Audioboo: Flores de Mayo

I was only able to participate in the procession and the Rosary before the Mass last Sunday since I had to play a service in Chapel Hill. (See my previous posts on Flores de Mayo here and here.)

I decided to try to take you with me through this Audioboo. Admittedly, I didn't listen to it before I posted it, but here it is.

29 May— Sixth Sunday of Easter

Yesterday was my busy day. I have three lists for your viewing pleasure.

My first list is from the 7:45 a.m. Mass at Immaculate Conception Church. Any numbers you see come out of GIA's Gather Comprehensive 1994 (green cover). My friend, Jane L., was behind the console.

Sunday 7.45 am Mass: Sixth Sunday of Easter
Prelude: II – Chorale: Ave Maria from the Four Improvisations on Gregorian Melodies (F. Peeters)
Opening Hymn: 527, Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (LOBE DEN HERREN)
Gloria: Chant Mass, arr. by J. Lynch, using the words from the new Roman Missal
Psalm: Psalm 66 (Guimont)
Gospel Acclamation: 263 (Hughes Alleluia in C)
Offertory: 434, This Joyful Eastertide (VRUECHTEN)
Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation: Chant Mass, arr. by J. Lynch, using the words from the new Roman Missal
Amen: Simple, three-note Amen (G-(G-A))
Agnus Dei: 312, Agnus Dei XVIII (in Latin)
Communion: 815, You satisfy the hungry heart (BICENTENNIAL)
Recessional: 524, Holy God we praise Thy name (GROSSER GOTT)
Postlude: Fugue on the Magnificat (BWV 733; J. S. Bach)

I was so charmed by the prelude. And it sounds like a piece that is within my abilities, so I'll definitely look for it and work on it.

After the Mass, I was approached by a couple of people who told me that I had the best vowel sounds on the planet. Seriously. His words. ^_^ I guess this means that Van Quinn's constant harping about good vowel sounds made an impression on me. So thanks, Van, for your persistence.

According to Fr. Bill, Phase Two of the implementation of the New Missal will occur in a couple of weeks, where the congregation will start using the new English translation of the Credo. Phase One was the new service music... at least, at the 7:45 am Mass, we're using the Chant Mass setting that Jane had arranged. To my ears, it sounds like the people are singing it. Of course, it did help that we announce it before the Mass: I noticed people reach over for the leaflets at the end of the pews to have a look when I had announced it yesterday before the Mass.

I think it's a brilliant idea, what they're doing at Immaculate Conception. Complete implementation of the new translation of the Mass will take place on the First Sunday of Advent this year, and it's good they're doing it gradually so that by the time November 27 comes around, it won't come as a complete shock to the People in the Pews^TM.

---

St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played the usual 10.30 am service. As usual, the numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

Sixth Sunday of Easter: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Mass for the Convents: Plein Jeu, Petit Fugue sur le Chromhorne, Duo sur les tierces (F. Couperin)
Processional: 705, As those of old their first fruits brought (FOREST GREEN)
Psalm: Psalm 66 (Simplified Anglican Chant)
Sequence Hymn: 514, To thee, O Comforter divine (ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S)
Offertory Anthem: If ye love me (T. Tallis)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-154, New Plainsong (Hurd)
Communion: 292, O Jesus, crowned with all renown (KINGSFOLD)
Recessional: 344, Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing (SICILIAN MARINERS)
Postlude: Mass for the Convents: Dialogue sur les grands jeux (Couperin)

I knew we were going to be short on voices (three of seven were absent) so I programmed something the choir knows very well. And besides, it also fit the Gospel reading very well. They did just fine with me singing soprano and with the choir accompanied by piano and guitar. Yes, guitar. Dave, who is classically trained, does a wonderful job.

My acknowledgement of Rogation Sunday was the Communion Hymn. However, as you can see, at my next service, the Rogation Sunday theme was prevalent in all the hymn choices.

---

My turn came up to play the the 5.15 pm service at Chapel of the Cross. Since the air conditioning was not working in the chapel, the service was held in the church.

Sixth Sunday of Easter: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Mass for the Convents: Plein jeu, Petit Fugue sur le Chromhorne, Récit de Chromhorne (F. Couperin)
Processional Hymn: 409, The spacious firmament on high (CREATION)
Psalm: Psalm 66, recited
Sequence Hymn: 398, I sing the almighty power of God (FOREST GREEN)
Offertory: 405, All things bright and beautiful (ROYAL OAK)
Sanctus: S-125 Community Mass (R. Proulx)
Communion Voluntary: Mass for the Convents: Tierce en Taille (Elevation; F. Couperin)
Recessional Hymn: 379, God is love, let heaven adore him (ABBOT'S LEIGH)
Postlude: Mass for the Convents: Offertoire sur les grands jeux (F. Couperin)

To be honest, I was happy to have the chance to play the Kleuker again. Unfortunately, the lightning strike last Friday knocked out all the digital stops, so they were unavailable to me. Also too, there was something in the Positiv that didn't quite sound right... more like out of tune, and Van did warn me about that shortly before he left for a previously scheduled engagement. But it went over well... and it's just as well I was in a Couperin mood! ^_^

The compliment that the presiding priest gave me was a really nice surprise. He asked me before the service if I would have a problem playing the Kleuker, and I told him no and that it was a pleasure to be able to play the Kleuker. After the service, he thanked me for my music and declared I played the organ very well.

If you're curious about the stoplist, you may see it here.

CW 73 — Crickets and May Flowers

Well. Guess who jumped on as a guest host of SQPN's Catholic Weekend? Yes, you guessed it—for some strange reason, they asked me to join the hilarity that is Catholic Weekend! ^_^

Here is Maria Johnson's write-up of this episode:

Lyn Francisco of Secrets of Harry Potter joins Capt. Jeff Nielsen and Maria Johnson to talk about Flores de Mayo and other Filipino traditions. Oh, and they have a cricket-calling competition.

Capt. Jeff Nielsen Catholic Pilot

Maria Johnson Another Cup of Coffee

Lyn Francisco Organic Chemist

Our Picks of the Week

Maria: Margaret Rose Realy's blog, Morning Rose Prayer Gardens

Jeff: Voice Band iPhone app

Lyn Francisco: All about Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan festival

Lyn's blogpost about Flores de Mayo

Send us feedback! (862) 200-SQPN. That’s (862) 200-7776. Email: catholicweekend@sqpn.com


Subscribe to the feed | Subscribe with iTunes

 

Podcast: Play in new window
| Download

If you can't get the player to play, just click here to access the player on the page, or just subscribe to the Catholic Weekend feed.

David Durkop, organ

(Edited to add: For those of you reaching this post thanks to searches on David Durkop's name and music: please read this post. You'll see links to YouTube videos of Diane Bish playing three of his original compositions. Thank you.)

Organist David Durkop presented an organ recital at Grace Baptist Church in Durham, NC. Featuring the works of Bach, Clarke, Handel, Couperin, and Durkop, the recital was billed as a "Musical Worship Experience of Organ Music and Hymns" and included an Opening Prayer and reading of Psalm 149 before the recital and a Benediction by the Interim Pastor, Rev. John Monderen.

Unfortunately, I had to leave after the second piece since I had a service to play in Chapel Hill, and I needed at least half an hour to get there.

I'm glad there was a good turnout: there were at least 70 people by the time I had to leave 20 minutes into the recital.

Here is the program, including the pieces I didn't hear.

Toccata and Fugue in d minor (BWV 565)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
(Chorale from Cantata No. 147)
Bach (arr. Harvey Grace)

Prelude and Fugue in G Major (BWV 541)
Bach

Chorale Prelude: "Christ the Lord is Risen Today"
David Durkop (b. 1956)

Hymn: O God, Our Help in Ages Past (St. Anne)
arr. Durkop

Toccata in g minor
Durkop

Three Joyous Pieces
   Trumpet Tune in D
   Jeremiah Clarke (c. 1674–1707),
      arr. S. Drummond Wolff
   Minuet
   George Frideric Handel (1685–1759),
      arr. S. Drummond Wolff
   Allegretto
   François Couperin (1668–1733),
      arr. E. Power Biggs

Variations on Aberystwyth
   Hymn
   Variation 1: "Friend"
   Variation 2: "Eagles Wings"
   Variation 3: "Resurrection"
Durkop

Trumpet Tune in D Major
Durkop

Toccata L'Esprit de Joie
Durkop

Hymn: To God Be the Glory
   (William H. Doane (1832–1915); arr. Durkop)

22 May— Fifth Sunday of Easter

St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played the usual 10.30 am service. As usual, the numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

Fifth Sunday of Easter: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Adagio-Allegro, Voluntary in e minor (Op. 7, No. 7; J. Stanley)
Processional: 47, On this day, the first of days (GOTT SEI DANK)
Psalm: Psalm 31 (Simplified Anglican Chant)
Sequence Hymn: 457, Thou art the way, to Thee alone (ST. JAMES)
Offertory: Alleluia (Andrea Gabrieli)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-154, New Plainsong (Hurd)
Communion: 455, O Love of God, how strong and true (DUNEDIN)
Recessional: 366, Holy God, we praise thy Name (v. 1-4; GROSSER GOTT)
Postlude: Rigaudon (Georg Böhm)

We were working with reduced forces today, but with me on soprano, Alison on tenor, and Christian on alto(!) along with Fred and Gavin singing their usual parts, we did great. My choristers are a very talented bunch, and I truly mean it when I tell them they make my job look easier.

---

I played the 4.00 pm service for Carol Woods which was organised by the Chapel of the Cross. It is always a pleasure playing for these folks, and many came up to me after the service to thank me for my music. They'll be hearing more of me since I'll be playing summer services there.

The music list:

Fifth Sunday of Easter: Holy Eucharist Rite I
Prelude: Alleluia (Andrea Gabrieli; played on the piano)
Processional: 518, Christ is made the sure foundation (WESTMINSTER ABBEY)
Psalm: Psalm 31:1–5, 15–16 (recited)
Offertory: 457, Thou art the way, to Thee alone (ST. JAMES)
Communion: Allegro, Voluntary in e minor (Op. 7, No. 7; J. Stanley)
Recessional: 213, Come away to the skies, my beloved, arise (MIDDLEBURY)
Postlude: Rigaudon (Georg Böhm)

A neat find

The other day, I stumbled upon this CD in my collection. It was still wrapped in its original shrink-wrap cover.

I added it to my iTunes library and put it on the iPod and iPhone. How lovely to have the voice of Blessed John Paul II lead in the praying of the Rosary! I don't remember how this CD came to be in my collection, but I'm glad it's there.

15 May— Fourth Sunday of Easter

Sorry I'm late with this list. Again, I have one list for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, also known as "Good Shepherd Sunday". I'll admit to programming something rather unusual as choir anthem... and it also merited a mention in the sermon.

Keep an open mind with it... when I first heard Bobby McFerrin's setting of Psalm 23, I was struck by its chant-like quality and the tension in the harmonies. It was beautiful.

St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played the usual 10.30 am service. As usual, the numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

Fourth Sunday of Easter: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Largo Staccato, Voluntary in F (Op. 7, No. 10; J. Stanley)
Processional: 377, All people that on earth do dwell (OLD 100TH)
Psalm: Psalm 23 (Simplified Anglican Chant)
Sequence Hymn: 334, Praise the Lord, rise up rejoicing (ALLES IST AN GOTTES SEGEN)
Offertory: Psalm 23 (B. McFerrin)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-154, New Plainsong (Hurd)
Communion: 645, The King of love my shepherd is (ST. COLUMBA)
Recessional: 205, Good Christians all, rejoice and sing! (GELOBT SEI GOTT)
Postlude: Vivace, Voluntary in F (Op. 7, No. 10; J. Stanley)

More on Flores de Mayo

One of my friends, M.R., who grew up in the Philippines, had this to say about my post about Flores de Mayo:

When I was growing up back home, our Flores de Mayo was something that all young girls really look forward to each year. As we reached our debutante age (18), we get to be Hermana Mayora. It is such a wonderful tradition that I really hope we could get it started here in Raleigh as well. It was such a lovely event. Every afternoon, we'd be at the church with Mass and offering of the flowers to Mary called Alay.

Each day a young girl has been assigned, we'd have merienda at their house and on to the church in processional form with a band following us. It was so neat.

It takes a lot of commitment and passion to get it done. At night I still remember we would have what we call Santa Cruzan or Lutrina. I cannot count on my fingers the number of nights I would either be an angel, or Reyna Elena. It was like almost every other night, from one town to the other. It was priceless and probably one of the best part of being a girl.

I remember my hair so stiff like an iron rod from hair spray, different styles each time; it was fun. It also made me realize what our culture and our faith is all about and how we really venerate Mary.

Sampaguita was all over the place when I was growing up during he month of May.

Thanks so much for that, M.R.! I was born in the United States and grew up here, and I've never had the pleasure to experience Flores de Mayo as how it would be celebrated back in the Philippines. From what I understand, each region, even each barangay have a different way of celebrating it. I only hope that by celebrating it in the way we do here in Durham, NC, we'll be able to give our children a taste of this beloved Filipino tradition.

The picture above was borrowed from Mabuhay Guides.

8 May—Third Sunday of Easter

I have a list for just one service today.

St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played the usual 10.30 am service. As usual, the numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

Third Sunday of Easter: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Now the Green Blade Rises (P. Manz)
Processional: 180, He is risen! (NEANDER)
Psalm: Psalm 116 (Simplified Anglican Chant)
Sequence Hymn: 305, Come, risen Lord, and deign to be our guest (ROSEDALE)
Offertory: Vidi Aquam (I saw water; Mode VII, acc. by J. Scott)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-154, New Plainsong (Hurd)
Communion: 204, Now the green blade riseth (NOËL NOUVELET)
Recessional: 208, The strife is o'er, the battle done (VICTORY)
Postlude: The Heavens Declare the Glory of God (Psalm XIX; B. Marcello)

Flores de Mayo

(Please note: This post was written specifically for the Snoring Scholar blog. Sarah sent a request for bloggers to contribute to her "Inspired by Mary" series during the month of May, and I was one of those who responded to that call.)

---

In the mostly Catholic Philippines, May is the month in which daily venerations to Mary take place. This custom, known to Filipinos as Alay kay Maria (offering to Mary), or Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May), which began in 1854 after the Vatican proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, spread throughout the Philippines and included rituals such as the offering of flowers to Mary every afternoon during the month of May. The rosary is also recited and Marian hymns sung.

Filipinos who left the Philippines brought this tradition with them. For me, raised by parents who had emigrated from the Philippines in the late 1960s, it is a wonderful way to connect with other members of the Filipino community. At Immaculate Conception Church in Durham, NC, the Filipino community has been celebrating Flores de Mayo since May 1987. Julie Olimpo and her parents, Pedro and Rufina Castillo, were instrumental in starting this tradition at IC, which today includes Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike from all over the Triangle, as well as others coming from places as far as Greensboro and High Point.

In 1986, an acquaintance of the Castillos traveled to Fatima, Portugal, and brought three statues of Our Lady of Fatima, one of which was given to IC. The Castillos decided to start a weekly Black Rosary devotion in August 1986, in which the statue traveled from house to house and the Fatima prayers and the rosary were recited.

The following May, the Castillos wondered if it were possible to bring Flores de Mayo to IC. “It is a major event in the Philippines,” said Olimpo. “There is a daily devotion, and on the last day of May, in the town there would be a procession, floats, and bands playing music.”

Fr. Donald F. Staib, who was the pastor at IC at the time, was aware of the Filipino Catholic traditions, having spent some time in the Philippines himself, and because of this, “it was easy to get IC involved in this tradition,” said Olimpo.

Since May 1987, Flores de Mayo has become an established tradition for Filipinos all over Central North Carolina. Daily devotions during the month of May take place in various houses: “At first, all the days of May were placed in a basket, and those who participated picked out a date to host the Blessed Mother in their homes,” according to Olimpo. “Presently, the host families choose a date that is most relevant to their interests or spiritual needs,” she said. The Cruz family, especially Chris and Pat, were also part of the establishment of this tradition, and they supplied the songs and helped the Castillos organize Flores de Mayo as it is celebrated today in the Triangle area.

For these daily devotions, people would gather at the designated host family’s house and pray the rosary. In between decades, Marian hymns in Tagalog and English are sung. Sometimes, a Mass follows the rosary. After the Mass, people stay to eat and socialize.

The month-long devotion to Mary traditionally ends with a fiesta on the last day of May. The Filipino community in the Triangle organizes such a fiesta, which takes place on the last Sunday of May, with a procession of the Lady of Fatima statue on a float decorated with plenty of flowers. In recent years, the statue of the Holy Infant of Prague had been added to the procession. The men and women would wear native dress (barong tagalog, which is a thin, transparent button-down long-sleeved shirt for the men, and a Mestiza or Terno dress for the women, featuring wide, butterfly-shaped sleeves made from a similar material as the barong tagalog). Traditional songs are sung, most notably Dios te salve, Maria as the procession makes its way towards the church. Each year, a Hermano/Hermana Mayor is chosen to host this Mass, and it is usually followed by a reception featuring foods one would find at a typical Filipino fiesta like pancit (stir-fried noodles with vegetables), lumpia (fried egg rolls), jamon en dulce (roasted ham with pineapple and cherries), and a whole roasted young pig (lechon).

---

I had written most of the above in 2003 for Immaculate Conception’s newsletter. Since then, this celebration has become bigger and attracts Filipinos from all over North Carolina. This tradition is celebrated by Filipinos all over the world and brings together young and old in devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

(A couple of notes: 1. The flowers shown above are Jasminum sambac, which is the national flower of the Philippines (known as sampaguita). 2. I also intended this article as a tribute to the Olimpos, the Castillos, and the Cruzes, who helped to establish this tradition amongst Filipinos in central North Carolina. Because of their hard work, we are able to share our culture with those here. Maraming maraming salamat po!)

Secrets of Harry Potter Episode #66: Even More Deathly Hallows

Episode #66 of The Secrets of Harry Potter is up and available. You may listen to Episode 66 here or subscribe via iTunes.

In this episode, Ariadna, Jim, and Lyn discuss the first full length trailer of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Warning: protect your ears because the fangirls have been known to squeee without warning. ;) Many, many thanks to Inge for her help in making this episode available to you!

Help us spread the word about this podcast by posting a review on iTunes!

If you want to interact with the host and his cohorts, feel free to leave a comment on the Secrets of Harry Potter page over at the SQPN community page.

You can also find us on Facebook. Please like us there! :)

You may also send us feedback on harrypotter [a t.] sqpn [dot] com or leave voice feedback on +1 206 202 4455.

Watch this space for announcements regarding re-starting our canon-readthrough. We'll start from the beginning, but this time, we'll record our conversations and invite you to join in the fun!

Enjoy! And please let me know what you think of it. :)

Compline at Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill, NC—5.1.2011

Compline at Chapel of the Cross.

We've been using the Order for Compline, as set by David Hurd.

Here are our little additions:

Alleluia (Andrea Gabrieli)
Psalm 91 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: O sons and daughters, let us sing (O FILII ET FILIAE)
Lord's Prayer (Robert Stone)
Nunc Dimittis from Short Service (O. Gibbons)
Concluding Versicle and Response in Easter Season ("Let us bless the Lord, alleluia, alleluia ...")
Regina Coeli (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Robert Parsons)
Organ improvisation by the abfab Van Quinn on O filii et filiae

Wynne Beers chanted the chapter in what was his last Compline with us. He'll be moving on to bigger and better things. Congratuations to Wynne, as well as to the other graduating seniors/graduate students who sang with us!

This was also our last Compline service of the Spring Semester. We'll be starting up again in the fall.

1 May—Second Sunday of Easter

I see I have a bit of catching up to do.

Here are my music lists for two services last Sunday.

My first list is from the 7:45 a.m. Mass at Immaculate Conception Church. Any numbers you see come out of GIA's Gather Comprehensive 1994 (green cover). My friend, Jane L., was behind the console.

Sunday 7.45 am Mass: Second Sunday of Easter
Prelude: Offertoire pour le Jour de Pâques «O filii et filiæ» (J.-F. Dandrieu)
Opening Hymn: 430, I Know that My Redeemer Lives (DUKE STREET)
Gloria: Chant Mass, arr. by J. Lynch, using the words from the new Roman Missal
Psalm: Psalm 118 (Guimont)
Gospel Acclamation: 263 (Hughes Alleluia in C)
Offertory: 423, O sons and daughters, let us sing! (O FILII ET FILIAE)
Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation: Chant Mass, arr. by J. Lynch, using the words from the new Roman Missal
Amen: Simple, three-note Amen (G-(G-A))
Agnus Dei: 312, Agnus Dei XVIII (in Latin)
Communion Chant: Regina Coeli
Recessional: 446, The strife is o'er (VICTORY)
Postlude: Christ lag in Todesbanden (BWV 625; J. S. Bach)

Amazingly, Jane played the Christ lag... entirely by memory. She said it was one of the first pieces she learnt how to play on the organ. For me, it was the first piece out of the Orgelbüchlein I learned how to play.

As for the Communion Chant: I had a look at the chant in Gather, and I thought I'd have a hard time with it, mainly because I had this other chant in my head, thanks to chanting it in Compline during the appropriate Sundays. So I chanted it from memory.

I recorded an AudioBoo of me chanting this Marian antiphon, and it's embedded below.

---

St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played the usual 10.30 am service. As usual, the numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

For this particular service, the Feast of St. Joseph was transferred to the Second Sunday of Easter.

Feast of St. Joseph (transferred): Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Mass for the Convents: Plein jeu and Récit de Chromhorne (F. Couperin)
Processional: 260, Come now, and praise the humble saint (TALLIS' ORDINAL)
Psalm: Psalm 89 (Simplified Anglican Chant)
Sequence Hymn: 587, Our Father, by whose Name (RHOSYMEDRE)
Offertory: Joseph dearest, Joseph mine (RESONET IN LAUDIBUS; #45 in Hymnal 1940)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-154, New Plainsong (Hurd)
Communion: 262, By the Creator, Joseph was appointed (BICKFORD);
LEVAS II 194, Lead me, guide me (D. Akers)
Recessional: 231, By all your saints still striving (NYLAND, using the St. Joseph's stanza for verse 2)
Postlude: Mass for the Convents: Offertoire sur les grands jeux (F. Couperin)