I want to highly commend to you this BBC radio program called “Byrd and Beyond: Challenged by Faith.” If you are involved in church music in any way, I think you will find this inspiring and thought-provoking.
In conjunction with the 400th anniversary of Byrd's birth, Harry Christophers uses Byrd's life and music as a catalyst for a conversation with other musicians, including Roxanna Panufnik, James MacMillan and Nico Muhly, about music and faith.
Nelson, Jessica - Advent/Christmas anthem top ten list
So last week, when we were all watching the consecration of Immanuel Chapel at Virginia Theological Seminary, there was a wonderful anthem by David Hurd.
Then this happened on Twitter
@nelsojl that really was lovely. I didn't know it.
So, today, we welcome Jessica Nelson, guest blogger, with a top ten list (in no particular order) of her favorite carols and anthems for Advent and Christmas.
Philip Stopford, Lully, Lulla, Lullay (pub. Hal Leonard)
This makes me have all the feelings. Minimalism & some sexy suspensions, but not so long that it gets tedious.
Jan Sandström, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (pub. Gehrmans, Stockholm)
It's like a modern choral chorale prelude. A post-modern take on Praetorius. Some really good prickly moments. I first heard this on a recording from Clare College that my fourth-favorite alto lent me. She has now been promoted to third-favorite alto.
James MacMillan, O radiant dawn (pub. Boosey & Hawkes)
My favorite of the Strathclyde Motets. Furthermore, I could listen to James MacMillan read his grocery list all day long. He is also not terrible to look at. AND! You can follow him on the Twitter @jamesmacm.
Richard Felciano, The Eyes of All Hope in Thee, O Lord, (pub. ECS)
(The title of this YouTube video reads, "...hope in Three, O Lord." I feel like that Means Something.)
The alleluias remind me of Rejoice in the Lamb, but only a little.
Elizabeth Poston, Jesus Christ the Apple Tree (pub. ECS)
Purely, purely sentimental reasons. Millsaps College Singers. Every single year.
Herbert Howells, A spotless rose (pub. Galaxy, I think?)
Because it's Howells. And the magnificent text painting. And because it's charm lies in that it's absolutely no longer than it is. It's like a little perfect pearl.
Cesar Carrillo, O magnum mysterium (pub. earthsongs)
The sonic equivalent of Scotch. It makes you feel warm from the inside out.
Philip Ledger, Advent Calendar (pub. Encore)
I have been totally smitten with this text by Rowan Williams for a couple of years. This is the best setting of it I've encountered so far. I wish more folks would set it. I think the possibilities are endless.
Abbie Betinis, arr., In the bleak midwinter (pub. Abbie Betinis)
This, like the Stopford setting of the Coventry Carol, is one of the few settings of either of those carols that isn't overly sentimental, but instead captures the gravitas that those texts really demand. It's just nice to hear someone (and a young female composer, especially!) writing music for Advent/Christmas that isn't like listening to a Thomas Kinkade painting.
David Hurd, A stable lamp is lighted (pub. GIA)
I think Hurd's writing just so masterfully captures the text. And it's just as much a Palm Sunday text as a Christmas one.
[Editor's Note: This setting also appears at Hymn 104 in the Hymnal 1982]
Honorable mentions:
Mark Schweizer, The Stars Looked Down (pub. St. James Music Press) I love G.K. Chesterton almost as George Herbert. Almost.
Randall Thompson, Nowel from The Nativity According to St. Luke (pub. E.C. Schirmer) Like his "Alleluia," only different. And really beautiful.
Jessica Nelson lives in Tupelo, Mississippi, where she is organist/choirmaster at All Saints' Episcopal Church. In her spare time, she composes a little and watches Netflix a lot. You can follow her on the Twittergram @nelsojl.
It makes much more sense if heard, as it would have been, after the Papal entrance anthem.
Here's "Tu es Petrus":
Comes across mostly as serious and grand in this context. Seeing the procession helps. (Here's another copy that's not interrupted by the commentator. Sound quality isn't as good, though.)
What's next?That sustained organ pedal G isn't explained by either clip. It would be interesting to know what happens to that -- if it's simply held and dies out, or if the organist is transitioning into something else. There's more to the story here, and we just aren't getting it from these YouTube clips. I guess liturgy really is the work of the people and not the internet.
Heard after this, the Gospel procession isn't as shocking. In fact, it's a little boring. We've already heard this stuff.
All told, I like MacMillan's music a lot, and his tweaking of the anthem to create this fanfare works well. I like the animated bit at the end (it is a bit John Williamsy, isn't it?), but I think I would like it more if the organist wasn't rushing.
Since first singing his sumptuous The Galant Weaver, I have had great appreciation for MacMillan's compositional skill and style. The choral music -- much of it sacred -- is a real delight.
For your reference, the organ works include:
Gaudeamus in Loci Pace - a favorite of mine, works well on small organs, lots of bird noises -- Scottish bird noises.
White Note Paraphrase - hilariously referred to as White Noise Paraphrase at an online music retailer
the short, lovely Wedding Introit that quotes the Irish folk song "She moves through the fair"
and the much larger Le Tombeau De Georges Rouault
There's also A Scotch Bestiary, a work for organ and orchestra.
The author of this website is an organist whom the New York Times calls “repeatedly, insisting that he pay for his subscription”.
He likes to read parking meters, music, Indianapolis Monthly, and weather forecasts in Celsius, particularly whilst wearing cassock and surplice.
He serves lasagna, overhand, as an example to many, and on ecclesiastical juries. He mixes salads, drinks, and metaphors. He takes photos, lots of dinner mints, and a little bit of time to get to know.
Happy 50th birthday to Scottish composer James MacMillan.