Mount Calvary
A Roman Catholic Parish
The Personal Ordinariate of S. Peter
Eutaw Street and Madison Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland
Rev. Albert Scharbach, Pastor
Andrew Johnson, Organist and Music Director
Advent III
Gaudete Sunday
December 13, 2020
8:00 A.M. Said Mass
10:00 A.M. Sung Mass
This mass will be livestreamed
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Organ Prelude
“The Snow Lay On the Ground” arr. David Gehrenbeck
David Gehrenbeck (b. 1931) was Professor of Organ at Illinois Wesleyan University from 1971 to 1996. This carol prelude, which he wrote while a graduate student at Union Theological Seminary, depicts the falling snow in the manuals with the melody played by the pedals.
Organ Postlude
“Expressions: No. 5” Jean Langlais
Langlais (1907-1991), a blind composer and professor who was titular organist at the Basilica of Sainte Clotilde in Paris from 1945 until 1987. Many of his compositions are based on either Gregorian chant or French folk tunes. In this case, he uses an old French Noël set also by Claude Balbastre and Louis-Claude Daquin in the 18th century.
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Offertory Anthem
“People Look East” arr. Barry Ferguson
“People look East. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People look East, and sing today:
Love the Guest is on the way.
Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flow’r may flourish.
People look East, and sing today:
Love the Rose is on the way.
Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People look East, and sing today:
Love the Star is on the way.
Angels, announce to man and beast
Him who cometh from the East.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the Word, the Lord is coming.
People look East and sing today:
Love the Lord is on the way.
Ferguson (b. 1942), an English organist, composer, and lecturer who studied composition with Herbert Howells. This lively French tune heralds the coming of Christ and bids us prepare to welcome Him.
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Communion Anthem
“Lo How a Rose” Hugo Distler
Lo how a rose e’er blooming, from tender stem hath sprung,
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung,
It came a flow’ret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.
Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, the rose I have in mind,
With Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind,
To show God’s love aright, She bore to men a Saviour,
When half spent was the night.
Distler (1908-1942) was a German organist, composer, and educator of the early 20th century. The composer uses a simple harmonic structure to support the gentle soprano melody.
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Hymns
On Jordan’s Bank (WINCHESTER NEW) is a translation of a Latin hymn by Charles Coffin (1676—1749 Paris), who was a French teacher, writer, Jansenist, and Rector of the University of Paris. The translator, John Chandler (1806—1876) was an Anglican clergyman who translated hymns of the early church and hymns from the Paris Breviary of 1736, in which this hymn appeared. The text sums up the message of John the Baptist, encapsulating each of the important themes of the Forerunner of Christ: announcement of grace, expectancy for the coming Messiah, and renewal in preparation for the coming of the King. The first stanza calls God’s people to give attention to the coming Christ. The second calls people to receive God’s presence and God’s cleansing from sin. The third is a profession of faith in Christ. The fourth is a prayer for God’s continued grace in our lives and in our world—a response to God’s redeeming Word. The fifth is a doxology of praise.
Prepare the way, O Zion (Modern lyrics) (BEREDENS VÄG FӦR HERRAN) is by the Swedish bishop Frans Michael Franzén (1772-1847). It was translated by Augustus Nelson (1863–1949). This joyful song celebrates Christ who comes to destroy sin and death, not by violence, but by his birth as a child and his self-giving on the cross.
O Saviour, Precious Saviour (WATERMOUTH) was written by Francis R. Havegal. WATERMOUTH, also known as ANGEL’S STORY was written by Arthur Henry Mann for the Methodist Sunday School Tune-Book, 1881.