Happy St. Cecillia Day
  • Ken of Sarum
    Posts: 406
    Since I haven't seen it mentioned yesterday or today, I hope everyone stops to remember her in your prayers, rehearsals and at masses today. Don't forget to sing and give praises in your hearts to GOD, the creator of our art and joy.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFJAtIR3KCw
    Thanked by 3CCooze StimsonInRehab Priestboi
  • ClergetKubiszClergetKubisz
    Posts: 1,912
    Happy St. Cecilia's Day to you as well!
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    And don't forget that 'other' Patron Saint of Music -
    St Dunstan, Xth century Archbishop of Canterbury, lover of music, etc.
    He was also Abbot of Glastonbury, and then Bishop of Worcester, where Thomas Tomkins would much later be organist, and which was desecrated during the inter-regnum.

    St Cecilia - pray for Catholic music and musicians.
    St Dunstan - pray for Catholic music and musicians.
    Thanked by 1StimsonInRehab
  • StimsonInRehabStimsonInRehab
    Posts: 1,933
    Cici is my homegirl. And I'll have you know, Chickson, my polyphony choir is named after Dunstan. Our first CD will be called "Dunstan Checks In". I'll be raising a pint to both of them tonight.

    Listening to Gounod as we speak. :D

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d46U8EXL4m0
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • ClergetKubiszClergetKubisz
    Posts: 1,912
    You should be listening to Duruflé.
  • StimsonInRehabStimsonInRehab
    Posts: 1,933
    As all Catholics should say - why not both?
  • ClergetKubiszClergetKubisz
    Posts: 1,912
    "That damned Catholic and!"
    Thanked by 2StimsonInRehab PaxMelodious
  • francis
    Posts: 10,827
    lol.

    Hand painted icon on our living room wall, sent as gift from our eldest son some years back. Our Lady of the Directress, is an icon by Russian Iconographer, Ben Kostadinov which I purchased in 1992.

    iconCorner.jpg
    1000 x 836 - 811K
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    Hand painted icon...

    'Hand painted' is the only kind.
    Otherwise one has a mere picture of an icon - or, as some might say.... a simulacrum.

    (Incidentally, icons are not 'painted' - they are 'written'.)
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • francis
    Posts: 10,827
    yes MJO... I know all about written, and yes, a SIMULACRUM is all you got otherwise... I am listening to iTunes of Keith Hill Harpsichords... and although it is the ultimate simulacrum, it is incredibly gorgeous stuff! One of the premier builders in the world if not THE best.

    http://keithhillharpsichords.com/

    If you scroll down, throughout the page you will find many excellent recordings from his hand crafted creations. The sounds of which are absolutely exquisite.

    Happy Musical Feast Day to you all!
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • StimsonInRehabStimsonInRehab
    Posts: 1,933
    And, of course, who could forget the opera about Our Girl, written by Padre Refice? Absolutely the best opera ever written about a saint:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5iFlD3SQ8Q
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    Some illness has prevented me from finishing a concert setting of "A Hymn for St Cecilia" (text by Ursula Vaughan Williams "Sing for the morning's joy, Cecilia, sing"), using my tune GLOUCESTER CRESCENT, before today had arrived. The tune itself was finished on September 22nd and was posted here in another thread.

    Nevertheless, I have basically finished scoring the first two stanzas (of three) for the concert setting, and I enclose a simulated performance. The "choir" enters at about the 35 second mark. While there will doubtlessly be some minor revisions to the orchestration, the work (through the first two stanzas) is in substantially completed form.

    Attached also is the (plain) hymn score, so that you can follow along, at least with the melody. Comments and criticism are welcome.

    Hope everyone has had a happy and blessed St Cecilia feast day.
    Giffen-Sing_for_the_mornings_joy.pdf
    85K
    Giffen-St_Cecilia-2vv.mp3
    4M
    Thanked by 1StimsonInRehab
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    Awfully nice, Chuck!
    I can almost hear it right before or after Blaenwern at some state occasion at St Paul's or Westminster Abbey.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    Jackson, that is incredibly kind of you. Thank you so much for the kind words. As you well know, the long heritage of Anglican church music runs strong in my blood. I hope to finish the setting and circulate it soon.
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • Ken of Sarum
    Posts: 406
    Beautiful Charles!
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    Braenwern

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFckP0F93JM
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    Many thanks for the link to Blaenwern, Chuck.
    This has captured my admiration as the best tune for 'Love Divine...' - putting Hyfrydol in the shade.
    It doesn't work so well with 'Alleluya, Sing to Jesus', though!
    You can also hear this magnificent tune as sung at Baroness Thatcher's funeral at St Paul's.
    You can also hear a choir of 5000 Welshmen singing it at the BBC Proms!
    It seems to be quite well-known in Britain.
    I'm working on it becoming well-known here.
    _______________________________________________________

    As an aside, I just can't help pointing out that in your link there are roughly several thousand people singing this hymn with just the organ and choir of men and boys to follow. Isn't it something that no tacky arm flailers and pirouettists are needed!? Nor any announcers!!! Certain types should draw a lesson from that. Oh, and also, take note that a lovely descant didn't phase the congregation - it only added to their joy. (Another lesson for the grinches in our midst.)
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen Viola
  • ViolaViola
    Posts: 411
    Blaenwern is EXTREMELY well known in the UK. Even our congregation sings it lustily, though not as lustily as Welsh rugby supporters, who sing Guide me, O thou great Redeemer (Cwm Rhonda) with even greater verve. The Welsh are responsible for a lot of great tunes, and cantors are not needed. Great tunes don't require them; people just sing.
    Thanked by 2M. Jackson Osborn CHGiffen
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    Blaenwern is a splendid tune, indeed, and much better suited to "Love Divine..." than Hyfrydol. This and Gwalchmai for "King of glory, King of peace" are quintessentially apt and not sung enough (or even known) here in West Pondelia.
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • DL
    Posts: 80
    Hyfrydol (Hydrofoil) ‘is’ Alleluya, sing to Jesus .
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    ..'is'...

    A reasonable and defensible boast.
    However, Alleluia, the alternate second tune in The Hymnal 1940, is not to be sneezed at.
    It has a certain Anglican gravitas all its own.

    And, as always, the key to any good tune is tempo.
    Only Anglicans have an unfailing sense regarding tempo for hymns.
  • Richard MixRichard Mix
    Posts: 2,801
    Only Anglicans have an unfailing sense...
    And not even all of those! From a recovering anglophobe perspective, gravity is exactly the problem. ;-)
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    Ha!
    I would have to assert that the absence of gravity
    is the problem in too many of our Catholic churches.
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