Lent V (B • 2024)
Below are the practice resources for Lent V.
Again, I apologize for not being able to hold rehearsal this past Wednesday, but I was simply too ill. I have no doubt that you all are as eager to rehearse holy week as I am. Mercifully, I’m back up and running, and we will just have to do what we can do! God asks no more of us.
This week will indeed feel a little bit odd since we didn’t rehearse at all, so I would like to make some minor modifications. For instance, this week, I would like the psalm verses to simply be cantored, and the choir will join in unison with the people on the refrain. We will forego attempting any motet or anything of that sort.
Our hymnody is worth mentioning, since it is rather interesting: the processional hymn is the same melody as we learned two weeks ago (Llanglofan). (I’m sure you all kept the sheet that said “Keep for Lent V” and don’t need another! 🙃) This tune will be a regular fixture in rotation throughout the year. (If you haven’t noticed, there are many hymn tunes that I love, and you will learn many of them this year!).
The offertory hymn is a classic lenten favorite, When I Survey The Wondrous Cross, to the tune you all know. I have parts printed in case you know them and would like to sing them. We will take it nice and slowly and just savor it.
Communion is where things take a particularly interesting turn, with a melody that I rather imagine you have heard before, if not necessarily sung. We are singing a delightful baroque text Yonder, Amazing Sight I See! which describes the Passion, but paired to Ralph Vaughan William’s famous tune, The Truth From Above which is often heard during Advent. Here again, ever the fan of unusual pairings, this is a melody that I would like the congregation to learn well, because it is fabulously beautiful and pensive, especially once we get the chance to really dig into the harmonies. Because this is new, and a bit atypical as far as hymns go, I’ve made a full, 5 verse melody-only recording, and only ask that you sing melody with the congregation.
Finally, our recessional hymn is one that is probably unknown to you, but sounds oh-so-familiar because it has elements that are very similar to other well-known tunes. It is an ear worm and easy to sing, and there is an organ-only demo of that below as well.
As for Holy Week, we will just do what we can do. I’m going to post as much as I can so you can look ahead as much as you can. Dig deep! This is for Jesus. There may be a little flying by the seat of our pants and some things we only get to do a quick run through or two, but such is the nature of the beast at this stage. You all know the drill.
Worth particular mention is the Chrism Mass; I realize that because it is at 2pm on a Tuesday, some of you may not be able to make it. I obviously hope that many of you can make it, but I completely understand if you cannot. If you ARE coming, please visit the special webpage I have set up for that to view all the resources. You do not have to fill out the form, but at least text me to let me know if you’ll be there. Also, please consider emailing that link to your friends. I emailed over 40 parishes in the diocese last week to invite singers to participate, but many parishes did not have contact information for their music ministers (if they even have music directors, alas), and I’m sensing that there are people who still haven’t received the message. This might also be an excellent opportunity for some of the former choir members to join us for a one-off event even if they cannot commit full-time at present—and we all know an invite from a friend is the strongest chance we have of getting them.
Tenebræ will largely follow the model established by Dr. Fielding in years past, minus the motes which we are currently unable to sing. Mr. Davis will join us to sing the Lamentations of Jeremiah once again, and we (the choir) will carry the bulk of the psalm chanting for the rest of it. I plan for more of a revamp of that service next year. In the meantime, I would really love it if we could dig deep and learn the Lotti Miserere. We attempted it at rehearsal last week, but it still needs a lot of work. If we could pull it off via some home practicing, then we could use it at Tenebræ and also on Good Friday.
I will have dedicated web pages for each of the Holy Week services posted as soon as possible so it is easier to keep track of all of these things.
Now, without further ado:
(Source: Source & Summit)
(Source: Source & Summit)
This is a fun example of how medieval chant can be repurposed 1:1 for the modern Mass!
Looking Ahead
:
Looking Ahead :
Here are some things to look at that we will begin digesting at our next rehearsal. We are going to have A LOT of music to learn!
First up: Holy Thursday Foot Washing Antiphons (Playlist)
