February 25, 2009

Georges Rouault, Miserere Mei, etching

Christ Church Cathedral Choir Notes
Ash Wednesday
February 25, 2009

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John Ruskin (1819-1800), Christ Church, Oxford


The Mass setting for Ash Wednesday is Herbert Howells, Missa Aedis Christi, named after Christ Church (it's Latin name), the largest college of Oxford University.

Click to read about Christ Church and its college chapel which is the cathedral of the Diocese of Oxford.

A performance by the Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, is made available for online listening by the Naxos Music library [
NML] and a performance by the Choir of New College, Oxford, by the Classical Music Library [CML]. Check with your librarian. Card-holders of la Bibliothèque nationale du Québec, if they are ready to open their record (dossier) when prompted, may listen by clicking on [NML] or [CML]. Members of "Beethoven on Demand" (info) have free acces to NML as well but must first login and then do a search (Missa Aedis Christi).

The psalm between the readings for the Eucharist on Ash Wednesday is Psalm 51, the most well-known version of which is that of Gregorio Allegri.

Click to read about Allegri's masterpiece and listen to a number of different performances.




Duccio di Buoninsegna, Crucifixion, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena, 1308-11


Bach's Leipzig did not allow cantatas during Lent. Until Easter then instead of a cantata each week, the Christ Church Cathedral music programme will regularly post a different version of the Stabat Mater.

Click to read about the Stabat Mater and listen to Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Stabat Mater, performed by les Pages and les Chantres de la chapelle and le Poème harmonique, Olivier Schneebell conducting.