25 April: Sing Alleluia!

 

As she was going out to choir practice one evening in February, Mrs T said, ‘While I’m out you can play any music you like.’ Temptation: I can’t usually get away with Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast, for example. Mrs T says that’s fine for the Cathedral, but not for the kitchen or living room. But I was baking and did not want to be changing discs with floury hands, so opted for Through the Night on BBC Sounds.

Brahms was giving me music while I worked when I stopped and listened and paused the music. ‘Our’ blackbird – the one we had last year, with the white chevron on his head – was singing in a neighbour’s fir tree. I left the door open and enjoyed his repertoire until another blackbird’s alarm call silenced him.

I was reminded of my distracted thought at Mass. The image of starlings murmurating, flying in ever changing formation, merged into ‘O filii et filiae’ of Eastertime.  Here are the words. As for musical fireworks, I found the recordings below  – no need to choose between the blackbird and the choir, enjoy them both! And Happy Easter: Christ is risen, Alleluia!

1. O filii et filiae, Rex caelestis, Rex gloriae,                     morte surrexit hodie, alleluia. 2. Et mane prima sabbati, ad ostium monumenti accesserunt discipuli, alleluia. 3. Et Maria Magdalene, et Jacobi, et Salome, venerunt corpus ungere, alleluia. 4. In albis sedens Angelus, praedixit mulieribus: in Galilaea est Dominus, alleluia. 5. Et Joannes Apostolus cucurrit Petro citius, monumento venit prius, alleluia. 6. Discipu lis adstantibus, in medio stetit Christus, dicens: Pax vobis omnibus, alleluia. 7. Ut intellexit Didymus, quia surrexerat Jesus, remansit fere dubius, alleluia. 8. Vide, Thoma, vide latus, vide pedes, vide manus, noli esse incredulus, alleluia. 9. Quando Thomas Christi latus, pedes vidit atque manus, Dixit: Tu es Deus meus, alleluia. 10. Beati qui non viderunt, Et firmiter crediderunt, vitam aeternam habebunt, alleluia. 11. In hoc festo sanctissimo sit laus et jubilatio, benedicamus Domino, alleluia. 12. De quibus nos humillimas devotas atque debitas

1. O sons and daughters of the King, Whom heavenly hosts in glory sing,  Today the grave has lost its sting! Alleluia! 2. That Easter morn, at break of day, The faithful women went their way To seek the tomb where Jesus lay. Alleluia! 3. And Mary Magdalene, And James, and Salome, Came to anoint the body, Alleluia! 4. An angel clad in white they see, Who sits and speaks unto the three, “Your Lord will go to Galilee.” Alleluia! 5. And the Apostle John Quickly outran Peter, And arrived first at the tomb, alleluia. 6. That night the apostles met in fear; Among them came their master dear And said, “My peace be with you here.” Alleluia! 7. When Thomas first the tidings heard That they had seen the risen Lord, He doubted the disciples’ word. Alleluia! 8. “My pierced side, O Thomas, see, And look upon my hands, my feet; Not faithless but believing be.” Alleluia! 9. No longer Thomas then denied; He saw the feet, the hands, the side; “You are my Lord and God!” he cried. Alleluia! 10. How blest are they who have not seen And yet whose faith has constant been, For they eternal life shall win. Alleluia! 11. On this most holy day of days Be laud and jubilee and praise: To God your hearts and voice raise. Alleluia! 12. For which we humbly dedicated and duly Give thanks, Alleluia. Tr. Edward Caswall, apart from vv. 5 & 12.

RSPB recording of   blackbird’s song

Choir of Notre Dame de Paris O filii et filiae

 

Picture from SJC

 

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