I have been looking for James MacMillan's Tu Es Petrus, I missed it on Saturday, I had Mass myself. People in the Cathedral; said it was spine-tingling.
Listening to it here, even on my tinney speakers, it is really magnificent. In Westminster Cathedral it must have been amazing. James' charicteristically wonderful use of brass and prercussion, supplimentented by the great cathedral organ just makes me want to hear it live.
I didn't dislike his responsorial Mass, it just seemed strange the Pope using the the Church's liturgical language and the people replying in the vernacular but how magnificent, what a treasure it would have been had James written a full orchestral Latin Mass.
How blessed we are to have such brilliant Catholic man pouring out his faith in such glorious music in Britain in our life time.
8 comments:
I felt that the Macmillan Mass setting did not live up to expectations- I was hoping for something transferable to a parish setting with limited resources- nevertheless thought it fair. But- and I was only watching on TV- the Tu es Petrus was magnificent beyond words. One was left in no doubt of the gravity and awesomeness of the moment as Peter's successor entered the cathedral.
Hmmmm. I am prejudiced in favour of Macmillan, but the "brass and percussion" seemed intractably theatrical to me. Posh Ben Hur.
Father
I was lucky enough to be there. The piece struck me as theatrical. Whilst the initial playing, at the entry of the Pope, can be compared to the trumpets that announce the Queen I found the reprise, after the gospel, quite out of keeping with the Mass.
Before the Mass we had Lauds in English which was a wonderful way to pass the time and prepare for Mass.
I wonder if the choice of the Mass for Five Voices by Byrd was made to emphasise the truly English nature of the Mass and to remind us of earlier persecution.
Congratulations and thanks to all and special praise to the youngsters who waited outside so patiently.
I hope a recording would be made... If there is, please be sure to post about it Father.
It's on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLVnhfYHyJ0
In my opinion this was an outstanding introit, utterly fitting for the Pope. The magnitude of the event, and indeed its significance, struck me when I heard it. MacMillan is a genius and he reminded us in music what Pope Benedict XVI reminded us in word, he IS the successor of Peter.
With regard to MacMillan's mass setting, I thought it was the musical highlight of both masses (Glasgow and Edinburgh). It is not difficult, it just require's good direction. My own parish is learning it now and I can't wait for it to be rolled out.
We are blessed with such a magnificent composer.
I was there too . His Holiness came into view just as a crescendo burst out - you simply cannot believe the symbolic power behind it all. This little smiling man resting upon his cross - yes it was like sci-fi - His Holiness was very much a yoda/gandalf/merlin/benign fantasy emperor but from the music this vindicated the entire History of Holy Mother Church - this was the Peter of John 21 on the lakeshore, the Peter declaring 'silver and gold have I not' , the Peter on the road out of Rome - and it stirred echoes of all those of Peter's successors - there was all the legacy of the hundreds of previous popes - and this man was the father of Fathers, the Servant of Servants - he was truly the Keeper of the Keys - and you knew - could feel the humility and gentleness emanate from him - the true overwhelming strength of the Papacy against the Prince of this world.
Later we were graced with receiving his blessings as he walked within 6ft of us on his way to bless the St David mosaic ; and this truly was like touching Heaven.
I thought the setting very moving heightened by the entrance of the Pope.
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