Missa in angustiis - Update

Xt3 - a "content driven social networking site" operated by the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Archdiocese of Sydney - has produced this video of excerpts from last Sunday's 10.30 am choral Mass at St Mary's Cathedral attended by the highest ranking members of the Parliament and the Executive of the Commonwealth and the State of NSW.

Missa in angustiis

The imposing St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney today became the focus of Australia’s attention as the nation comes to terms with the shocking aeroplane disaster in eastern Ukraine.  Many of the wretched souls aboard the flight were Australian citizens or residents, including a nun from the Society of the Sacred Heart.  Requiescant in pace.

Yesterday, it was announced that the Prime Minister, the Hon Tony Abbot, and the Governor-General, HE Sir Peter Cosgrove, would attend Sunday Mass at the Cathedral.  As it transpired, they were accompanied by the Governor of NSW, HE Marie Bashir, the NSW Premier, the Hon Mike Baird, the leader of the (Federal) Opposition, the Hon Bill Shorten, and a host of other politicians.  Also present were members of the Society of the Sacred Heart, girls from the Society’s convent school Kincoppal Rose Bay, and representatives of the Dutch community (the flight’s provenance was Amsterdam and the great majority of passengers were Dutch). The celebrant was the Most Rev Peter Comensoli, Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Sydney (the Archdiocese is still sede vacante).  

The Mass was the solemn choral Mass at 10.30 am, with the usual mixture of plainsong, polyphony and hymns.  The Mass setting (Kyrie, Gloria and Agnus Dei), that of modern British composer Judith Bingham, has been described as “uncompromisingly austere” and “unsettled”, and so (unwittingly since this setting was chosen before the awful events of the last 48 hours) appropriately reflected the nation’s mood: subdued and troubled.  The Bingham Mass was juxtaposed with the familiar and comforting melodies of Credo III and the Sanctus and Agnus Dei of Mass XI (all sung in Latin), and two hymns.  The offertory motet was The Beatitudes (Albinoni arr Giazotto).  The full music list is here.  

From 11:08 of this news bulletin (available to view for 7 days) you can hear the choir singing Credo III.

And in this video you can hear the choir singing the Introit Ecce Deus adiuvat me.  

O ineffabilis decor

Melgas, Popule Meus

Credo V - Simple plainsong is the pinnacle of liturgical art

Byrd Masses - New Recording by Westminster Cathedral Choir

A while ago I came across news that Westminster Cathedral Choir were recording the Byrd Masses.  Well, the recording is now complete and the CD will be released for sale in September.  Go to the Hyperion website to hear some samples, and I'm sure you'll conclude as I have that this is not just another recording of the Byrd Masses.  First, the definition of the recording - it is superb.  Secondly, as far as I am aware, this is the first time a Catholic choir has recorded the three Masses.  I have grown up with legendary recordings like the Willcocks King's recording from the 60s, and have plenty more of the English cathedral/college choirs (Winchester under Hill, New College under Higginbottom, Christ Church under Darlington, John's under Guest, etc) and secular groups like the Tallis Scholars and the Cardinall's Musick.  To have the Masses now committed to disc by a Catholic cathedral choir is a momentous occasion.  Thirdly - wow, the choir is in great form and the phrasing typically exquisite from Baker.  Listen to the beginning Agnus Dei of the Mass for Five Voices and bathe in the beautifully austere singing of what appear to be single voices per part (I imagine the parts are augmented leading up to the third and climactic "Agnus Dei" section).  For Hyperion, too, this appears to be the first time they have released a CD of the Masses for Three and Four voices (Hyperion have two previous recordings of the Mass for Five Voices by Winchester Cathedral Choir under Hill and Westminster Abbey Choir under O'Donnell - the Cardinall's Musick recording of the Three Masses was recorded on ASV, before Hyperion took over that group's project of recording the entire Byrd repertoire).

King's are coming to Sydney in July

Here is this year's presentation of Holy Week to Easter at King's.  Not sure of exact recording date, but assume in Holy Week itself as BBC van present then.  I attended the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services and concluded that the choir sounds in rather good form at the moment, as indeed they do in this recording.  The Lacrimosa from Mozart's Requiem is stunning.  I also like the Wood.  And the Miserere, Ave Verum and Crux Fidelis also wonderful.  Pick of the hymns - Ride on in majesty with descant by the late Sir Philip Ledger.

Bach, Vokalconsort Berlin, Daniel Reuss

Vokalconsort Berlin toured Australia in January this year for a production of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas and I was mightily impressed.  Here they sing Bach's motet BWV 227 'Jesu, meine Freude'.  

The Roman summer is fast approaching

and still no news on who will be the next Archbishop of Sydney.