29 March - Fifth Sunday in Lent

Goodness. Fifth Sunday in Lent already!!! Time flies ...

Here are my usual lists.

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

Fifth Sunday in Lent: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Lamb of God, Pure and Sinless (D. Cherwien)
Pro: 495, Hail, thou once despised Jesus! (IN BABILONE)
Kyrie: S-91 Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (Willan)
Psalm: Psalm 51 (Tone II.1)
Seq: 474, When I survey the wondrous cross (ROCKINGHAM)
Off: 709, O God of Bethel, by whose hand (DUNDEE)
Sanctus: S-124 New Plainsong (D. Hurd)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-161 New Plainsong (D. Hurd)
Communion Anthem: Create in me a clean heart (arr. P. Christiansen)
Communion Hymn: 439, What wondrous love is this (WONDROUS LOVE)
Re: 473, Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim (CRUCIFER)


Episcopal Centre at Duke University

Fifth Sunday in Lent: Holy Eucharist Rite I
Prelude: Create in me a clean heart (arr. P. Christiansen)
Kyrie: S-91 Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (Willan)
Psalm: Psalm 119 (recited)
Seq: 474, When I survey the wondrous cross (ROCKINGHAM)
Off: 709, O God of Bethel, by whose hand (DUNDEE)
Sanctus: S-114 Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (Willan)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-158 Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (Willan)
Comm: 439, What wondrous love is this (WONDROUS LOVE)
Re: 473, Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim (CRUCIFER)

Services for Palm Sunday and Holy Week will be held jointly between St Joseph's and the Episcopal Centre, so there will only be one set of music listed for the next few services.


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

Here are our little additions:

Hide not thou thy face (Richard Farrant)
Psalms 4 & 134 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: To you before the close of day (TE LUCIS ANTE TERMINUM, Mode 8)
In manus tuas (Sheppard; sung in addition to "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit ...)
Nunc Dimittis (fauxbourdon, H. Willan)
Ave Regina Cælorum (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Tomas Luis de Victoria)

There was no organ voluntary. The weather outside was rather frightful - heavy winds really, and the electricity went out as the choir was singing the Nunc Dimittis. No, I didn't sing - my voice was too hoarse, and I had no upper range to speak of. So the end of the service truly was held by candlelight, with choir members scrambling to collect the votive candles that were scattered throughout the church. The service was beautiful, as usual.

22 March - Fourth Sunday in Lent

Lætáre Jerúsalem:
et convéntum fácite
ómnes qui dilígitis éam:
gaudéte cum lætítia,
qui in tristítia fuístis:
ut exsultétis, et satiémini
abubéribus consolatiónis véstræ.

Yes, we are half-way through Lent. Last Sunday was Lætare Sunday, so-named after the Introit of the day, which I've reproduced for you above (Rejoice, O Jerusalem: and come together all you that love her: rejoice with joy you that have been in sorrow: that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your consolation).

Here are my usual lists.

My turn for cantoring came up at Immaculate Conception. Any numbers you see come out of GIA's Gather Comprehensive 1994 (green cover).

Sunday 7.45 am Mass: Fourth Sunday of Lent: Lætare Sunday
Prelude: Herzlich tut mich verlangen (J. Brahms)
Opening Hymn: 384, Forty days and forty nights (HEINLEIN)
Kyrie: 175, chanted ably by Fr Bill
Psalm: 30, Psalm 23, (antiphon by Gelineau; verses set to Tone V)
Gospel Acclamation: 160-A, Mass of Creation (M Haugen)
Offertory: 852, At that first Eucharist before you died (UNDE ET MEMORES)
Sanctus: 180, People's Mass
Mem. Accl., Amen: 181-182, Danish Amen Mass
Agnus Dei: 184, Agnus Dei XVIII (in English)
Communion: 387, Attende Domine (plainsong, Mode V)
Song of Thanksgiving: 878, The Master came to bring good news (ICH GLAUB AN GOTT)
Postlude: Vater unser in Himmelreich, BWV 737 (J.S. Bach)

Usually, whenever I cantor, I usually cede the chanting of the Kyrie to the priest, unless he specifically requests for me to chant it. This was the first time I cantored a Mass celebrated by Fr Bill (I've played Masses with him celebrating before, but not cantoring). He was surprised and delighted that I asked him to chant the Kyrie. So he took a quick look at #175, and said, "Yes, I can do this."

Then when he chanted it – he did the first line perfectly ("Lord have mercy" – B-flat – G – G – F – G), and managed with the second line ("Christ have mercy" – B-flat – A – B-flat – G – A – B-flat). However, he hesitated on the third line. As I looked at him agonise over how he was going to chant line 3, I started chanting in my head, "Just do line 1 over again, Fr Bill!" He eventually figured it out, and did exactly that. Jane (the organist) and I exchanged a smile as he did that.

Oh, and if you're curious as to why we used Year A readings as opposed to Year B readings: I've got four letters for you: RCIA. :)

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

Fourth Sunday in Lent: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Adagio-Allegro, Voluntary in e minor, Op. 7, No. 7 (J. Stanley)
Pro: 686, Come, thou fount of every blessing (NETTLETON)
Kyrie: S-91 Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (Willan)
Psalm: Psalm 107 (Tone II.1)
Seq: 706, In your mercy, Lord, you called me (HALTON HOLGATE)
Off: 671, Amazing grace! how sweet the sound (NEW BRITAIN)
Sanctus: S-124 New Plainsong (D. Hurd)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-161 New Plainsong (D. Hurd)
Communion Anthem: God so loved the world (J. Stainer)
Re: 448, O love, how deep, how broad, how high (DEUS TUORUM MILITUM)

Please, no rotten tomatoes over my choice of Offertory Hymn! Every once in a while, for the sake of being pastoral, I'll have to step out of my comfort zone, and Amazing Grace is definitely out of mine, as far as playing it is concerned. The congregation sang it very heartily though, so I suppose that justifies, in my mind, my choosing it.


Services at Episcopal Centre at Duke University resumed with an Instructed Eucharist.

Fourth Sunday in Lent: Holy Eucharist Rite I
Prelude: God so loved the world (J. Stainer)
Kyrie: S-91 Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (Willan)
Psalm: Psalm 107 (recited)
Seq: 686, Come, thou fount of every blessing (NETTLETON)
Off: 671, Amazing grace! how sweet the sound (NEW BRITAIN)
Sanctus: S-114 Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (Willan)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-158 Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (Willan)
Comm: 455, O Love of God, how strong and true (DUNEDIN)
Re: 448, O love, how deep, how broad, how high (DEUS TUORUM MILITUM)

It was indeed a very interesting service. The students participated in the Crop Walk, so our friends Kate and Monty Reichert and Fred Hawkins provided dinner for afters. Many thanks to them for that!


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

Here are our little additions:

Hide not thou thy face (Richard 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 Evening Service (Farrant)
Ave Regina Cælorum (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Robert Parsons)
Organ Voluntary by the abfab David Arcus.

A Bach Birthday #324

As an organist, I would be quite remiss if I didn't acknowledge that today is the 324th anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach's birth.

I suppose this would be a good place to publicise this: next Sunday, 29 March, at 7.00 pm, the Senior Choir at Chapel of the Cross, accompanied by chamber orchestra, will be presenting a Solemn Evensong featuring Cantata 131, Aus der Tiefe.


Featured works include:

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Cantata 131, Aus der Tiefe (Bach’s earliest cantata?)
• Orlando Gibbons: Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (“Short Service”)
• William Byrd: Miserere mei
• Johann Sebastian Bach: Aus tiefer Not (Klavierübung, III)

Free (donations accepted) and open to the public.

The Chapel of the Cross is located beside the Morehead Planetarium at UNC Chapel Hill. For further information, call 919-929-2193 or email Van Quinn.

Because of my position with St Joseph's, I no longer sing with the Senior Choir; however, you can bet that I'll be there to listen and to silently cheer my fellow choristers as they present this wonderful evening of music.

A very happy birthday indeed to Mr Bach.

How are you celebrating Bach's birthday?

19 March - Feast of St Joseph

Happy Feast of St Joseph's!

Okay, if I had started this post 17 minutes earlier, then I could say that.

We had a small crowd but we still had a nice service. With that, the list.

St. Joseph's Episcopal Church

Feast of St Joseph: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Mass for the Convents: Plein jeu and Récit de Chromhorne (François Couperin)
Pro: 260, Come now, and praise the humble saint (TALLIS' ORDINAL)
Trisagion: S-100 New Plainsong (D. Hurd)
Psalm: Psalm 89 (Guimont)
Seq: 587, Our Father, by whose Name (RHOSYMEDRE)
Off: 262, By the Creator, Joseph was appointed (BICKFORD)
Sanctus: S-124 New Plainsong (D. Hurd)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-161 New Plainsong (D. Hurd)
Communion Hymn: Gather Comprehensive 749, In Christ there is a table set for all (CENÉDIUS)
Re: 231, By all your saints still striving (KING'S LYNN, using the St. Joseph's stanza for verse 2)

Yes, this is essentially the same slate of music that I programmed last year. It worked then; I figured it works now.

15 March - Third Sunday in Lent

*iz late*

And the only thing I can do is plead laziness. Oh, and the fact that cold symptoms seemed to have manifested itself early Wednesday morning.

I know. That is no excuse. Here are my usual lists.

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

Third Sunday in Lent: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 610 (J.S. Bach)
Pro: 409, The spacious firmament on high (CREATION)
Kyrie: S-91 Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (Willan)
Psalm: Psalm 19 (Tone II.1)
Seq: 313, Let thy Blood in mercy poured (JESUS, MEINE ZUVERSICHT)
Off: 148, Creator of the earth and skies (UFFINGHAM)
Sanctus: S-124 New Plainsong (D. Hurd)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-161 New Plainsong (D. Hurd)
Communion Hymn: WLP 747, God the sculptor of the mountains (Urbis beata, Sarum Plainsong Mode II)
Re: 143, The glory of these forty days (ERHALT UNS, HERR)


Episcopal Centre at Duke University didn't have a service because the students were just coming back from their Spring Break. Services resume on the 22nd for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, when an Instructed Eucharist is planned.


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

Here are our little additions:

Nolo mortem peccatoris (Thomas Morley)
Psalms 4 & 31 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: To you before the close of day (TE LUCIS ANTE TERMINUM, Mode 8)
In manus tuas (Sheppard; sung in addition to "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit ...)
Nunc Dimittis (fauxbourdon, H. Willan)
Ave Regina Cælorum (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Robert Parsons)
Organ Voluntary by the abfab David Arcus.

Something to keep in mind when I'm at parties ...

Hymn tune BRESLAU: rhythmic variations

I recently posted my music list for Lent I, in which I jokingly mentioned the hymn tune "BRESLAU, almost". My co-conspirator Lyn made a comment asking just what the heck I meant by "almost"; this made me ponder my choice of words…

And I started to wonder: what do most people think of when they read the hymn tune name BRESLAU? What tune comes to your mind, gentle reader?

Most people would probably think of this version found at CCEH #554, also available from the new Calvin Hymnary Project or at TheCyberHymnal*. I say "most people" because it was the only version of the tune I could find online!

This tune is set in 6/4 time.

However, if you're from Canada – and you are lucky – you will know and love the Catholic Book of Worship II. Perhaps some other time I'll rant and rave in detail about the CBWII, but today I will only mention #485: Take Up Your Cross, which is also called BRESLAU, but clearly isn't.

That is because the CBWII version has been converted by some mysterious person into common time, and the last three bars are noticeably different. Why they did this, I don't know. Both versions are pleasant and useful, but the original (if it is the original!) certainly didn't need any modification.

For your viewing pleasure, here is a copy of the CBWII version of the hymn tune BRESLAU:

So, drop us a comment and let us know – which version do you remember?

And if you're the uncredited arranger in the CBWII, may I just ask: "Why?!"

* Please note that TheCyberHymnal has relocated to http://www.hymntime.com/tch/.

8 March - Second Sunday in Lent

Here is the list with the rest of the music I played this past weekend. If you want to see what I played at Immaculate Conception's Saturday Vigil Mass, click here.

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

Second Sunday in Lent: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sünde groß, BWV 622 (J.S. Bach)
Pro: 401, The God of Abraham praise (LEONI)
Kyrie: S-91 Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (Willan)
Psalm: Psalm 22:22-30 (Tone II.1)
Seq: 675, Take up your cross, the Savior said (BOURBON)
Off: 328, Draw nigh and take the Body of the Lord (SONG 46)
Sanctus: S-124 New Plainsong (D. Hurd)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-161 New Plainsong (D. Hurd)
Communion Anthem: A Prayer of St Richard of Chichester (L.J. White)
Communion Hymn: 707, Take my life, and let it be (HOLLINGSIDE)
Re: 636, How firm a foundation (FOUNDATION)


Episcopal Centre at Duke University didn't have a service because the students were on Spring Break. There won't be a service for the Third Sunday in Lent either as the students will just be returning.

Instead, I played a pair of services, whose lists are reproduced below.

Services at Carol Woods are organised by Chapel of the Cross. This was a simple service, really resembling the 8.00 am summer morning Rite I services at Chapel of the Cross, with a few omissions, depending upon the Presider of the Day.

Second Sunday in Lent: Holy Eucharist Rite I
Pro: 401, The God of Abraham praise (LEONI)
Psalm: Psalm 22 (recited)
Off: 675, Take up your cross, the Savior said (BOURBON)
Comm: Allegro from Voluntary in e minor, Op. 7, No. 7 (J. Stanley)
Re: 636, How firm a foundation (FOUNDATION)

I suppose programming music for this Sunday must have been quite straightforward as these three hymn selections, as chosen by Van Quinn, mirrored exactly what I chose for St Joseph's. Well, how could you not choose what I did for the Opening Hymn with the First reading (Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16) as well as what I chose for the Sequence Hymn, which matches very well the Gospel reading (Mark 8:31-38)?

Right after I finished at Carol Woods, I had to dash over to downtown Chapel Hill to play the 5.15 pm service at Chapel of the Cross. The Parish Choir also sang this service. Apparently, they had two anthems planned, but only sang the Offertory anthem because the Communion anthem didn't get printed in the bulletin, so I played a hymn instead after assuring Van I prepared it (fingers crossed behind my back. My "preparation" was ensuring it was in my service binder. I completely sight-read and bungled the alternate harmonisation, but oh well. The congregation still sang as if no mistakes happened).

With that, this list:

Second Sunday in Lent: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Adagio-Allegro, Voluntary in e minor, Op. 7, No. 7 (J. Stanley)
Pro: 401, The God of Abraham praise (LEONI)
Psalm: Psalm 22:22-30 (recited)
Seq: 675, Take up your cross, the Savior said (BOURBON)
Offertory Anthem: Create in me a clean heart, O God (C.F. Mueller)
Sanctus: S-125 Community Mass (R. Proulx)
Communion Hymn: 691, My faith looks up to thee (OLIVET)
Re: 636, How firm a foundation (FOUNDATION)
Postlude: O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sünde groß, BWV 622 (J.S. Bach)


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

Here are our little additions:

Tu solus qui facis mirabilia (Josquin Desprez)
Psalm 91 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: Christ, mighty Saviour (CHRISTE, LUX MUNDI, plainsong Mode 7)
Nunc Dimittis (fauxbourdon, H. Willan)
Ave Regina Cælorum (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Robert Parsons)
Organ Voluntary by the abfab David Arcus.

Gonna take a Sentimental Journey

Well, okay. It's not my sentimental journey, but more Fr Roderick Vonhögen's. Those of you who have heard of him know that he is a priest from Amersfoort in the Netherlands. He is also quite involved with Catholic New Media, being the founder of the SQPN family of Catholic podcasts and videocasts, etc.

He had also been quite involved with the Star Wars fandom as well. Nine years ago, he had a hand in developing a website he called Rebel Friends. He intended for this to be a site for kids. You can tell he was into the old text adventure games as I can see a lot of that influence in this work. (Okay, those of you who grew up in the 1980s: admit that you were into such text adventure games as Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy. I still have mine, complete with map. What a wonderful blast to the past! :) )

Last Saturday, Fr Roderick intended to record episodes of his popular podcast, Daily Breakfast. He generally records his podcasts on uStream, and lets us know when he'll be recording so we can flock to the chatroom. That's part of the fun - interacting with Fr Roderick and other regulars to the SQPN chatroom as he does his show preps and eventually his recordings.

His energy levels were rather low so he decided it would be a good day to hang out with the chatroom regulars. I can't remember what gave him the idea to revisit Rebel Friends, but he decided to give a virtual tour of this work, and it was a lot of fun to watch him click through the screens, as well as to display his work to all in the chatroom.

Unfortunately, he's been having some technical difficulties of late, and was disappointed that the recording of this charming virtual tour was apparently lost. In actuality, it wasn't lost - it's in amongst the SQPN video clips - if you look at Untitled Video SQPN 3, you will see it - approximately 51 minutes worth of video, including the tour, music he played whilst he dashed off to the supermarket shortly before its closing, and of all things, a discussion about soda and other soft drinks. Unfortunately, after a certain point, the video and the audio did not synchronise, with the video lagging behind the audio by approximately 4 minutes.

Despite that, it is still fun to watch, at least the bit where he's giving the virtual tour of his website. Just thought I'd blog on this just in case any one else is interested to take this sentimental journey with Fr Roderick.

A quiet Saturday evening supper with friends

I enjoyed a lovely Saturday evening supper with my friends, the Dorns, after Mass last Saturday evening. The Dorns are in their early 80s, spent the early years of their marriage as missionaries in the Philippines, and are now living in retirement. He was a Lutheran pastor, she was a schoolteacher and organist.

Erna made what she termed as a "Texas-style taco". It looked simple enough. I'm not sure how she prepared the minced beef, but it was flavourful. She doesn't use onions because, according to her, "I love onions, but onions don't love me." There were tomatoes, perhaps some garlic, a bit of spice so I suspect there was a touch of chilli powder there. Other components of this taco: shredded lettuce, grape tomatoes, and shredded mozzarella cheese. Ranch dressing was an option.

A handful of corn tortilla chips were crushed onto a plate, and a serving of the meat placed on top of that. Then a serving of lettuce, topped with tomatoes, cheese, and dressing. It was quite good, and seemed rather easy to put together.

I can also see having a bit of chopped jalapeño pepper added to this, or perhaps even topped with salsa, sour cream, etc. I thought this was reminiscent of nachos. It was nice.

As for dessert: inspired by Somigliana and JunoMagic, I tried the 5-minute coffee mug cake. I think Juno is experimenting with different flavours. I just stuck to chocolate. It is surprisingly easy, and makes a decent cake from raw materials to final product in 5 minutes. It's not something that you'd find from a fancy pastry shop; however, it gets major cool points for the novelty of being able to make a cake very quickly. I couldn't have the whole thing myself; it makes enough to feed, well, three. Louis, Erna, and I shared one of these, and added a couple of scoops of vanilla frozen yoghurt.

Here is the recipe I used. I noticed Somigliana's recipe indicates everything should be mixed in the mug, whereas Juno mixed everything in a separate bowl with electric mixer. I did everything by hand, but combined first the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients, then added dry to wet.

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
dash salt

Combine dry ingredients well in a bowl and set aside.

1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Combine the wet ingredients and mix well. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix well to incorporate. Fold in 3 tablespoons of chocolate chips (if using).

Pour into a coffee mug, place on a plate and put in the microwave oven. Cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts on high. (Increase the time if your microwave oven is of lower wattage.) The cake may rise over the top of the mug; hence the plate to prevent messes.

Allow to cool before serving.

And there you have it! I used what is probably more accurately described as a soup mug - it holds ca. 500 mL worth of liquid. So cake spillage was not an issue for me.

Enjoy! :)

7 March - Lent II

I subbed at the 5.30 pm Saturday Vigil Mass at Immaculate Conception. Unless indicated, the numbers you see come out of GIA's Gather Comprehensive 1994 (green cover).

Saturday 5.30 pm Mass: Second Sunday of Lent
Prelude: Adagio-Allegro, Voluntary in e minor, Op. 7, No. 7 (J. Stanley)
Opening Hymn: 515, Praise to you, O Christ, our Savior (B. Farrell)
Kyrie: 398, Hold us in your mercy: Penitential Litany (R. Cooney/G. Daigle)
Psalm: Flor y Canto 253, Psalm 116 (J. Cortez)
Gospel Acclamation: 266, Lenten Acclamation (M. Haugen)
Offertory: 507, I want to walk as a child of the light (HOUSTON)
Sanctus: 180, People's Mass (J. Vermulst)
Mem. Accl., Amen: 181-182, Danish Amen Mass (C. Frischmann/D. Krähenbühl)
Agnus Dei: 184, Agnus Dei XVIII (in English)
Communion: 504, I have loved you (M. Joncas); 695, Only this I want (D. Schutte)
Song of Thanksgiving: Speak, O Lord (K. Getty/S. Townend)
Postlude: O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sünde groß, BWV 622 (J.S. Bach)

I had 6 voices, one violin, one clarinet, and one oboe. I felt badly for the violinist though - we've had pretty strange weather lately, and it seemed to have affected the tuning in her violin. She tried her level best to tune it, but it would quickly lose its tuning. She's a very sweet girl, 8 years old IIRC, and she was so very disappointed that she couldn't play. So I told her she could always sing. She looked somewhat comforted by that.

Sigh. I really should try to get regular practice time on IC's Zimmer. I kept on missing pedal notes. It was rather embarrassing.

I will draw cantoring duties for Lent IV. Look for my IC list then.

Gee ... it's Ghee

Having experienced what a wonderful flavour the ghee added to the khichuri I made yesterday, I decided that I had to have some ghee for myself. I figured the cheapest way for me to get that would be to buy the butter and make it myself.

It's not that difficult. And it uses one of my favourite cooking methods - put it in the pot and forget about it.

All I needed was 1 lb unsalted butter and my strong-bottomed pot. I placed the butter in the pot, turned the heat on simmer, and let it go until I smelled a lovely nutty smell in the kitchen. (I think it went for a little over an hour ... perhaps it was closer to 1.5 hours ...)

There were three layers: a foam layer, a clear, golden liquid layer, and a solid layer on the bottom.

I want the clear golden layer - that is the ghee ("clarified butter"). I filtered it through a triple layer of cheesecloth into a bowl, and then transferred the contents to a Mason jar. I allowed the contents to cool before I capped it.

It should keep indefinitely at room temperature as long as it's covered and moisture is kept away from it.

You can cook with it, but I'll probably just use it to flavour food. The butter I used was the 365 brand from Whole Foods.

Khichuri and Cucumber Raita

A friend of mine rang me up yesterday and told me he was expected to fly in today. Knowing that he will have endured a long flight (Calcutta to Delhi, not so bad. Delhi to Chicago - now that's a loooong flight), I decided I was going to make dinner. Winter came roaring back into the Triangle area, dumping ca. 4 inches of snow, and it was really cold outside. Never mind that the sun was out for most of the day. So I decided that after a long flight and arriving back into the melting winter wonderland, comfort food would be the way to go. The Bengali version of comfort food is khichuri, which according to Bharti Kirchner in her book The Healthy Cuisine of India, literally means "a mixture of the unexpected". My friend tells me the charm of khichuri is that anything can go in it, as long as the dal/rice ratio is at least 2:1. He looked at the consistency of it and decided that I got it right. He also mentioned that he equates this dish with frightful weather, which includes monsoon rains and cold (for Calcutta in winter) weather.

I followed Kirchner's recipe, except for a few modifications on my part because I was missing those particular ingredients.

Khichuri

vegetable oil for frying
1/2 large onion, sliced thinly into half-moons

Heat oil in pan and add the onion slices. Fry over medium-low heat for ca. 6-8 minutes or until the onion is nicely brown and carmelised, but not burnt. Remove from pan and set aside for later use.

(N.B.: Kirchner characterises this step as "optional", especially if you want a lower-fat dish. I wouldn't skimp on this though. The onion when prepared this way adds a sweetness and a body of flavour to this dish.)

1/2 c rice (I used Basmati. Kirchner recommends brown rice, either short- or long-grain)
1 c musurir dal (red lentils)

Pick over for stones and other debris, and then wash. Allow to drain thoroughly.

vegetable oil for frying
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp kalo jeera (nigella seeds)
ca. 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger
ca. 1 tsp minced green chilli (I prefer the Thai variety)
1/4 tsp turmeric
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tomato, diced
1 1/2 c baby carrots, sliced into rounds
3 1/4 c water
2 tbsp lemon juice
ghee (clarified butter; optional)
hard boiled eggs, cut into wedges, to garnish (also optional)

(N.B.: in Kirchner's recipe, she calls for 1 c of sliced carrots and 1 c of cauliflower. Since I didn't have cauliflower, or green beans on hand, I just increased the sliced carrots by 1/2 cup. Also too - I didn't have any ginger, having used up the last for salabat. So I added 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger. My advice: go get the ginger. Ground ginger doesn't even begin to approximate the flavour of fresh ginger. Also: kalo jeera literally translates to "black cumin"; however it is my understanding that to Bengalis, it is not black cumin but instead is the nigella seed. If you can't find nigella seed, then try subbing with the black cumin, which I assume to be more readily available at your neighbourhood Indian store.)

Heat the oil, and add the bay leaf and the kalo jeera. When the leaf starts to turn brown, add the chilli and the ginger. (N.B.: to reduce the heat from the chilli, remove the seeds and the vein before you mince it.) Fry for about a minute or until the ginger is nicely browned. Add the turmeric, cumin, and coriander and fry for about a minute. Add the drained rice/dal mixture. (Do be sure it's dry, or you'll get an unpleasant surprise if water touches the oil. Believe me - turmeric is a very potent yellow dye!) Stir and fry for about a minute, coating the rice and dal with the mixture in the pan. Add salt, sugar, carrots, tomatoes, and water and bring to a boil. After the mixture comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low/simmer, cover and let cook for ca. 40 minutes or so.

Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and browned onion. Garnish with egg wedges (if using).

When serving, sprinkle a few drops of ghee. Believe me, it really adds a lot to the dish!

I'm going to try to make this again as I found cauliflower on sale at Kroger. (Speaking of which - at least in the Durham Krogers, they are selling ground turkey for $1.00/lb ... that, as far as I understand, is an excellent price for that.)

I thought of possible dishes that will go along with the khichuri. I quickly ruled out any meat dishes - the khichuri is protein-laden as it is already. I thought a nice raita would go along with it. I had cucumber and coriander leaves on hand, so here is the raita I whipped up.

Cucumber Raita

1 cucumber, peeled and cut into dice
2 tbsp coriander (cilantro) leaves, minced
2 c plain yoghurt
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp ground roasted cumin
pinch chilli powder

Into a bowl, pour 2 c plain yoghurt and stir until smooth. Stir in garlic, cumin, and chilli powder. Stir in cucumber and coriander leaves and mix until well-blended. Refrigerate before serving to ensure blending of flavours.

Those of you who know me in RL know I am a garlic fiend, but for this, I limited the garlic because I didn't want it to overpower this dish. This raita ended up being a really nice accompaniment to the khichuri.

I discussed this with my friend, and he said other things that will go well with the khichuri include fried vegetables (for example, begun bhaja or fried eggplant), scrambled egg, or fried hilsa (fish). I'll remember that for next time.

And there you have it. If you try this, please let me know what you think of it.

• Mood: cold
• Music: "It's Only A Paper Moon" - Ella Fitzgerald with The Ink Spots

1 March - First Sunday in Lent

My co-conspirator, Tyler, aka fission, posted his lists for Lent I. Here are mine.


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

First Sunday in Lent: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Pro: 150, Forty days and forty nights (AUS DER TIEFE RUFE ICH)
Kyrie: S-91 Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (Willan)
Psalm: Psalm 25 (Tone II.1)
Seq: 121, Christ when for us you were baptised (CAITHNESS)
Off: 448, O love, how deep, how broad, how high (DEUS TUORUM MILITUM)
Sanctus: S-124 New Plainsong (D. Hurd)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-161 New Plainsong (D. Hurd)
Communion Motet: Call to Remembrance (R. Farrant)
Communion Hymn: 140, Wilt thou forgive that sin, where I begun (DONNE)
Re: 147, Now let us all with one accord (BOURBON)

This is a good chanting congregation! They picked up Tone II.1 very very readily. I think next week, we'll chant the psalm all together, and then the week after, we'll try chanting it responsively by whole verse, starting with the lectern side of the church. That will be where I'll have the choir leading the people on the (formerly) gospel side of the church.

There was also much squee over Hymn 140, with several people approaching me, telling me it was their absolutely favourite hymn. It's also one of my favourites as well.

Episcopal Centre at Duke University

During Lent, there will be no Opening Hymn; however, I will still play a "quiet" prelude before the quiet procession. So I think I'll have to dust off some of my more quieter, more reflective piano pieces for the purpose.

First Sunday in Lent: Holy Eucharist Rite I
Prelude: Improvisation on Donne
The Great Litany: S-67
Psalm: Psalm 25 (recited)
Seq: 121, Christ when for us you were baptised (CAITHNESS)
Off: 448, O love, how deep, how broad, how high (DEUS TUORUM MILITUM)
Sanctus: S-114 Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (Willan)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-158 Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (Willan)
Comm: 142 Lord who throughout these forty days (ST. FLAVIAN)
Re: 147, Now let us all with one accord (BOURBON)

I won't be playing postludes during Lent.

Compline at the Chapel of the Cross. 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 (Farrant; sung as Introit)
Psalm 4 & 31 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: Christ, mighty Saviour (CHRISTE, LUX MUNDI, plainsong Mode 7)
Nunc Dimittis (fauxbourdon, H. Willan)
Ave Regina Cælorum (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Tomas Luis de Victoria)
Organ Voluntary by the abfab David Arcus. He improvised on "Christ, mighty Saviour".

1 March – Lent I

Lent I

St Jude's Parish & Shrine, Vancouver BC

1 March 2009 – 9am, 11am, 5pm

Missa "Jubliate Deo" (w/Asperges me replacing the Kyrie)

Entrance/Psalm/Comm.: By Flowing Waters, Lent I

Gospel Acc.: by Michael Jarvis

Offertory: BFW Ash Wednesday

then The Glory of These Forty Days (ERHALT UNS, HERR)

Communion: BFW Lent I

Recessional: Take up Your Cross (BRESLAU, almost)

Holy Rosary Cathedral, Vancouver BC

1 March 2009 – 5pm

(New) Good Shepherd Mass

Entrance: Again We Keep this Solemn Fast (ERHALT UNS, HERR)

Psalm: Psalm 51 (G Johnston, Novalis)*

Offertory/Comm.: BFW Lent I (sung a capella by yours truly)

Recessional: Have Mercy on Us, Lord (SOUTHWELL)

* This is a common psalm for the season of Lent.