Pentecost

Program: #13-20   Air Date: May 13, 2013

NOTE: This year Pentecost fell on the 19th, and we celebrate with a chant program, including new releases from The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles and Gloria Dei Cantores.

 I. To Pray in Beauty: Gregorian Chant, Ever Ancient, Ever New (Cistercian Nuns of Mont St. Mary's Abbey/Fr. Gabriel Bertoniere, dir.). Jade CD M2-36623.

For more information: http://abbey.msmabbey.org

To Pray In Beauty: that is the ideal of monastics as they sing the Mass and the Hours in choir. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta expressed a similar ideal in her phrase “something beautiful for God.” The beauty is not for beauty’s sake; it is for God—for his glory. It was St Augustine, that great lover of beauty, who called God “Beauty ever ancient, ever new” and lamented “late have I loved Thee!” All created beauty reflects something, however faint, of the divine Beauty, but Gregorian Chant does so in a special way, for it is itself both prayer and beauty—but a beauty that reveals itself only gradually, disclosing ever new depths and connections.

The Cistercian version of the chants presented in this recording have always played an important role in the lives of the Cistercian nuns of Wrentham since the time of its foundation in 1949. In the early years of its history, chant alone was used to provide the musical setting for the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours. Since English was introduced into the liturgy after Vatican II, the nuns gradually built up a rich repertory of chants in the vernacular, but twice a week they continue to use Gregorian Chant in the celebration of the Eucharist as well as at Vespers on Solemnities. Gregorian Chant is itself both prayer and beauty—but a beauty that reveals itself only gradually, disclosing ever-new depths and connections.

1. Hymn Avete solitudinis (Mode 1) verses 1, 2, 5, and 6
2. Communion Simile Est (Mode 8)
3. Alleluia Justus Germinabit (Mode 1)
4. Introit Salve Sancta Parens (Mode 2)
5. Introit Dominus Dixit (Mode 2)
6. Communion Quinque Prudentes Virgines (Mode 5)
7. Communion Videns Dominus (Mode 1)
8. Gradual Christus Factus Est (Mode 5)
9. Introit Resurrexi (Mode 4)
10. Introit Quasi Modo (Mode 6)
11. Introit Viri Galilaei (Mode 7)
12. Introit Spiritus Domini (Mode 8)
13. Introit Exurge (Mode 1)
14. Alleluia Deus Judex (Mode 8)
15. Introit Esto Mihi (Mode 6)
16. Introit Omnia Quae Fecisti (Mode 3)
17. Introit Inclina Domine (Mode 1)
18. Introit Vocem Jucunditatis (Mode 3)
19. Hymn Ave Maris Stella (Mode 1)

II. The Chants of the Holy Spirit (Gloriae Dei Cantores Women's Schola). Paraclete CD GDCD 057.

For more information: http://gdcchoir.org/

The feast of Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Twelve apostles and other followers of Jesus as described in the Bible. For this reason, Pentecost is often described by Christians today as the ''Birthday of the Church.'' Chants of the Holy Spirit features a selection of Gregorian chants sung by the crystal-clear voices of the Gloriae Dei Cantores Women's Schola. The disciples waiting in the Upper Room, the rush of wind, the tongues of fire and the spreading of the Gospel are all depicted on this disc, which opens and closes with the traditional tolling of the Angelus bell. Recorded in high definition and offered as a Hybrid SACD, this recording also features a reading of the Pentecost story from the book of Acts and Dufay's hymn Veni Creator Spiritus.

From Audiophile Audition:
The seven ladies that make up the Gloriæ Dei Cantores Women’s Schola have given us a real gift of music for Pentecost—Gregorian music, that is—along with a fine rendition of Veni Creator Spiritus in Guillaume Dufay’s magnificent three-part setting. The renditions of this music have rarely been as perfectly presented as what this Schola accomplishes here, and while some may scoff at the seeming lack of “historical” performance considerations, that is not what this group sets as its primary vision, but instead a living and loving manifestation of these ancient chants as something that breathes life into a contemporary cultural setting. Technically they are immaculate, and one can hear the evident love and devotion in every breath taken in this astoundingly beautiful music.
Presentation-wise this is a model production, as have been all of GDC’s recent SACDs—a spectacular and well-thought out color booklet, with full texts and translations, and most importantly, some of the most helpful and descriptive verbiage I have ever read about Gregorian Chant. This helps to bring the music alive, especially to someone not accustomed to the sound of this magnificent music. The Super Audio surround sound is exceptionally alive and vibrant—you might need to turn the volume down a bit—and shows how surround sound can benefit essentially monophonic music as well as the most varied and complex orchestral work. This is a highly recommended disc.
—Steven Ritter

Angelus bell0:43
 
 
 Ad missam in die
2Introit: Spiritus Domini 2:58
3Alleluia: Emitte Spiritus tuum 1:32
4Sequence: Veni Sancte Spiritus 2:15
5Offertory: Confirma hoc Deus 7:14
6Communion: Factus est repente 6:14
  7Reading of the Pentecost story – Book of Acts1:24
  
 Ad missam in vigilia
8Introit: Caritas Dei 2:35
9Gradual: Beata gens 4:08
10Alleluia: Dum complerentur 3:07
11Offertory: Emitte Spiritum 6:51
12Communion: Spiritus Sanctus 3:23
13Communion: Dum venerit5:20
 14Veni Sancte Spiritus, Guillaume Dufay 3:01
 15Closing bell 0:43

 III. Angels and Saints at Ephesus (Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles). Montfort CD MW0002528487.

For more information: http://benedictinesofmary.org/

From Amazon.com: Having spent six weeks at #1 on Billboard's Classical Music Chart with their debut release Advent at Ephesus, the Benedictines of Mary unite their voices once more in Angels and Saints at Ephesus. Featured on NPR, USA Today, People Magazine and The Washington Times as well as countless other critically acclaimed press outlets, The Benedictines of Mary have created another beautiful collection of music designed to inspire.

Angels and Saints at Ephesus features 17 English and Latin pieces sung a cappella on the feasts of the holy Saints and angels throughout the year at their Priory in the heart of America. In the pure fusion of their now well established bell-like choir sound, the Sisters once again radiate peace with their hymns of Praise of God in the company of all of His angels and Saints.

1. FREDERICK WILLIAM FABER: Dear Angel Ever At My Side
2. GERGOR AICHINGER: Ave Regina Cælorum
3. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
4. Christe Sanctorum
5. TOMAS LUIS de VICTORIA: Duo Seraphim
6. EPHRAIM the Syrian: Virgin Wholly Marvellous
7. ORESTE RAVANELLO: Est Secretum
8. Sir CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD: Lorica of St. Patrick
9. NICOLA MONTANI: O Deus Ego Amo Te
10. Emicat Meridies
11. St. ALPHONSE Ligouri: O God of Loveliness
12. Læta Quies
13. A Rose Unpetalled
14. Jesu Dulcis Memoria
15. RAVANELLO: Te Joseph Celebrent
16. Jesu Corona Virginum
17. Veritas Mea

Composer Info

FREDERICK WILLIAM FABER, GERGOR AICHINGER, TOMAS LUIS de VICTORIA, EPHRAIM the Syrian, ORESTE RAVANELLO, Sir CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD, NICOLA MONTANI, St. ALPHONSE Ligouri, RAVANELLO

CD Info

Jade CD M2-36623, Paraclete CD GDCD 057, Montfort CD MW0002528487