Fin

Recordings from 8/27/11 Mass

It's been a joy, folks.  I am so grateful to my choir members, past and present, for making beautiful music that gave glory to God.  Special thanks to Stephen, Mary Catherine, and Rachel for singing at the last 6 p.m. Mass. 

Introit

Psalm - My soul is thirsting for you, O my God.

O Bone Jesu (Monteverdi)

Qui Vult

It was only a matter of time...

before Five wanted to start her own blog.  She asked me to advertise it:

Roseann's Story Blog

Stop by and say hello.

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 27, 2011

So surprised to see that the Communion antiphon is Qui vult, because I thought it wasn't showing up again for at least another year; it's one of my most favorite antiphons ever.  The words are appropriate for us especially since it's the last 6 p.m. Mass:

Whoever wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Introit - p. 318 of Anglican Use Gradual
Processional: Take Up Your Cross (BB 732)
Psalm: Stephen
Offertory: choir
Communion: Qui vult
Recessional: Alleluia, Sing to Jesus (BB 751)

Recordings from 8/20/11 Mass

Played for a wedding earlier this afternoon, but on piano.  That's not my instrument anymore, so I had to spend WAY too much time practicing.  Exhausted now. Wedding went well, though.

Introit

Psalm - Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of Your Hands.

Communion Antiphon - De fructu

We sang Daniel 3: Glory and Praise Forever after the antiphon, and I must say we were in The Zone or somethin'; it sounded terrific.  Not including it here, since I've already posted it from a previous Saturday.

Listen on the headphones, and you'll hear a basso profundo:

Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones

One more week, folks, and that's it!

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 20, 2011

Introit: p. 313 of Anglican Use Gradual
Processional: All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name (BB 745)
Psalm: MCK
Offertory: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow (BB 547)
Communion: De fructu, then Daniel 3: Glory and Praise For Ever (BB 833)
Recessional: Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones (BB 736)

Recordings from 8/13/11 Mass

There were many people at Mass.  Figures, doesn't it? C'est la vie.  Only two Masses left.

Introit

Psalm - O God, Let All The Nations Praise You

Jesu Rex Admirabilis

Domus mea

On This Day, The First of Days

Five of Seven's First Ride (by Five)

Hey. It's me again. So, I'm back to talk about horses. Well, actually, my first REAL ride. Anyway, I will show you one picture, but not yet.


I was riding a horse named Fancy, and my mom was on a horse named Cheyenne. I loved Fancy. She was twenty six years old and, as you will see, a beautiful brown horse. When I was first riding, I was incredibly afraid of falling off. THANK GOODNESS FOR CONFIDENCE. I finally got used to it (after five minutes) and rode with no problem. Lucky for me, we are going again soon.

We rode the the woods, we road on a path, through fields, and we even saw a doe bounding through the fields. Fancy was obedient, and I really didn't have to do anything to tell her to go. Cheyenne was different. She actually had to be slapped hard to get her to go. I know because my mom told me. Fancy nearly bucked. Well, actually, she did buck. But she had one of those darn horse flies on her behind! She got about one inch off the ground, then she went back down. I only felt it a little bit. She also didn't like being in the back. She liked to catch up and get in the front. So did Cheyenne.

The teacher was riding Bruno, a horse that literally changes colors. At one point he was white, and the next, he was palomino! Okay, I sort of made that up. SORT OF. You see, he did change those colors, but it took a long time. We found that out by the website, and because the teacher told us. And, he also decided to "use the restroom" in the middle of the trail! Lucky for me, Fancy had moved off to the side (after I forced her to) and didn't step in the "stuff".

N ow, I changed my background color JUST FOR THE HECK OF IT. I liked riding Fancy. Next time we go there, which is very soon, I will ride Cheyenne.

By the way, I am disguised by my pony tail and helmet. And, the horse is Fancy. But, I have to end my post now. Because frankly, I can't think of anything else to say! 


Bye.

Charles-Marie Widor -- Symphony Romane, IV. Final - UPDATED

I'm planning to play this piece to close my senior recital.  Organ teacher isn't too crazy about it, but too bad because I love it.  Parts of it are poignant and downright heartbreaking to me, which I can't explain.  Teacher says he doesn't think it'll be an audience favorite, but he's wrong.  :)



Here are some excerpts from "Charles-Marie Widor, THE SYMPHONIES FOR ORGAN, Symphonie romane", edited by John Near:

"When one May Sunday [in 1900], still striving with technical problems, [Widor] played for the first time in St. Sulpice the Symphonie Romane, I felt with him that in this work the French art of organ playing had entered sacred art, and had experienced that death and that resurrection that every art of organ playing must experience when it wishes to create something enduring."

In these words, Albert Schweitzer expressed the almost unspeakable awe that he and countless others since have felt upon hearing Widor's last organ symphony. Truly, it represents a pinnacle in the art of organ composition. Five years earlier, in the Symphonie gothique, opus 70 (1895), Widor had sought to bring his organ art into the realm of sacred art by including plainsong in two movements. With the Symphonie romane, he turned wholeheartedly to this endeavor; sacred melody became the very fabric of the symphony's structure. What resulted is the work man yconsider to be Widor's greatest organ masterpiece.

....

Widor had formed a very personal concept of organ music through years of observation and experimentation, and he had written in forms that many considered secular. With the last two symphonies, he expelled all that. Organ music became for him "a special kind of music, the music of the eternal, awakening thoughts of immortality." The romane dedicates all to the "imperishable spirit." Its composer confided that he could no longer conceive of organ music in any other terms: "It is noteworthy that...except for certain preludes and fugues of Bach, I can no longer think of any organ art as holy which is not consecrated to the church through its themes whether it be from the chorale or from the Gregorian chant."

This book also reveals that Widor first performed this symphony in Berlin, and also played Bach's Fantasie and Fugue in G minor (BWV 542) at the same recital.  What a coincidence--I'm also playing that piece at my recital!

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 13, 2011

Introit: p. 308 of Anglican Use Gradual
Processional: Come Now, Almighty King (BB 727)
Psalm: Stephen
Offertory: Jesu Rex Admirabilis (choir only)
Communion: Domus mea
Recessional: On This Day, The First of Days (BB 728)

Recordings from 8/6/11 Mass

I've been spending a lot of time tagging my posts, a task I always meant to accomplish, yet continually kept putting off.  Going through the posts is like looking at a time capsule or a photo album.  So many memories! 

We're losing Stephen when this Mass ceases; he always has to work Sunday mornings (assuming I'll be playing on a Sunday morning.)  This saddens me very much.  This leaves the 3 Musketeers--Mary, Mary Catherine, and Rachel--to continue on to a possible next choir.

Introit

Praise to the Lord

Psalm (Lord let us see your kindness...) and Acclamation

The King of Love My Shepherd Is

Panis quem

R.I.P. St. Paul Vigil Mass

Most of you know by now that because of parish clustering and anticipated reduced number of priests, the Mass schedules at St. Paul and Christ the King have been changed.  The Vigil Mass, for which this blog is named, ceases to exist after August 27, 2011.

Additionally, the hours of Adoration that follow this Vigil Mass will no longer be observed.

The gentle reader will be spared the details of how I feel about this.  I spent a not insignificant amount of time each Saturday at the church, each moment cherished and treasured.

A meeting was held today with five musicians and the two priests to try to hash out the details of who will provide music for which Mass.  The only certain thing decided was that there'll be another meeting on August 25.  Yes, August 25, just a few days before the official schedule change, September 1.

I "volunteered" to play the organ at the 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass; the priests will have to deal with the political ramifications of this.  And I don't know for sure if I will continue to play at St. Paul.  If I don't, then I'll have to travel to either the Diocese of Columbus or the Diocese of Charleston.  Or Bermuda.

Regardless, posting here will end after the August 27 recordings.  Perhaps I'll start another blog, and maybe it'll be anonymous but public.  Comment or send an email if you'd like to visit the new blog, when I finally get around to making it.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,
Mary

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 6, 2011

Introit: p. 302 of Anglican Use Gradual
Processional: Praise to the Lord (BB 201)
Psalm: MCK
Offertory: The King of Love My Shepherd Is (BB 487)
Communion: Panis quem... then Daniel 3: Glory and Praise Forever (BB 833)
Recessional: Faith of Our Fathers (BB 528)