@Bishops Finger points noted, I don't actually have a personal problem with Creationtide on the grounds you mention, just that 'modern' accretiions don't usually go down well in the country. Odd really guven it is actually in the beauty of creation 🤔. I had not realised yours was urban poor and know some similar in Plymouth, the sort of places you want to help by not taking a fee.
Although I enjoy the 'chestnuts' and the main places I supply both know and expect them your point is a very valid one. As you say most people no longer know them (outside rural areas) and there is something a bit incongruous at an inner city congregation in an area with nothing green in sight singing about ploughing fields etc. If I have to play the chestnuts in such places it always feels rather odd, unlike a country Harvest. Plenty of thise to come soon 🤣
Conversely there is merit in reminding urban people about the sources of their food - it doesn't appear on supermarket shelves by magic!
I sometimes listen to "Farming Today" on the radio, and we usually watch "Countryfile". Both say quite a lot about the many pressures facing the farming community. There was a good bit about rural chaplaincy on yesterday's "Songs of Praise" too.
Our Place's urban congregation will indeed be asked to sing some *well-known* harvest hymns tomorrow:
Come, ye thankful people, come (St George's Windsor) Praise God for the harvest (Stowey) Our Father (Caribbean) Let us with a gladsome mind (Monkland) We plough the fields, and scatter (Wir Pfluegen)
Harvest Festival is a bit earlier this year, to coincide FWIW with the annual Friends of Kent Churches *Ride and Stride* event, and the Heritage Open Days weekend. Whether all this will bring in visitors today and tomorrow remains to be seen, but attractions include various stalls in the Hall, our monthly Community Cafe, and an exhibition of vestments - together with a Bouncy Castle! - in the Church.
If local clergy could be persuaded to fool around on the bouncy castle while wearing the vestments, that might be a draw.
I doubt it, as, for most of them, vestments are an Abomination Before The Lord...
The Bouncy Castle was bought a little while ago, and first came into use at the Summer Fair. It may be intended as a way of drawing in local young families, now that the monthly Youth Club attendance is down to just 1 or 2 children. I'm not sure if the intention is to retain it in situ at the west end of the Church - it will certainly form a contrast to the decaying Anglo-Catholic tat...
Christ, Whose glory fills the skies - RATISBON
Lord Jesus, Think on Me - SOUTHWELL
Restore, O Lord, the honour of your name - Kendrick / Rolinson (own tune)
Our offerings today were either a capella or with the guitar, as today's organist (the one who actually knows what he's doing) didn't turn up. It was a bit weird, singing hymns unaccompanied like the Wee Frees ...
All creatures of our God and King - Lasst uns Erfreuen I the Lord of sea and sky - Here I Am The King of love my shepherd is - Dominus Regit Me Let us break bread together on our knees - Let Us Break Bread O Lord my God - How Great Thou Art
Exaltation of the Cross
We had a young lad join the band with his guitar, which is excellent.
In the land there is a hunger
Amazing grace
New Celtic Mass - Chris Walker
Eagles wings (a baby decided to let rip all the way through this gorgeous hymn, which was a pity.)
Guide me O thou great redeemer.
“Praise, my soul, the King of heaven” (Lauda Anima).
“How can I be free from sin?” - Kendrick.
“A debtor to mercy alone” (Trewen).
“Years I spent in vanity and pride”.
“Amazing Grace”.
I was buried beneath my shame - a new one to me Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord How deep the Father's love for us By grace alone somehow I stand
We are starting a new sermon series on the Book of Hebrews - today chapter 1 "The Superior Son"
God Has Spoken By His Prophets (Ebenezer)
Jesus Shall Reign Where’er The Sun (Duke Street)
All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name! (Miles Lane)
The Lord is King! lift up your voice! (Church Triumphant)
Come and Sing Evensong. Started at 2pm, service at 5pm. Perhaps 60 singers, bias towards Sops, with fewest Tenors.
Introit: Tallis If ye love me
Responses: Sanders
Canticles: Mag and Nunc Walmisley in D
Psalm 124: 1-7 to Harrison in Eminor/Emajor (changing at verse 5)
Anthem: Wesley ‘The Lord has been mindful of us’ (from Ascribe unto the Lord)
Voluntary: Master Tallis’ Testament (Howells)
Hymns:
589 Angel Voices (Angel Voices)
821When in our music (Engelberg)
828 Ye that know the Lord (Hyfrydol)
766 Praise my soul (Praise my soul)
@Heron what a great set of music you had today. That metrical Gloria (363 in the new EH) is one that I have been asked to play a few times, although sadly not always to 'Cuddesdon'. Fascinated that you had a Mass setting set to 'Scarborough Fair' as I have only heard that tune sung liturgically at a Syro Malabar Qurbana (Eucharist) and it was all in Malayalam! I'm told though some sing it to St Patrick's Breastplate much to my horror 😮
@Piglet. I don't envy you singing some of that little lot 'a capella' 🤔
Anyway as for my own offerings today -
Parish Communion for Holy Cross Day
Lift high the Cross (Crucifer). this went absolutely splendidly
St Thomas Mass
In the cross of Christ I glory (Stuttgart)
Onward Christian soldiers (St Gertrude)
Once only once (Albano)
We sing the praise of him who died (Fuldaj
A lovely service which I enjoyed very much; the singing was excellent.
(Country) Evensong for Trinity 13
O strength and stay (Welwyn)
For ever with the Lord (Montgomery)
Jerusalem on high (Christchurch)
Small number but they sang well enough and said the office other than Mag and Nunc.
Some of you have had St Pumpkin and All Marrows I see, my set of Harvest services begin on Friday. Country areas often have them quite late sometimes in October.
Our Place used to have Harvest Festival in October, but our Patronal Festival also occurs during that month, and All Saints/All Souls Days follow on quite quickly. It made sense, I think, for the PCC and FatherInCharge to bring Harvest forward, so to speak.
@Heron - I'm so envious! The Alain and Master Tallis were regulars in David's repertoire; If ye love me is a wee gem and the Sanders responses (which I'm singing next week in Carlisle with Scottish Voices) are lovely.
Did you mean Walmisley in D minor, or did he write one in D?
You're right about the a capella (or more accurately a la Wee Frees) - it was jolly hard work, especially All creatures of our God and King, which Rev Rosie started off far too slowly, and had so many verses that she got us to miss a couple out when we got to them ... 🙄
My predecessor as organist retired at our Patronal Festival, and I started with Harvest, an All Age Service, the following week and for a number of years that's how it worked. I gather my predecessor was not fond of either All Age or Harvest.... but, in fairness, Patronal Festival is a good one to go out with.
We then changed our All Age service from the 1st Sunday of the Month to the 2nd and we mostly get a week in between the two now.
Today's offerings, which were sung well for a very small crowd, were
I will sing the wondrous story (Hyfrodol)
King of glory King of peace (Gwalchmai)
The king of love my shepherd is (Dominus Regit Me)
Forth in thy name (Song 34)
We sang everything a capella at Our Place one morning - four hymns, and the Mass setting (Murray) - because the computer wouldn't work. We had no organist at that time, but I managed to act as cantor, fortunately hitting the right starting note for each item...
On packing away the PC after service, and bemoaning the cost of taking it to a mendologist, a member of the congregation suggested I check the cable connecting it to the mains. Sure enough - the connection was loose, and, once it was sorted, all was well. The chap wanted to charge me a 150 guineas consultancy fee, but settled for a coffee and some cheese-on-toast at the community centre cafe later in the week...
When we got to the Mass bits, which come from some folk mass or other - don't know who wrote it - they were said (or in the case of the Agnus Dei, missed out altogether) ...
I've just realised that, for Sunday, I've chosen "Rejoice, the Lord is king" which, in its last verse, says, "The trump of God will sound". Ouch - do you think anyone will notice?
I've just realised that, for Sunday, I've chosen "Rejoice, the Lord is king" which, in its last verse, says, "The trump of God will sound". Ouch - do you think anyone will notice?
Pick the wrong tune for it then no-one will care about the words.
I've just realised that, for Sunday, I've chosen "Rejoice, the Lord is king" which, in its last verse, says, "The trump of God will sound". Ouch - do you think anyone will notice?
I have to say I’ve never encountered those words. Looking at that version on hymnary.org, it seems like those two lines scan awkwardly enough that people actually might not notice. (And I’m guessing that awkward scanning is why I’ve always encountered the fourth verse ending with the same two lines as the first three verses (“Lift up your hearts . . . .”).
I've just realised that, for Sunday, I've chosen "Rejoice, the Lord is king" which, in its last verse, says, "The trump of God will sound". Ouch - do you think anyone will notice?
Pick the wrong tune for it then no-one will care about the words.
"Love Unknown" would fit ...
Actually, since it's the first hymn, I'm eschewing "Gopsal" in favour of "Darwall's 148th". So there.
Actually, since it's the first hymn, I'm eschewing "Gopsal" in favour of "Darwall's 148th". So there.
DARWELL’S 148TH is the expected/assumed tune, in my experience.
I grew up with GOPSAL in the south of England, but the Kirk's CH4 lists only DARWELL'S 148TH. I don't know whether the line is geographic, denominational, or a bit of both.
Actually, since it's the first hymn, I'm eschewing "Gopsal" in favour of "Darwall's 148th". So there.
DARWELL’S 148TH is the expected/assumed tune, in my experience.
I grew up with GOPSAL in the south of England, but the Kirk's CH4 lists only DARWELL'S 148TH. I don't know whether the line is geographic, denominational, or a bit of both.
Hmmm. I’m away from home (and from my hymnals), but a look through hymnary.org at hymnals of mainline/old line North American denominations shows the Episcopal Church’s hymnal has it to GOPSAL, the United Methodist Hymnal has both GOPSAL and DARWELL'S 148TH, and most other hymnals (including the Anglican Church of Canada’s Common Praise) seem to have DARWELL'S 148TH, except for Evangelical Lutheran Worship, which has it to LAUS REGIS. DARWELL'S 148TH is what I’m used to among Presbyterians.
Take my life, and let it be (Nottingham) Stand up, stand up for Jesus (Morning Light) He who would valiant be (Monks Gate) Inspired by love and anger (Salley Gardens)
I don't recall ever having sung that last one - though I know the tune - but it's fairly long, and they're leaving out verses 3 and 4.
Take my life, and let it be (Nottingham) Stand up, stand up for Jesus (Morning Light) He who would valiant be (Monks Gate) Inspired by love and anger (Salley Gardens)
I don't recall ever having sung that last one - though I know the tune - but it's fairly long, and they're leaving out verses 3 and 4.
I have - it's very "Wild Goose" in style and IMHO would be better read out as a poem.
Take my life, and let it be (Nottingham) Stand up, stand up for Jesus (Morning Light) He who would valiant be (Monks Gate) Inspired by love and anger (Salley Gardens)
I don't recall ever having sung that last one - though I know the tune - but it's fairly long, and they're leaving out verses 3 and 4.
I have - it's very "Wild Goose" in style and IMHO would be better read out as a poem.
That's a thought. It would do very nicely in place of a sermon...
Communion with a sermon on Hebrews 2: The Suffering Saviour.
Jesus! The Name High Over All (Lydia)
Join All The Glorious Names (Darwall)
And Can It Be (Sagina)
No pianist today so we were singing to backing tracks. Less than ideal but better than nothing.
No pianist today so we were singing to backing tracks. Less than ideal but better than nothing.
We have to do this at every service!
I realise that God has blessed us with our regular pianist and dread the time when they decide to stop (that "they" could be either God or the piano player or, more likely, both)
Yesterday, Evensong at Carlisle Cathedral with Scottish Voices:
Preces & Responses - John Sanders - if you haven't come across them and have a moderately competent choir, they're an absolute cracker.
Psalm 148 - chant by Stanford
Mag & Nunc - Stanford in C
Anthem - O sing joyfully - composed for the choir by our conductor, Frikki Walker - it's a wee gem of a piece.
Closing hymn (there was no Office Hymn - not sure why) - When in our music God is glorified - Engelberg
It was a most enjoyable service, and despite getting soaked on the way to the pub afterwards, the socialising was also excellent.
Today's offerings at St Pete's:
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun - Truro You are the King of Glory - Hosanna to the Son of David God, whose farm is all creation - Gott Will's Machen Abba, Father, let me be Praise to the Almighty, the King of creation - Lobe den Herren
Communion with a sermon on Hebrews 2: The Suffering Saviour.
Jesus! The Name High Over All (Lydia)
Join All The Glorious Names (Darwall)
And Can It Be (Sagina)
No pianist today so we were singing to backing tracks. Less than ideal but better than nothing.
With pre-recorded music it really helps to produce it yourselves so you can adjust tempo, key, pauses and other elements to align with your expectation of "normal". Musescore is really helpful for this and it can be done by anyone with a reasonable ear for how things "should" sound, it doesn't need someone who can play an instrument.
We had:
Blessed assurance (8th time in 2 years)
Be thou my vision (also 8th time)
Take my life (7th time)
We have heard a joyful sound (6th time)
Look forward in faith (comparatively rare, only the 5th time)
We had:
Blessed assurance (8th time in 2 years)
Be thou my vision (also 8th time)
Take my life (7th time)
We have heard a joyful sound (6th time)
Look forward in faith (comparatively rare, only the 5th time)
Aaarghh...
I think you must have, in your congregation, clones of the couple at Our Place, who insist on only singing the hymns *everyone* knows. I did ask them for a copy of the list of such hymns, but for some unknown reason, never received it.
Their three favourites are He who would valiant be, Dear Lord and Father of mankind, and O Jesus I have promised - all OK in their way, but not every week...
Communion with a sermon on Hebrews 2: The Suffering Saviour.
Jesus! The Name High Over All (Lydia)
Join All The Glorious Names (Darwall)
And Can It Be (Sagina)
No pianist today so we were singing to backing tracks. Less than ideal but better than nothing.
With pre-recorded music it really helps to produce it yourselves so you can adjust tempo, key, pauses and other elements to align with your expectation of "normal". Musescore is really helpful for this and it can be done by anyone with a reasonable ear for how things "should" sound, it doesn't need someone who can play an instrument.
I take stuff from a number of (legal) sources. Although I can't tweak it as you suggest, I can change the tempo and pitch.
We had:
Blessed assurance (8th time in 2 years)
Be thou my vision (also 8th time)
Take my life (7th time)
We have heard a joyful sound (6th time)
Look forward in faith (comparatively rare, only the 5th time)
Aaarghh...
I think you must have, in your congregation, clones of the couple at Our Place, who insist on only singing the hymns *everyone* knows. I did ask them for a copy of the list of such hymns, but for some unknown reason, never received it.
We had:
Blessed assurance (8th time in 2 years)
Be thou my vision (also 8th time)
Take my life (7th time)
We have heard a joyful sound (6th time)
Look forward in faith (comparatively rare, only the 5th time)
Aaarghh...
I think you must have, in your congregation, clones of the couple at Our Place, who insist on only singing the hymns *everyone* knows. I did ask them for a copy of the list of such hymns, but for some unknown reason, never received it.
No, this is all the minister.
I’m sure that at some point along the line I’ve mentioned the church whose choir I sang in as a paid section leader/soloist during my senior year of college. The minister there insisted on choosing all of the hymns himself, with no input from the music director. I am not exaggerating when I say that the first hymn every other week was “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Every other week!
That was 42 years ago, and I still cringe every time I hear “Holy, Holy, Holy.” (Though if I’m honest, I never liked it that much to start with. But that one year turned my I-can-take-it-or-leave-it feelings into absolute loathing.)
We had:
Blessed assurance (8th time in 2 years)
Be thou my vision (also 8th time)
Take my life (7th time)
We have heard a joyful sound (6th time)
Look forward in faith (comparatively rare, only the 5th time)
Aaarghh...
I think you must have, in your congregation, clones of the couple at Our Place, who insist on only singing the hymns *everyone* knows. I did ask them for a copy of the list of such hymns, but for some unknown reason, never received it.
No, this is all the minister.
O dear.
Mind you, Our Place had Take my life and He who would valiant be this morning, and I'm sure both of those have been sung in the not-very-distant past.
Having said that, I think the lady who helps FatherInCharge choose the hymns has her own ideas, hence the recent offerings from Brian Wren and John Bell...anything by Kendrick or Cliff Richard is FInC's choice!
Communion with a sermon on Hebrews 2: The Suffering Saviour.
Jesus! The Name High Over All (Lydia)
Join All The Glorious Names (Darwall)
And Can It Be (Sagina)
No pianist today so we were singing to backing tracks. Less than ideal but better than nothing.
With pre-recorded music it really helps to produce it yourselves so you can adjust tempo, key, pauses and other elements to align with your expectation of "normal". Musescore is really helpful for this and it can be done by anyone with a reasonable ear for how things "should" sound, it doesn't need someone who can play an instrument.
Even if you don’t go down the full Musescore route, Audacity is an app which makes it easy to tweak overall tempo. I believe pitch may be quite straightforward too, but I’ve not tried that.
@Piglet You seem very fortunate and well blessed with musical choices in your visiting capacity, lovely selection at Carlisle. Your parochial ones this week seemed fairly okay as well although I consider Abba Father to be both dull to play and encouraging of wailing voices 🤭
Anyway as to St Matthew's feast day
Parish Communion
He sat to watch o'er customs paid (Wareham)
How beauteous are the feet (Trentham). sounded like an anaesthetic ...
Disposer supreme (Hanover)
I am not worthy holy Lord (Leicester) they
crooned in this, hadn't playd it since the 70s I think.
For my sake and the gospel's go (Bishopgarth)
The finale was utterly wonderful in words, music and lusty singing 😊
Evensong for Trinity 14 was not!
O God of Bethel (Martyrdom)
Mag and Nunc
Approach my soul the mercy seat (Tallis)
The sun is sinking fast (St Columba)
Very poor singing although they may have been as bored with that dismal selection as I was. Glad country churches are usually next to pubs although for how much longer ..,
Communion with a sermon on Hebrews 2: The Suffering Saviour.
Jesus! The Name High Over All (Lydia)
Join All The Glorious Names (Darwall)
And Can It Be (Sagina)
No pianist today so we were singing to backing tracks. Less than ideal but better than nothing.
With pre-recorded music it really helps to produce it yourselves so you can adjust tempo, key, pauses and other elements to align with your expectation of "normal". Musescore is really helpful for this and it can be done by anyone with a reasonable ear for how things "should" sound, it doesn't need someone who can play an instrument.
Even if you don’t go down the full Musescore route, Audacity is an app which makes it easy to tweak overall tempo. I believe pitch may be quite straightforward too, but I’ve not tried that.
Yes, I use Audacity primarily for recording voice tracks and balancing volumes but it does have a lot of useful manipulation tools.
@Piglet You seem very fortunate and well blessed with musical choices in your visiting capacity, lovely selection at Carlisle. Your parochial ones this week seemed fairly okay as well although I consider Abba Father to be both dull to play and encouraging of wailing voices 🤭
Anyway as to St Matthew's feast day
Parish Communion
He sat to watch o'er customs paid (Wareham)
How beauteous are the feet (Trentham). sounded like an anaesthetic ...
Disposer supreme (Hanover)
I am not worthy holy Lord (Leicester) they
crooned in this, hadn't playd it since the 70s I think.
For my sake and the gospel's go (Bishopgarth)
The finale was utterly wonderful in words, music and lusty singing 😊
Evensong for Trinity 14 was not!
O God of Bethel (Martyrdom)
Mag and Nunc
Approach my soul the mercy seat (Tallis)
The sun is sinking fast (St Columba)
Very poor singing although they may have been as bored with that dismal selection as I was. Glad country churches are usually next to pubs although for how much longer ..,
I actually wouldn't mind your Evensong hymns, as long as they're not played like a dirge.
And "Bishopgarth" always makes me smile; it's so quintessentially Sullivan I want to sing "yes, yes!" in between the verses!
Gosh, I haven't sung that hymn (which does seem somewhat triumphalist these days) since about 1975! The tune is a Victorian "go-er"; it seems to be a cross between "St Gertrude" and "Golden Sheaves", also of course by Sullivan.
Comments
Although I enjoy the 'chestnuts' and the main places I supply both know and expect them your point is a very valid one. As you say most people no longer know them (outside rural areas) and there is something a bit incongruous at an inner city congregation in an area with nothing green in sight singing about ploughing fields etc. If I have to play the chestnuts in such places it always feels rather odd, unlike a country Harvest. Plenty of thise to come soon 🤣
I sometimes listen to "Farming Today" on the radio, and we usually watch "Countryfile". Both say quite a lot about the many pressures facing the farming community. There was a good bit about rural chaplaincy on yesterday's "Songs of Praise" too.
Come, ye thankful people, come (St George's Windsor)
Praise God for the harvest (Stowey)
Our Father (Caribbean)
Let us with a gladsome mind (Monkland)
We plough the fields, and scatter (Wir Pfluegen)
Harvest Festival is a bit earlier this year, to coincide FWIW with the annual Friends of Kent Churches *Ride and Stride* event, and the Heritage Open Days weekend. Whether all this will bring in visitors today and tomorrow remains to be seen, but attractions include various stalls in the Hall, our monthly Community Cafe, and an exhibition of vestments - together with a Bouncy Castle! - in the Church.
I doubt it, as, for most of them, vestments are an Abomination Before The Lord...
The Bouncy Castle was bought a little while ago, and first came into use at the Summer Fair. It may be intended as a way of drawing in local young families, now that the monthly Youth Club attendance is down to just 1 or 2 children. I'm not sure if the intention is to retain it in situ at the west end of the Church - it will certainly form a contrast to the decaying Anglo-Catholic tat...
Lord Jesus, Think on Me - SOUTHWELL
Restore, O Lord, the honour of your name - Kendrick / Rolinson (own tune)
All creatures of our God and King - Lasst uns Erfreuen
I the Lord of sea and sky - Here I Am
The King of love my shepherd is - Dominus Regit Me
Let us break bread together on our knees - Let Us Break Bread
O Lord my God - How Great Thou Art
Introit: Le Jardin Suspendu (Alain)
Metrical Gloria to Cuddesdon
Setting: Scarborough Fair Mass
How sweet the name (St Peter)
I will sing the wondrous (Hyfrydol)
Father of heaven (Rivaulx)
King of Glory (Gwalchmai)
Voluntary Sonata 2 in C Allegro - Fuga Op 65 Mendelssohn
Men's voices this morning. The mass setting is a new one to me - simple and effective, though you wouldn't want it every week.
This afternoon we have a 'come and sing evensong'. 60(!) in total have signed up, so I may share the music list for that later on.
Cheers
Heron
We had a young lad join the band with his guitar, which is excellent.
In the land there is a hunger
Amazing grace
New Celtic Mass - Chris Walker
Eagles wings (a baby decided to let rip all the way through this gorgeous hymn, which was a pity.)
Guide me O thou great redeemer.
“Praise, my soul, the King of heaven” (Lauda Anima).
“How can I be free from sin?” - Kendrick.
“A debtor to mercy alone” (Trewen).
“Years I spent in vanity and pride”.
“Amazing Grace”.
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
How deep the Father's love for us
By grace alone somehow I stand
Amazing grace
Love divine
Jesus the very thought of thee
O love that wilt not let me go
God Has Spoken By His Prophets (Ebenezer)
Jesus Shall Reign Where’er The Sun (Duke Street)
All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name! (Miles Lane)
The Lord is King! lift up your voice! (Church Triumphant)
Introit: Tallis If ye love me
Responses: Sanders
Canticles: Mag and Nunc Walmisley in D
Psalm 124: 1-7 to Harrison in Eminor/Emajor (changing at verse 5)
Anthem: Wesley ‘The Lord has been mindful of us’ (from Ascribe unto the Lord)
Voluntary: Master Tallis’ Testament (Howells)
Hymns:
589 Angel Voices (Angel Voices)
821When in our music (Engelberg)
828 Ye that know the Lord (Hyfrydol)
766 Praise my soul (Praise my soul)
Good fun + some decent singing.
Cheers
Heron
@Piglet. I don't envy you singing some of that little lot 'a capella' 🤔
Anyway as for my own offerings today -
Parish Communion for Holy Cross Day
Lift high the Cross (Crucifer). this went absolutely splendidly
St Thomas Mass
In the cross of Christ I glory (Stuttgart)
Onward Christian soldiers (St Gertrude)
Once only once (Albano)
We sing the praise of him who died (Fuldaj
A lovely service which I enjoyed very much; the singing was excellent.
(Country) Evensong for Trinity 13
O strength and stay (Welwyn)
For ever with the Lord (Montgomery)
Jerusalem on high (Christchurch)
Small number but they sang well enough and said the office other than Mag and Nunc.
Some of you have had St Pumpkin and All Marrows I see, my set of Harvest services begin on Friday. Country areas often have them quite late sometimes in October.
Did you mean Walmisley in D minor, or did he write one in D?
You're right about the a capella (or more accurately a la Wee Frees) - it was jolly hard work, especially All creatures of our God and King, which Rev Rosie started off far too slowly, and had so many verses that she got us to miss a couple out when we got to them ... 🙄
We then changed our All Age service from the 1st Sunday of the Month to the 2nd and we mostly get a week in between the two now.
Today's offerings, which were sung well for a very small crowd, were
I will sing the wondrous story (Hyfrodol)
King of glory King of peace (Gwalchmai)
The king of love my shepherd is (Dominus Regit Me)
Forth in thy name (Song 34)
On packing away the PC after service, and bemoaning the cost of taking it to a mendologist, a member of the congregation suggested I check the cable connecting it to the mains. Sure enough - the connection was loose, and, once it was sorted, all was well. The chap wanted to charge me a 150 guineas consultancy fee, but settled for a coffee and some cheese-on-toast at the community centre cafe later in the week...
Pick the wrong tune for it then no-one will care about the words.
🙇♂️ 🙇♂️ 🙇♂️
"Love Unknown" would fit ...
Actually, since it's the first hymn, I'm eschewing "Gopsal" in favour of "Darwall's 148th". So there.
I grew up with GOPSAL in the south of England, but the Kirk's CH4 lists only DARWELL'S 148TH. I don't know whether the line is geographic, denominational, or a bit of both.
Take my life, and let it be (Nottingham)
Stand up, stand up for Jesus (Morning Light)
He who would valiant be (Monks Gate)
Inspired by love and anger (Salley Gardens)
I don't recall ever having sung that last one - though I know the tune - but it's fairly long, and they're leaving out verses 3 and 4.
Gather us in
Oh the Love of my Lord
The Cry of the Poor
Christ be our Light
I have - it's very "Wild Goose" in style and IMHO would be better read out as a poem.
That's a thought. It would do very nicely in place of a sermon...
Jesus! The Name High Over All (Lydia)
Join All The Glorious Names (Darwall)
And Can It Be (Sagina)
No pianist today so we were singing to backing tracks. Less than ideal but better than nothing.
I realise that God has blessed us with our regular pianist and dread the time when they decide to stop (that "they" could be either God or the piano player or, more likely, both)
Preces & Responses - John Sanders - if you haven't come across them and have a moderately competent choir, they're an absolute cracker.
Psalm 148 - chant by Stanford
Mag & Nunc - Stanford in C
Anthem - O sing joyfully - composed for the choir by our conductor, Frikki Walker - it's a wee gem of a piece.
Closing hymn (there was no Office Hymn - not sure why) - When in our music God is glorified - Engelberg
It was a most enjoyable service, and despite getting soaked on the way to the pub afterwards, the socialising was also excellent.
Today's offerings at St Pete's:
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun - Truro
You are the King of Glory - Hosanna to the Son of David
God, whose farm is all creation - Gott Will's Machen
Abba, Father, let me be
Praise to the Almighty, the King of creation - Lobe den Herren
With pre-recorded music it really helps to produce it yourselves so you can adjust tempo, key, pauses and other elements to align with your expectation of "normal". Musescore is really helpful for this and it can be done by anyone with a reasonable ear for how things "should" sound, it doesn't need someone who can play an instrument.
Blessed assurance (8th time in 2 years)
Be thou my vision (also 8th time)
Take my life (7th time)
We have heard a joyful sound (6th time)
Look forward in faith (comparatively rare, only the 5th time)
Aaarghh...
I think you must have, in your congregation, clones of the couple at Our Place, who insist on only singing the hymns *everyone* knows. I did ask them for a copy of the list of such hymns, but for some unknown reason, never received it.
Their three favourites are He who would valiant be, Dear Lord and Father of mankind, and O Jesus I have promised - all OK in their way, but not every week...
I take stuff from a number of (legal) sources. Although I can't tweak it as you suggest, I can change the tempo and pitch.
No, this is all the minister.
That was 42 years ago, and I still cringe every time I hear “Holy, Holy, Holy.” (Though if I’m honest, I never liked it that much to start with. But that one year turned my I-can-take-it-or-leave-it feelings into absolute loathing.)
O dear.
Mind you, Our Place had Take my life and He who would valiant be this morning, and I'm sure both of those have been sung in the not-very-distant past.
Having said that, I think the lady who helps FatherInCharge choose the hymns has her own ideas, hence the recent offerings from Brian Wren and John Bell...anything by Kendrick or Cliff Richard is FInC's choice!
Anyway as to St Matthew's feast day
Parish Communion
He sat to watch o'er customs paid (Wareham)
How beauteous are the feet (Trentham). sounded like an anaesthetic ...
Disposer supreme (Hanover)
I am not worthy holy Lord (Leicester) they
crooned in this, hadn't playd it since the 70s I think.
For my sake and the gospel's go (Bishopgarth)
The finale was utterly wonderful in words, music and lusty singing 😊
Evensong for Trinity 14 was not!
O God of Bethel (Martyrdom)
Mag and Nunc
Approach my soul the mercy seat (Tallis)
The sun is sinking fast (St Columba)
Very poor singing although they may have been as bored with that dismal selection as I was. Glad country churches are usually next to pubs although for how much longer ..,
Yes, I use Audacity primarily for recording voice tracks and balancing volumes but it does have a lot of useful manipulation tools.
I actually wouldn't mind your Evensong hymns, as long as they're not played like a dirge.
And "Bishopgarth" always makes me smile; it's so quintessentially Sullivan I want to sing "yes, yes!" in between the verses!