James MacMillan has been commissioned to write two pieces: one for choir, organ, brass and timps, the other for choir a cappella. Both are settings of texts from the pre-reformation rite of reception and installation of an Archbishop of Canterbury.The rite itself is to be the ancient Catholic rite used in similar circumstances for the Reception and Installation of the Archbishops of Canterbury prior to the Reformation.
Other music will include 2 specially composed fanfares by Colin Mawby, a former Master of Music, and his setting of Ave verum corpus. The mass setting is Palestrina's Missa Tu es Petrus, and the offertory motet is an 8-part Venetian setting of Iubilate Deo by Giovanni Gabrieli. The Te Deum is sung to gregorian chant alternating with a fauxbourdon by Victoria.
See also Christina White's excellent article in the Catholic Herald on the new vestments: Byzantium with a twist of mulberry silk.
Damian reports that the Tablet have been asking how much they cost. Sigh!
Quousque tandem abutere Tabula patientia nostra?
(google the phrase)
14 comments:
The music does sound interesting but the vestments are, in my opinion, somewhat over-rated. Certainly they're an improvement over the polyester floppy joes that have characterized modern liturgy for the past forty years but still they look qjuite ordinary.
Of course they are being made with relative haste but they seem to lack colour and richness and they appear to have the long droopy shape that has been the rage since the 1960's.
Personally I prefer the vestments worn in the same cathedral by Cardinal Castrillon. Sure they're fiddlebacks and Italian cut at that but why is that now seen to be so indefensible?
I also like traditional English gothic revival vestments, especially those with the hand embroidery but they take time. One shouldn't wait until a new archbishop is appointed if new vestments are required.
I belong to an Anglo-Catholic parish in Canada well knowned for it's hand embroidered vestments. We are having a new gothic revival high Mass set made. After almost two years of "construction" they are right on schdedule and they should be finished in another year or so.
Traditionally Watts is capable of that sort of work and a Cathedral like Westminster should certainly possess it.
If I understand it correctly, the continuation of the quote is also appropriate....
“Quo usque tandem abutere, Tabula, patientia nostra, quamdiu etiam furor iste tuus nos eludet? quem ad finem sese effrenata iactabit audacia?"
On the quotation:
The most wonderful piece of rhetoric I've ever read! They don't speak like that any more... It's refreshing to have a priest know his Classics!
Indeed it is apt - the Tablet would no doubt like a great insurrection against Catholic authority.
The installation rite promises to be something special.
Unless I am hallucinating, this rite was once known as, The Enthronement of a Bishop.
Since Vatican II, it is now called an Installation. I can only think of a major appliance or a light bulb.
In these latter days, this rite is done half heartedly, like it is some sort of embarrassment... Before the council, it truly was an Enthronement.
Damian has been asking...& Jackie has been asking...
O tempora, o mores! Curia haec intellegit. Archiepiscopus videt; hic tamen vivit.
Athanasius - always been one of my favourites ever since Fr Reginald Foster snarled out the first few sentences in class and told us the background.
The Tablet reminds me of Judas in the bible questioning how much the oil that Mary rubbed into the feet of Jesus was worth, as he knew if it was sold he would have access to the money for himself. Look what happened to him!!!!
Who are they to question the cost of anything, are they going to contribute something towards the it ????
Yes Edward..but perhaps it means we can have him in installments??
When will the Holy See fill the vacant See Of Canterbury?
Tell the Tablet that the vestments cost the blood of many martyrs.
epsilon wrote
(slightly edited)
Father
Why are you promoting this showman? - I have just seen Mrs Jackie Parkes entry re what he's about to unleash on children in catholic schools, via Catholic Rights blog, and am one angry person
[... section deleted]
This whole situation is preposterous - if I was anywhere near Westminster on Thursday I'd be making a lot more of a scene than they did in Notre Dame - I'd better stop now before I use some profanity!
epsilon - your comment contained one or two unacceptable expressions but I didn't want to censor it completely.
Father - I don't remember saying anything else in my comment except that I did give a link to Mrs Jackie Parkes posting re Archbishop Nichol's worksheet for 9 year old boys and girls...
I apologise if I said something unacceptable
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