Reflection with choral music, upon the Feast of the Baptism of Christ
The Baptism of Christ c. 1475
Studio of Andrea del Verrocchio and Leonardo da Vinci
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The opening Organ Prelude: from La Nativité du Seigneur,
Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992) VIII Les mages
The Hymn: O worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness,
(Was lebet, was schwebet)
The First Reading : Acts 8.14-17
Carol: This is the truth sent from above,
This is the truth sent from above, the truth of God, the God of love: therefore don’t turn me from your door, but hearken all, both rich and poor.
The first thing which I do relate is that God did man create, the next thing which to you I’ll tell, woman was made with man to dwell.
Thus we were heirs to endless woes, till God the Lord did interpose, and so a promise soon did run, that he would redeem us by his Son.
And at that season of the year our blest Redeemer did appear, he here did live, and here did preach, and many thousands he did teach.
Thus he in love to us behaved, to show us how we must be saved; and if you want to know the way, be pleased to hear what he did say.
Words: English Traditional, “Melody and part of the text from Mr. W. Jenkins, Kings Pyon, Herefordshire.”
Music: The Truth from Above, English Folk Carol, arr by Rodney Lister (born 1951)
Second Reading Luke 3.15-17, 21-22
Carol:Tomorrow shall be my dancing day,
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day, I would my true love did so chance to see the legend of my play,
to call my true love to the dance.
Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, my love, my love; this have I done for my true love.
Then was I born of a virgin pure, of her I took fleshly substance: then was I knit to man’s nature, to call my true love to my dance. Refrain
In a manger laid and wrapped I was, so very poor, this was my chance, betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass, to call my true love to the dance. Refrain
Then afterwards baptized I was, the Holy Ghost on me did glance, my Father’s voice heard from above, to call my true love to my dance. Refrain
Into the desert I was led, where I fasted without substance: the Devil bade me make stones my bread, to have me break my true love’s dance. Refrain
The folk on me they made great suit, and with me made great variance, because they loved darkness better than light, to call my true love to the dance. Refrain
For thirty pence Judas me sold, his covetousness for to advance; ‘Mark whom I kiss, the same do hold’, the same is he shall lead the dance. Refrain
Before Pilate the folk me brought, when Barabbas had deliverance; they scourgèd me and set me at nought, judged me to die to lead the dance. Refrain
When on the cross hanged I was, when a spear to my heart did glance, there issued forth both water and blood, to call my true love to the dance. Refrain
Then down to Hell I took my way, for my true love’s deliverance, and rose again on the third day, up to my true love and the dance. Refrain
Then up to Heaven I did ascend, where now I dwell in sure substance, on the right hand of God that man may come into the general dance. Refrain
Words: Cornish Traditional from Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern, alt, William Sandys, 1833
Music: This have I done for my true love, op 34, no 1; Gustav Holst (1874–1934)
Soloist: Erin Shea Hogan
The Reflection by Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radclifff
The Nicene Creed, Credo III, Mode V
With the setting of the Et incarnatus for Double Choir by Roland de Lassus
The Hymn Angularis fundamentum lapis Christum missus est
Christ is made the sure foundation
Words: translated by J.M Neale
from a 6th or 7th C. Latin original
Music: Westminster Abbey
Postlude:
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her, op 67, no 42
Max Reger (1873–1916)
The Music is from the Sound Archive of the Choir of the Church of the Advent, Boston, under the direction of Mark Dwyer Organist and Choir Master assisted by Andrew Scanlon, Associate Organist & Choirmaster, and by kind permission of the Rector the Revd. Fr. Douglas Anderson.