January 13, 2013

Piero della Francesca, Baptism of Christ, National Gallery, London, 1448-50

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove [NRSV, Luke 3:21-22a].

Christ Church Cathedral Choir Notes  
Baptism of the Lord

Click to go immediately to:

1) The Music Programme Homepage

2) The Music Calendar for Choral Eucharist

3) The Concert Calendar


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Giotto di Bondone, Three Miracles: Magi, Cana, Baptism; Cappella degli Scrovegni, Padua, 1304-06


Tribus Miraculis, which celebrates the the three epiphanies of our Lord: the adoration of the magi, the baptism, and the changing of water into wine at Cana, is the Magnificat antiphon at Roman Catholic Second Vespers for the Solemnity of the Epiphany.  In the version by Palestrina it is the Communion motet and the anthem at Choral Evensong this coming Sunday.

Tribus miraculis ornatum diem sanctum colimus:
hodie stella Magos duxit ad praesepium:
hodie vinum ex aqua factum est ad nuptias:
hodie in Jordane a Joanne Christus baptizari voluit,
ut salvaret nos. Alleluia.

We celebrate a day sanctified by three miracles:
today a star led the Wise Men to the manger;
today water was changed into wine at the marriage feast;
today Christ chose to be baptised by John in the Jordan
for our salvation. Alleluia

Gregorian Chant, by Giovanni Vianini [YouTube]

Gregorian Chant, by Nova Schola Gregoriana, Albert Turco conducting [musicMe]

Gregorian chant, by Pro Cantione Antiqua [Grooveshark]

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, by the Schola Cantorum of the Saint Gregory Society [listen]

Luca Marenzio, by the Choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral (London), John Scott conducting [YouTube] Click to read about.

Luca Marenzio, by the Choir of St. David’s Episcopal Church, Austin, Texas [listen]

Hans Leo Hassler, by the Choir of Grace Church, Newark, João Kouyoumdjian conducting. [YouTube]

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 Sandro Botticelli, Salome with the Head of St John the Baptist (detail). Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, 1488

Complete video performance of Richard Strauss, Salome, with Catherine Malfitano (Salome), Bryn Terfel (Jochanaan), Robert Gambill (Narraboth), Ruby Philogene (Page), Kenneth Riegel (Herod), Anja Silja (Herodias), The Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra and Chorus, Christoph von Dohnányi conducting. Subtitles in English. [YouTube] 
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Charles Tournemire, L'orgue mystique: Nativity Cycle, Op. 56: No. 8.




Performance by Georges Delvallée on the 1880 Cavaillé-Coll organ in the Cathedral of Saint-Croix, Orléans

Mass of the 1st Sunday after the Epiphany

 
Prelude for the Introit [YouTube]

Offertory  [YouTube]
Elevation [YouTube]
Communion [YouTube] 

Fantasy - Choral  [YouTube]

Click for the entire performance of L'Orgue mystique by Georges Delvallée.

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Bach Cantatas for the First Sunday after Epiphany:




Giotto di Bondone, Jesus among the Doctors, Cappella degli Scrovegni, Padua, c.1305

Click to go to Johann Sebastian Bach, Liebster Jesu, mein Verlangen / Dearest Jesus, my desireCantata 32, with performances by Leonhardt, Leusink and Sarasa Ensemble.
 
Click to go to Johann Sebastian Bach, Meinen Jesum lass ich nicht / I shall not let my Jesus goCantata 124, with performances by Harnoncourt, Leusink and Richter.
 
Click to go to Johann Sebastian Bach, Mein liebster Jesus ist verloren / My dearest Jesus is lostCantata 154, with performances by Harnoncourt, Leusink, and Suzuki.