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We had a bit of fun with the musical selections at Westminster Cathedral last week, but the pope's visit to London, and specifically to Westminster Abbey was a big deal.

Highlights, from the Abbey's YouTube channel. The Dean points out the 20th century martyrs over the west door of the Abbey. These 10 minutes are recommended ecumenical viewing:

The choir sings some great rep for the service, solidly Anglican, of course. Beati Quorum Via of Stanford as dignitaries arrive, "Prevent us, O Lord" of Byrd as men in red smocks run around looking for something to do, and a new work by Gabriel Jackson that is really really conservative.

For me, Henry G. Ley's chant in D Major is the icing on the cake. This was the first Anglican chant I ever accompanied (to Psalm 29), and it holds a special place in my heart.

Prevent us, O Lord

Beati Quorum Via

New work by Gabriel Jackson

Sounds a bit dated, doesn't it?

Let's try again, shall we?

Fun! Sounds like he may have been eavesdropping in Westminster Cathedral at the MacMillan rehearsals.

Psalm 138 (Ley)

Stanford in A, Magnificat

I have to admire the work of Philip Stopford in getting so many of these videos online. If you haven't heard of him, you just have.

That is all.

Labels: Anglicanism, Byrd, church music, Ley, Roman Catholocism, Rowan Williams, Stanford, Westminster Abbey