Musical Notes Sexagesima Feb 24 2019
MUSIC NOTES:
Prelude C. S. Lang
Introit
(Psalm 44:23-26) Awake, why sleepest Thou, O Lord: arise, cast us not off forever. Wherefore hidest Thou Thy face: and forgetest our affliction? Our soul is bowed down to the dust: arise for our help and redeem us. (Psalm 44:1) We have heard with our ears, O God: our fathers have told us what work Thou didst in their days.
Offertory
(Psalm 17:5-7) Hold up my goings in Thy paths that my footsteps slip not. Incline Thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. Show Thy marvelous loving kindness, O Thou that savest by Thy right hand them which put their trust in Thee.
Meditation Peter Hurford
Postlude
Prelude and Fugue in C minor J. K. F. Fischer
Today is the second Sunday of a 17-day period of preparation for the season of Lent (that will begin on Ash Wednesday), a tradition that goes back to the late 6th century. The Alleluia and the Gloria in Excelsis are omitted until Maundy Thursday during Holy Week. The names that are given to each of these three Sundays are Latin words representing the number of days prior to Easter. The term for this Sunday is Sexagesima (the Latin word for the number 60), approximately 60 days before Easter.
Craig Sellar Lang (1891-1971), born in New Zealand, was an organist, composer and music examiner in England. His prelude from 1961 has a lilting, lyrical character.
Peter Hurford (b.1930) is a renown English concert and recording organist, as well as organist-choirmaster of St. Albans Cathedral (1958-1978). The Meditation is a movement from his suite Laudate Dominum (1961).
Johann Kaspar Ferdinand Fischer (c.1656-1746), born in Bohemia, was Kapellmeister (Chapel Master) in Baden, Germany. His prelude and fugue are from his 1702 collection of similar pieces in 19 different keys.
