Sacred Heart Choir

Sexagesima Sunday

2012-02-07T21:53:00.000+08:00

For Feb 12, 2012 which is Sexagesima Sunday, we are going to sing:

Procession: O God Almighty Father
Asperges me
Introit: Exsurge, quare obdormis
Kyrie XI (Orbis factor)
Gradual: Sciant gentes
Tract: Commovisti
Credo III
Offertory: Perfice gressus meos
Offertory hymn: Ave Maria (J. Arcadelt)
Sanctus XI
Agnus Dei XI
Communion: Introibo ad altare Dei with Psalm 42:4
Recession: Hail True Victim, Life And Light

Click on the links to hear samples and to obtain the scores where available.

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

2012-01-28T00:04:00.007+08:00

For Jan 29, 2012 which is the 4th Sunday after Epiphany, we are going to sing:

Procession: Hail Redeemer, King Divine
Asperges me
Introit: Adorate Deum
Kyrie IV (Cunctipotens Genitor Deus)
Gloria IV
Gradual: Timebunt gentes
Alleluia: Dominus regnavit, exsultet
Credo IV
Offertory:Dextera Domini
Offertory hymn: Ubi Caritas Et Amor
Sanctus IV
Agnus Dei IV
Communion hymn: Ave Verum Corpus
Communion: Mirabantur
Recession: To Jesus' Heart, All Burning

Click on the links to hear samples and to obtain the scores where available.

Steve Jobs on Gregorian Chant

2012-01-21T00:44:00.003+08:00

Excerpt from this article:

In March 2011, after the iPad2 came out, Isaacson sat with Jobs as he scrolled through some of his favorite music. From page 413:

"We went through the usual Dylan and Beatles favorites, then he became more reflective and tapped on a Gregorian chant, 'Spiritus Domini,' performed by Benedictine monks. For a minute or so he zoned out, almost in a trance. 'That's really beautiful,' he murmured."

Jobs goes on to discuss Bach, his favorite classical composer, and the differences in the two famous recordings of the Goldberg Variations made by Glenn Gould. I'm fascinated that Jobs seems to simply be sitting at the feet of this music, just taking it in. I was kind of surprised by this paragraph, because in other parts of the book Isaacson documents how Jobs owned a historic mansion that he wanted to tear down to build a modern house. He was resisted by preservationists, and by the time he won the court battle he had lost interest in the project, but he clearly didn't care about a beautiful historic house. So here is this guy with a revolutionary, possibly even iconoclastic, spirit who liked to call people bozos and products garbage who listens to a Gregorian chant and just says, "That's really beautiful."

Third Sunday after Epiphany

2012-01-14T22:48:00.002+08:00

For Jan 22, 2012 which is the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany, we are going to sing:

Procession: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Asperges me
Introit: Adorate Deum
Kyrie VIII (De Angelis)
Gloria VIII
Gradual: Timebunt gentes
Alleluia: Dominus regnavit, exsultet
Credo III
Offertory:Dextera Domini
Offertory hymn: Dextera Domini (C. Franck)
Sanctus VIII
Agnus Dei VIII
Communion hymn: O Salutaris Hostia
Communion: Mirabantur
Recession: Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All

Click on the links to hear samples and to obtain the scores where available.

The Holy Family

2011-12-28T16:53:00.013+08:00

For Jan 8, 2012 which is the Feast of the Holy Family (Sunday within the Octave of Epiphany), we are going to sing:

Procession: Kings From The Orient
Asperges me
Introit: Exsultet gaudio
Kyrie IV (Cunctipotens genitor Deus)
Gloria IV
Gradual: Unam petii
Alleluia: Vere tu es Rex
Credo IV
Offertory: Tulerunt Iesum parentes
Offertory hymn: Alma Redemptoris Mater (Solemn tone)
Sanctus IV
Agnus Dei IV
Communion hymn: Adeste Fideles
Communion: Descendit Iesus cum eis
Recession: O God Of Loveliness

Click on the links to hear samples and to obtain the scores where available.

Please help Cagayan de Oro & Iligan

2011-12-28T14:10:00.002+08:00

More details on how to help: http://sspxasia.com/Countries/Philippines/Mindanao_Mission_Relief.pdf

Thank you so much and may God bless your kind hearts!

A Blessed Nativity to all

2011-12-26T18:06:00.000+08:00

Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Midnight Mass)

2011-12-18T22:16:00.005+08:00

For Dec 25, 2011 which is the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we are going to sing the following for the Midnight Mass:

Procession: O Come, All Ye Faithful
Introit: Dominus dixit ad me
Kyrie VIII (De angelis)
Gloria VIII
Gradual: Tecum principium
Alleluia: Dominus dixit ad me
Credo III
Offertory: Laetentur caeli
Offertory hymn: Jesu Redemptor Omnium (polyphony & chant alt.)
Sanctus VIII
Agnus Dei VIII
Communion hymn: Cor Dulce , Cor Amabile
Communion: In splendoribus
Recession: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Click on the links to hear samples where available

Carols Before Midnight Mass

2011-12-13T11:55:00.007+08:00

Here is the order of carols/hymns to be sung before Christmas Midnight Mass begins.

Bethlehem Of Noblest Cities (tune: Stuttgart)
Silent Night
Resonet In Laudibus
O Little Town Of Bethlehem (tune: Forest Green)
Away In A Manger (tune: Cradle Song)
O Holy Night
Coventry Carol
Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
Angels We Have Heard On High
Procession to the Crib: O Come All Ye Faithful

Click on the links to hear samples.

Third Sunday of Advent

2011-12-03T23:54:00.004+08:00

For Dec 11, 2011 which is the 3rd Sunday of Advent, we are going to sing:

Procession: O Come, Divine Messiah
Asperges me
Introit: Gaudete in Domino
Kyrie XVII b
Gradual: Qui sedes, Domine
Alleluia: Excita, Domine
Credo III
Offertory: Benedixisti, Domine
Offertory hymn: Rorate Caeli Desuper
Sanctus XVII
Agnus Dei XVII
Communion hymn: O Salutaris Hostia I
Communion: Dicite: Pusillanimes
Recession: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (tune: Stuttgart)

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

First Sunday of Advent

2011-11-23T23:22:00.005+08:00

For Nov 27, 2011 which is the 1st Sunday of Advent, we are going to sing:

Procession: Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending
Asperges me
Introit: Ad te levavi
Kyrie XVII b
Gradual: Universi, qui te exspectant
Alleluia: Ostende nobis
Credo I
Offertory: Ad te, Domine, levavi
Offertory hymn: Creator Alme Siderum
Sanctus XVII
Agnus Dei XVII
Communion hymn: Lauda, Jerusalem
Communion: Dominus dabit benignitatem
Recession: Alma Redemptoris Mater (solemn tone)

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Last Sunday after Pentecost

2011-11-17T00:21:00.004+08:00

For Nov 20, 2011 which is the Last Sunday after Pentecost, we are going to sing:

Procession: O God Almighty Father
Asperges me
Introit: Dicit Dominus: Ego
Kyrie XI (Orbis Factor)
Gloria XI
Gradual: Liberasti nos
Alleluia: De profundis
Credo IV
Offertory: De profundis
Offertory hymn: Cor, Arca Legem Continens
Sanctus XI
Agnus Dei XI
Communion hymn: O Salutaris Hostia XI
Communion: Amen dico vobis: quidquid
Recession: Salve Regina (solemn tone)

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

2011-11-08T21:29:00.005+08:00

For November 13, 2011 which is the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, we are going to sing:

Procession: O Turn To Jesus, Mother, Turn (SBH#143)
Asperges me
Introit: Si iniquitates
Kyrie XI (Orbis Factor)
Gloria XI
Gradual: Ecce quam bonum
Alleluia: Qui timent Dominum
Credo III
Offertory: Recordare mei
Offertory hymn: Salve Mater
Sanctus XI
Agnus Dei XI
Communion hymn: O Salutaris Hostia XI
Communion: Ego clamavi
Recession: Holy God, We Praise Thy Name

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Happy All Saints Day!

2011-11-01T00:00:00.001+08:00

Christ the King

2011-10-28T01:07:00.003+08:00

For October 31, 2011 which is the feast of the Christ the King (last Sunday in October), we are going to sing:

Procession: Hail Redeemer, King Divine (C. Rigby)
Asperges me
Introit: Dignus est Agnus
Kyrie II (Fons Bonitatis)
Gloria II
Gradual: Dominabitur
Alleluia: Potestas eius
Credo I
Offertory: Postula a me
Offertory hymn: Inviolata
Sanctus II
Agnus Dei II
Communion hymn: Benedictus Qui Venit
Communion: Sedebit Dominus
Recession: Christus Vincit (chorus 3x)

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

2011-10-17T00:52:00.003+08:00

For October 23, 2011 which is the 19th Sunday after Pentecost, we are going to sing:

Procession: Faith Of Our Fathers I
Asperges me
Introit: Salus populi
Kyrie XI (Orbis Factor)
Gloria XI
Gradual: Dirigatur
Alleluia: Confitemini Domino, et invocate
Credo IV
Offertory: Si ambulavero
Offertory hymn: Maria Mater Gratiae
Sanctus XI
Agnus Dei XI
Communion hymn: O Salutaris Hostia I
Communion: Tu mandasti
Recession: To Jesus Christ, Our Sov'reign King

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

2011-10-13T00:18:00.003+08:00

For October 16, 2011 which is the 18th Sunday after Pentecost, we are going to sing:

Procession: Firmly I Believe And Truly
Asperges me
Introit: Da pacem
Kyrie XI (Orbis Factor)
Gloria XI
Gradual: Laetatus sum
Alleluia: Timebunt gentes
Credo III
Offertory: Sanctificavit Moyses
Offertory hymn: Ave Maria (T.L. de Victoria)
Sanctus XI
Agnus Dei XI
Communion hymn: Ave Verum Corpus
Communion: Tollite hostias
Recession: Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

2011-10-03T23:45:00.003+08:00

For October 9, 2011 which is the 17th Sunday after Pentecost, we are going to sing:

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Why British choirs are the best

2011-09-30T23:15:00.008+08:00

From the article: "Where Are The World's Best Choirs? Not In America"

Tom Huizenga: Back to why British choirs are so good. You hinted at it earlier when you mentioned the Church of England. I was talking to Susanna Beiser, a good friend who sings here with the Cathedral Choral Society. She says:

"It's not necessarily some vague "Britishness" either, that makes their choirs so good. I think it's worth pointing out that it's the Church of England. The Anglicans rule choral music. The Catholics, on the other hand, to whom much of the repertoire rightfully belongs, have not sustained their music traditions as well, and their choirs mostly sound bad when they're not doing some guitar mass or something. But even before Vatican II, I don't think they were keeping up. From what I hear, the Church of England is in terrible shape, attendance-wise, and now with the move by a growing number of conservative Anglicans to reconcile with Rome, the choral tradition may end up being the primary contribution of 500 years of English Protestantism."

Here are some videos of the best choirs in the world according to Grammophone magazine. I recommend you to listen with your headphones to be blown away by the quality, tone, and clarity.

1. The Monteverdi Choir - Alma Redemptoris Mater (G.P. da Palestrina)

2. Polyphony - Ave, Dulcissima Maria (Morten Lauridsen)

3. The Cardinall's Musick - Domine, secundum actum meum (William Byrd)

And my personal favourite:

4. The Sixteen - Miserere mei, Deus (Gregorio Allegri)

Beautiful Angel a.k.a. Guardian Angel From Heaven So Bright

2011-09-30T22:39:00.004+08:00

Yours truly managed to find the hymn sheet for this lovely hymn just in time for Oct 2, feast of the Holy Guardian Angels which falls on a Sunday this year.

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

2011-09-28T12:21:00.004+08:00

For October 2, 2011 which is the 16th Sunday after Pentecost, we are going to sing:

Procession: Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
Asperges me
Introit: Miserere mihi
Kyrie IX (Cum Jubilo)
Gloria IX
Gradual: Timebunt gentes
Alleluia: Cantate Domino
Credo IV
Offertory: Domine, in auxilium
Offertory hymn: Cantate Domino (G. Pitoni)
Sanctus IX
Agnus Dei IX
Communion hymn: O Esca Viatorum
Communion: Domine, memorabor
Recession: Beautiful Angel (SSH#176)

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

2011-09-19T23:23:00.006+08:00

For September 25, 2011 which is the 15th Sunday after Pentecost, we are going to sing:

Procession: Soul Of My Savior
Asperges me
Introit: Inclina, Domine
Kyrie XI (Orbis Factor)
Gloria XI
Gradual: Bonum est confiteri
Alleluia: Quoniam Deus
Credo III
Offertory: Exspectans exspectavi
Offertory hymn: O Sanctissima
Sanctus XI
Agnus Dei XI
Communion hymn: Quis Sicut Te
Communion: Panis, quem ego dedero
Recession: Hail, True Victim, Life And Light

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

2011-08-30T00:13:00.004+08:00

For September 11, 2011 which is the 13th Sunday after Pentecost, we are going to sing:

Procession: To Jesus' Heart All Burning
Asperges me
Introit: Respice, Domine
Kyrie XI (Orbis Factor)
Gloria XI
Gradual: Respice, Domine
Alleluia: Domine, refugium
Credo I
Offertory: In te speravi
Offertory hymn: Stabat Mater
Sanctus XI
Agnus Dei XI
Communion hymn: Jesu Rex Admirabilis
Communion: Panem de caelo
Recession: Heart of Mary

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

2011-08-17T22:37:00.005+08:00

For August 28, 2011 which is the 11th Sunday after Pentecost, we are going to sing:

Procession: O God Of Loveliness
Asperges me
Introit: Deus in loco sancto suo
Kyrie IX (Cum Iubilo)
Gloria IX
Gradual: In Deo speravit
Alleluia: Exsultate Deo
Credo IV
Offertory: Exaltabo te
Offertory hymn: O Maria, Virgo Pia
Sanctus IX
Agnus Dei IX
Communion hymn: Adoro Te Devote
Communion: Honora Dominum
Recession: Immaculate Mary (Fatima refrain)

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

"Atmosphere of holiness"

2011-08-15T12:02:00.004+08:00

From: A time of sharing at Sikh centre
TheCatholicNews - AUGUST 14, 2011, Vol 61, No 16

“I felt the atmosphere of holiness when entering the sanctuary,” commented Ms Clara Nai, a parishioner of the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

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[Ed: That's what the Novus Ordo religion is about. Feelings. Imagine if everything is based on feelings, I could say something similar when I enter St. Mary of the Angels Church in Singapore, pic here. I would say I could feel the atmosphere of emptiness or void. Neither does the grotesque-looking figure of "Christ" suspended in mid-air helps one to pray either.]

Eucharistic "Danny Boy" Prayer

2011-07-27T21:16:00.001+08:00

From the blog of Fr. Z:
-----------------------------------------------------

From a reader:

That is strange.

Last weekend we had a visiting priest and something strange happened.
He sang the first part of the Eucharistic prayer to the tune of “Danny Boy”. Well, needless to say most of us were a little more than thrown off by this priest’s crooning. He had a good voice but it was so strange. After mass it was explained to several of us that chanting is acceptable and this was just another musical version of the prayer, like the chant. Can a priest set the prayers of mass to whatever tune it suits him?

Weird. And wrong.

Singing the Eucharistic Prayer to the tune of “Danny Boy” is reason #24456 for why we needed Summorum Pontificum.

And would I be right in assuming that this was a Mass “facing the people”? And that the priest was….not particularly young?

While there are approved liturgical books with musical notation for the Eucharistic Prayer, there is no one approved way to sing it. Sadly, some priests and bishops have made up their own versions. Results vary. Priests are wise to stick to approved books, in my humble opinion, or at the very least stick closely to the model of sacred chants of our tradition.

Music for Mass is not a mere ornament, external to the liturgical action. We cannot simply change it arbitrarily. It is of the essence of the liturgical action, and integrating part of the liturgical action. Music for Mass must be artistic and sacred. The texts which are set should be sacred texts proper for liturgical worship. The music should be art and in an idiom which is recognizable as sacred. That is a tricky issue, of course. Allow me to illustrate by simplification.

“Danny Boy” has a nice, sentimental tune, but there is nothing of the sacred about it. When you hear Danny Boy, you think of Irish pubs. And the more pints you have, the better you are at singing it, alone or with others. When you hear a Sousa March you think of a parade or sporting event. You don’t, however, go to a parade or football stadium and expect to hear Gregorian chant… unless of course that parade is a liturgical procession. You don’t want Sousa in church or chant at the ball game.

“Danny Boy” doesn’t belong at Mass. No matter how well the priest could sing it, the tune of Danny Boy has the wrong idiom for Mass.

I have often wondered if, in the case of priests who make up their own idiosyncratic thing, they are not making Mass about themselves. “Look at me! Listen to how clever I am!”

It seems to me that, as younger men come up in the ranks, men who are open also to our older, traditional Form of Holy Mass, this sort of thing will quickly fade.

Priests have to get themselves out of the way of the liturgical action, of what the Lord – the true Priest at Mass – is doing.

In Sacramentum caritatis 23 we read that:

… priests should be conscious of the fact that in their ministry they must never put themselves or their personal opinions in first place, but Jesus Christ. Any attempt to make themselves the centre of the liturgical action contradicts their very identity as priests. The priest is above all a servant of others, and he must continually work at being a sign pointing to Christ, a docile instrument in the Lord’s hands. This is seen particularly in his humility in leading the liturgical assembly, in obedience to the rite, uniting himself to it in mind and heart, and avoiding anything that might give the impression of an inordinate emphasis on his own personality.

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

2011-07-25T17:03:00.003+08:00

For August 14, 2011 which is the 9th Sunday after Pentecost, we are going to sing:

Procession: Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All
Asperges me
Introit: Ecce Deus adiuvat me
Kyrie IX
Gloria IX
Gradual: Domine, Dominus noster
Alleluia: Eripe me
Credo I
Offertory: Iustitiae Domini
Offertory hymn: Ave Maris Stella
Sanctus IX
Agnus Dei IX
Communion hymn: Panis Angelicus
Communion: Qui manducat
Recession: Salve Regina (solemn tone)

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Prayer request

2011-07-18T22:21:00.003+08:00

In your charity and kindness, please join us in prayer for the speedy recovery of Father Aurelito Cacho who is having pneumonia and renal failure. He has been hospitalised since Thursday, July 14, 2011. Father used to be one of the regular visiting priests to Kuala Lumpur back in 2005. Oremus!

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!
O Mary, Mother of Priests, protect and guard thy servant!

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

2011-07-02T03:39:00.013+08:00

For July 24, 2011 which is the 6th Sunday after Pentecost, we are going to sing:

Procession: By The Blood That Flowed From Thee (SBH1918#169)
Asperges me
Introit: Dominus fortitudo plebis suae
Kyrie XI (Orbis Factor)
Gloria XI
Gradual: Convertere, Domine
Alleluia: In te, Domine, speravi
Credo IV
Offertory: Perfice gressus meos
Offertory hymn: O Sanctissima
Sanctus XI
Agnus Dei XI
Publish Post
Communion hymn: O Salutaris Hostia XI
Communion: Circuibo
Recession: Great King Of Kings

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the Feast of the Sacred Heart

2011-07-01T00:00:00.004+08:00

O sweet Jesus, Whose overflowing charity for men is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before Thy altar eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries, to which Thy loving Heart is everywhere subject.

Mindful alas! that we ourselves have had a share in such great indignities, which we now deplore from the depths of our hearts, we humbly ask Thy pardon and declare our readiness to atone by voluntary expiation not only for our own personal offences, but also for the sins of those, who straying far from the path of salvation, refuse in their obstinate infidelity to follow Thee, their Shepherd and Leader, or, renouncing the vows of their Baptism, have cast off the sweet yoke of Thy law.

We are now resolved to expiate each and every deplorable outrage committed against Thee; we are determined to make amends for the manifold offences against Christian modesty in unbecoming dress and behaviour, for all the foul seductions laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violation of Sundays and holidays, and the shocking blasphemies uttered against Thee and Thy Saints. We wish also to make amends for the insults to which Thy Vicar on earth and Thy priests are subjected, for the profanation, by conscious neglect or terrible acts of sacrilege, of the very Sacrament of Thy Divine love; and lastly for the public crimes of nations who resist the rights and the teaching authority of the Church which Thou hast founded.

Would, O Divine Jesus, we were able to wash away such abominations with our blood. We now offer, in reparation for these violations of Thy Divine honour, the satisfaction Thou didst once make to Thy eternal Father on the Cross and which Thou dost continue to renew daily on our altars; we offer it in union with the acts of atonement of Thy Virgin Mother and all the Saints and of the pious faithful on earth; and we sincerely promise to make reparation, as far as we can with the help of Thy grace, for all neglect of Thy great love and for the sins we and others have committed in the past. Henceforth we will live a life of unwavering faith, of purity of conduct, of perfect observance of the precepts of the gospel and especially that of charity. We promise to the best of our power to prevent others from offending Thee and to bring as many as possible to follow Thee.

O loving Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary our model in reparation, deign to receive the voluntary offering we make of this act of expiation; and by the crowning gift of perseverance keep us faithful unto death in our duty and the allegiance we owe to Thee, so that we may all one day come to that happy home, where Thou with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

2011-06-26T23:08:00.008+08:00

For July 10, 2011 which is the 4th Sunday after Pentecost, we are going to sing:

Procession: Soul Of My Savior
Asperges me
Introit: Dominus illuminatio mea
Kyrie XI
Gloria XI
Gradual: Propitius esto
Alleluia: Deus, qui sedes
Credo III
Offertory: Illumina oculos meos
Offertory hymn: O bone Jesu (M.A. Ingegneri)
Sanctus XI
Agnus Dei XI
Communion hymn: Panis Angelicus (C. Casciolini)
Communion: Dominus firmamentum meum
Recession: To Jesus' Heart All Burning (SBH1918#33)

Click on the links to hear samples where available.