An organ recital in progress: part 114

Dear SMM Community,

The next part of my online organ recital is here, and I hope that you enjoy it. I offer up these musical meditations as part of our parish efforts to find ways to keep you connected at this time. Recorded on my house organ, the instrument is a musical facsimile of the great 'Father' Willis organ at Salisbury Cathedral.

Today, I present Helmut Walcha's Quem pastores.  

The blind German organist and composer Helmut Walcha (1907-1991) became well-known for his recordings of the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach. His delightful setting of  Quem pastores calls for high-pitched flute stops, giving the work a charmingly light texture.

With best wishes,
Andrew Adair
Director of Music

Christmas Eve - 24 December 2021

We weren't able to meet in person for Christmas Eve this year, but we didn't want to leave you without any Christmas Eve service at all.

We present a Said Mass for Christmas Eve, with the Procession to the Creche, and the Last Gospel, with incense, poinsettias, and brightly lit Christmas trees. A slightly unusual service, to be sure, but these are unusual times.

You can find the service HERE.

You can find the leaflet HERE.

Greening the Church

Look HERE to see what a wonderful job our volunteers did making the church look festive for Christmas!

Our flowers are made possible by memorial donations from generous parishioners.

An organ recital in progress: part 113

Dear SMM Community,

The next part of my online organ recital is here, and I hope that you enjoy it. I offer up these musical meditations as part of our parish efforts to find ways to keep you connected at this time. Recorded on my house organ, the instrument is a musical facsimile of the great 'Father' Willis organ at Salisbury Cathedral.

Today, I present Johann Michael Bach’s In dulci jubilo.  

 

Johann Michael Bach’s (baptised 1648-1694) setting of the chorale In dulci jubilo was previously erroneously attributed to his first cousin, once removed, and son-in-law Johann Sebastian Bach.

With best wishes,
Andrew Adair
Director of Music

Meditation - Advent IV

The eschatological is all very well, but we spend most of our time engaging with the day to day events of the world; if we are to be ready for Christ to come in judgement (which is much the same readiness as for the possibility of being hit by a bus today) we also have to spend most of our attention in life in the world as it is, with all of its difficulties, ambiguities and injustices.

We live in the world of Mary and Joseph. There's an early splash of God's presence (an angelic apparition or so, in the Bible; a little more in the Protevangelium of James) and then after the Annunciation and the shepherds crowding in after the birth, and the Magi appearing somewhat later (assuming both inconsistent reasons for combining Nazareth and Bethlehem can be held together) there's the long job of bringing up Jesus (who may not have been all that mild, obedient, and good if our one snapshot of him in early youth is anything to go by) and then (for Mary, at least) seeing him abandon everything and go out on a quixotic mission.

Beginning with the Ember Days, the propers start to focus in on the immediate preparation for Our Lord's birth. The propers for that four-day period have the following Benedictus antiphons, interspersing recollection of the Annunciation with expectation of God's presence:

"Ember Wednesday: The angel Gabriel was sent from God: to Mary a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph.

Thursday, Week of Advent III: The Lord our God is at hand: watch ye therefore in your hearts.

Ember Friday: As soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears: the babe leaped in my womb for joy.  Alleluia.

Ember Saturday: Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and all flesh shall see the salvation of our God."

We are to think, in the octave before Christmas itself, on Mary, and think, as well, of the typological titles which preceded Our Lord and point towards the aspects of his presence: Wisdom, Adonai, Root of Jesse, Key of David, Daystar, King of the Nations, Emmanuel. Christ comes to guide us, to free us, to rule our steps, to inform our judgements. (There is little more practical than the way of prudence.)

We will end here, a little short of Christmas Eve - this year, a good deal short of Christmas Eve, with almost the whole week between - and try to integrate our experience of the modes of Christ's presence - once, two millennia ago, in the flesh; with us, food of our pilgrimage in weekly (and daily) Eucharist, and in his parousia, his future fulfilling of his role as a king both merciful and just.

Here is the Collect of Christmas Eve proper {not Midnight Mass, which is true Christmas, but the prayer for the Vigil mass}:

"O God, Who dost gladden us by the yearly expectation of our redemption, grant that we, who now joyfully receive Thine only-begotten Son as our Redeemer, may also without fear behold Him coming as our Judge, even the same Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, who liveth... Amen."

--

James Burbidge

Advent IV - 19 December 2021

We celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent with an online mass.

The service will not be available immediately on Sunday, but will be posted a bit later in the week.

You can find the service HERE.

You can find the leaflet HERE.