10am Mass Preparation of the Gifts, “Ad te levavi animam” - G. P. da Palestrina (1525 – 1594)

This motet sets the Offertory chant for the first Sunday of Advent, and is taken from Palestrina’s collection of Offertoria,published in 1593. The text is from the twenty-fourth psalm, and calls on believers to lift their souls to God. This ‘looking up’, whether spiritually or visually, is a recurrent theme during the season of Advent. We see it in today’s first reading from Isaiah when the prophet foretells that all nations will climb the Lord’s mountain; in the responsorial psalm when the psalmist describes Jerusalem as the place where all the tribes go up; and later in Advent, in the culmination of the theme in the Rorate Caeli antiphon on the fourth Sunday of Advent.

To hear a version, click below.

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11:30am Mass Preparation of the Gifts, “I was Glad” - Mark Victor Smith

The familiar and oft-set text of Psalm 122 as found in the Book of Common Prayer is set by Mark V. Smith, a New York City-based organist and pianist. This joyful anthem begins in 6/8 time and culminates in a fanfare like acclamation. The middle portion speaking about Jerusalem being at unity with at times, itself is a lyrical exposition with parallel thirds in the women’s section against parallel fourths in tandem among the men’s sections. This section ends with text-painting on the words “to which the tribes go up to praise the name of the Lord.” He uses a chantlike setting to carry the words 'Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they prosper who love you.' The piece ends with a recapitulation of the opening gestures with a grand rallentando in the voices and a toccata like flourish in the organ accompaniment.

10am Mass Communion Motet, “Conditor Alme Siderum” - T. L. da Victoria (1548 – 1611)

The text, Conditor Alme Siderum (“creator of the stars of night”), is a Latin hymn supposedly from the seventh century, chanted during Vespers on the first Sunday of Advent. The tune is considered to be from the 9th century. In Victoria’s setting from the sixteenth century, he alternates verses of chant with verses of polyphony, integrating the vitality of two rich musical transitions. To hear a version, click below.

11:30am Mass Communion Motet, “O Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem” - Thomas Tompkins (1572 – 1656)

The two verses set in this motet are from Psalm 122, the psalm appointed for this Sunday. They have been popular material for composers, including two notable settings by Hubert Parry and Herbert Howells. Tompkins, a Welsh composer of the late Tudor period, wrote his own setting of this psalm text, primarily evoking the word peace through his imitative and serene music.

To hear a version, click below.