This is another version of Phos hilaron for evening prayer, this time translated by Francis Bland Tucker and set to JESU DULCIS MEMORIA.
The text is here. This lousy backing explains why I am not doing more chant backings.
I’m coming to the end of the first volume and will skip a lot of the chanted psalmody, but that it is no reason for you to overlook this fine liturgical treasure chest.
I gather a lot of these texts were delightfully appropriated for Evensong in the Anglican tradition.
I’m way out of my depth with these songs for the Divine Office but I have enjoyed looking at them anyway.
This one is for Sunday Morning Prayer Psalmody. Isn’t everyone just at Mass? It appears it can be sung in thanksgiving after Mass. The canticle is based on Daniel 3. The antiphon is from The Divine Office:
Worship the maker of heaven and earth and the seas an ev’ry spring of water.
This version has a tune for the antiphon by Paul Taylor and the canticle (18 verses mind you) by A. Gregory Murray.
This is the usual text for the canticle and this version just puts “and you” at the beginning of each line and varies things a little, but you’ll get the idea. I doubt it is usually sung to a string band, but here it is.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord. You heavens, bless the Lord. All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord. All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord. Sun and moon, bless the Lord. Stars of heaven, bless the Lord. Every shower and dew, bless the Lord. All you winds, bless the Lord. Fire and heat, bless the Lord. Cold and chill, bless the Lord. Dew and rain, bless the Lord. Frost and chill, bless the Lord. Ice and snow, bless the Lord. Nights and days, bless the Lord. Light and darkness, bless the Lord. Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord. Let the earth bless the Lord. Praise and exalt him above all forever. Mountains and hills, bless the Lord. Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord. You springs, bless the Lord. Seas and rivers, bless the Lord. You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord. All you birds of the air, bless the Lord. All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord. You sons of men, bless the Lord. Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord. Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Can I have suggestions for a streaming Mass? The Mass being streamed from the Cathedral in Brisbane is unwatchable even when it isn’t freezing repeatedly.
I stumbled onto Shalomworld and I’ll see if there is something there today there but I would like suggestions for a mass to watch that might encourage a measure of vicarious participation.
The minimum would seem to be some technical sophistication (eg volumes from the microphones balanced), some actual music – it can be simple but it has be real music, and the word proclaimed understandably – not chanted poorly.
I know I sound like I am whining (I am) but when the glitchy, dreary Easter Vigil Mass from Brisbane finally froze for the last time it was such a relief.
The team isn’t meeting since we have no masses for which to select music. We have special songs for this time of year that I suspect we would have chosen and I have put them in, but since this mass won’t happen I can throw in a left field selection.
Entrance: Alleluia! Love Is Alive (Angrisano, Manibusan, Hart)
Gifts: I Have Seen the Lord (Hurd) AOV 1/98
Communion: Holy Spirit Come (Mangan) AOV NG 67
Thanksgiving: Mission Song (Boniwell)
Recessional: Jesus is Risen (O’Brien- Ogilvie) AOV NG 82
I often skip chant but I am enjoying these morning prayers.
CWB II removes archaisms for their version of the text, which is attributed the Pope Gregory the Great. I’ve flipped the last two lines of the third stanza given in CWB II, because it must be an error, as it mucks up the rhyme. If I am correct I think it is only the second error I have found in the whole collection.
It is here set to NOCTE SURGENTES (Chant mode 1), but Hymnary notes the use of CHRISTE SANCTORUM.
The metrical accompaniment doesn’t seem to match the chant notation so I’ve just ignored the chant for my backing.
1 Father, we praise thee, now the night is over; active and watchful, stand we all before thee; singing we offer prayer and meditation: thus we adore thee.
2 Monarch of all things, fit us for your kingdom; banish our weakness, health and wholeness sending; bring us to heaven, where your saints united joy without ending.
3 All-holy Father, Son and equal Spirit, Trinity blessèd, send us your salvation; yours is the glory, ever resounding, filling all creation.
I've worked my way through the As One Voice books and other collections making backings on Band in a Box to help me (& you if you're interested) learn new songs for church. This is aimed at churches and musicians that own the collections but haven't exploited them fully. If you don't have them they are certainly worth buying. This site is educational, nonprofit and designed to enhance the commercial prospects of songwriters. This site does not distribute copyrighted sheet music.
Disclaimer
Any opinions expressed here are personal views and not the responsibility of any Church.
All music backings posted are created by myself and the intention is for them to be used to learn the songs. If any copyright holder wishes me to cease publicising and promoting their wares and directing people to where sheet music can be legally purchased please let me know.
Mason’s “Mass of Glory and Praise”
To access my backings for Paul Mason's mass go to Feb 2011 in the archive.