The Schola Cantorum sings a wide variety of music as the Church’s Liturgical Year winds down with composers from early and late Renaissance in Italy and the Lowlands, as well as mid-20th century British and modern American composers. 

10am Mass Preparation of the Gifts, “Vidi Civitatem” - Thomas Crequillon (1505 – 1557)

This Sunday’s motet for the preparation of the gifts was written by Renaissance composer, Thomas Crequillon, who was well known for composing sacred vocal music in a similar style to his contemporaries, Josquin and Palestrina. His vocal music, including “Vidi civitatem”, exemplifies his popular Renaissance styles of pervasive imitation and polyphonic complexity, yet still smoothness of the vocal lines from start to finish. The text “Vidi civitatem” is taken from Revelation 21:2, where we hear the apostle John speaking of the New Jerusalem, “coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” The traditional chant associated with this text has been associated with the feast of a dedication of a new church, thus fulfilling the image of the church as the Bride of Christ. This text is particularly appropriate in reference to this Sunday’s gospel in Luke 21, where Jesus references the end of time “when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."

11:30am Mass Preparation of the Gifts, “Lo in the Time Appointed” - Healey Willan (1880-1968)

The Preparation motet continues the theme of the gospel lesson today, referring to all the creatures on earth who will praise God, when He comes again. Healey Willan composed a large corpus of mass settings, motets, operas, and instrumental works. This motet, written in 1929, pays homage to Willan’s English roots, as he extracted the text from an old Sarum antiphon (derivative of the Sarum Use, a medieval English rite originating at Salisbury Cathedral). The music begins with the prophetic text, “Lo in the time appointed,” continues to build anticipation, listing many of God’s creations, then ending with a triumphant “Alleluia.”

To hear a version, click below.

10am Mass Communion Motet, “O Bone Jesu” - Marc’Antonio Ingenri (1536 - 1592) misattributed to G. P. da Palestrina (1525 – 1594)

"O Bone Jesus" is a Latin devotional prayer, likely from the 14th century, and was possibly used to conclude the Anima Christi prayer. It has been notably set by Johannes Brahms, as well as this brief choral setting by Marc’Antonio Ingeniri, which has often been attributed to Palestrina. This simple composition is mostly homophonic and harmonically smooth in nature, which highlights the text in a profound way. The choir sings “O bone Jesu” (O good Jesus) sweetly and quietly, depicting the natural serenity of the text.

To listen to a version, click below.

11:30am Mass Communion Motet, “The Day is Coming” - Brent Weiland (b.1963 - 2015)

Brent Weiland was a Chicago-based composer and music director. The Schola Cantorum is pleased to sing several of his evocative modern settings. This motet is composed as a choral recitative where the music flows without meter, strictly to enhance the rhythm of speech. Twice in the motet, marking the two internal movements beginning with the texts “when persecution shall ensue,” and “the Sun of Righteousness shall rise,” the composer begins in unison octaves to dramatic effect as the harmonies unfold chromatically to an unresolved climax. The resolution comes later with a hopeful conviction that the Lord will surely come to bring healing, even though he seems to delay.