Songs of Faith & Devotion: My Song Is Love Unknown

In this video the choir of King's College, Cambridge sing My Song Is Love Unknown.  In it the choir is joined by the congregation in singing Samuel Crossman's words to the beautiful melody love unknown which was composed by John Ireland.

+++

Songs of Faith & Devotion: In the Bleak Midwinter

The choir of Kings College Chapel, Cambridge sing the lovely Christmas carol, In The Bleak Midwinter. The wonderful words of Christina Georgina Rossetti are sung to a beautiful setting by Gustav Holst. 

+++

Songs of Faith & Devotion: Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending

The choir of Lichfield Cathedral sing the lovely advent hymn "Lo! He comes with clouds descending". Words by Charles Wesley rewritten from the original text by John Cennick.

Lo! He comes with clouds descending,
Once for favoured sinners slain;
Thousand thousand saints attending,
Swell the triumph of His train:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
God appears on earth to reign

Every eye shall now behold Him
Robed in dreadful majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold Him,
Pierced and nailed Him to the tree,
Deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
Shall the true Messiah see.

The dear tokens of His passion
Still His dazzling body bears;
Cause of endless exultation
To His ransomed worshippers;
With what rapture, with what rapture
Gaze we on those glorious scars!

Yea, amen; let all adore thee,
High on thine eternal throne;
Saviour, take the power and glory;
Claim the kingdoms for thine own:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Thou shalt reign, and thou alone.

+++

Songs of Faith & Devotion: Psalm 37

This live recording includes the first twenty verses of Psalm 37, sung to two beautiful Anglican chants by the Rivelin Singers during their residency in Wells Cathedral, UK.

The chants are arranged and performed by Jonathan P Eyre and Graham Barber.

+++

Songs of Faith & Devotion: York Cathedral - Psalm 8

York Minster Church is a Gothic Cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The Minster is the seat of the bishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by a Dean and Chapter under the Dean of York.

The formal title of York Minster is The Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of Saint Peter in York.

+++

Songs of Faith & Devotion: Psalm 13 - Usque quo, Domine?

In this performance the Choir of Wells Cathedral, under the direction of Anthony Crossland, sing the thirteenth Psalm to an Anglican chant for both choir and organ. In 'Usque quo, Domine?') King David complains that God almighty had long withdrawn and he earnestly prays for comfort, and thereby assures himself the answer of peace.

+++

Songs of Faith & Devotion: Psalm 67 - God be merciful unto us and bless us

Sir Edward Cuthbert Bairstow was born in Huddersfield and was an English organist and composer in the Anglican church music tradition. He studied organ with John Farmer at Balliol College, Oxford, and while articled under Frederick Bridge of Westminster Abbey received tuition from Walter Alcock. He studied organ and theory at the University of Durham, receiving the Bachelor of Music in 1894, and the Doctor of Music in 1901. 

After holding posts in London, Wigan and Leeds, he served as organist of York Minster from 1913 to his death, when he was succeeded by his former pupil Francis Jackson. He was knighted in 1932.

+++

Songs of Faith & Devotion: Psalm 121 - I will lift up mine eyes

Sir Henry Walford Davies was an English composer, conductor and educator who held the title Master of the King's Music from 1934 until 1941. In addition to this arrangement of Psalm 121, Davies wrote God Be in My Head, one of his most famous pieces, and several other of his works at Witham Hall, Lincolnshire.

Davies died at Wrington, near Bristol, on 11 March 1941 and was buried in the graveyard of Bristol Cathedral.

+++

Songs of Faith & Devotion: And Did Those Feet In Ancient Times

As a country within the United Kingdom, the official anthem of England is God Save the Queen. However, like the other constituent countries in the UK, there is often a need for a unique English anthem with a separate identity from the anthem of the UK as a whole, one that is used in some situations, and currently enjoys popular support, is And did those feet in ancient time.

First appearing as a poem by William Blake in the early 19th century, it is based on a tale that Jesus visited what is now England as a youth. The "dark Satanic mills" phrase is a reference to the factories and mills of the Industrial Revolution then just beginning, forever changing the landscape and society.

The poem did not garner much attention until the First World War over a century later, when it was included in a patriotic anthology of poems, and was seen as expressing what England was fighting for at the time. Hubert Parry was then requested to put the poem to music, which was completed in 1916. A performance in 1922 prompted King George V to say that he preferred "Jerusalem" over "God Save the King".

And did those feet in ancient time is more and more gaining favour in England and is becoming the most popular Anglican hymn. It has been used as the English national anthem before rugby and cricket matches, is sung in churches on St. George's Day and often leads popular opinion polls when the question of a unique English hymns is asked.

+++

Songs of Faith & Devotion: Jerusalem

And did those feet in ancient time is a short poem by William Blake from the preface to his epic Milton a Poem, one of a collection of writings known as the Prophetic Books. Today it is best known as the anthem 'Jerusalem', with composition by Sir Hubert Parry in 1916.

The poem was inspired by a story that the young Jesus, accompanied by Joseph of Arimathea, a tin merchant, traveled to England and visited Glastonbury during his early years.

+++

Songs of Faith & Devotion: All Glory, Laud and Honour

All Glory, Laud and Honour is an English translation by John Mason Neale of the Latin hymn Gloria, laus et honor which was written by Theodulf of Orléans in 820.

Theodulf was the Bishop of Orléans under Charlemagne. When Charlemagne died and Louis the Pious became the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Theodulf was removed from the bishopric and placed under house arrest at a monastery in Angers do to the power struggle following Louis' ascension. During his arrest, Theodulf wrote Gloria, laus et honor for Palm Sunday.

+++

Songs of Faith & Devotion: Evlogetaria for the Dead

While not a Western hymn for Lent I find the message of 'Evlogetaria for the Dead', Tone 5 especially moving and powerful for meditation and reflection during this Lententide season.

Enjoy...

Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
The choir of the saints has found the fountain of life and the door of Paradise. May I also find the way through repentance, the sheep that was lost am I, call me up to You, O Saviour, and save me.

Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.

+++

Songs of Faith & Devotion: Psalm 137 - By the Waters of Babylon

George Mursell Garrett was an English organist and composer. He was born in Winchester in 1834 where his father was master of the choristers at Winchester Cathedral. He later served as assistant to Samuel Sebastian Wesley at Winchester. Garrett was appointed the Director of Music at St. John's College, Cambridge in 1857 and held the position for forty years.

Garrett wrote music for the Anglican Church in the form of service settings and anthems. He is perhaps best represented today by his setting of Psalm 126.

+++

Songs of Faith & Devotion: Joyful Music for Christmas

Dear friends,

Peace and all-Goodness.

I pray that this post finds you making the very most of the 12 days of Christmas. This video is a delightful 37 minute collection of 10 much-beloved traditional Christmas carols performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. The seasonal songs include:

1. O Come, All ye Faithful
2. Silver Bells (J. Livingston-R. Evans)
3. Good Christian Men, Rejoice
4. Hark! The Herald Angels sing (Wesley-Mendelssohn)
5. What Child Is This
6. Carol Of The Bells (Leontovich-Manookin)
7. Away In A Manger
8. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (H. Martin-R. Blane)
9. 30:14 The Little Drummer Boy (Davis-Onorati-Simeone)
10. Joy To The World (Handel-Watts)

In Christ, and St Francis,

seraphim mary+
a sinner

Songs of Faith & Devotion: Advent Carol Service

Advent Carol Service - Trinity College Chapel
Sunday 27 November 2011

Prelude on Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen (Brahms)
The Advent Matins Responsory (Richard Marlow)
Creator of the stars of night (Plainsong)
Hymn: Of the Father's heart begotten (arr Willcocks)
Hymn: Come, thou Redeemer of the earth (arr Willcocks)
There is no rose (Anon arr Stevens)
Hymn: O come, O come, Emmanuel (arr Willcocks)
Bogoróditse Djévo (Part)
Ave Maria (Parsons)
Hymn: On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry (arr Ledger)
Wachet auf! (Nicolai arr Bach)
E'en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come (Paul Manz)
Hymn: Come, thou long-expected Jesus
Seek him that maketh the seven stars (Jonathan Dove)
Hymn: Lo, he comes with clouds descending
Puer natus est (Plainsong)
Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht (Bach)
Organ voluntary: Prelude and Fugue in G, BWV 541 (Bach)

Conductor: Stephen Layton
Organ Scholars: Simon Bland and Jeremy Cole

Songs of Faith & Devotion: Behold, the Bridegroom cometh

Behold, the Bridegroom cometh in the middle of the night, and blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching, but unworthy is he whom He shall find in slothfulness. Beware, therefore, O my soul, and be not overcome by sleep; lest thou be given over to death, and shut out from the kingdom. But return to soberness and cry aloud: Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.

Chanter: Father Apostolos Hill

Songs of Faith & Devotion: O Come, O come Emmanuel

Belfast Cathedral Choir - O Come, O come Emmanuel
Philip Stopford, director
Ian Barber, organ

Belfast Cathedral is the only place in Northern Ireland where visitors and congregants can experience daily sung services as found in the other great cathedrals and churches in the United Kingdom. The cathedral music department is creating a new tradition, whereby the ancient offices are sung by choristers who are drawn from schools in North Belfast, where staff members enhance the life of each school with access to excellent singing-based musical tuition, and encourage membership of the cathedral choir to those who might not otherwise consider it.

Songs of Faith & Devotion: Psalm 67 God be merciful unto us and bless us

Sir Edward Cuthbert Bairstow was born in Huddersfield on 22 August 1874 and died in York on 1 May 1946. He was an English organist and composer in the Anglican church music tradition. He studied with John Farmer at Balliol College, Oxford.

Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College (1992)

This is a re-broadcast from Christmas eve 1992. It showcases the Choir of King's College, Cambridge performing their timeless rendition of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.

Carol Service at King's College Chapel in 1954

Situated in King's College Chapel, Cambridge England, this service was conducted and arranged by Boris Ord.