Corpus Christi -- Music

Categories: friends, hymns, weather, other-churches

Date: 12 June 2007 10:55:58

Not an Eastern Orthodox Feast, but I spent the Sunday celebrating the Feast of Corpus Christi with the Anglicans of Christ Church Cathedral, together with the choir of All Saints', Ainslie. I'll babble on about the music here: the wonderful sermons given deserve a post of their own, to come later in the week.

The night before a dinner was held, sheltered from the wind and rain, in the former Cathedral across the road which is now used as a hall for the Grammar School. Mr Matthew Stuckings, Director of Music at All Saints', Ainslie, gave a very interesting -- and entertaining -- talk on his work at The National Library of Australia, particularly highlighting how some of the collection related to Newcastle Cathedral and the Newcastle Diocese. As well as books, as you'd expect a library to have!, a number of multimedia items are increasingly stored also. The Library has also made many of its holdings available online through MusicAustralia and PictureAustralia. Also interesting was the use of Flickr within PictureAustralia, so that people could tag their Flickr photos to link to PictureAustralia. As I said, very, very interesting. And it was great to catch up with Matthew and one of his choir members again -- and getting to meet some many people as well.

Sunday was Solemn Eucharist with Procession at 9:30am and Evensong at 6:00pm. Apart from the poor sight of an old tree that, in the words of the Dean, 'simply laid down quietly', and some minor damage to outside lights, the Cathedral seemed to escape major damage from the storm. The Cathedral is set on a hill, The Hill actually [a suburb of Newcastle], and it is a nice walk around it, taking in views of the city to the west, an old bell tower, the Memorial Garden [warning: contains photo of me] and the graveyard at the back. As can be seen, the rain clouds dispersed that morning, if only until about noon, and blue filled the skies -- though it was still slightly cold.

Solemn Eucharist with Procession: and what a fine procession it was. After the Introit Ubi Caritas, the hymn Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour was sung as choirs [including one chorister holding his small child up to his chest as he processed: adorable] and clergy processed around the church, with incense swirling its way to the top. The Gradual was See us, Lord, about your altar and the Offertory hymn was Robe yourself, my soul, in gladness. The Mass setting was Messe Solennelle (Vierne) and Byrd's beautiful setting of the glorious Ave verum as the Anthem. The service ended with one of my favourite hymns, Soul of my Saviour, sanctify my breast, followed by a wondrous playing on the grand organ of Bach's Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor as the Postlude. I stayed and savoured every moment of the organ's playing -- I may be committed to, and believe in, Byzantine Orthodoxy, but my musical heart, whether it lies deep within me, is forever tied to Western Sacred Music, and deep, booming organs.

Evensong was just as glorious: Walmisley in D Minor was the setting for the Canticles; the hymns sung were Father, we thank thee, who hast planted, You, we praise, High Priest and Victim and Praise the Lord! ye heavens, adore him -- as an aside, among those who have studied German or lived in Germany, am I the only one who wants to start singing, Deutschland, Deutschland, über alles whenever a hymn is set to Austria? :) And, to continue the glorious music, my favourite anthem currently, Wood's setting of O thou the central orb was also sung and accompanied on organ -- magnificently. It's been a while since I've heard it live -- my CD is rather scratched from overplaying on my car CD stereo: and live music is just that much better.

The words to O thou the central orb are below: I often wonder at their imagery, their beauty: it truly is a wonderful poem in itself. But Wood's composition lifts it up even higher: there is something about the arrangement of voices, together with the movement, in volume and tempo, of the organ, that somehow raises this anthem in my mind, and spirit, everytime I hear it. I know people are often very suspicious of emotions raised and brought out by music, and I do believe we need to be careful to not rely solely on feelings alone when it comes to our spiritual journey through this life, but I truly believe some sacred music, and this is to me one of the best, truly allows our spirit to soar to the heavens and, if I may be so bold, to touch the divine.

O Thou, the central orb of righteous love,
Pure beam of the most High, eternal Light
Of this our wintry world, Thy radiance bright
Awakes new joy in faith, hope soars above.

Come, quickly come, and let thy glory shine,
Gilding our darksome heaven with rays Divine.

Thy saints with holy lustre round Thee move,
As stars about thy throne, set in the height
Of God's ordaining counsel, as Thy sight
Gives measured grace to each, Thy power to prove.

Let Thy bright beams disperse the gloom of sin,
Our nature all shall feel eternal day
In fellowship with thee, transforming day
To souls erewhile unclean, now pure within.

Amen.