St Francis Xavier's Church, Liverpool - Evening Prayer with Cantata liVERPOOL BACII COLI.ECTIVE
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St Francis Xavier's Church,
Liverpool
Evening Prayer with Cantata
On Epiphany Sunday
Sunday 4 January 2015 at 6.00pm
liVERPOOL BACII COLI.ECTIVE
Organ Prelude
Chorale Prelude on Puer Natus in Betlliellem BWV 603 - J S Bach
Introduction
Tile Officiant (Rev Adrian Howell Sf) says:
o God, come to our aid.
R. 0 Lord, make haste to help liS.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen
Hymn All join in singing:
2 There, in a manger lowly, lies. Alleluia.
1. A (;hild is horn In Beth - Ie - hem, III
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'Tis he who reigns above the skies. Alleluia, alleluia.
3 The ox and ass in neighbouring stall. Alleluia.
See in that Child the Lord of all. Alleluia, alleluia.
4 And kingly pilgrims, long foretold. Alleluia.
From East bring incense, myrrh, and gold, Alleluia, alleluia.
5 And enter with their offerings. Alleluia.
To hail the new-born King of Kings. Alleluia, alleluia.
6 And to the Holy One in Three. Alleluia.
Give praise and thanks eternally. Alleluia, alleluia.
Text anonymous (13th centunj); melody 'Puer Natus ill Bethlehem' (m1Orl, 14th cent.ury)
2
Psalm 111(112)
All sit. Tire Officiant reads the Antiplwn:
A beacon now shines in the darkness for honest men;
the Lord is compassionate, merciful and kind.
All join in reciting tire even-numbered verses of the psalm:
1 Happy the man who fears the Lord,
who takes delight in all his commands.
2 His sons will be powerful on earth;
the children of the upright are blessed.
3 Riches and wealth are in his house;
his justice stands firm for ever.
4 He is a light in the darkness for the upright:
he is generous, merciful and just.
5 The good man takes pity and lends,
he conducts his affairs with honour.
6 The just man will never waver:
he will be remembered for ever.
7 He has no fear of evil news;
with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.
S With a steadfast heart he will not fear;
he will see the downfall of his foes.
9 Open-handed, he gives to the poor; his justice stands firm for ever.
His head will be raised in glory.
10 The wicked man sees and is angry, grinds his teeth and fades
away; the desire of the wicked leads to doom.
11 Glory be to the Father and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
12 As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
TIre Officiant repeats tire Antiplwn:
A beacon now shines in the darkness for honest men;
the Lord is compassionate, merciful and kind.
3
Reading Matthew 2:1-1 2
After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of
King Herod, suddenly some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east
asking, 'Where is the infant king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose
and have come to do him homage.'
When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole
of Jerusalem. He called together all the chief priests and the scribes of
the people, and enquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They to ld him, 'At Bethlehem in Judaea, for this is what
the prophet wrote:
And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means
the least among the leaders of Judah, for from you will come a
leader who will shepherd my people Israel.'
Then Herod summoned the wise men to see him privately. He asked
them the exact date on which the star had appeared and sent them on
to Bethlehem with the words, 'Go and find out all about the child, and
when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may go and do
him homage.'
Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And
suddenly the star they had seen rising went forward and halted over
the place where the child was. The sight of the star filled them with
delight, and going into the house they saw the child with his mother
Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening
their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and
myrrh.
But they were given a warning in a dream not to go back to Herod,
and returned to their own country by a different way.
The gospel of the Lord.
R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
4The Magnificat
All stand to sing:
1 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of his word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.
2 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his Name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age to same;
his holy Name--the Lord, the Mighty One.
3 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by.
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.
4 Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children's children and for evermore!
Prayers
All join in the responses R:
Today the Magi knelt before our Saviour.
Let us also worship him with great joy, and pray:
R. Lord, save us in our need.
King of nations, the wise men came from the East to worship
you: grant us the true spirit of adoration and submission R.
King of glory, your people look to you for judgement: grant an
abundance of peace to our world. R.
King of ages, your word is ever powerful: may it penetrate our
hearts and lives today. R.
5Kmg of justice, show your love for the poor and the powerless:
strengthen those who are suffering. R.
Kmg of heaven, hope of all who trust in you; give to the faithful
departed the wonders of your salvation. R.
The Officiant invites evenjone to join in saying the Lord's Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven.
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
.1
All sit for the Cantata.
Cantata 65
Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Introduction
Bach was Kantor at St Thomas's Leipzig - a post he held for 27years
until his death in 1750, and one of his principal duties was to compose
a Cantata for most Sundays and feast days of the year. These cantatas
(over 200 in number) were based on the readings of the day, with
additional texts - words written specifically to elaborate the themes of
the readings, or else taken from the psalms or from the words of an
existing hymn or chorale.
Bach composed today's Cantata for the Feast of the Epiphany at St
Thomas' Church, Leipzig in 1724.
6Cantata 65 is scored for two soloists, four-part choir, recorders, oboes
da caccia (their parts played today upon cors anglais), bassoon,
trumpets, strings and organ continuo.
TIle Lutlleran liturgy, which was followed in the Thomaskirche, nanled the
Epiphanyas 'T7Je Feast of the Three Holy Kings' and the title conjures up
tile picture of Balthazar, Melchior and Caspar as thelJ kneel, one btJ one, to
present tlleir gifts to the Christ-child. T7Je text of tile opening chorus is from
Isaiah; Bach's music per/laps suggests tile great caravan of canJelswith the
kings and tlleir attendants as it passes across the desert.
1 Chorus
Sie werden aus Saba aile kommen, They will all come forth out of Sheba,
Gold und Weihrauch bringen bringing gold and incense and
und des Herren Lob verkiindigen. proclaiming the praise of the Lord.
(Isaiah 60:6)
TIle chorale which follows is actually the fourth verse of tile hymn we have
just sung at Evening Prayer, 'Puer natus in Bethlehem' ('A child is born in
Bethlehem).
2 Chorale
Die Konige aus Saba kamen dar, The kings came out of Sheba,
Gold, Weihrauch, Myrrhen thet) brought gold, incense and myrrh,
brachten sie dar, Alleluja! Alleluia!
The bass recitativo describes the arrival of the Magi, led In) the star to the manger,
and their presentation of the giJts. In similar words to the conclusion of Christina
Rossetti's familiar carol 'In the bleak midwinter', the singer offers the Lord his own
giJt- that of his heart
73 Recitativo (bass)
Was dort Jesaias vorhergesehn, das What Isaiah prophesied there has
ist zu Bethlehem geschehn. Hier happened in Bethlehem. Here the wise
stellen sich die Weisen bei Jesu men stand next to ' esus' manger and
Krippe ein und wollen ibn aIs ihren they praise him as their King.
Konig preisen.
Gold, Weihrauch, Myrrhen sind die Gold, incense, and myrrh are the
kostIichen Geschenke, Womit sie precious gifts, with which they honour
dieses Jesuskind zu Bethlehem im the Christ-child in a stable in
Stall beehren. Bethlehem.
Mein Jesu, wenn ich itzt an meine My 'esus, when I think about my duty
Pilicht gedenke, muB ich mich auch now, I must also turn to your manger
zu deiner Krippe kehren und and likewise be thankful: for this day is
gleicbfalls dankbar sein: denn dieser a day of joy for me, since you, 0 Prince
Tag ist mir ein Tag der Freuden, of Life, have become a light to the
da du, 0 Lebensfiirst, das Licht der heathens and their Saviour.
Heiden und ihr Erloser wirst.
Was aber bring ich wohl, du But what could I present to you, 0
HimmeIskonig? King of heaven?
1st dir mein Herze nicht zu wenig, If my heart is not too insignificant for
so nimm es gnadig an, well ich nichts you, accept it graciously, since I can
Edlers bringen kann. offer nothing more noble.
The Bass singer suggests that gold is too inadequate a gift for the Lord; and that
Christ desires our hearts. not our earthly riches
4 Aria (bass)
Gold aus Ophir ist zu schlecht, Gold from Ophir is too meagre a gift;
weg, nur weg mit eitlen Gaben, awt11j,away with vain gifts that are
Die ihr aus der Erde brecht! mined from the earth!
Jesus will das Herze haben. 'esus wants your heart. 0 Christian
Schenke dies, 0 Christenschar, people, offer him your hearts this
Jesu zu dem neuen Jabr! New Year!
8In his recitativo, the tenor offers the gifts ofhis heart, which he likens to those of the
Magi,
5 Recitativo (tenor)
Verschmahe nicht, du, meiner SeelenO o Light of my soul, do not scom,
Licht, mein Herz, das ich in Demut zu my heart, which [ bring you in
dir bringe; Es schlieBt ja solche Dinge humility; it contaills gifts which are
In sich zugleich mit ein, die deines the fruits of your Spirit:
Geistes Friichte sein,
Des Glaubens Gold, der Weihrauch The gold offaith, the illcense of
des Gebets, die Myrrhen der Geduld prayer, the myrrh of patience are
sind meine Gaben, die sollst du, Jesu, these gifts, which are yours, 0 Jesus,
fur und fiir zum Eigentum und zum for ever; as your dues and as my
Geschenke haben, offering,
Gib aber dich auch seIber mir, so If you give yowseif to me, you will
machst du mich zum Reichsten auf der
make me the richest person on earth;
if I possess you, the abundance of the
Erden; denn, hab ich dich, so muB des
wealth of your kingdom will one day
gr6Bten Reichtums OberfluB mir
be mine, in heaven.
dermaleinst im Himmel werden,
The tenor sings of the prospect of this 'abundance ofwealth of the kingdom of
heaven " with the foil ensemble; with enchanting upward runs for the recorders and
violins, and joyous punctuations by recorders, oboes, trumpets and strings, playing in
thirds,
6 Aria (tenor)
Nimm mich dir zu eigen hin, Take me to yourseif as your own,
Nimm mein Herze zum Geschenke, take my heart as my gift.
Alles, alles, was ich bin, My Saviour, all tlrat [ am, all that I
Was ich rede, tu und denke, sm}, all that I do, and think, shall be
Soli, mein Heiland, nur allein dedicated only to your service,
DiI zum Dienst gewidmet sein,
9The concluding chorale continues the sentiments expressed by the tenor; the text is
ill fact verse 10 of the hymn 'Ich hab eill Gottes Herz wzd Sinn' ('l surrender to
God's heart and mind)' by Paul Gerhardt, set to a French melody,
7 Choral
Ei nun, mein Gatt, so fall ich dir Ah now, my God, I fall
getrost in deine Hande, contentedly into your hands,
nimm mich und mach es so mit mir Accept me and care for me until my
bis an mein letztes Ende, filial monzents, as you best know
Wie du wahl weiBt, how, so that my spirit will benefit,
daiS meinem Geist and so your honour may more and
dadurch sein Nutz entstehe, more be exalted in nzy soul.
und deine Ehr je mehr und mehr
sich in mir selbst erhOhe,
Concluding Prayer & Blessing
All stand and the Officiant says:
On this day, Lord God,
by a guiding star you revealed your Only-begotten Son
to all the peoples of the world.
Lead us from the faith by which we know you now
to the vision of your glory ..
We make our prayer through our Lord ...
R. Amen.
The Lord be with you.
R. And also with you.
May Almighty God bless you,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
Go in the peace of Christ.
R. Thanks be to God.
10Organ Voluntary
Chorale Prelude on In Dir 1st Freude (In Thee is Gladness)
BWV 615 - J S Bach
A retiring collection will be taken to help defray the expenses of ate event.
Liverpool Bach Collective was formed just a year ago, and it aims to perform
a cantata by J S Bach in a church in the Liverpool area every other month or so
on a Sunday afternoon, as part of an act of worship. The cantatas are chosen
specifically to match the readings of the day.
The next Cantata will be on Sunday 15 February (venue to be announced).
If you would like to be sent information about this and forthcoming perfor-
mances, please complete a mailing list form and hand it to a steward before
you leave today.
The illustration on the front cover of this service sheet is of the anonymous
6th century mosaic 11le Arrival of Magi, in the Basilica of Sant' ApoUinare
Nuovo, Ravenna.
Acknowledgements Liverpool Bach Collective is grateful to the Rev Adrian
Howell SJ (Parish Priest) for hosting today's Evening Prayer & Cantata, and
to the staff of the Church and the Friends of SFX for their assistance in pro-
moting the celebration.
Also to the Organist of the Metropolitan Cathedral (Richard Lea) for the loan
of the box organ.
11
ILIVERPOOL BACH COLLECTIVE
Players Singers
Recorders Sopranos
Grace Barton Pat Howley
Jon Barton Julia Smith
Cors Anglais Countertenors
Helen Thomas Robert Woods
Will Kiggins Flora Collingwood
Bassoon Tenors
Sally Holman Tim Kennedy'
James Gallagher
Trumpets
Paul Thomas Basses
Hannah Mackenzie Stuart O'Hara'
Steven Doran
Violins
Tassilo Erhardt * soloist
Kirsten Sothmann
Violas
Diana Waite Directed by
Philip Duffy
Cello
Gregor Cuff
Organ
Stephen Hargreaves
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