The Abbey has quietly begun a regular series of live video webcasts of various services.
The series began on September 8, 2024, with a Sung (Choral) Eucharist, and continued with a service of Choral Evensong on Holy Cross Day. Each of the service they have broadcast has stayed up on their YouTube channel for about a month.
The most recent service was a Service of Lessons and Carols for Christmas.
Today, the Feast of Epiphany, the Abbey will webcast a Sung Eucharist.
The Abbey began indexing these services on their “Streamed Services” page, which is now called “Watch Services”.
This kind of endeavor is of great interest to us at Sinden.org, as we suspect it is of all students of church music. The value in these kinds of regular, live webcasts is immeasureable. They allow us to hear a wide variety of liturgical music—sung at a very high standard—fully within a specific, contemporary liturgical context. Though any electronically mediated liturgical experience is, by definition, something other than being truly present, there is value in seeing and hearing liturgy and music as it is conducted in a place like this.
It is not lost on us that as the webcasts at St. John's College, Cambridge have sadly decreased in frequency (only four services were webcast in 2023/24), they have begun at Westminster Abbey. The common denominator here, we must speculate, is Andrew Nethsingha. Webcasts sprung up when he was directing the St. John's Choir, and now they seem to have done the same toward the beginning of his tenure at the Abbey.
Labels: Andrew Nethsingha, Epiphany, St John's (Cambridge), webcasting, Westminster Abbey
Sinden.org published its traditional preview of the music list for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge late last month..
For the days leading up to the service, we have been offer a Kalendar of Carols: a more in-depth look at each piece of music to be sung.
So far, we've covered the opening hymn, Bidding Prayer, In the bleak mid-winter – Harold Darke, Adam's Fall – Richard Elfyn Jones, Love came down at Christmas – arr. Stephen Cleobury, How shall I fitly meet thee – Bach, I saw three ships – arr. Ledger, Illuminare Jerusalem – Judith Weir, and the hymn "O little town of Bethlehem", A spotless rose – Herbert Howells, The Lamb – John Tavener, The Angel Gabriel – Pettman, The Linden Tree Carol – arr. Cleobury, this year's commissioned carol by Huw Watkins, Away in a manger – Willcocks. Can I not sing but hoy – Francis Jackson, and the hymn "God rest ye merry, gentlemen".
Rather than yammer on about this carol, and why I like it (particularly the soprano bit during the "Myrrh" solo) I'll just let you view the score. Thanks to Tim at Encore Publications for sharing this with me.
Here's the nicest version I can find on YouTube, much nicer than what I linked to in the preview.
Labels: Christmas, Epiphany, King's College (Cambridge), Lessons and Carols, Neary
A child kicks his legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we. The repetition in Nature may not be a mere recurrence; it may be a theatrical encore.G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy
Labels: Chesterton, Epiphany
And now, a poem for the Twelfth Day of Christmas – one that seems especially fitting as we look toward Epiphany.
First Coming By Madeleine L’Engle He did not wait till the world was ready, till men and nations were at peace He came when the Heavens were unsteady and prisoners cried out for release. He did not wait for the perfect time. He came when the need was deep and great. He dined with sinners in all their grime, turned water into wine. He did not wait till hearts were pure. In joy he came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt. To a world like ours, of anguished shame He came, and his Light would not go out. He came to a world which did not mesh, to heal its tangles, shield its scorn. In the mystery of the Word made Flesh the Maker of the stars was born. We cannot wait till the world is sane to raise our songs with joyful voice, for to share our grief, to touch our pain, He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!
I am rather fond of the Two Short Anthems, Op. 103 by English composer Bernard Barrell, and I've written about "Truly the Lord is in this place" previously. After this past Sunday, I felt drawn to complete the set and address the other anthem in the set: "The grace of God has dawned".
The words come Titus 2:11.
“The grace of God has dawned upon the world with healing for all mankind”
This wording is from the New English Bible. The New Revised Standard Version translates it somewhat differently, using ”appeared” instead of “dawned” ”salvation” in place of “healing”. But I think Barrell's selection of translation is fortuitous for the Epiphany season. Let me explain.
We read this passage from Titus on Christmas (propers for Christmas Day I). The Propers for Christmas III include the famous prologue hymn from the Gospel of John which is glowing with light imagery:
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it… The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.”
This light shines throughout the Epiphany season. It is a star that leads the Magi to Jesus (Epiphany, Jan. 6).
Two apostolic feasts in the season have their own kind of light. It is a proverbial lightbulb that goes of for Peter ("You are the Christ") (Jan. 18). It is a blinding light that throws Paul to the ground at his conversion (Jan. 25).
In his song, Simeon proclaims Jesus to be "a light to lighten the gentiles" (Presentation, Feb. 2).
And then we come to the Gospel reading for the last Sunday of the season. So if you really haven't seen the light yet, the editors of the Revised Common Lectionary have you covered.
- In Year A, from Matthew, we have the Transfiguration story.
- In Year B, from Mark, we have the Transfiguration story.
- In Year C, from Luke, we have the Transfiguration story – but then we have, as an optional addition, its continuation: a story of healing.
In Luke's Gospel the very next thing that happens after Jesus' appearance changes, and his clothes become dazzling white, and Moses and Elijah join the party, and Peter wants to build tents for everybody, and there's a voice from heaven, and all the witnesses are under a gag order is that Jesus is asked for an exorcism and healing.
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.
So in the Christmas-Epiphany season, we travel from light to light and then finally (only in Year C) we get this story in close proximity to the Transfigured Jesus, "the light that shines in the darkness".
Which brings us back to Titus's words and this setting by Barrell.
It's the kind of thing that would fit really well on Christmas Day, but even if there is a choir then it's hard to get away from singing carols. And maybe it would fit well in the Christmas season, but the choir is probably down a rehearsal then, and it's still hard to get away form carols. So I think this anthem can easily find a home in Epiphanytide, and especially on the last Sunday where we see a dawning in the Transfiguration and healing in the story that follows after.
There's resonance here with the Transfiguration being a foreshadowing of the resurrection. The “healing” is ultimately “salvation”. The exorcism of the little demon may even preview the trampling down of death.
This short anthem begins with a single line in the organ which is echoed by the sopranos. As the sopranos sing this phrase ("The grace...") the organ achieves some measure of independence, setting the stage for the entrance of the lower parts.
All gather into one to proclaim the first phrase of text (“The grace of God has dawned upon the world”) then everyone finds a cadence together.
It's in his organ accompaniment that Barrell really excels. There is something about the way in which the accompaniment supports and augments the voices which leads to an incredibly compelling texture with really not all that much going on (the primary motion in this anthem is quarter notes).
After a cadence, a short a capella section with the remaining text. And then, back to the original texture repeating the first words, but with new different music.
It's hard to describe. It's somewhat modern, but it really works, I think.
It's not terribly difficult (it is short after all), and it's not your typical church music. This really would be within the grasp of almost any choir.
.
Labels: Barrell, Christmas, Epiphany, John, Luke, Mark, Matthew, Titus, Transfiguration
There's some marvelous hymnody by a man named Godfrey Thring (1823-1903).
He is the author hymn 454 in the Episcopal Hymnal 1982 "Jesus came, adored by angels". The original first line of this hymn is "Jesus came—the heavens adoring".
But this time of year I want to draw attention to his marvelous hymn for an Epiphany procession, "From the eastern mountains". The hymn is included in the English Hymnal of 1906. It contains numerous alliterative turns of phrase in the first part of the hymn.
- wise men in their wisdom
- deep devotion
- There their
- lowly lay
- Light that led
- onward on their way
- lowly lain
With this much wordsmithing early on, the familiar "Jew and Gentile" and "heavenly home" really lose their punch. But the double whammy "nor sin nor sorrow" gives a final zing.
It's fun writing, I've never been to a service where it has been sung, and it matches marvelously to the Vaughan Williams tune KING'S WESTON.
From the eastern mountains, pressing on, they come, wise men in their wisdom, to his humble home; stirred by deep devotion, hasting from afar, ever journeying onward, guided by a star. There their Lord and Savior meek and lowly lay, wondrous Light that led them onward on their way, ever now to lighten nations from afar, as they journey homeward by that guiding star. Thou who in a manger once hast lowly lain, who dost now in glory o'er all kingdoms reign, gather in the heathen who in lands afar ne'er have seen the brightness of thy guiding star. Onward through the darkness of the lonely night, shining still before them with thy kindly light. Guide them, Jew and Gentile, homeward from afar, young and old together, by thy guiding Star. Until every nation, whether bond or free, 'neath thy starlit banner, Jesus, follows thee. O'er the distant mountains to that heavenly home, where nor sin nor sorrow evermore shall come.
Labels: English Hymnal, Epiphany, Hymnal 1982, hymns, Thring, Vaughan Williams
The music of Alywn Surplice, who has a funny name if you consider that his surname is also a vestment, is seldom heard.
Surplice was Director of Music at Bristol and Winchester Cathedrals. I don't believe he had any connection to Gloucester Cathedral, seen in the opening of this YouTube clip.
Note that American Episcopal congregations are familiar with the textual alteration "stars of the morning", which is a very different image than the "sons of the morning". Sung this way, the context for the rest of the hymn is quite different.
Maybe that's why I've always been ambivalent about this text.
Labels: Epiphany, funny names, hymns
I've been thinking a lot about the Sunday just past, and I think we as a church have a problem.
The Episcopal Church does not call the last Sunday of the Church year “Christ the King.” In our Prayer Book it is simply “The Last Sunday after Pentecost.” Yes, our prayers and lessons are about the kingship of Christ. At Solemn Mass and at Evensong we will sing some of the greatest hymns on this theme. I think our Episcopal Church’s particular decision merits wider and greater appreciation.Since its earliest days the Church has had a feast of the kingship of Christ. It’s Epiphany, which along with Easter, Pentecost and Christmas are the great ancient celebrations of the Church. Note that aside from Trinity Sunday, the liturgical tradition does not have thematic Sunday observances. Our celebrations are rooted in the historical events of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Our days and our lives find their meaning in his life, in his gospel.
"From the Rector: Commitment to Christ" St. Mary the Virgin, New York, Volume XI, Number 52, November 22, 2009
I have a modest proposal: that we stop slapping the words "Christ the King" or -- the silly attempt at neutral language -- "Reign of Christ" on our service leaflets without thinking why we are doing so.
Might "Christ the King" join the ranks of "Good Shepherd Sunday" and "Laetare Sunday" and "Gaudete Sunday" as a nickname, and not a feast unless this is what the church really wants?
Absolutely that's what the lessons are about, but aren't we robbing Epiphany of it's full meaning?
Our 1979 Prayer Book lists Epiphany as a Principal Feast -- yet how many parishes fail to celebrate it at all?
Rather than over-solemnify a name given to this Sunday by the Revised Common Lectionary let us carefully ponder the theological importance of what we are doing and reclaim the full celebration of Epiphany as one on par with the other six Principal Feasts of the church: Christmas, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday and All Saints.
Labels: Epiphany, Episcopal Church, lectionary, liturgy, St Mary the Virgin (New York), theology
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