I'm not a mystery worshipper so I will sneak this in here if I may.
Vienna Cathedral 8th December. Mass was at 9pm to accommodate those who work.
No organ or choir but simple chants for the Mass were led by the strong voiced priest and all joined in (about 150)
Incense and bells at the sung words of institution. All was conducted prayerfully at a measured pace.
A decent homily about the gifts Mary needed to fulfill her part in the Incarnation, and the gifts we are all given to get through life.
The hoi-poloi stayed at the back and quietly observed proceedings.
All rather marvellous.
Not like our local Cathedral, then, which closes at 5pm on Sundays (after Evensong), around which time the city pubs, clubs, and restaurants get going...
Thank you Alan. A minor question - what language was the Mass in please?
German of which I know very little. However I know the texts like the back of my hand. The homily was summarised by my wife who has excellent German.
One of the great advantages of a Mass in Latin is that it's a common language
Understood by almost nobody. Regular Mass-goers can follow the Mass in whatever language - its structure is always the same and apps like Universalis give you the whole thing including the readings in a multitude of languages - we used it for the readings and responses.
Madame and I used seek out English-speaking Anglican churches when travelling in Europe; our second choice was a Catholic church where Mass was in Latin.
O come, O come, Emmanuel - Veni Emmanuel The advent of our King - Franconia Come, thou long-expected Jesus - Cross of Jesus* Hail, O star that pointest - Ravenshaw Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord - Woodlands
* I'd have preferred Stuttgart, but never mind.
We had The Organist Who Does Practise this morning, and got Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas as the extroit music.
(I do tend to think of Woodlands as being for "Lift up your hearts, we lift them to the Lord". As far as "Tell out, my soul" is concerned, I learned it from "Youth Praise" - although I think the tune fits "Go forth and tell better", for which I don't like Yanworth).
Advent III / Gaudete
Rejoice! rejoice, believers (Llangloffan)
Hark! the glad sound! the Savior comes (Richmond)
Herald, sound the note of judgment (Bonnemere)
Watchman, tell us of the night (Aberystwyth)
Choral:
Charles Wood: Short Communion Service in the Phrygian Mode (aka "Wood in the Fridge")
Anon., 16th c.: Rejoice in the Lord alway
Adrian Batten: Lord, we beseech thee
Prepare way, O Zion (Bereden väg för Herran)
There's a voice in the wilderness crying (Ascension)
Comfort, comfort ye my people (Psalm 42)
Christ, whose glory fills the skies (Ratisbon)
Choral: Bereite dich, Zion, from Weihnachts-Oratorium, Part 1
Willan: Missa Brevis XI (Missa Sancti Johannis Baptistae)
Giovanni Battista Martini: Jerusalem surge
I very much like that first hymn - popular in Sweden, but not, AFAIK, well-known in England (the English version is in the Lutheran Book of Worship, of course):
We haven’t sung it (Prepare the Way, O Zion) yet this Advent, but we usually do. We’ll see if it appears this Sunday or the next.
And just like that, today we had:
Prepare the Way, O Zion/BEREDEN VÄG FÖR HERRAN Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness/CHRIST BE OUR LIGHT Come Now, O Prince of Peace/O-SO-SO Of the Father’s Love Begotten/DIVINUM MYSTERIUM Dream On, Dream On/DREAM ON
(And @Piglet, in my tribe Come Thou Long Expected Jesus is usually sung to HYFRYDOL, though STUTTGART is in the hymnal as an alternative.)
Apologies if this is the wrong place to share this ... its not singing 'at church' but most definitely singing! Its a virtual choir recording I've recently completed of a little known choral piece for Christmas, that I've fallen in love with this year, called 'By Candlelight' by Ruth Elaine Schram https://youtu.be/i_SlI7UDaHg
Three carol services at Our Place today:
9AM Traditional Carols
10.45AM Carols for Everyone (family friendly)
6.30PM Classic Carols (with church members forming a small instrumental ensemble)
We were early birds at the 9 o'clock and sang
Joy To The World
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
While Shepherds Watched
We Three Kings
O Come All Ye Faithful
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
No, I was just thinking of going from woodlands to forests!
Hahaha.
I did wonder ...
I told a fib last week - I managed not to notice which candle had been lit, and lo and behold, this week brought out the rose vestments and candle. I still think Gaudete Sunday was last week, but who am I to argue?
Our offerings today:
Hark! the glad sound - Bristol The Saviour will come, resplendent in joy - Laudate Dominum For Mary, mother of our Lord - St. Botolph The Angel Gabriel from heaven came - Birjina Gaztettobat On Jordan's bank, the Baptist's cry - Winchester New
And yes - I managed to resist the temptation to sing (a) most highly flavoured gravy AND (b) the alternative version of On Jordan's bank.
On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
If I were a Baptist, so would I
They drink no beer, they have no fun
I'm glad that I'm an Anglican!
Unfortunately, the organist played O holy night as extroit music, but at least we didn't have to sing it, and by that time everyone was chatting anyway ...
At a service which usually mainly consists of RC guitar pap, we actually started with
The Angel Gabriel to Mary came
and ended with
O come, O come Emmanuel.
So I was a happy bunny.
As we're having our service this evening I went Elsewhere this morning. It was a Messy Church type Christingle service and we had "Once in royal", "Sing Christingle" (to "Give me joy in my heart" and "Silent night".
I skipped church this morning as I needed to let my voice recover between a carol concert last night and Service of Lessons and Carols in church tonight.
Incidentally, the Musical Director of our choir told us that one year he managed to either sing, accompany or conduct Once in Royal David’s City twenty-one times. Is this a record?
One of the Dutch churches I visit on Sundays was returned to its pre-Reformation state today for a very nicely-sung RC Mass (with copious amounts of incense!), led by the local RC priest - the RCs seem to get on very well with the Protestant congregation, although the RC churches are actually in surrounding villages, rather than the town itself.
All this is by the way, but two of the hymns were familiar:
Introit - a Dutch hymn to the tune of Once in Royal David's City; Recessional - O come, O come, Emmanuel (in Dutch)
Two cantors led a lovely version of the Kyries, whilst the Gospel Alleluia chant was the one we use at Our Place...
All very seemly - and with a large congregation from both denominations, all of whom seemed to be welcome to receive Communion.
Interim Moderator managed to keep his hands off the Christmas Carols (TBTG), so we had:
O come, o come, Emmanuel
Christmas is coming (4 verses)
When out of poverty is born (KINGSFOLD)
When we walk with the Lord
The voice of God goes out to all the world (WOODLANDS)
Tell out, my soul (to Woodlands) was the final hymn at a Certain Church in Embra today, with the equally appropriate For Mary, Mother of the Lord (to St Botolph, I think) at the Offertory.
At our service of lessons and carols this evening, panic ensued when the organist skipped a hymn. During the lesson which followed ( the reader kept to the schedule) the organist’s wife frantically tried to communicate what had happened and what he needed to play next. Marital discord was very much the mood of the moment. Eventually he got the message, though not until she had amended his copy of the order of service to make it clear. He hates to be wrong, and hates it even more if his wife is the one to put him right.
A collective sigh of relief was heard from all in the chancel once we were back on track.
It was my turn to read the lesson by a Member of the Choir, by which time I had very little voice left, after a choral concert yesterday and choir practice prior to the service tonight. No more singing for almost a week for me.
“O come, all ye faithful”.
"The people that in darkness walked” (Dundee).
“The Angel Gabriel” (Basque carol).
“Come and hear the joyful singing” (Nos Galan).
“The Sans Day Carol”.
“Infant holy” (Polish carol).
"While shepherds watched their flocks” (Winchester Old).
“Ding, dong, merrily on high”.
“The Sussez Carol”.
“Alleluia, sing to Jesus” (Calon Lan).
“Hark! The herald angels sing”.
Also at a carol service last night. Memorable for the advent wreath catching fire because they had put it in front of the organ, forgetting that air comes out of these pipes, air which blew the candle fames out sideways. The Christ candle was discovered to have bent in two as well.
As far as I remember we sang
The holly and the ivy are dancing in a ring (not half they weren’t!)
Sing we the King who is coming to reign (no, this is not a carol, but these were Methodists…)
The angel Gabriel
While shepherds watched their flocks at night
Angels from the realms of glory
Bairnie Jesus (no, you probably don’t know this. Don’t worry, you don’t need to. The tune is My Bonnie lies over the Ocean)
Silent Night
Hark the Herald
These was at least one other, which I have forgotten.
The readings were given in composite form, with the narrative from the NiV and any direct speech from the Doric New Testament (or so the minister said, but if so it must have taken some liberties with the text, as we had the angels telling the shepherds to look for a star over a stable - the minister is Australian, so maybe didn’t understand…)
Also at a carol service last night. Memorable for the advent wreath catching fire because they had put it in front of the organ, forgetting that air comes out of these pipes, air which blew the candle fames out sideways. The Christ candle was discovered to have bent in two as well.
Sorry to laugh but .
Yesterday evening I went to our parish church's Nine Lessons and Carols and it was most lovely, with some unusual readings interspersed with the usual Bible passages.
We sang:
Once in Royal David's City
In The Bleak Midwinter (which is, I think, my favourite carol)
O Little Town of Bethlehem
See, Amid the Winter's Snow
O Come, All Ye Faithful
So worried was I about being too late to get a good seat that I was the first to arrive apart from the clergy and choir!
And yes, @Piglet , I am pretty certain that Gaudete Sunday was 11 December and that's when my pink candle was lit.
Savior of the nations, come! (Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland)
Creator of the stars of night (Conditor alme siderum)
Redeemer of the nations, come (Twigworth Yard)
The angel Gabriel from heaven came (Gabriel's Message)
Choral:
James MacMillan: O radiant dawn (2007), from The Strathclyde Motets
Giovanni Giacomo Gastoldi: Missa Ne timeas Maria
Victoria: Ne timeas Maria
A Stable Lamp is Lighted/ANDUJAR Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness/CHRIST BE OUR LIGHT He Came Down/HE CAME DOWN Come Now, O Prince of Peace/O-SO-SO My Soul Gives Glory to My God (Song of Mary)/MORNING SONG Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn/REJOICE, REJOICE
Thank you Alan. A minor question - what language was the Mass in please?
German of which I know very little. However I know the texts like the back of my hand. The homily was summarised by my wife who has excellent German.
One of the great advantages of a Mass in Latin is that it's a common language
For speakers of German, GOTTESLOB is the prayer-book, missal and hymnal combined and I possess a copy of that book which I bought on my travels to Germany some years ago. This book is amply supplied in Catholic churches in that country. The title translates, "God's Praise".
Thank you Alan. A minor question - what language was the Mass in please?
German of which I know very little. However I know the texts like the back of my hand. The homily was summarised by my wife who has excellent German.
One of the great advantages of a Mass in Latin is that it's a common language
For speakers of German, GOTTESLOB is the prayer-book, missal and hymnal combined and I possess a copy of that book which I bought on my travels to Germany some years ago. This book is amply supplied in Catholic churches in that country. The title translates, "God's Praise".
I suppose that these days English has taken the place of Latin in the Western world. Things may be different where others are, but around here Cantonese is far more common than Shanghaiese (is there such a word?)
Blue Christmas service today, the idea of our new vicar: excellent.
Our Longest Night service (another name for a Blue Christmas service) was last night. I didn’t make it, but I understand the hymns were:
In Deepest Night/ROSE MARY O Little Town of Bethlehem/ST. LOUIS In the Bleak Midwinter/CRANHAM Wait for the Lord (Berthier, Taizé) Cloth for the Cradle/WAE'S FOR ME PRINCE CHARLIE Where Shepherds Lately Knelt/MANGER SONG
In intention it is a service for people who, for one reason or another, are not in a place where they are able to do joy and jollity. Wikipedia gives a general picture, though the specifics it describes don’t apply everywhere.
Comments
Vienna Cathedral 8th December. Mass was at 9pm to accommodate those who work.
No organ or choir but simple chants for the Mass were led by the strong voiced priest and all joined in (about 150)
Incense and bells at the sung words of institution. All was conducted prayerfully at a measured pace.
A decent homily about the gifts Mary needed to fulfill her part in the Incarnation, and the gifts we are all given to get through life.
The hoi-poloi stayed at the back and quietly observed proceedings.
All rather marvellous.
German of which I know very little. However I know the texts like the back of my hand. The homily was summarised by my wife who has excellent German.
And because the Christmas market was closing there were people around., and the local shops keep late hours.
One of the great advantages of a Mass in Latin is that it's a common language
Yes and no - those brought up as Catholics would have known the liturgy in Latin and have been taught at school.
Understood by almost nobody. Regular Mass-goers can follow the Mass in whatever language - its structure is always the same and apps like Universalis give you the whole thing including the readings in a multitude of languages - we used it for the readings and responses.
Assuming they went to a Catholic school.
And being taught isn't the same thing as having learnt, as my O Level History teacher could tell you.
O come, O come, Emmanuel - Veni Emmanuel
The advent of our King - Franconia
Come, thou long-expected Jesus - Cross of Jesus*
Hail, O star that pointest - Ravenshaw
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord - Woodlands
* I'd have preferred Stuttgart, but never mind.
We had The Organist Who Does Practise this morning, and got Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas as the extroit music.
Does it fit?
Hahaha.
Rejoice! rejoice, believers (Llangloffan)
Hark! the glad sound! the Savior comes (Richmond)
Herald, sound the note of judgment (Bonnemere)
Watchman, tell us of the night (Aberystwyth)
Choral:
Charles Wood: Short Communion Service in the Phrygian Mode (aka "Wood in the Fridge")
Anon., 16th c.: Rejoice in the Lord alway
Adrian Batten: Lord, we beseech thee
Prepare the Way, O Zion/BEREDEN VÄG FÖR HERRAN
Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness/CHRIST BE OUR LIGHT
Come Now, O Prince of Peace/O-SO-SO
Of the Father’s Love Begotten/DIVINUM MYSTERIUM
Dream On, Dream On/DREAM ON
(And @Piglet, in my tribe Come Thou Long Expected Jesus is usually sung to HYFRYDOL, though STUTTGART is in the hymnal as an alternative.)
9AM Traditional Carols
10.45AM Carols for Everyone (family friendly)
6.30PM Classic Carols (with church members forming a small instrumental ensemble)
We were early birds at the 9 o'clock and sang
Joy To The World
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
While Shepherds Watched
We Three Kings
O Come All Ye Faithful
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
I did wonder ...
I told a fib last week - I managed not to notice which candle had been lit, and lo and behold, this week brought out the rose vestments and candle. I still think Gaudete Sunday was last week, but who am I to argue?
Our offerings today:
Hark! the glad sound - Bristol
The Saviour will come, resplendent in joy - Laudate Dominum
For Mary, mother of our Lord - St. Botolph
The Angel Gabriel from heaven came - Birjina Gaztettobat
On Jordan's bank, the Baptist's cry - Winchester New
And yes - I managed to resist the temptation to sing (a) most highly flavoured gravy AND (b) the alternative version of On Jordan's bank.
On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
If I were a Baptist, so would I
They drink no beer, they have no fun
I'm glad that I'm an Anglican!
Unfortunately, the organist played O holy night as extroit music, but at least we didn't have to sing it, and by that time everyone was chatting anyway ...
The Angel Gabriel to Mary came
and ended with
O come, O come Emmanuel.
So I was a happy bunny.
Incidentally, the Musical Director of our choir told us that one year he managed to either sing, accompany or conduct Once in Royal David’s City twenty-one times. Is this a record?
All this is by the way, but two of the hymns were familiar:
Introit - a Dutch hymn to the tune of Once in Royal David's City;
Recessional - O come, O come, Emmanuel (in Dutch)
Two cantors led a lovely version of the Kyries, whilst the Gospel Alleluia chant was the one we use at Our Place...
All very seemly - and with a large congregation from both denominations, all of whom seemed to be welcome to receive Communion.
O come, o come, Emmanuel
Christmas is coming (4 verses)
When out of poverty is born (KINGSFOLD)
When we walk with the Lord
The voice of God goes out to all the world (WOODLANDS)
A collective sigh of relief was heard from all in the chancel once we were back on track.
It was my turn to read the lesson by a Member of the Choir, by which time I had very little voice left, after a choral concert yesterday and choir practice prior to the service tonight. No more singing for almost a week for me.
“O come, all ye faithful”.
"The people that in darkness walked” (Dundee).
“The Angel Gabriel” (Basque carol).
“Come and hear the joyful singing” (Nos Galan).
“The Sans Day Carol”.
“Infant holy” (Polish carol).
"While shepherds watched their flocks” (Winchester Old).
“Ding, dong, merrily on high”.
“The Sussez Carol”.
“Alleluia, sing to Jesus” (Calon Lan).
“Hark! The herald angels sing”.
Tell out my soul (Woodlands)
Bethlehem of noblest cities (Stuttgart)
Lo he comes with clouds descending (Helmsley)
As far as I remember we sang
The holly and the ivy are dancing in a ring (not half they weren’t!)
Sing we the King who is coming to reign (no, this is not a carol, but these were Methodists…)
The angel Gabriel
While shepherds watched their flocks at night
Angels from the realms of glory
Bairnie Jesus (no, you probably don’t know this. Don’t worry, you don’t need to. The tune is My Bonnie lies over the Ocean)
Silent Night
Hark the Herald
These was at least one other, which I have forgotten.
The readings were given in composite form, with the narrative from the NiV and any direct speech from the Doric New Testament (or so the minister said, but if so it must have taken some liberties with the text, as we had the angels telling the shepherds to look for a star over a stable - the minister is Australian, so maybe didn’t understand…)
Sorry to laugh but
Yesterday evening I went to our parish church's Nine Lessons and Carols and it was most lovely, with some unusual readings interspersed with the usual Bible passages.
We sang:
Once in Royal David's City
In The Bleak Midwinter (which is, I think, my favourite carol)
O Little Town of Bethlehem
See, Amid the Winter's Snow
O Come, All Ye Faithful
So worried was I about being too late to get a good seat that I was the first to arrive apart from the clergy and choir!
And yes, @Piglet , I am pretty certain that Gaudete Sunday was 11 December and that's when my pink candle was lit.
Savior of the nations, come! (Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland)
Creator of the stars of night (Conditor alme siderum)
Redeemer of the nations, come (Twigworth Yard)
The angel Gabriel from heaven came (Gabriel's Message)
Choral:
James MacMillan: O radiant dawn (2007), from The Strathclyde Motets
Giovanni Giacomo Gastoldi: Missa Ne timeas Maria
Victoria: Ne timeas Maria
A Stable Lamp is Lighted/ANDUJAR
Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness/CHRIST BE OUR LIGHT
He Came Down/HE CAME DOWN
Come Now, O Prince of Peace/O-SO-SO
My Soul Gives Glory to My God (Song of Mary)/MORNING SONG
Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn/REJOICE, REJOICE
We sang:
O come O come Emanuel
O little town of Bethlehem
Away in a manger
In the bleak midwinter
Silent Night
Fairly blue carols but not too gloomy!
For speakers of German, GOTTESLOB is the prayer-book, missal and hymnal combined and I possess a copy of that book which I bought on my travels to Germany some years ago. This book is amply supplied in Catholic churches in that country. The title translates, "God's Praise".
I suppose that these days English has taken the place of Latin in the Western world. Things may be different where others are, but around here Cantonese is far more common than Shanghaiese (is there such a word?)
Our Longest Night service (another name for a Blue Christmas service) was last night. I didn’t make it, but I understand the hymns were:
In Deepest Night/ROSE MARY
O Little Town of Bethlehem/ST. LOUIS
In the Bleak Midwinter/CRANHAM
Wait for the Lord (Berthier, Taizé)
Cloth for the Cradle/WAE'S FOR ME PRINCE CHARLIE
Where Shepherds Lately Knelt/MANGER SONG
Thanks - many more Cantonese than Shanghainese here
New to me .... but then most things are!