January 11, 2015



Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altar, Baptism of Christ, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1500
  
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him [NRSV, Matt 3:13].


Christ Church Cathedral Choir Notes
The Baptism of the Lord

Click to go immediately to:

1) The Music Programme Homepage

2) The Music Calendar for Choral Eucharist and Eucharistie chantée

3) Service of Music and Readings for Epiphany

4) The Concert Calendar

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Charles Arnould Tournemire (22 January 1870 – 3 or 4 November 1939) was a French composer and organist, notable partly for his improvisations, which were often rooted in the music of Gregorian chant. His compositions include eight symphonies (one of them choral), four operas, twelve chamber works and eighteen piano solos; but today he is almost exclusively remembered for his organ music, and by far the best known piece from his pen is L'Orgue Mystique.  L'Orgue Mystique is a group of 51 sets of five pieces each (except for Holy Saturday, which contains only three pieces), all written between 1927 and 1932. This collection covers the cycle of the Roman Catholic liturgical year, each set being based on the Gregorian chants for the day.  Choir Notes features a selection from L’Orgue Mystique every week.  Scroll down.  The 10 am organ prelude for the coming Sunday is from the Feast of the Epiphany.


Charles Tournemire, L'orgue mystique: Nativity Cycle, Op. 56: No.8






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 byGeorges Delvallée.
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Hieronymus Bosch, Adoration of the Magi (detail), Prado, 1485-1500




Joachim Patenier, Baptism of Christ, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, c.1500



Duccio di Buoninsegna, Wedding at Cana, Museo dell Opera del Duomo, Siena, 1308-11


Tribus Miraculis which celebrates the the three epiphanies of Our Lord: the adoration of the magi, the baptism, and the changing of water in wine at Cana is the Magnificat antiphon at Roman Catholic second vespers.  In the version by Palestrina it is the Communion motet at both Choral eucharists this coming Sunday.  The Hassler version will be sung at the 4pm Service of Music and Readings for Epiphany


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]




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]




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Click to go to Bach Cantatas for Online Listening.




Follower of Hieronymous Bosch, Christ Among the Doctors,  Louvre, 1550-1600



Bach Cantatas for the First Sunday after Epiphany:


Click to go to Johann Sebastian Bach, Liebster Jesu, mein Verlangen /Dearest Jesus, my desire, Cantata 32, with performances by Leonhardt, Leusink, Sarasa,Scherchen, and Suzuki.


Click to go to Johann Sebastian Bach, Meinen Jesum lass ich nicht / I shall not let my Jesus go, Cantata 124, with performances by Harnoncourt, Koopman, Leusink, Richterand Rilling.
Click to go to Johann Sebastian Bach, Mein liebster Jesus ist verloren / My dearest Jesus is lost, Cantata 154, with performances by Harnoncourt, Leusink, Richter, andSuzuki.

Click to go to Gedenke, Herr, wie es uns gehet, /Consider, Lord, how things are for us , once attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach, Cantata 217, with a performance by Braudo.