read about the O Antiphons and listen to a number of different versions.



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The organ voluntaries for Choral Eucharist this coming Sunday are both chorale preludes, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland.



Zanobi Strozzi (attrib.), Nativity, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1412-68

 Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (orig.: Nu kom der Heyden heyland, Engl.: Now come, Saviour of the gentiles) is a Lutheran chorale of 1524 with words written by Martin Luther, based on Veni, redemptor gentium by Saint Ambrose. The chorale was used as the prominent hymn for the first Sunday of Advent for centuries. It was used widely in organ settings by Protestant baroque composers. 
It is now best known as the base for Johann Sebastian Bach's chorale cantata Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62 (1724), and the opening movement of his cantata Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61 (1714). 

This chorale continues in modern usage, both in liturgically oriented Christian hymnals (for example, the Lutheran Book of Worship) and as the cantus firmus for organ compositions.  (Wikipedia)



Veni, Redemptor gentium [Latin text] [English trans. by John Mason Neale]






Johann Sebastian Bach, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, Cantata 61 [listen]



Johann Sebastian Bach, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, Cantata 62 [listen]  



Johann Sebastian Bach, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, Chorale prelude, BWV 659 [Kibbie: listen]



Dietrich Buxtehude, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, Chorale prelude, BuxWV 211, [Vincenzo Ninci]: YouTube]



Johann Pachelbel, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, Chorale prelude [Monika Koepke: YouTube]



Nicolaus Bruhns, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, Chorale prelude [Jean-Luc Ho: YouTube] 



Karl Stiller, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, Chorale prelude [YouTube]



Michael Praetorius, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, chorale [La Capella Ducale: YouTube]



Georg Philipp Tellemann, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, chorale [Erie Renaissance Singers: YouTube]


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Bach Cantata for the 4th Sunday of Advent:

Click to go to Johann Sebastian Bach, Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn! / Prepare the ways, prepare the path!, Cantata 132, with performances by Leonhardt, Leusink, and Richter.

MaÎtre François, John the Baptist Preaching, Koninklijke  Bibliotheek, The Hague, c.1475-80