The Schola Cantorum sings two of the most well-known and loved Renaissance motets this Sunday, as well as a wide range of motets and anthems that comment on either the Gospel of Year C (The Prodigal Son) at the 10am Mass or that of Year A (The Man Born Blind) at the 11:30 am Mass.
Prelude 11:30 am Mass, “Rejoice in the Lord Always” - Anonymous
This anonymously composed motet from mid-16th century England has been a standard of the English liturgical choral repertoire. The text from the 4th chapter of Philippians (KJV) shares the first word with today’s Introit text ‘rejoice’ or ‘Laetare’ from which this Sunday is named. While its authorship remains uncertain, the clarity of its counterpoint and textually sensitive use of interplay between polyphony and monophony suggests a well-trained Tudor-era composer on the level of Tallis or Byrd.
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Kyrie 10am Mass, “Missa Brevis á 4”– Bonifacio Graziani (c. 1604-1664)
Graziani was an Italian composer of sacred music and one of the finest figures in the Italian polyphonic school of music in the 17th century. This Kyrie, extracted from the Missa Brevis published in 1671, is an excellent example of the compact and imitative writing of the later Polyphonic tradition. The first third of the Kyrie movement will be heard at Mass.
Preparation of the Gifts, 10am Mass, “Exsultate Justi”– Lodovico da Viadana (1564-1627)
Viadana was born in the Italian province of Mantua, under the family name Grossi, which was changed to Viadana when he entered the Franciscan order. There is some evidence to suggest that he served as a chorister in Cathedrals in Mantua, Concordia and Fano. He is remembered particularly for continuing the development of figured bass notation. This brief and joyful motet sets three verses of Psalm 33, alternating between triple and duple metrics, with brief instances of vocal flourishes and echo effects.
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Preparation of the Gifts, 11:30am Mass, “Illumine the eyes of Our Hearts” – Brent Weiland (1963-2015)
Brent Weiland was a Chicago based composer and music director. This motet uses an imitative technique between the men’s and women’s voice of the choir. The text speaks of Christ as the light of the world, and his healing of the blind man from today’s Gospel.
Post Communion Motet, 10:00am Mass, “Gustate et Videte” – Orlando de Lassus (ca. 1532-1594)
This motet setting of a Psalm 34 excerpt was originally published in 1556 in Lasso’s first volume of sacred motets, and was later included by his sons in the posthumously published Magnum Opus Musicum of 1604. Psalm 34 is the Responsorial Psalm for Laetare Sunday in the Year C cycle of readings for Mass. Post Communion Motet, 11:30am Mass, “Open Thou Mine Eyes” – John Rutter (b. 1945) This motet is based on a poem by Lancelot Andrewes, who was bishop of Chichester in the 16th century. It was set in 1980 by the English composer John Rutter as a commission of the Texas Choral Director’s Association. It is written in a tuneful, very gentle and simple style, with an opening motive explored by various tightly woven vocal lines.
To hear a version, click below: