Sunday, November 30, 2008

Advent Wreath from the Curt Jester

Thanks to a tip from Ebeth, I noticed a beautiful Advent wreath from the Curt Jester. He kindly provides the code for this beautiful wreath, which you can "borrow" for the sidebars of your own blogs. He'll replace the graphic each week so as to show the correct number of candles lit for each week of Advent. I'm pretty sure it'll work for most blogging programs. He also provides code that will countdown the days to Christmas below the wreath. Thanks for sharing this, Jeff!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Service Music based on Hymntunes

To my fellow Ministers of Music: I present to you a topic for discussion. I thought of this as I was preparing the music I'll be playing for Immaculate Conception's Saturday 5.30 pm Vigil Mass. I noticed that the entire Entrance Rite will be set to music, specifically a new setting with text by Alan Hommerding and music by Paul French. French incorporated themes from CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM throughout the piece. Antiphon, Entrance Hymn, the priest's Greeting, and the Penitential Rite pretty much go on continuously, and ends with the people singing a two-note Amen to conclude the Penitential Rite. It's a 13-page octavo published by World Library Publications.

Then I noted that the rest of the service music programmed comes from Richard Proulx' Missa Emmanuel. I'm sure you can infer from the name of the Mass setting that it incorporates themes from VENI, EMMANUEL.

As a side note, I've programmed for St Joseph's the Trisagion, Sanctus, and Fraction Anthem (Agnus Dei) from Proulx' Missa Oecumenica, with themes from Russian Orthodox chant.

To be honest, I'm not sure if I would have programmed the Hommerding/French and Proulx' Missa Emmanuel for Advent, or at least, not the two together. Unless I want the congregation to be oversaturated with these hymntunes, I would be quite hesitant to program either "Creator of the Stars of Night" or "O Come O Come Emmanuel" during Advent.

So, here is where I'd love to hear your opinions. What do you think of the musical settings I've listed above? Do you think it would help or hinder your choice of other Advent hymns and other music to go along with them? Would you have programmed this music together, as will be done at IC, or would you have chosen different settings?

Please feel free to leave your comments in the combox.

Ahhh, Thanksgiving.

I was invited to a friend's house in Hillsborough for Thanksgiving dinner today. It was a nice gathering with others ... with the adults downstairs and the kids upstairs doing their thing. It was really nice to be immersed in Tagalog - I had to reassure people there that I could understand Tagalog and even encouraged them to speak Tagalog in my presence.

So we had lots of food, fun, and fellowship. Some of the people present had first met in Texas, where they were newly arrived nurses from the Philippines. Over the years, they kept in touch, and this group ended up in North Carolina, scattered around the Triangle (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill ... Hillsborough is north of Chapel Hill btw).

Oh, I'm sure you'll want to know what was on the table. There was truly the typical Thanksgiving fare: turkey, ham, 2 different gravies to go along with them, an interesting salad, dressed with broken ramen noodle pieces, dried cranberries, mandarin oranges, and a simple dressing made up of carmelised sugar, pepper, and soya sauce ... mashed sweet potato, a grits/cheese/sausage casserole, some other casserole that was a little on the sweet side ... a really nice broccoli casserole. There were plenty of desserts: bibingkang kassava, Filipino style fruit salad, a really nice buko salad, apple and pumpkin pies, tiramisu ...

My contribution to the whole thing: I brought pomelo-flavoured Tang and mixed it there. It was definitely a hit. Too bad Tang doesn't make wonderful flavours like that available in the US. Mine came from the Philippines.

In the meantime ... there are things to be thankful for. At least I have a roof over my head, I can put food on the table, and I can ensure the car has gas to get me places. Plus, I have friends around me, and the family who are not so close geographically, but can always be reached by picking up the phone or even shooting a message or two via Facebook or MySpace.

Well. The food is digesting, and I'm looking forward to preparing for my three services over the weekend. I play the Saturday 5.30 pm Vigil Mass and cantor the Sunday morning 7.45 am Mass at Immaculate Conception, and then I look forward to working with my choir at St Joseph's as they sing the first of 4 specially chosen anthems for the Advent season Sunday morning at the 10.30 am service. They will also be vesting for the first time in at least 2 years. I have already received overwhelmingly positive comments concerning the choir's vesting. So we're taking little steps.

Yes, that is another thing to be thankful for - I have the wonderful opportunity to work with talented, dedicated people in my choir. We're learning together.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

23 November - Feast of Christ the King - Proper 29

Here are my usual lists of music.

St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played my usual 10.30 am service. As usual, numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

The Feast of Christ the King: Rite II
Prelude: Selections from Missa Oecumenica (R. Proulx)*
Pro: 494, Crown him with many crowns (DIADEMATA)
Song of Praise: S-236 (Benedictus es, Domine; J. Rutter)
Psalm: Psalm 100 (Ford, plainsong Mode 1)
Seq: 609, Where cross the crowded ways of life (GARDINER)
Off: 377, All people that on earth do dwell (OLD 100TH)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-167, The disciples knew the Lord Jesus (M. Martens; Mode 6)
Comm: 460, Alleluia! sing to Jesus! (HYFRYDOL)
Re: 544, Jesus shall reign where'er the sun (DUKE STREET)
Postlude: Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (P. Manz)

* I'm doing it again - the sort of "subliminal" planting of music into peoples' brains. I am planning to introduce Proulx' Missa Oecumenica for the service music for Advent. Hopefully by the time we get to the First Sunday of Advent, the people will have the tune in their minds. I'm not worried about the Sanctus, which has the tune based on 560 from the hymnal (BEATITUDES, based on Russian Orthodox chant), but hopefully they'll have the tune for the Trisagion and the Agnus Dei in mind (based on Archangelsky's tune).

Next week, we start in on this service music. Hopefully the melodies are burnt into the peoples' brains ... but at least they will have four Sundays with this music.


The Episcopal Centre at Duke University. This is the last "regular" service of the semester as the next time we come together, which will be on the Second Sunday of Advent, December 7, we will be celebrating Advent Lessons and Carols. Speaking of which - if you're in the area, and if you're not planning to go to the Duke Chapel Choir's third performance of Handel's Messiah at Duke Chapel, please consider coming to the Episcopal Centre, located right next to Campus Police, and across the street from the Ronald McDonald House on Alexander St. It will start at 5.00 pm, and we eventually end with a hymn sing. There should be enough merriment to send the students off into their final exams and the Christmas hols.

The Feast of Christ the King: Rite II
Prelude: Improvisation on Old 100th
Pro: 494, Crown him with many crowns (DIADEMATA)
Gloria: S-278 (Mathias)
Psalm: Ps 123, recited
Seq: 609, Where cross the crowded ways of life (GARDINER)
Off: 377, All people that on earth do dwell (OLD 100TH)
Sanctus: S-128 (Mathias)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Comm: WLP 831, Ubi Caritas (Taizé)
Re: 544, Jesus shall reign where'er the sun (DUKE STREET)
Postlude: Improvisation on Hyfrydol

Yes. The postlude was done by request. :)


Compline at Chapel of the Cross.

I was exceedingly happy that I was able to sing Compline! I sang with the altos since I certainly didn't have the soprano range back. Thanks again to Ali for providing the lists of music while I was away.

We've been using the Order for Compline, as set by David Hurd.

Here are our little additions:

Domine fac mecum (Thomas Morley)
Psalms 31 and 134 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: To you before the close of day (TE LUCIS ANTE TERMINUM, plainsong Mode 8)
In manus tuas (Sheppard; sung in addition to "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit ...)
Nunc Dimittis from Short Service (O. Gibbons)
Salve Regina (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Tomas Luis de Victoria)
Organ Voluntary by the equally abfab Van Quinn.


Van improvised on themes from both Salve Regina, as well as the hymn "To you before the close of day". This will be the last week we'll be chanting the Salve Regina as the antiphon changes to Alma Redemptoris Mater. We'll be chanting this up until Candlemas, or the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple.

I was feeling quite nostalgic as I listened to Van's improvisation. It made me realise how much I miss singing with the Senior Choir. I even mentioned it to Van, and his response: "I wish you could win the Lottery so that you can come back to us."

My voice still isn't back to normal, but at least it's definitely on the mend. I should be able to cantor at Immaculate Conception next Sunday morning. Until then ... to my American readers, have a Happy Thanksgiving, and we'll see you on the First Sunday of Advent.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Catching Up with the Organ-ic Chemist, Ver. 3.0

This is my third such post. (And oh, how appropriate that I have a Depeche Mode song playing in the background whilst typing this up ... especially as they released an album with a similar title ...)

Yes, I didn't post much, if anything this week. See that sweet four-legged creature on the right? I can always blame it on her. She answers to the name Opening-Night de la Grande Lande. She's a Belgian (Tervuren) Shepherd. She is very affectionate, and I had a lovely time sitting with her whilst her mummy was in California, visiting family and friends.

Since I was so remiss in my posting this week, I have a slew of them here, plus one writing-related post on LJ.

Here they are, in reverse chronological order.
Note: the picture was borrowed from Cadre Noir. Check them out, if only to ooh and aah at their photo gallery. And yes, you can see some of Opening Night's progeny.

Ahhhh, Salabat!

Last night at St Joseph's, I hosted a rehearsal of the service choir for the Simbang Gabi Mass that will take place at Immaculate Conception Church on Friday, Dec 19 at 7.00 pm. It was so cold and miserable outside that I started feeling a bit nostalgic for the times I sang with the Simbang Gabi choir at my home parish (St Charles) in San Diego. Choir call was at 4.30 am, and as I got to the church, one of the choristers would press a nice steaming cup of hot salabat into my cold hands. Salabat, by the way, is Filipino Ginger Tea. It's great for throat ailments and the like.

It is really simple to make. Before I opened up the church, I was in the parish kitchen, putting this together. I will admit that I guessed on the amounts, but all the compliments I received after choir practice told me that I did well. And, everyone was very surprised at how easy it was to make.

Salabat (Filipino Ginger Tea)

Approximately 4 oz ginger
8 cups water
1.5 cups brown sugar, packed

Combine all ingredients, bring to a boil, and then simmer.

Choir practice lasted for about 2 hours, and so the salabat was simmering over that period of time. I guessed on the sugar. I'd say start off with about a cup and then adjust upward from there. It was very soothing.

Speaking of Simbang Gabi ... please indulge my pimpage here. (Okay, bad choice of words, but anyway ...)

Here is a poster that advertises our Simbang Gabi Mass. If you're in the Central NC area and would like to experience this piece of Filipino Catholic culture, please do try to come 'round for this.

Concert Program - Andy Lang, organ

This was the second Bach's Lunch that I was able to attend this semester. It is also the last Bach's Lunch of the Fall Semester.

Andy Lang is the Director of the Office and Arts and Sciences Information Services ( OASIS) at UNC Chapel Hill, and also an organist. Here is what he played:

Dietrich Buxtehude: Præludium in C, BuxWV 136
J. S. Bach: Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 662
Larry Visser: Two Chorale Preludes on Lobe den Herren
  • Ornamented chorale
  • In Organo pleno
Jean-Adam Guilain: Suite du Deuxième ton
  • Plein Jeu
  • Tierce en taille
  • Duo
  • Basse de trompette
  • Flûtes
  • Dialogue


I'd never heard of Mr Lang, I'll admit. He said he usually goes to St Philip's Episcopal Church in Durham, so I figured the connection was through a mutual friend of ours, Eddie A., who is the Organist/Choirmaster there. But he did a wonderful job, and I particularly liked the Visser, as well as the Guilain. I thought his tempo on the Bach Leipzig chorale was a little slow, but then again, the friends I've heard play this (well, really as they were learning it) were taking it at a slightly faster tempo.

It's funny, when I saw Visser's name, I immediately thought of a quote I had placed on my Facebook page that goes like this:

Ed: "How many organists are there?"
Visser: "About half of them, Ed; the rest are note machines."

And that was something I got off one of the organ-centred listservs I subscribe to.

Well. I certainly hope to run into Mr Lang at other organ-related events in the area.

16 November - 27th Sunday After Pentecost - Proper 28

I haven't been blogging for a while, and so now I am playing catch up.

St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played my usual 10.30 am service. As usual, numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

The Twenty-seventh Sunday after Pentecost: Rite II
Prelude: Selections from Missa Oecumenica (R. Proulx)*
Pro: 9, Not for high and holy things (MORNING SONG)
Song of Praise: S-236 (Benedictus es, Domine; J. Rutter)
Psalm: Psalm 123 (Guimont)
Seq: 536, Open your ears, O faithful people (YISRAEL V'ORAITA)**
Off: 59, Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding (MERTON)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-167, The disciples knew the Lord Jesus (M. Martens; Mode 6)
Comm: 490, I want to walk as a child of the light (HOUSTON)
Re: 551, Rise up, ye saints of God! (FESTAL SONG)
Postlude: Voluntary in F Major, Op. 7, No. 10 (J. Stanley)

* I'm doing it again - the sort of "subliminal" planting of music into peoples' brains. I am planning to introduce Proulx' Missa Oecumenica for the service music for Advent. Hopefully by the time we get to the First Sunday of Advent, the people will have the tune in their minds. I'm not worried about the Sanctus, which has the tune based on 560 from the hymnal (BEATITUDES, based on Russian Orthodox chant), but hopefully they'll have the tune for the Trisagion and the Agnus Dei in mind (based on Archangelsky's tune). Variations on this theme will be my prelude music for the next four Sundays.

** It's funny. Once I realised I programmed this piece, I started laughing. We discussed this in a workshop led by the very affable Rev. Dr. Richard Pfaff, who is a priest-associate at Chapel of the Cross and also Professor Emeritus at UNC Chapel Hill's History department. We were discussing the structure of this hymn, and those in attendance admit they've not heard it used much in church services. And yet, here I was, programming it for St Joseph's. Because of the way the sequence hymn is divided at St Joseph's (all by the last verse is sung as sequence whilst the very last verse is sung as the Gospel Procession processes back to the chancel), I had the very acute sense that I didn't exactly choose the sequence hymn very well. The message of the hymn was quite incongruous with that of the Gospel (the slaves and the talents, Mt 25:14-30). Oh well. Better luck next time?

Despite my self-chastisement, I did receive compliments from people, and much to my surprise, the one hymn they all were exceedingly happy to sing was that sequence hymn. I guess I'll say no more. I must be hard to please.


The Episcopal Centre at Duke University

The Twenty-seventh Sunday after Pentecost: Rite II
Prelude: Voluntary in F Major, Op. 7 No. 10 (Largo Staccato; J. Stanley)
Pro: 9, Not for high and holy things (MORNING SONG)
Gloria: S-278 (Mathias)
Psalm: Ps 123, recited
Seq: 536, Open your ears, O faithful people (YISRAEL V'ORAITA)**
Off: 59, Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding (MERTON)
Sanctus: S-128 (Mathias)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Comm: WLP 831, Ubi Caritas (Taizé)
Re: 551, Rise up, ye saints of God! (FESTAL SONG)
Postlude: Voluntary in F Major, Op. 7 No. 10 (Vivace; J. Stanley)


Compline at Chapel of the Cross.

For the third week in a row, I had to get the list from one of my fellow Compline choristers as I was still battling laryngitis. The voice is there, but the singing voice ... let's say that I could probably sing a very limited tenor if I was lucky. Many thanks to Ali C. for providing the list.

We've been using the Order for Compline, as set by David Hurd.

Here are our little additions:

O Lord, the maker (at ca. 5m 10s; William Mundy)
Psalm 91 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: Christ, mighty Saviour (CHRISTE, LUX MUNDI, plainsong Mode 7)
In manus tuas (Sheppard; sung in addition to "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit ...)
Nunc Dimittis from Short Service (O. Gibbons)
Salve Regina (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Robert Parsons)
Organ Voluntary by the abfab David Arcus.

Thanks again, Ali! As of this writing, the laryngitis is clearing up, and I am able to sing ... the question is, will I be an alto or a soprano come Sunday? I suppose we'll find out then ...

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Spaghetti Magic in the Kitchen

This morning, I decided to have a look at my pantry to see what I have on the shelves, as well as poke through my freezer and see what items I have lurking in there. Everything I used in this recipe, I was able to pull from my kitchen. It makes plenty enough to feed an army ... or myself for quite a while. And it's easy, too.

Spaghetti

1 medium onion, diced
As many cloves of garlic as you can stand (I used 5. I'd say no less than 2.)
3/4 lb sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
1 large can stewed Italian style tomatoes
1 small can tomato paste
Approx. 1/4-1/3 c water (I used that to rinse the tomato paste can)
1/4 tsp sugar
Salt, pepper to taste
red pepper flakes (optional)
1 lb package of spaghetti

In a large pot, bring water to boil and follow package instructions on preparing the spaghetti noodles.

In another pot, cover the bottom surface with olive oil. Add the sausage and brown, breaking it up into pieces with the back of a wooden spoon or a fork. When browned, remove to another plate, but leave the drippings in the pan. Add the red pepper flakes, if desired, and then add the onions and saute over medium heat until softened. Add the garlic, raise the heat to high, and saute for about a minute or so. Add the sausage back into the pot and heat for a minute or two. Add the stewed tomatoes, liquid and all, and break up with the wooden spoon or fork. Then add, stirring slowly, the tomato paste, and when incorporated, add the water to the can to rinse it out and add the rinse to the pot. Add the sugar and stir. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and if you wish, add some dried herbs such as oregano, basil, etc.

Drain the spaghetti, and then add to the pan and incorporate. Add a bit of the pasta water if everthing seems a bit too dry. Heat for a couple of minutes more and remove from heat. If you wish to add fresh herbs, now is the time to do it - for example, freshly chopped basil, oregano, parsley, etc. (I happen to have these herbs growing downstairs so it's easy for me to harvest what I need.)

Serve immediately.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Concert Program - Thomas Bloom, organ

This was the first Bach's Lunch that I was able to attend this semester.

Tom Bloom is a regular at these Bach's Lunches, and he gave a wonderful program. Here is what he played:

Pierre du Mage: Livre d'Orgue [1708]
  • Plein Jeu
  • Fugue
  • Trio
  • Tierce en Taille
  • Basse de Trompette
  • Récit
  • Duo
  • Grand Jeu

François-Clément Théodore Dubois: Douze Pièces [1889]: 12. Grand Choeur

He gave a nice performance of the du Mage, very well executed and articulated. As for the Dubois: hearing the zimbelstern at the end was a pleasant surprise, but I wish Tom wasn't so conservative in his registration. Otherwise, he gave a wonderful 30 minute recital, as he usually does.

9 November - 26th Sunday after Pentecost - Proper 27


***sniffle sniffle***

I'm still feeling a little sick. Because my voice is not completely back, I've had to back out of cantoring the 7.45 am Mass for Immaculate Conception Church. Here is the music that was done there. As usual, the numbers come out of GIA's Gather Comprehensive 1994 (green cover):

Sunday 7.45 am Mass: The Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Gloria: 176 (Andrews)
Gospel Acclamation: 257, Alleluia 7 (Berthier).
Sanctus, Mem. Accl., Amen, Agnus Dei: Mass of Light

Pro: 662, Christ is made the sure foundation (ST THOMAS (Wade))
Psalm: 78, Psalm 84 (Gelineau)
Off: 771, Jerusalem, my happy home (LAND OF REST)
Comm: Organist's Voluntary
Re: 568, Father, we thank thee, who hast planted (RENDEZ À DIEU)


St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played my usual 10.30 am service. As usual, numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

The Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost: Rite II
Prelude: Selections from Missa Oecumenica (R. Proulx)*
Pro: 11, Awake my soul, and with the sun (MORNING HYMN)
Song of Praise: S-236 (Benedictus es, Domine; J. Rutter)
Psalm: Psalm 78 (Guimont)
Seq: 61, "Sleepers, wake!" A voice astounds us (WACHET AUF)
Off: 195, Jesus lives! thy terrors now (MOWSLEY)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-167, The disciples knew the Lord Jesus (M. Martens; Mode 6)
Comm: 324, Let all mortal flesh keep silence (PICARDY, with descant by J. Clokey)
Re: 436, Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates (TRURO)
Postlude: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (F. Mendelssohn)**

* I'm doing it again - the sort of "subliminal" planting of music into peoples' brains. I am planning to introduce Proulx' Missa Oecumenica for the service music for Advent. Hopefully by the time we get to the First Sunday of Advent, the people will have the tune in their minds. I'm not worried about the Sanctus, which has the tune based on 560 from the hymnal (BEATITUDES, based on Russian Orthodox chant), but hopefully they'll have the tune for the Trisagion and the Agnus Dei in mind (based on Archangelsky's tune). Variations on this theme will be my prelude music for the next four Sundays.

** I was accompanied by Rob on bass guitar. Unusual, yes? But it's working out between us, and Rob was quite happy that I asked him to play alongside me. I'm working out some other pieces in which we can play together.

The Episcopal Centre at Duke University

The Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost: Rite II
Prelude: Selections from Missa Oecumenica (R. Proulx)*
Pro: 11, Awake my soul, and with the sun (MORNING HYMN)
Gloria: S-278 (Mathias)
Psalm: Ps 78, recited
Seq: 61, "Sleepers, wake!" A voice astounds us (WACHET AUF)
Off: 195, Jesus lives! thy terrors now (MOWSLEY)
Sanctus: S-128 (Mathias)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Comm: WLP 831, Ubi Caritas (Taizé)
Re: 436, Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates (TRURO)
Postlude: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (F. Mendelssohn)

Compline at Chapel of the Cross.

For the second week in a row, I had to get the list from one of my fellow Compline choristers as I had a sore throat and didn't have much of a singing voice. It also sounds like I wasn't the only one out sick - Ali tells me that there were 14 men and 4 women present (!!!!). I'm sure they managed despite the reduced treble voice ranks. Many thanks to Ali C. for providing the list.

We've been using the Order for Compline, as set by David Hurd.

Here are our little additions:

Domine fac mecum (Thomas Morley)
Psalms 31 and 134 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: To you before the close of day (TE LUCIS ANTE TERMINUM, plainsong Mode 8)
In manus tuas (Sheppard; sung in addition to "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit ...)
Nunc Dimittis from Short Service (O. Gibbons)
Salve Regina (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Tomas Luis de Victoria)
Organ Voluntary by the equally abfab Van Quinn.

Thanks again, Ali! As of this writing, the sore throat is almost gone, but laryngitis is still there, so I, in all likelihood, will probably not be singing this Sunday's Compline service. But I again will endeavour to get the music for this Sunday so I can report it in this space, as usual ... with a little help from my friends.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Miscellaneous Monday

This is my free-thought post. I originally thought of calling it my personal kvetching board, but it certainly won't have the same amount of venom as that I sometimes see at The Daily Tar Heel. And besides, I really only have one complaint in mind.

I was driving back from the post office, and I was driving behind one of the Duke University Transit buses. I was on Main Street, on the southern border of East Campus, and approaching the Campus Drive entrance. I noticed the bus slowing down, and I figured the driver would take that left turn onto Campus Drive. But did he give a signal? No! Not until he was in the process of turning did he finally put his turn signal on! That I found exceedingly irritating.

Okay, kvetch over. I had the interesting opportunity to watch a pair of podcasts being created this morning. Fr Roderick Vonhögen was uStreaming today whilst recording his podcasts. I came in as he was recording a podcast in Dutch. I never heard Dutch being spoken before, and I was fascinated. It's always neat to listen to other languages being spoken. Fr Roderick doesn't have an accent when he speaks English, or rather, he has a very slight accent that you'll have to listen hard for, and according to his website, he is fluent in six languages. It was fascinating to listen and watch him at work, and there was also real-time chat going on in the side as well with a very interesting group of people. One fellow was in the Netherlands, where Fr Roderick is based, then there was the "displaced Floridian" currently living in Northern Japan, whingeing on about the cold ... we were privy to the technical problems Fr Roderick was experiencing whilst uploading his Dutch podcast ... and then I watched him record his Daily Breakfast podcast. It was so cool that we helped him title his podcast, which he eventually called "Holy Snow, Batman!" (Barb in Nebraska gave the initial idea.) It was the coolest thing.

I first heard of Fr Roderick because of his Secrets of Harry Potter podcasts. So for me it was a special treat to be able to see him at work. He stopped the live stream after he successfully uploaded the Daily Breakfast podcast and announced he was going to figure out what he wanted for dinner.

Here's an Only in the South observation: I admit I had a craving for a Cook Out Tray this afternoon. What did I notice on the cup? "God Bless America" and a bible verse, Proverbs 1:7 - "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction fools despise." I've not seen anything like it before.

In the meantime ... I was happy to receive a parcel in my mailbox - ten copies of a lovely Christmas piece called "How Sweet is Love", with words taken from a ca. 16th century Dutch carol, and set to music by Michael Paget. I'm working my choir through this piece, which I believe we'll do for both the Christmas Eve service, as well as for Lessons and Carols, which we'll have for the First Sunday after Christmas (28 December).

I'm getting more involved with the Filipino community here. A Filipino Franciscan priest, Fr Julian, arrived in the Triangle during the summer, having been assigned his first parish (he was recently ordained a priest), and he is injecting a lot of new energy and ideas into the minds of the Filipino community here. We've been meeting regularly to plan the Simbang Gabi Mass that will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church at 7.00 pm, December 19. In the past, we've had this Mass early in the morning, 5.30 am, but this year, we decided on an evening Mass, so it will truly be Simbang Gabi (literally, "Night Mass"). As in the past, I was asked to plan the music and the liturgy for this Mass. I'll post the line-up we'll use for this Mass when the time gets closer, but I am hoping that the choir will be able to pick up the new pieces. Well, maybe not so new; I'm proposing the Hontiveros setting of the Magnificat for Offertory, mainly because the Gospel appointed for that day will be the Angel Gabriel delivering his message to Mary that she will deliver a child.

Oh, oops. I just nipped over to the USCCB website for the Readings/Psalms/etc. and just realised Gabriel was delivering a different message to Zechariah, husband of Elizabeth (who is Mary's cousin), with that message being Elizabeth, who was barren for a long time, would be carrying a son (John the Baptist). Oops.

Oh well. I admit that I imposed my will here. In the past, the choir had sung "O tahimik na daigdig" (Silent Night in Tagalog) for Offertory, and my feeling was, we really should not be singing Christmas carols whilst still in Advent. Well, I still think the Magnificat would be a good choice for Offertory. Of course, some of my Liturgical Music snob friends might disagree with me. Such is life.

So I'm going to sit here and finish up the minutes from our last Simbang Gabi planning meeting so I can upload it to our group page ... and then answer some of the questions that popped up in my mailbox. Yes, my voice is still not completely back, but at least it is getting better. So thanks to my Facebook friends for all your get-well wishes. I am hoping to get my singing voice back soon. I really miss singing Compline.

Peace and love to all ...

The Nudder Meme

(Image borrowed from jaegamer over at LiveJournal. The meme sheep idea comes from my writing friend JunoMagic.)

This meme was stolen from JunoMagic via a most interesting blog called Sunday Stealing. They "steal" all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere.

So here is the meme. Feel free to steal this from me.

The Nudder Meme

1. Who did you spend at least two hours with today?

Erm. Well, I could have answered this question more easily yesterday. As for today - if I'm feeling up to it, I'll be spending that much amount of time with members of the Central NC chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

2. What do you look forward to most in the next six weeks?

Advent and Christmas. I'm being a little ambitious as far as programming music for my choir is concerned. I'm sure they will be up to the challenge. :)

3. Who was the last person you called?

Despite my lack of voice, Mike H., dealing with AGO-related items.

4. What were you doing at 12am last night?

Trying to sleep. Fortunately (or unfortunately), a Muse decided to visit me whilst I was trying to sleep. You can read the results of that visit here.

5. Are your parents married/divorced?

They are married, 40 years as of 12 October.

6. When did you last see your mom?

It's been too long.

7. What are you wearing right now?

A black UCSD sweatshirt, and black trousers.

8. Where is your favorite place to be?

Any church that has a really nice pipe organ that I can play.

9. Where is your least favorite place to be?

Stuck in traffic jams.

10. Where would you go if you could go anywhere?

Hmmmm. I would not mind going back to Manila to visit with relatives. But I'd love to go back to Spain so I could explore more properly than I did the last time I was there.

11. Where do you think you'll be in 10 years?

Hmmm. To answer this, let me quote my favourite actor, Alan Rickman: "I've never been able to plan my life. I just lurch from indecision to indecision. It's just a matter of the next sandpit to climb into."

12. What was the last thing that really made you laugh?

I'm watching Fr Roderick Vonhögen via his uStream. He is funny, and there is real-time chat going on at the same time.

13. What cities/towns/villages have you lived in?

Hmmm. Charleston, SC; San Diego, CA; Long Beach, CA; Waltham, MA; Worcester, MA; Durham, NC. All in the USA.

14. Are you a social person?

I'm not the most gregarious person in the world. I'm more of an introvert.

15. Do you sleep alone?

For the moment.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

2 November - All Saints' Day (transferred)

These lists come quite late because I've been sick. (Those of you who have been following my Facebook page have probably had enough of my whingeing.)

Here are my usual lists.

St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played my usual 10.30 am service. As usual, numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

All Saints' Day: Reaffirmation of Baptism and Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Prelude: Selections from Missa Oecumenica (R. Proulx)*
Pro: 287, For all the saints (SINE NOMINE)
Psalm: Psalm 34 (Barrett)
Seq: 440, Blessed Jesus, at thy word (LIEBSTER JESU)
Off: 618, Ye watchers and ye holy ones (LASST UNS ERFREUEN)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-167, The disciples knew the Lord Jesus (M. Martens; Mode 6)
Comm: 560, Remember your servants, Lord (BEATITUDES)
Re: 557, Rejoice, ye pure in heart! (VINEYARD HAVEN)
Postlude: For All the Saints (W. Held)

* I'm doing it again - the sort of "subliminal" planting of music into peoples' brains. I am planning to introduce Proulx' Missa Oecumenica for the service music for Advent. Hopefully by the time we get to the First Sunday of Advent, the people will have the tune in their minds. I'm not worried about the Sanctus, which has the tune based on 560 from the hymnal (BEATITUDES, based on Russian Orthodox chant), but hopefully they'll have the tune for the Trisagion and the Agnus Dei in mind (based on Archangelsky's tune). Variations on this theme will be my prelude music for the next four Sundays.

The Episcopal Centre at Duke University

All Saints' Day: Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Prelude: Selections from Missa Oecumenica (R. Proulx)
Pro: 287, For all the saints (SINE NOMINE)
Gloria: S-278 (Mathias)
Psalm: Ps 78, recited
Seq: 440, Blessed Jesus, at thy word (LIEBSTER JESU)
Off: 618, Ye watchers and ye holy ones (LASST UNS ERFREUEN)
Sanctus: S-128 (Mathias)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Comm: 560, Remember your servants, Lord (BEATITUDES)
Re: 557, Rejoice, ye pure in heart! (VINEYARD HAVEN)
Postlude: For All the Saints (W. Held; modified so I could play it on the little one-manual, 3-stop Holtkamp that lives in the Episcopal Centre)

Compline at Chapel of the Cross.

I had to get the list from one of my fellow Compline choristers as I had a sore throat and didn't have much of a singing voice. Many thanks to Ali C. for providing the list.

We've been using the Order for Compline, as set by David Hurd.

Here are our little additions:

Lord, for thy tender mercy's sake (R. Farrant)
Psalm 91 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: Christ, mighty Saviour (CHRISTE, LUX MUNDI, plainsong Mode 7)
In manus tuas (Sheppard; sung in addition to "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit ...)
Nunc Dimittis from Short Service (O. Gibbons)
Salve Regina (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Tomas Luis de Victoria)
Organ Voluntary by the abfab David Arcus.

Thanks again, Ali! As of this writing, the sore throat is getting better (thanks to ibuprofen and saline gargles) but laryngitis has set in, so I, in all likelihood, will probably not be singing this Sunday's Compline service either. But I will endeavour to get the music for this Sunday so I can report it in this space, as usual ... with a little help from my friends.