MusicNotes Mar 24-25

MusicNotes

March 24-25

  

Anthem- Give Me a Clean Heart, Margaret Pleasant Douroux (b. 1941)

 This anthem, written in 1970, has become a standard in Gospel music repertoire. The text is based on this weekend's appointed psalm, and is a simple prayer to God for renewal and purification. We are asking God to clean our hearts so that we may better serve Him; that we may surrender ourselves to Him to be used by Him. Douroux, a leading composer of Gospel music in Southern California, has seen this song adopted by many different faiths and traditions. She is the founder of the Heritage Music Foundation, and serves as Minister of Music at Greater New Bethel Baptist Church in Inglewood, CA. Our arrangement will feature longtime and faithful choir members, Louise Lewis, Bobbie Whaling, and Barry Wilson.      

Solo- O Divine Redeemer, Charles Gounod (1818-1893) 

Cantor and choir member Cindy Spitza will sing this prayer during Communion. Written in 1893, six months before Gounod's death, this song is seen as a final expression of his life. The text reflects this weekend's Gospel lesson, in which we hear that "the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." Jesus is troubled, knowing that He is to die, and this song reflects our human emotions in our call to God in distress, our plea for salvation, redemption, and comfort. It calls us to be repentant and to open our hearts to God's saving grace and assurance. Gounod wrote a large amount of sacred music, including hundreds of sacred songs and several masses. His most performed piece today in parishes is his setting of the Ave Maria.

Closing Song- Lift High the Cross, CRUCIFER

 This well-known hymn sends us out joyously, but with the cross within our sight, as we make our journey to Palm Sunday and Holy Week. Originally intended to be used for a festival service at Winchester Cathedral in England, the text was written by George William Kitchin  in 1887, and revised with its current melody in 1916, called CRUCIFER and written by Sydney H. Nicholson. The text makes it clear that the cross is a symbol of the love of Christ. Composer Stanley L. Osborne describes the hymn in this way, "[the text's] images are biblical, its moods expectant, its promises courageous, and its demands costly" (If Such Holy Song, 321). Join us in singing this hymn heartily!

   

DID YOU NOTICE?

Some musical changes in Lent-

Instrumental music will not be played during Lent, except for Laetare Sunday. It is appropriate for instruments to remain silent during Lent, except to accompany singing. For Laetare Sunday (fourth Sunday of Lent), also known as Rose Sunday, instrumental music is acceptable. Laetare comes from the Latin for "rejoice," and is a mid-Lent time of relaxation from the Lenten stricture, as the hope of Easter now comes into sight.

Dialogues/Acclamations/Litanies- English Plainchant and Kyrie orbis factor

To help signal the transition to the new season, we will be singing a different set of mass parts during Lent (Kyrie, Gospel Acclamation, Holy, Memorial Acclamation, Lamb of God). The words will be the same, but most of the tunes will come from the plainchant found in the new Missal, and, for the Gospel Acclamation, the Gregorian chant tune to the Kyrie orbis factor. The melodies will be simpler and shorter than the ones we were using in the last season, but they will help us focus on the words and remind us to come closer to God; to simplify our lives in ways that allow God to work through us. Chant can sometimes seem foreign to our ears. It sounds very different from every other kind of music we hear on a regular basis, but it also forms the backbone of the history of Catholic music, and is an important part of our tradition. When sung with heartfelt joy and reverence, chant can be quite beautiful and powerful, and it can bring us deeper into prayer.

--

Will Buthod

Director of Music

Church of St. Mary

(918) 749 2561, ext 120

1347 E. 49th Pl.

Tulsa, OK 74105

wbuthod@churchofsaintmary.com