December 12, 2010

Moscow School, John the Baptist, The State Museums of the Moscow Kremlin, 1560s

This is the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you [NRSV,Matthew 11:10].'


Christ Church Cathedral Choir Notes
The Third Sunday of Advent

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The incipit for the Gregorian chant introit from which Gaudete Sunday gets its name.

This coming Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, has traditionally been known as Gaudete Sunday, after the introit of the Latin Mass.  It will be chanted at Choral Eucharist. Rose vestments may be worn and a rose candle is often lit on the Advent Wreath.

Gaudéte in Dómino semper: íterum dico, gaudéte. Modéstia vestra nota sit ómnibus homínibus: Dóminus enim prope est. Nihil solíciti sitis: sed in omni oratióne petitiónes vestræ innotéscant apud Deum. Benedixísti Dómine terram suam: avertísti captivitátem Jacob. 

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice; let your forbearance be known to all, for the Lord is near at hand; have no anxiety about anything, but in all things, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. (Philippians 4:4-6).

Giovanni Vianini, Schola Gregoriana Mediolanensis, Milano, Gaudete in Domino, Tone 1 [YouTube] (preceded by BWV 722) 
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Es ist ein Ros entsprungen / Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming is a popular Christmas carol dating back to the 16th century.  Michael Praetorius' choral piece and organs versions by Johannes Brahms and James Woodman will be performed at Choral Eucharist and evensong this coming Sunday, December 12.  

Click to read about Es ein Ros entsprungen and to listen to organ versions by Brahms and Max Baumann and choral versions by Praetorius, Hugo Distler and Herbert Howells(A Spotless Rose, after the translation of Catherine Winkworth).
 
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The Annual Handel's Messiah Sing-Along will take place at Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday, December 11, at 5 pm, with the Cathedral Singers, Musica Orbium and orchestra, Patrick Wedd directing. Scores are available. Free admission / voluntary contribution.

The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral will join with the McGill Chamber Orchestra and Suzie Leblanc, soprano; Daniel Taylor, counter-tenor; Rufus Müller, tenor; Alexander Dobson, bass; with Boris Brott conducting; to perform George Frideric Handel, Messiah, at Christ Church Cathedral on Monday, December 20, at 7:30 pm. Tickets: $45-$10.

Click to read about Messiah and access a wide variety of performances including two video performances by the Trinity Church (Wall Street) choir with the Rebel Baroque Orchestra conducted by either Andrew Megill or Jane Glover.

Almost 6,000,000 viewers have already watched this random act of culture: The Opera Company of Philadelphia and 650 choristers accompanied by the Wanamaker organ, the world's largest, suddenly bursting out with the Hallelujah Chorus in Macy's Department Store, Philadelphia.  Click to watch.  

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Patrick Wedd will perform Olivier Messiaen, La Nativité du Seigneur, on the 1980 Wilhelm organ of Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday, December 18, at 5:00 pm. Admission free / voluntary contribution.

Click to listen to Olivier Messiaen himself perform La Nativité du Seigneur at the Cavaillé-Coll grand organ of Église de la Sainte-Trinité, Paris, of which he was titular, 1931-92.

Click to listen to Timothy Byram-Wigfield  perform La Nativité du Seigneur at the Harrisons organ of St. George's Chapel, Windsor.

Click to listen to Messiaen's La Nativité du Seigneur from Pipedreams, Minnesota PBS, each movement performed by a different organist.

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Fra Angelico, Christ Glorified in the Court of Heaven