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Celebration of Music at
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| All three choirs, organist (Music Director) and harpist at the beginning of the service. |
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| Sondra Proctor (Music Director) at the organ and part of the three choirs on the left. |
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| Sondra Proctor at the organ and the harpist. |
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| Sondra Proctor directing the choirs from the organ. |
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| The other half of the choirs on Sondra Proctor's right. |
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| A close up of the harpist and part of the choir. |
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| The choirs, organist and harpist toward the close of the Music Service. |
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How the Requiem and Cantique
de Jean Racine fit
into the Liturgy on this Music Sunday Service
The Treble Choir, Passing Tones and Chancel Choir sung Requiem by Gabriel Faure as a celebration of music in the Worship Service. From the beginning of Christian worship, participants have built on the Jewish worship traditions so important to Jesus. When the early Christians began to gather in homes, their newly developed ceremonies combined the rituals of the temple, synagogue, and Jewish home. By celebrating worship on Sunday, the early Christians celebrated a weekly remembrance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The source of the service's text is found in "IV Esdras ("the Apocalypse of Esdras"), a non-canonical apocryphal book which is 'reckoned among the most beautiful productions of Jewish literature'." (Translations and Annotations of Choral Repertoire, Volume I Sacred Latin Tests, Compiled and Annotated by Ron Jeffers, earthsongs, 1988) By the third century A.D. a portion of the text shows traces of Christianity. Requiem refers to the service for the dead. From the early years church leaders have worked to develop insights into worship that unifies the people. Thanks to Hippolytus in A.D. 215 we have a detailed description of Christian worship and can see the evolution of liturgical practices.
Traditionally, the Introitus and Kyrie began the entrance into the church. The music was sung as the procession of church leaders entered the church. Today we use the music to lead us prayerfully into worship.
The Offertorium text was originally a prayer said for the sick who were about to die. Today we use the Offertorium as a prayer of confession.
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus is used today as a response to the Psalter reading. Traditionally, the Trisagion or "Thrice Holy" is the culmination of the prayers of thanksgiving offered by the worship leader in the preface to the Eucharistic meal. Often this text is sung by the choir and people.
Pie Jesu is a time of meditation and remembrance.
Agnus Dei is found in ancient Roman and Ambrosian chants, and is also attributed to John the Baptist when he was being questioned by the priests and Levites from Jerusalem concerning whether or not he was the Christ, and why he was baptizing others. At Westmoreland we often use the "Agnus Dei" in the Communion Service. During the Music Sunday Worship it was a time of quiet and centering to prepare for the "Libera me".
Libera Me is not part of the liturgical Requiem Service, but is sung as a response at the end of the service to bring together the opening sentiments of the Introit (Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord) and the text "Dies illa" (O that day of wrath). Deliver us to that day for which we wait.
As a call to prayer the choirs sing In Paradisum. Normally it is a hymn sung to lead the departed to paradise. Using as Biblical references Psalms 129, 130, 50, 51 and John 11:20-53 we understand the importance of this movement when Jesus says to Martha the sister of Lazarus: "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believes in me, even if he dies, shall live".
Cantique de Jean Racine closes the choral portion of the service, as a response to the prayers of the people, asking for God to accept our offering of music.
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Westmoreland Circle
Bethesda, MD 20816
301-229-7766
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www.westmorelanducc.org
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Open and Affirming Congregation
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2006 Westmoreland United Church of Christ |