The Schola Cantorum brings to life the music of Bach, Palestrina and Ralph Vaughan Williams as it helps us celebrate both the 25th Sunday of the year as well as the Feast of St Matthew the Apostle, and its Blessing of Civil Servants.
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Preparation of the Gifts 10am Mass, “Salvator Mundi” G. P. da Palestrina (1525 – 1594)
This 4-part motet was first published in 1564 in “Motecta festorum totius anni cum Communi sanctorum” for the Feast of All Saints. The setting begins briefly homophonically with the phrase” Savior of the world, save us!” and then continuous polyphonically as it calls upon Mary, the Mother of God, the seraphim and cherubim, thrones and dominations, patriarchs and prophets, apostles and doctors, to pray for us. Another brief homophonic section reappears for the intercession of all Christian martyrs and hermits, but then returns to polyphony with the concluding “intercede for us.” This text echoes the themes of today’s second reading by St Paul where he asserts the core message of the Paschal Mystery and our need to pray unceasingly for the participation in the promise of eternal life.
To hear the Schola Cantorum in rehearsal for this Sunday, click below:
Communion 10am Mass, “Jesu, Meine Freude” – J.S. Bach (1685 – 1750)
Bach set Johann Crüger’s (1598-1662) hymn with choral interspersions between each verse forming a twenty minute opus, the longest and most well-known of the six motets (BWV 225-230). While the text of the chorale is by Johann Franck, the middle (choral) sections are setting of verses from Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. The work was thought to have been written for a funeral, though recent scholarship suggests otherwise despite the somber nature of the text and music. The work is also noteworthy for being one of the few pieces that utilize five voices. The text of the first two verses, which will be heard during today’s Mass, speak of the intimate relationship between Jesus and his followers, and pleads for Christ’s help in strengthening our resolve to avoid sin.
To hear a version, click below.
Solemnity of St. Matthew, Patronal Feast Observed at 11:30am and 1pm Masses
Prelude 11:30am Mass, “O Clap your Hands” – Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958)
Even though the Church already celebrated St. Matthew’s feast Saturday, the Cathedral also celebrates its patron saint at this Sunday Mass (as well as at the 1pm Spanish Mass). The Choral prelude at this Mass is a particularly festive setting of Psalm 47. ‘O Clap your Hands’ by Ralph Vaughan Williams is an acclamation of praise to God, especially today, in thanksgiving for Matthew’s willingness to accept Christ’s invitation to come and follow him. The celebration of an Apostle (such as St. Matthew) carries with it an aspect of discipleship as Christ gave the instructions to ‘Go and teach all nations’ before ascending to Heaven. This commission is affirmed in the Psalm for today ('Their message goes out through all the earth'). For a recorded version of the Vaughan Williams, click below.
Preparation of Gifts 11:30am Mass, “Os justi” – Anton Bruckner (1824 – 1896)
The epitome of the Cecilian movement in 19th century Germany, Bruckner’s Os Justi is an incredibly dramatic and emotive motet which economically utilizes minimal material and resources. The lydian mode piece is without accidentals throughout, an aspect of the Cecilian attempt to return to an earlier style of composition. The opening a section breathlessly builds toward a celestially bright and suspension-rich cadence which leads into secondary fugal section before the recapitulation. The text, taken from Psalm 36 with a verse added from Psalm 89, praises the attributes of a saint such as the apostle, and patron of civil servants, who we honor today: his mouth speaks wisdom, his tongue speaks justice, God’s law is in his heart.
For a recorded version of the Bruckner, click below.
Communion 11:30am Mass, “The Call” – Leo Nestor
The text of this motet setting is from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. The verses tell how Christians ought to lead their lives within the body of Christ. The work is a popular selection for ordinations and was dedicated to Bishop William Lori on the occasion of his Episcopal Ordination. Nestor’s musical style is a mixture of French part writing—particularly Duruflé and Poulenc—with American harmonic language, creating dense and often richly moving choral works. The composer’s detail to text scansion is also noteworthy, as the meter changes frequently to accommodate irregular texts. The conclusion of the work sets the Latin text of the final verse in a chant accompaniment that is reminiscent of the composer’s Four Motets on Gregorian Themes. The text has a special significance for Civil Servants, whom we acknowledge today, who serve the broader society informed by the core Christian values of selflessness, honesty, and compassion.
To hear a version, click on the audio sample here:https://www.canticledistributing.com/audioplayer.php?n=5095.mp3