Monday 24 September 2012

Music for the Ordination of Monsignor Egan as the Eight Bishop of Portsmouth

Updated


Download the Order of Service here.

The Ordination is due to commence at 14.30 BST in the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, with processions starting at 13.30 during which there will be the following choral and organ music:

Exsultate iusti, Viadana


Ubi caritas, Gjeilo
Prelude and Fugue and in D major, Buxtehude
Jesu, joy of man's desiring, J. S. Bach
Psalm 150, Mawby (see this great video recording from Midnight Mass at Westminster Cathedral):


Holy Spirit, Inwood
Laudate Dominum, Berthier
Entree Pontificale, Bossi
If ye love me, Tallis (here sung at Westminster Abbey for the Pope's visit in 2010):


Praise to the Holiest in the height, Bl. John H. Newman

The Mass


Introit Salve Sancte Parens (listed in the Order of Service but not in fact sung due to the altar being incensed while the hymn, above, was still being sung). Given the new Bishop's views on Gregorian chant (see below), one can only imagine that he will establish a schola cantorum to sing in praise of God in the best traditions of the Roman Rite; to sing in a manner worthy of the Cathedral of which he is now in charge. The special choir formed for the celebration (with singers drawn from the parishes of Portsmouth) answered that description, so it is possible.

Mass Ordinary: Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei from Proulx, Community Mass, all in English; Kyrie from Dean, Sussex Mass, Greek.

Alleluia Diffusa est gratia from the Graduale.

Gospel sung in its entirety.

Preface was sung in its entirety, as were the words of consecration, according to the Missal tone, naturally. However, the Mystery of Faith was from the aforementioned Community Mass.  I've posted on this issue before, and this Ordination Mass provides another prime example of why the Missal acclamations at the Mystery of Faith should be preferred above all others.

In his address before the conclusion of the Mass, the new Bishop expressed his hope to be a humble, holy and orthodox Bishop.

On music, the Bishop wrote, in the Order of Service:

"I have tried to incorporate some of the plainsong chants for the feastday. Gregorian chant is always the 'native' music of the Roman Rite and the Church encourages us to give it pride of place in the liturgy (General Instruction of the Roman Missal 41), along with the use of the Latin language, especially in large-scale celebrations (Sacramentum Caritatis 62). I hope we will all rediscover the beautiful treasury of chant. With its changing moods and lilting melodies, it expresses so eloquently the prayer and affectivities of the human spirit in the presence of the Transcendent God.

In our post-modem culture, it is also critically important to incorporate other musical styles too. I have chosen parts of the Mass setting from A Community Mass by the celebrated North American composer Richard Proulx (d. 2010). It has great solemnity with interesting harmonies and rhythms. We will also sing some classic hymns: Blessed John Henry Newman's 'Praise to the Holiest', and two Marian hymns, '0 purest of creatures' and at the end 'Hail Queen of Heaven' by Fr John Lingard (d. 1851). During Holy Communion we will sing two pieces linked to the sacred realities symbolised by the episcopal coat of arms: Psalm 41, 'Like the deer that yearns for running streams', in a setting by Dom Gregory Murray (d. 1992) and 'Sweet Heart of Jesus', the latter a favourite of Canon Paddy Healey, my first parish priest when I was assistant at St Anthony's, Woodhouse Park. Please remember him at Mass today, as it is the first anniversary of his death."