Seen and heard today at Divine Service, Advent 1 (12/1/13)
Ah! It's come around again: one of the most wonderful Sundays of the year. And here's how it started:I was thinking just before the Litany began that it might be good to write a new set of words;...
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The 2013 Hubble Space Telescope Advent Calendar
A yearly treat, at The Atlantic: fantastic images, one each day, from the vast expanses of the galaxy as seen through Hubble's eye.It's time for my favorite holiday tradition: the 2013 Hubble Space...
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Conditor alme siderum: Holy maker of sterres bright
A wonderful post at A Clerk of Oxford today:Creation of the stars, BL Royal E IX, f. 3vAmong the Office Hymns for Advent is 'Conditor Alme Siderum', best known in translation as 'Creator of the stars...
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On the Feast of the Conception of the B.V. Mary (Dec. 8)
From Hymn melodies for the whole year, from the Sarum service-books:On the Feast of the Conception of the B. V. Mary (Dec. 8)Evensong: Ave! maris Stella ... ... ... 64Mattins: Quem terra, pontus,...
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The Advent 2 Alleluia: Laetatus sum
This text comes from Psalm (121/)122, v. 1:I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”Here's the full score:This Sunday's emphasis in the chant propers is heavily on Zion...
View Article"A Daily Jesse Tree Devotion"
In case you're not following Full Homely Divinity's Advent Calendar, here's something else very interesting, also from FHD and its "Rediscovering Advent" page. It's chock full of Biblical people and...
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More Jesse Tree: "There is a flower"
Thanks to "A Clerk of Oxford" for pointing this out; here the Cambridge Singers, directed by John Rutter, sing his "There Is a Flower."The words are taken from John Audelay's absolutely splendid...
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The Advent 3 Alleluia: Excita, Domine
This rather famous text comes from Psalm (79/80), Qui Regis Israel: Stir up your might, O Lord, and come to save us. It's "Gaudete" - "Rejoice!" - Sunday, so named for the first word of today's...
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O Sapientia (December 16)
Tonight we enter that beautiful time of year, Sapientia-tide, once again. December 16 has been designated "O Sapientia" in the Church Calendar of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer for 350 years now - but...
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O Adonai (December 17)
Tonight, the Great "O" Antiphon sung at Vespers before and after the Magnificat is O Adonai: O Adonai and Leader of the house of Israel, who appearedst in the Bush of Moses in a flame of fire, and...
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O Radix Jesse (December 18)
Tonight's Great "O" Antiphon sung before and after the Magnificat is O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse). O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at whom kings shall stop their mouths,...
View ArticleO Clavis David (December 19)
O Clavis David ("O Key of David") gets sung tonight at Vespers as the Antiphon upon Magnificat. O Key of David, and Scepter of the house of Israel; that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth, and...
View ArticleO Oriens (December 20)
The Great "O" Antiphon O Oriens ("O Dayspring") is sung tonight at Vespers as the Antiphon upon Magnificat. O Day-Spring, Brightness of the Light everlasting, and Sun of righteousness: Come and...
View ArticleO Rex Gentium (December 21)
Anglicans sing O Rex Gentium ("O King of the Nations") tonight at Vespers as the Antiphon upon Magnificat. (If they're not singing an Antiphon in the honor of St. Thomas, whose feast day it is today,...
View ArticleO Emmanuel (December 22)
O Emmanuel is the Antiphon upon Magnificat for tonight at Vespers: O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, Desire of all nations and their Salvation: Come and save us, O Lord our God.Here's a video of the...
View ArticleO Virgo Virginum (December 23)
The final Great "O" Antiphon, O Virgo Virginum ("O Virgin of Virgins") is, in the Anglican world, sung tonight at Evensong.O Virgin of Virgins, how shall this be? For neither before thee was any like...
View ArticleCarols from King's College Cambridge (2012)
For unto us a Child is born,Unto us a Son is given;And the government will be upon His shoulder.And His name will be calledWonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
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Christmas Day: Divinum mysterium
Here's the beautiful hymn "Of the Father's Love Begotten," sung to the melody Divinum mysterium. This hymn first appeared in this form in the Piae Cantiones, a collection of hymns and songs from the...
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Personent Hodie: On this day, earth shall ring
We had Personent Hodie today at the very beautiful Christmas Day Eucharist. It's another song from the 1582 Piae Cantiones; the melody is 14th Century. The Latin words date from the 12th Century;...
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