December 13, 2015


El Greco, St. John the Baptist, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, c.1600

The people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah [NRSV, Luke 3:15].
 
Christ Church Cathedral Choir Notes
The Third Sunday of Advent

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George Frideric Handel, Messiah
The Annual Handel's Messiah Sing-along will take place at Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday, December 12, 4:30 pm, with the Cathedral Singers and orchestra, Patrick Wedd directing.  Scores will be available. Free admission / voluntary contribution.
The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral and Musica Orbium; Patrick Wedd, director; will join with the McGill Chamber Orchestra and soloists with Boris Brott conducting to perform George Frideric Handel, Messiah, at Christ Church Cathedral on Tuesday, December 8, at 7:30 pm. Tickets: $59.25-37.75 plus tax.
Click to read about Messiah with access to a number of free online performances.
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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 19, at 4:30 pm. Admission free / voluntary contribution.

Click to read about La Nativité du Seigneur.

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

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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.  Rose vestments are sometimes worn and a rose candle is often lit on the Advent Wreath.  Christ Church Cathedral has a new chasuble, which blends rose with Advent blue.

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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The prelude for Choral Eucharist and for Evensong this coming Sunday is Johannes Brahms, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, most commonly translated as Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming.

To listen to Johannes Brahms, Chorale-prelude, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, Op. 122, No. 8, performed by Wolfgang Rübsam on the 1988 Berghaus organ in the Thomas Surber Residence, Valparaiso, Indiana, click here, then click on "815 Part III," then hold the button and slide to 15:54 (15 minutes and 54 seconds).

To listen to Johannes Brahms, Chorale-prelude, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, Op. 122, No. 8, performed by Paul Halley on the 1992 Ruffatti organ in Spivey Hall of Clayton State University, Morrow Ga, followed immediately by an improvisation by Halley, click here, then click on "Listen to the program," then hold the button and slide it to 16:04 (16 minutes and 4 seconds).  (The improvisation begins at 18:58.)

Performance of Johannes Brahms, Chorale-prelude, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, Op. 122, No. 8, by Kevin Bowyer on the Marcussen-organ of Odense Domkirke [YouTube]

Performance of Johannes Brahms, Chorale-prelude, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, Op. 122, No. 8, by Lorenzo Ghielmi on the Wacker organ of  the Stadtkirche of Winterthur [YouTube]

Performance of Johannes Brahms, Chorale-prelude, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, Op. 122, No. 8, by Vincenzo Ninci on the Mascioni organ of the Duomo of Fiesole [YouTube]

Performance of Johannes Brahms, Chorale-prelude, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, Op. 122, No. 8, transcribed for piano by Busoni, performed by Paul Jacobs [YouTube]

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Charles Tournemire, L'orgue mystique: Nativity Cycle, Op. 56: No.1



Mass of the 3rd Sunday of Advent

Prelude for the Introit [YouTube]
Offertory  [YouTube]
Elevation [YouTube]
Communion [YouTube]
Toccata  [YouTube]
Click for the entire performance of L'Orgue mystique by Georges Delvallée.

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George Philipp Telemann

There are no extant Bach Cantatas for the Third Sunday of Advent.  The music for BWV 186a is lost and BWV 141 is now usually attributed to Georg Philipp Telemann. [complete text]

The Naxos Music Library (info) makes available for free online listening Georg Philipp Telemann, Das ist je gewisslich wahr, BWV 141, mvt 1, performance of Willam Wright; the Elmer Iseler Singers; and the Mainly Mozart Orchestra, Elmer Iseler conducting. [BNQ] [BM] (info)

Mvts 1 and 2 performed by Henning Kaiser, tenor;
Alsfelder Vokalensemble; I Febiarmonici; Wolfgang Helbich conducting [YouTube]  

Das ist je gewißlich wahr und ein theuer werthes Wort,
That is indeed is certainly true and a most precious word
Daß Christus Jesus kommen ist in die Welt,
that Christ Jesus has come into the world
Sünder selig zu machen.
to make sinners blessed.

Jesus ist der Menschen Heil.
Jesus is the salvation of mankind
Doch wer dieses will genießen,
but whoever wishes to enjoy this
muß sich wahrlich auch entschließen,
must decide sincerely for himself
ohne falschen Heuchelschein
without false hypocrisy
ihm alleine treu zu sein,
to trust in him alone,
sonst wird ihm dies nicht zu Theil.

otherwise he shall have no share in this.