Calendar
A perennial favourite, MOTET‘s Twelve Days of Christmas concert will present real Carols during real Christmastide, alongside other choral gems that may or may not relate to the saints’ days between 25 Dec and 6 Jan. Enjoy a breadth of music by Byrd, Lassus, Leighton, Rutter, and more!
This week’s music list:
- Introit: Johannes Eccard, When to the temple Mary went
- Responses: Humphrey Clucas
- Canticles: William Harris, Evening Canticles in A
- Anthem: Charles Wood, O thou the central orb
On the eve of Candlemas, we celebrate the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, when Simeon met his Saviour and proclaimed the words now sung daily in the Nunc dimittis. Although originally in German, Eccard’s six-part motet describing this joyful occasion has become a staple of English cathedrals. Similarly ubiquitous, Charles Wood’s setting of O thou the central orb plays deeply into the themes of light dispersing dark, joy radiating through the woes of the world, as Simeon’s eyes were opened to Christ and his glory revealed to all peoples.
To close out Epiphanytide, come experience the peace and joy with which Simeon departed the earth, knowing that there is yet hope and light amidst the terrors of the day. Come rest from your labours and be refreshed in the knowledge of better things to come. Come breathe in stillness and beauty and find release from earthly toil and worry. Come share in the 400-year old tradition of Choral Evensong.
Sung by the Cathedral Choir
with the Evensong Choir of St. John’s Sardis (Zachary Power, Director)
Hymns: 17, 132, SNC 43
Responses: Henry Loosemore (c. 1607-70)
Psalm: 34
Canticles: Herbert Howells (1892-1983) Collegium Regale
Anthem: William H. Harris (1883-1973) Faire is the Heaven
The Choir of St. John’s, Shaughnessy will offer the traditional Anglican service of Choral Evensong.
- Introit: Richard Farrant, Hide Not Thou Thy Face
- Responses: Thomas Tomkins
- Canticles: Healey Willan, Fauxbourdon Evening Service
- Anthem: Orlande de Lassus, Amen, amen dico vobis
On the Second Sunday in Lent, we take a more subdued approach to our evening service offerings in keeping with the solemn and austere sensibilities of the season. Richard Farrant and Thomas Tomkins works are highly regarded staples of the English renaissance, and Healey Willan’s renaissance-inspired setting of the canticles draws us further back, steeped in psalm tone melodies over a thousand years old. Orlande de Lassus was one of the most prolific composers of the 16th century, and in his setting of John 5:24, we hear Jesus’ reassurance that, though we are surrounded by death, in him we can have life.
Come deepen your Lenten experience with music spanning the centuries, drawing us back to the time of the early church, and meditate on our still broken world that shares so much heaviness and grief with its former self. Come listen to the words of hope that spring up out of this world and draw us ever towards a more glorious one. Come breathe in stillness and beauty and find release from earthly toil and worry. Come share in the 400-year old tradition of Choral Evensong.
Clara Bow’s role as the plucky shop girl in this 1927 box office hit brought her global fame and made her the first-ever “It Girl”. Bow is magnetic as Betty, who is enamored with the wealthy owner of the department store where she works and determined to catch his attention. Accompanied live by Vancouver Civic Theatres organist Michael Dirk on the historic Wurlitzer organ.
Celebrating International Women’s Day
- Responses: Joanna Forbes L’Estrange (b. 1971)
- Psalm: 34
- Canticles: Tamsin Jones (b. 1972) Evening Canticles in the Dorian Mode
- Anthem: Ola Gjello (b. 1978) Ave Generosa (Hildegard von Bingen)
- Psalms: 114. 115 (faburden)
- Canticles: Mode III
- Motet: Thomas Aquinas,O salutaris hostia (cantatus super librum)
Performers and repertoire:
Rachel Alflatt: Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV 533
Richard Egolf: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland. BWV 659
Isaac Howie: J. S. Bach transcr. M. Reger – Prelude and Fugue in Bb Minor, BWV 867
PJ Janson: Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
Huiyuan (Cindy) Ma: Allein Gott in der Höh´ sei Ehr´, BWV 662
Angelique Po: Prelude and Fugue in E major, BWV 566
David Poon: O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß, BWV 622
Neil Robertson: Prelude and Fugue in G minor, BWV 558
Abraham Ross: O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig, BWV 656
A wine-and-cheese reception is planned following the concert, which is a great opportunity to meet the performers. For planning purposes, please register to indicate your intention to attend here.