On the hunt for Music for the Feast of St. George
  • tomboysuzetomboysuze
    Posts: 289
    Howdy all - was asked to do a private first communion mass for the family of a priest/friend tomorrow - April 23rd. The first communicant's name is George and the family chose this date specifically so he could do it on his patron's feast day.
    I'm looking for anything good that can be sung a cappella SAT having to do with St. George. Hymns, chants, etc.
    Since I had to leave this to the last minute, I thought I'd poke around the forum for help. I do have the Troparion for St. George and some other chants from The Russian Orthodox Church, but am looking for a hymn or Gregorian chant? I'm frankly clueless and going through my library now....help? THANKS!
  • Protasius
    Posts: 468
    The EF propers would be the Mass Protexisti me from the Common of a Martyr in Paschaltide. There seem to be no chants proper to only this feast in the Roman Rite.
    Thanked by 1tomboysuze
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,509
    Deus tuorum militum
    Office Hymn
    One Martyr

    O God, your soldiers’ lasting prize,
    their destiny and crown, arise,
    and free us from sins’ binding ring,
    when of this martyr’s praise we sing.

    He testified with mouth and breath
    Conviction from the ark of faith
    and when his blood was sacrificed
    he found the following of Christ.

    He rightly judged this world to be—
    its joys and charms—futility.
    He kept them pruned, those binding ties,
    and now she lives in Paradise.

    And he courageously sustains
    the gauntlet of the blows and pains,
    as for Your sake he shed his blood
    to win the everlasting good.

    And let this be our heartfelt prayer:
    Most loving One, in tender care,
    upon this martyr’s triumph day,
    send ev’ry evil far away.

    That all throughout eternity
    Those gifts, and that society,
    Enjoyed by hosts above the stars
    May also, thankfully, be ours

    All praise and honor, as is due,
    O Father and Your Son, to You,
    Whom with the Spirit we adore
    Forever and forevermore.
    Thanked by 3tomboysuze CHGiffen Darcy
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,782
    Well there are a few Hymns to St. George see here:

    http://stmarymagdalenchoir.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/hymns-for-st-george/

    There are others but we have not got around to typesetting them. Our schola should be singing two of these for a Mass tomorrow.
    Thanked by 1tomboysuze
  • Ambrosius
    Posts: 49
    We have a mass (organ and cantor) tomorrow for the Solemnity: nothing very exciting in the attached order of service, but the opening and final hymn might be of interest.
    St George 2013 C + RIP note.pdf
    730K
    Thanked by 1tomboysuze
  • oldhymnsoldhymns
    Posts: 229
    There's a hymn to St. George (6 verses) in Terry's WESTMINSTER HYMNAL; it also appears in A DAILY HYMN BOOK (Burns, Oates & Washbourne, London, 1930). Here's the link to Terry's hymnal: http://ia600408.us.archive.org/15/items/westminsterhymna00londuoft/westminsterhymna00londuoft.pdf

    It's on pages 274-275. Here's the first verse:

    Leader now on earth no longer,
    Soldier of th' eternal King,
    Victor in the fight for Heaven,
    We thy loving praises sing.
    Chorus:
    Great St. George, our patron, help us,
    In the conflict be thou nigh;
    Help us in that daily battle,
    Where each one must win or die.
    Thanked by 1tomboysuze
  • tomboysuzetomboysuze
    Posts: 289
    Many, many thanks! This is all wonderful. This young man's father is a classics scholar - very bow tie king of guy - who will love all these responses. His area of expertise is St. Thomas More and he's got a fantastic tenor voice, writes his own gregorian chant and is a funny, smart, lively guy - who has taught my own boys. His mom is one of my best friends, funny, v. smart, humble and beautiful. She's more of a sister to me than my own - so I cannot thank you enough for your help. This is their first child...of five.
    You did a very nice thing today! Thank you.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • oldhymnsoldhymns
    Posts: 229
    In the Terry hymnal, there's even a hymn to St. Thomas More--your friend might like it.
    Thanked by 1tomboysuze
  • Chrism
    Posts: 872
    "Leader now on earth no longer" - note that there's another setting at no. 220 in Arundel Hymns.

    There is also "Arm, Arm! For the struggle approaches" at p. 276 in the Westminster, but this seems particularly suited to Britain and an earlier time.
    Thanked by 2oldhymns tomboysuze
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