Thursday 31 August 2017

Ushaw Vespers

I only came across this recently. While I`ve been aware of the filmed Masses from Ushaw I`d not noticed this vesper recording. Strange to think all this would be abolished a few years later. I`m not keen on the post vespers hymn but it`s interesting to hear what went on at Ushaw.


4 comments:

  1. Is Terry in the picture? I'm sure he would recall well those magnificent days!

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    1. Yes, David. I remember it well. The BBC used to broadcast Choral Evensong (nearly always CofE) live on Wednesdays afternoons on the Third Programme. I was part of it!

      Terry Middleton

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  2. The Hymn in question seems to be Mother Hear Thy Children Praying which, I think, was an Ushaw hymn, perhaps written by Monsignor Hollis. I have it on a tape of Ushaw choir music from 1958.
    Pope Paul VI tried to stem the tide of vernacularism with his Apostolic letter Sacrificium Laudis which he had placed on every seat at the plenary Congress of Abbots in Rome in 1966. He deplored the discordant practices which were being introduced into their communities and made a heartfelt plea for the retention of Latin in the chanting of the divine office in choir and reminded them of the wishes of the Council Fathers in this respect. Sadly, it was to no avail.

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    1. Leo,

      Fr Hollis was a wonderful musician, arranger, composer and choir master, as well as a teacher of French in the Junior House! He composed a couple of Masses in the early 1960's which were very modern, full of discords and almost unsingable, but we tried our best.

      I still have the Liber Usualis which I used almost every day in St Cuthbert's under Fr Hollis' direction. It is thanks to people like Fr Brown and your good self that it is still used at the present time.

      Terry Middleton

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