8th July 2018 Trinity 6

“Panis Angelicus”  César Franck

“Panis Angelicus” (Bread of Heaven) is the penultimate strophe (stanza) of the hymn “Sacrum solemnis” written by St Thomas Aquinas for the feast of Corpus Christi.

This particular stanza has often been set to music separately from the rest of the hymn.  In 1872 César Franck set the stanza for Tenor voice, harp, cello and organ and incorporated it into his “Messe à trios voix” Op 12.  Today’s version was arranged by Henry Geehl.

César Franck (1822 – 1890) was born in Liège (now Belgium but in 1822 part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands).  He was a composer, pianist, organist and music teacher working in Paris during his adult life.

He gave his first concert in Liège in 1834 and studied privately in Paris from 1835.  He returned briefly to Belgium but after a disastrous reception to “Ruth”, an early oratorio, he went back to Paris.  He married and started his career as teacher and organist.  He gained a reputation for improvisation.

In 1850 he became organist at Sainte-Clotilde where he remained for the rest of his life. He became a professor at the Paris Conservatoire in 1872 and at the same time, he took French nationality, a prerequisite for his professorship. Once at the conservatoire, Franck wrote many pieces that have entered the classical repertoire.

1st July 2018 Sea Sunday Trinity 5

We welcomed our newest Junior Chorister, Tilly, into the choir today.  As is the St Mary's tradition, a small group of the choir sang  "Lead me Lord" by Samuel Sebastian Wesley. For more information, see 9.7.17.

The choir anthem was Never Weather Beaten Sail  by Charles Wood, see 2.7.17.

24th June 2018 Birth of St John the Baptist

How Beautiful Upon The Mountain    from  Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion. 
John Stainer


See 10.12.17

17th June 2018 Trinity 3

Thou Visitest The Earth   Dr Maurice Green

See 16.7.2017

10th June 2018 Trinity 2

Lord For Thy Tender Mercy's Sake  Music could be by either Farrant or John Hilton.  Arrangement by Anthony Green. Words from J Bull, Christian Prayers and Holy Meditation (1568)

Henry Bull died in 1577.  He was an eminent theological writer.  In 1553 when Mary I came to the throne, he with the help of a conspirator snatched a censer from the hand of an officiating priest and was expelled from Magdalen. He was quiet during the rest of her reign, but came back to prominence on the ascension of Elizabeth I. He was also the editor of Christian Praiers and Holy Meditacions which appeared first by 1570, from which the text of our anthem today was taken.

27th May 2018 Trinity Sunday

God So Loved The World    Stainer

The words are taken from the Gospel reading for today.

See 25th June 2017

6th May 2018 Easter 6

Ave Verum Corpus WA Mozart

See 23.7.2017