Choral Prelude: Four Carols for Christmas
Angels from the Realms of Glory (Regent Square) – H. Smart (1813-1879)
Break Forth, O Beauteous, Heavenly Light (Ermuntre Dich) – J. Schop (1590-1667)/J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
I Wonder as I Wander – Anon. and J. J. Niles (1892-1980)
O Little Town of Bethlehem (St. Louis) – L. Redner (1831-1908)
Offertory Motet
Nunc dimittis in G Major (from Op. 81) – Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)
In the years following Henry VIII, the expulsion of the Church and the development of Anglican rites, we find a new form of evening worship called Evensong, a classic case of a good thing coming out of a very bad thing. Because it more or less combines two Roman Offices, it retains to this day both the Magnificat (Canticle of Mary) and the Nunc dimittis (Canticle of Simeon). England has had centuries to compose musical settings of these two canticles for Evensong, and we hear today one of the most loved, by C. V. Stanford. Why do we sing this at Mass today? Because of the telling of the beautiful events in the Gospel of Luke on this our Patronal Feast, that of Simeon’s laying his eyes upon the Child Jesus, and saying, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.”
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation; Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (Luke 2.29-32)
Communion Motets
Unam petii – Giovanni Francesco Anerio (1567-1630)
In the realm of Church music, the two Italian Anerio brothers, both composers, contributed quite significantly. Today’s work is by the younger brother, Giovanni, who was among composers in the last gasp of the Roman Renaissance, straddling the early Italian Baroque. He sang under no less than Palestrina at St. Peter’s, became a priest, spent significant time at St. Philip Neri’s new Oratory, and made important innovations in a new musical form called oratorio!
One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. That I may see the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple. (Ps. 27:4)
Adam Lay Ybounden – Anon. 15th Cent., arr. Boris Ord (1897-1961)
Adam lay ybounden, bounden in a bond; four thousand winter thought he not too long.
And all was for an apple, an apple that he took. As clerkës finden written in their book.
Ne had the apple taken been, the apple taken been, ne had never Our Lady, a-been heaven’s queen. Blessed be the time that apple taken was! Therefore we may singen Deo gratias!
Lullay My Liking – G. Holst (1874-1934)
From 1916, each verse is sung today by a different one of our small choir-in-time-of-crisis. Eleanor Parker, a lecturer at Oxford University, writes of this poem:
“A young woman is singing her baby to sleep, crooning words of tenderness: “Lullay mine liking, my dear on, my sweeting; lullay my dear heart, mine own dear darling.” It’s a scene familiar from a thousand Christmas cards, but this lullaby comes from a 15th-century English carol, I saw a Fair Maiden, which imagines the Virgin Mary singing to her baby, surrounded by the music of angels.” Many mediaeval carols offer similar visions, but this one is especially exquisite because of Mary’s list of adoring names for her baby, her “liking” (“delight”). It’s characteristic of mediaeval poetry in approaching the mystery of the Incarnation through Mary’s experience, dwelling in loving meditation on her feelings for her child. The aim is that the reader comes to love this little baby through seeing his mother’s love for him, while not forgetting the astonishing idea that this baby is not just his mother’s darling but the Almighty Creator: “Of all lords he is lord / of all kings king”.”
I saw a fair maiden Sitten and sing: She lulléd a little child, A sweeté lording.
Lullay my liking, My dear son, my sweeting; Lullay my dear heart, Mine own dear darling.
That eternal lord is he That made allé thing; Of allé lordés he is Lord Of allé kinges King.
There was mickle melody At that childés birth: Though the songsters were heavenly They madé mickle mirth.
Angels bright they sang that night And saiden to that child, “Blessed be thou and so be she That is both meek and mild.”
Pray we now to that child, And to his mother dear, God grant them all his blessing That now maken cheer.