Music for Holy Week: Holy Saturday
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Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
(scroll down for previous days)
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Our hymn today has been chosen to reflect the fact that this is the most silent day of the Church year. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence was composed by John Rutter and is sung here by the Cambridge Singers.
Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly-minded,
For with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.
King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture--
In the Body and the Blood--
He will give to all the faithful
His own Self for heavenly Food.
Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.
At his feet the six-winged Seraph;
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the Presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry,
Alleluia, Alleluia,Alleluia,
Lord most high.
Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly-minded,
For with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.
King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture--
In the Body and the Blood--
He will give to all the faithful
His own Self for heavenly Food.
Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.
At his feet the six-winged Seraph;
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the Presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry,
Alleluia, Alleluia,Alleluia,
Lord most high.
Stabat Mater, by Giaochono Rossini (1792-1868)
Sung here by the London Symphony Choir and Orchestra
Follow the lyrics here.
Sung here by the London Symphony Choir and Orchestra
Follow the lyrics here.
Holy Thursday
Erbarme Dich by JS Bach
One of the most sublime and powerful movements of J.S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion is this alto aria, Erbarme dich, mein Gott (“Have mercy Lord, My God, for the sake of my tears”). The aria (one of Pope Francis' favourite pieces of music) reflects Peter’s solitary heartache in the garden after he denies knowing Jesus three times. Aching beauty and profound sadness coexist in the music, along with a mix of other emotions which transcend description and literal meaning. The famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin called the aria’s lamenting solo violin obligato “the most beautiful piece of music ever written for the violin". The aria is sung here by the masterful American counter-tenor David Daniels.
One of Pope Francis’s favourite pieces of music.
Erbarme dich, mein Gott,
Um meiner Zähren willen!
Schaue hier, Herz und Auge
Weint vor dir bitterlich.
Erbarme dich, mein Gott.
Have mercy, my God,
for the sake of my tears!
See here, before you
heart and eyes weep bitterly.
Have mercy, my God.
Wednesday
'Timor et Tremor': The first of Poulenc's Four Lenten Motets is sung here by The Sixteen, directed by Harry Christophers.
TEXT
Timor et tremor venerunt super me, et caligo cecidit super me: miserere mei Domine, quoniam in te confidit anima mea.
Exaudi Deus deprecationem meam quia refugium meum es tu adjutor fortis. Domine, invocavi te, non confundar.
Fear and trembling have taken hold of me; the darkness has come upon me. Have mercy on me, O Lord; have mercy, for my soul has trusted in you. Hear, O Lord, my prayer for you are my refuge and strength. Lord I have called upon you: let me never be put to shame.
'Timor et Tremor': The first of Poulenc's Four Lenten Motets is sung here by The Sixteen, directed by Harry Christophers.
TEXT
Timor et tremor venerunt super me, et caligo cecidit super me: miserere mei Domine, quoniam in te confidit anima mea.
Exaudi Deus deprecationem meam quia refugium meum es tu adjutor fortis. Domine, invocavi te, non confundar.
Fear and trembling have taken hold of me; the darkness has come upon me. Have mercy on me, O Lord; have mercy, for my soul has trusted in you. Hear, O Lord, my prayer for you are my refuge and strength. Lord I have called upon you: let me never be put to shame.
MONDAY
The Woman with the Alabaster Box is Arvo Pärt's beautiful musical interpretation of the anointing of Jesus by Mary of Bethany, as described in the Gospel reading for today. It is sung here by The Sixteen, directed by Harry Christophers.
The Woman with the Alabaster Box is Arvo Pärt's beautiful musical interpretation of the anointing of Jesus by Mary of Bethany, as described in the Gospel reading for today. It is sung here by The Sixteen, directed by Harry Christophers.
PALM SUNDAY
One of New Pilgrim Path’s favourite musical discoveries (thanks to our wonderful sacred music consultant, who wishes to remain anonymous), has been the little known Procession of Palms which – by popular request - we now feature every year at the beginning of Holy Week. Composed by Malcolm Williamson, lyrics and music alike are intensely moving, ranging through joy and exultation to the deepest reverence.
The piece is in three sections: 1. 'Ride on in majesty' (you can almost see the donkey clip-clopping along!); 2. 'All Glory, Laud and Honour'; and 3. 'Benedictus qui venit'. It is performed here by The Mastersingers, conducted by Alan Simmons, with the composer playing the organ. It was recorded in St Catharine’s College, Cambridge.
Malcolm Williamson was born in Sydney in 1931. He studied composition and horn at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. In 1950 he moved to London where he worked as an organist, a proofreader, and a nightclub pianist. A convert to Catholicism in 1952, he became Master of the Queen's Musick in 1975.
One of New Pilgrim Path’s favourite musical discoveries (thanks to our wonderful sacred music consultant, who wishes to remain anonymous), has been the little known Procession of Palms which – by popular request - we now feature every year at the beginning of Holy Week. Composed by Malcolm Williamson, lyrics and music alike are intensely moving, ranging through joy and exultation to the deepest reverence.
The piece is in three sections: 1. 'Ride on in majesty' (you can almost see the donkey clip-clopping along!); 2. 'All Glory, Laud and Honour'; and 3. 'Benedictus qui venit'. It is performed here by The Mastersingers, conducted by Alan Simmons, with the composer playing the organ. It was recorded in St Catharine’s College, Cambridge.
Malcolm Williamson was born in Sydney in 1931. He studied composition and horn at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. In 1950 he moved to London where he worked as an organist, a proofreader, and a nightclub pianist. A convert to Catholicism in 1952, he became Master of the Queen's Musick in 1975.