March 21-23, 2016


Compline at Blackfriars, Oxford


Click to go to the Music Calendar for Monday-Wednesday of Holy Week.

Click to go to the Choir Notes for Palm Sunday.

On Monday and Tuesday, at Christ Church Cathedral, compline will be chanted at 7:30 pm.


Click to read about compline.


Click to read about compline at St. David's Episcopal Church, Austin, Texas, and listen to a wide variety of the music performed there.


Winter Compline chanted by the monks of Gethsemani Abbey. [YouTube]


Compline chanted by the monks of New Melleray Abbey [YouTube]


Compline chanted in English by the monks of Mount Saint Bernard Abbey [YouTube]



Tenebrae at Blackfriars, Oxford


Choral Tenebrae at Christ Church Cathedral is on Wednesday of Holy Week at 7:30 pm.


Click to read about Tenebrae.


The third responsory for Tenebrae will be Kenneth Leighton (1929-88), Drop, drop slow tears, the last movement of Leighton’s Crucifixus pro nobis.


Read about Crucifixus pro nobis. [text]


A Performance of Crucifixus pro nobis by James Oxley, tenor; Chrisopher Whitton, organ; the St. John’s College Choir, Cambridge; Christopher Robinson conducting [BNQ; BM]


Salvador Dali, Et tu, puer, propheta altissimi, lithograph, 1964-67

Click to read about the Benedictus (Song of Zachary).

The Benedictus Dominus Deus sung at Choral Tenebrae will be that of Carlo Gesualdo (1566-1613).


Carlo Gesualdo, Benedictus Dominus Deus, performed by  Philippe Herreweghe [musicMe]; performed by The King's Singers [YouTube], then scroll down and click 57.26; [BNQ;  BM] (info)


Other versions:


Alessandro Stadella, performed by Sandrine Piau, soprano; Gérard Lesne, countertenor; and Il Seminario Musicale [musicMe] [BNQ; BM] (info)


Gregorian Chant, performed by Giovanni Vianini [YouTube] (begins at 2:01, two minutes and 1 second)


Jean-Baptiste Lully, performed by Le Concert spirituel, Hervé Niquet conducting. [BNQ; BM] (info)


Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, quia visitavit, et fecit redemptionem plebis suae:
Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, because He has visited us and wrought redemption for His people.
Et erexit cornu salutis nobis in domo David pueri sui.
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the House of David, His servant.
Sicut locutus est per os sanctorum, qui a saeculo sunt, prophetarum eius:
As He hath promised through the mouths of His holy ones, the prophets of old:
Salutem ex inimicis nostris, et de manu omnium qui oderunt nos:
Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us.
Ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus nostris: et memorari testamenti sui sancti:
To show mercy to our forefathers and to be mindful of His holy covenant:
Iusiurandum, quod iuravit ad Abraham patrem nostrum, daturum se nobis;
The oath, which He swore to Abraham, our father, that He would grant us,
Ut sine timore, de manu inimicorum nostrorum liberati, serviamus illi.
That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve Him without fear.
In sanctitate et iustitia coram ipso, omnibus diebus nostris.
In holiness and justice before Him all our days.
Et tu puer, propheta Altissimi vocaberis: praeibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias eius:
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,
Ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi eius: in remissionem peccatorum eorum:
To give knowledge of salvation to His people through forgiveness of their sins.
Per viscera misericordiae Dei nostri: in quibus visitabit nos, oriens ex alto:
Because of the compassionate kindness of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us
Illuminare his qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent: ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis.
To shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace.