Christmas With The George Shearing Quintet
Friday, January 2, 2015
12 Days of Christmas
There are a lot of rumors about "The Twelve Days of
Christmas", an old French song that first showed in English written form
in the children's book "Mirth Without Mischief" in A.D. 1780. One
rumor is that it was a catechism in code, used by Catholics to pass the Faith
down to their children during the Cromwell-led persecutions in England and
Ireland. The supposed symbolism goes like this:
|
Partridge in
a Pear Tree
|
the 1 Christ
|
|
2 Turtle
Doves
|
the 2
Testaments, Old and New
|
|
3 French Hens
|
the 3
Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity
|
|
4 Colly Birds
|
the 4 Gospels
and the 4 Evangelists
|
|
5 Golden
Rings
|
the first 5
Books of the Old Testament (Torah)
|
|
6 Geese
A-laying
|
the 6 days of
Creation
|
|
7 Swans
A-swimming
|
the 7
Sacraments, the 7 Gifts of the Holy Ghost
|
|
8 Maids
A-milking
|
the 8
Beatitudes
|
|
9 Ladies
Dancing
|
the 9 Fruits
of the Holy Spirit
|
|
10 Lords
A-leaping
|
the 10
Commandments
|
|
11 Pipers
Piping
|
the 11
faithful Apostles
|
|
12 Drummers
Drumming
|
the 12 points
of doctrine in the Creed
|
This isn't accurate, though, and is a conflation of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" with another catechism song that gave religious symbolism to the 12 days of Christmas -- but wasn't in a "secret code" at all (in other words, an honest mistake).
Other mistakes have crept in over the years. For ex., instead of saying "colly birds," which means blackbirds (colly means "coal dust"), most people say "calling birds." The "5 gold rings" (not "golden") refer not to 5 rings made of gold, but to 5 ring-necked pheasants! As you can see, the first 7 gifts all turn out to be some sort of bird.
At any rate, this song is a Twelfthnight song sung by children as a "memory and forfeits" game. Whoever first forgets a line is out.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Christ-Mass: Day 8 (Circumcision/St Basil)
From the Man With Black Hat blogspot . . .
“On the eighth day
of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eight maids a-milking ...”
The world knows it as New Year's Day. Our holy Mother Church knows it by many names.
First and foremost, it is the “Octave-day” or eighth day of Christmastide. Such was its name in the earliest liturgical books, thus remembered as the day of Circumcision, when a son of Israel was marked according to the Law. (It hurts just thinking about it.) In both forms of the Roman Rite, the brief account from Luke is proclaimed:
The world knows it as New Year's Day. Our holy Mother Church knows it by many names.
First and foremost, it is the “Octave-day” or eighth day of Christmastide. Such was its name in the earliest liturgical books, thus remembered as the day of Circumcision, when a son of Israel was marked according to the Law. (It hurts just thinking about it.) In both forms of the Roman Rite, the brief account from Luke is proclaimed:
At
that time, after eight days were accomplished, that the Child should be
circumcised: His Name was called Jesus, which was called by the angel before He
was conceived in the womb. (2:21)
In the reformed Missal, the day is primarily known as the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God. While appearing as a break in tradition, it is a reminder of the Marian emphasis of the Feast, as found even in the orations of the pre-conciliar Missal. It was the tradition in Rome, that the Pope would go to one of the many churches in the city, whichever was the "Station" for that particular feast -- in the case of this one, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
But wait, there is one more...
In the East, today is known not only for the Circumcision, but as the Feast of Saint Basil the Great, bishop of Caesarea in the fourth century, and one of the great Fathers of the Eastern Church. Today is when the Greeks would traditionally exchange gifts. For many years, when I couldn't meet with Paul for Christmas (and as he was raised in the Byzantine Rite of his mother), I would make an occasion of this day.
With all that arcane information, you still have to admit that four names for one day is a lot. And to think the year is just getting started.
8th Day of Christmas - Octave
To celebrate the 8th Day (Octave) of Christmas,
here is my gift to you . . .
Robert Shaw Christmas :
Robert Shaw Chorale
New Year's Day Gift
Here’s my gift for you on New Year’s
Day.
You should sit in the dark, have a
nice bottle of wine or Russian Vodka, and let the music wash over you.
Sergey
Rachmaninov - Vespers. Mass for mixed choir, Op 37
Valery Polyansky, conductor
Recorded live at the Smolensk Cathedral
1. O Come and Worship
2. Praise the Lord, O My Soul (Greek Chant)
3. Blessed is the Man
4. Joyful Light (Kiev Chant)
5. Now Lettest Thou Depart (Kiev Chant)
6. Hail Mary
7. Hexapsalmos / O Praise Our God (Znamenny Chant)
8. Blessed be the Lord (Znamenny Chant)
9. Christ's Resurrection
10. My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord
11. Greater Doxology (Znamenny Chant)
12. This Day of Salvation (Troparion, Znamenny Chant) / Christ is Risen from the Dead (Troparion) / Thanksgiving to the Mother of God
Sergey Rachmaninov
Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37
Valery Polyansky, conductor
Recorded live at the Smolensk Cathedral
1. O Come and Worship
2. Praise the Lord, O My Soul (Greek Chant)
3. Blessed is the Man
4. Joyful Light (Kiev Chant)
5. Now Lettest Thou Depart (Kiev Chant)
6. Hail Mary
7. Hexapsalmos / O Praise Our God (Znamenny Chant)
8. Blessed be the Lord (Znamenny Chant)
9. Christ's Resurrection
10. My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord
11. Greater Doxology (Znamenny Chant)
12. This Day of Salvation (Troparion, Znamenny Chant) / Christ is Risen from the Dead (Troparion) / Thanksgiving to the Mother of God
Sergey Rachmaninov
Vespers (All-Night Vigil), for alto, tenor & chorus, Op. 37
Happy New Year - Veni Creator Spiritus
On 1 January, you can
obtain a plenary indulgence by taking part in the singing or recitation of
the Veni Creator Spiritus.:
Traditional Latin version:
English version:
This version only contains the first 2 and last
2 stanzas. The full text and translation follow:
Veni, Creator Spiritus,
mentes tuorum visita,
imple superna gratia
quae tu creasti pectora.
Qui diceris Paraclitus,
altissimi donum Dei,
fons vivus, ignis, caritas,
et spiritalis unctio.
Tu, septiformis munere,
digitus paternae dexterae,
Tu rite promissum Patris,
sermone ditans guttura.
Accende lumen sensibus:
infunde amorem cordibus:
infirma nostri corporis
virtute firmans perpeti.
Hostem repellas longius,
pacemque dones protinus:
ductore sic te praevio
vitemus omne noxium.
Per te sciamus da Patrem,
noscamus atque Filium;
Teque utriusque Spiritum
credamus omni tempore.
Deo Patri sit gloria,
et Filio, qui a mortuis
surrexit, ac Paraclito,
in saeculorum saecula.
Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,
and in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.
O comforter, to Thee we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.
Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;
Thou, finger of God's hand we own;
Thou, promise of the Father, Thou
Who dost the tongue with power imbue.
Kindle our sense from above,
and make our hearts o'erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high
the weakness of our flesh supply.
Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us Thy peace instead;
so shall we not, with Thee for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.
Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
the Father and the Son to know;
and Thee, through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.
Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given,
with Thou, O Holy Comforter,
henceforth by all in earth and heaven.
Veni, Creator Spiritus,
mentes tuorum visita,
imple superna gratia
quae tu creasti pectora.
Qui diceris Paraclitus,
altissimi donum Dei,
fons vivus, ignis, caritas,
et spiritalis unctio.
Tu, septiformis munere,
digitus paternae dexterae,
Tu rite promissum Patris,
sermone ditans guttura.
Accende lumen sensibus:
infunde amorem cordibus:
infirma nostri corporis
virtute firmans perpeti.
Hostem repellas longius,
pacemque dones protinus:
ductore sic te praevio
vitemus omne noxium.
Per te sciamus da Patrem,
noscamus atque Filium;
Teque utriusque Spiritum
credamus omni tempore.
Deo Patri sit gloria,
et Filio, qui a mortuis
surrexit, ac Paraclito,
in saeculorum saecula.
Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,
and in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.
O comforter, to Thee we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.
Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;
Thou, finger of God's hand we own;
Thou, promise of the Father, Thou
Who dost the tongue with power imbue.
Kindle our sense from above,
and make our hearts o'erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high
the weakness of our flesh supply.
Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us Thy peace instead;
so shall we not, with Thee for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.
Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
the Father and the Son to know;
and Thee, through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.
Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given,
with Thou, O Holy Comforter,
henceforth by all in earth and heaven.
7th Day of Christmas: Te Deum Laudamus
Monks of the one of the Abbeys of the Solesmes
Congregation sing this beautiful chant.
The Te Deum is attributed to two Fathers and
Doctors of the Church, St. Ambrose and St. Augustine and is one the most
majestic chants in the Liturgy of the Church. It is sung in traditional
seminaries and monastic houses at the Divine Office and for Double feasts of
the First Class, The Nativity, Easter, Corpus Christi, Epiphany, Pentecost and
those which have an Octave. The solemn Te Deum is sung on all occasions of
public Church rejoicing (in Traditional Catholic Churches) including the last day of the year.
One of the most famous hymns of worship to the
Lord God, to whom we owe all our love and adoration.
The full hymn and English translation are as
follows:
Te Deum laudamus: te Dominum confitemur.
Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur.
Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi caeli et universae Potestates;
Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim incessabili voce proclamant:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt caeli et terra majestatis gloriae tuae.
Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus, Te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus, Te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus.
Te per orbem terrarum sancta confitetur Ecclesia, Patrem immensae majestatis: Venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium; Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum.
Tu Rex gloriae, Christe. Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius. Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem, non horruisti Virginis uterum.
Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum.
Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, in gloria Patris. Iudex crederis esse venturus.
Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni: quos pretioso sanguine redemisti.
Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis in gloria numerari.
(some add the following)
Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae.
Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum.
Per singulos dies benedicimus te; Et laudamus Nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum saeculi. Dignare, Domine, die isto sine peccato nos custodire.
Miserere nostri Domine, miserere nostri. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos, quemadmodum speravimus in te.
In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum.
We praise thee, O God : we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee : the Father everlasting.
To thee all Angels cry aloud : the Heavens, and all the Powers therein.
To thee Cherubim and Seraphim : continually do cry,
Holy, Holy, Holy : Lord God of Sabaoth;
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty :of thy glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles : praise thee.
The goodly fellowship of the Prophets : praise thee.
The noble army of Martyrs : praise thee. The holy Church throughout all the world : doth acknowledge thee The Father : of an infinite Majesty;
Thine honourable, true : and only Son; Also the Holy Ghost : the Comforter.
Thou art the King of Glory : O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son : of the Father.
When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man: thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.
When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death : thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God : in the glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come : to be our Judge. We therefore pray thee, help thy servants : whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with thy Saints : in glory everlasting.
[added later, mainly from Psalm verses:]
O Lord, save thy people :and bless thine heritage. Govern them : and lift them up for ever. Day by day : we magnify thee; And we worship thy Name : ever world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord : to keep us this day without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us : have mercy upon us. O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us :as our trust is in thee. O Lord, in thee have I trusted : let me never be confounded.
Te Deum laudamus: te Dominum confitemur.
Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur.
Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi caeli et universae Potestates;
Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim incessabili voce proclamant:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt caeli et terra majestatis gloriae tuae.
Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus, Te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus, Te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus.
Te per orbem terrarum sancta confitetur Ecclesia, Patrem immensae majestatis: Venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium; Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum.
Tu Rex gloriae, Christe. Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius. Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem, non horruisti Virginis uterum.
Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum.
Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, in gloria Patris. Iudex crederis esse venturus.
Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni: quos pretioso sanguine redemisti.
Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis in gloria numerari.
(some add the following)
Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae.
Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum.
Per singulos dies benedicimus te; Et laudamus Nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum saeculi. Dignare, Domine, die isto sine peccato nos custodire.
Miserere nostri Domine, miserere nostri. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos, quemadmodum speravimus in te.
In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum.
We praise thee, O God : we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee : the Father everlasting.
To thee all Angels cry aloud : the Heavens, and all the Powers therein.
To thee Cherubim and Seraphim : continually do cry,
Holy, Holy, Holy : Lord God of Sabaoth;
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty :of thy glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles : praise thee.
The goodly fellowship of the Prophets : praise thee.
The noble army of Martyrs : praise thee. The holy Church throughout all the world : doth acknowledge thee The Father : of an infinite Majesty;
Thine honourable, true : and only Son; Also the Holy Ghost : the Comforter.
Thou art the King of Glory : O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son : of the Father.
When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man: thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.
When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death : thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God : in the glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come : to be our Judge. We therefore pray thee, help thy servants : whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with thy Saints : in glory everlasting.
[added later, mainly from Psalm verses:]
O Lord, save thy people :and bless thine heritage. Govern them : and lift them up for ever. Day by day : we magnify thee; And we worship thy Name : ever world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord : to keep us this day without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us : have mercy upon us. O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us :as our trust is in thee. O Lord, in thee have I trusted : let me never be confounded.
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