Trinity Sunday is a marvelous feast from a musical perspective. So many fantastic hymns, so little time in the feast. Not to mention a good quantity of organ music exploring trinitarian themes; Bach's E-flat prelude and fugue is a firm favorite of mine that seems to make better sense of the doctrine than many sermons I've heard. How exactly can you put a definite statement about something as inherently mysterious as the nature of the godhead into words, when by definition it lies beyond language? This is perhaps where musical expressions like the E-flat prelude and fugue offers clarity, built out of harmonious relationships of counterpoint, style and form. I played it in a competition a couple of years ago, and someone in the audience told me that the piece concluded at 3.33pm exactly. You couldn't plan these things if you wanted to.
The readings for the week are linked here.
The mass setting will be Michael Dudman's Parish Eucharist (Together in Song, 756)
Hymns for the week are as follows:
Introit: Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty [132]
For the Psalm: O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth [4]
Gradual: We give immortal praise [118]
Offertory: The God of Abraham praise [125]
Communion: Eternal Father, strong to save [138]
Sadly, St Patrick's Breastplate is off the menu this year. Such a splendid hymn, but not as well-known as it should be.
Organ music at All Saints will be:
Prelude: Gloria tibi Trinitas -- J.P. Sweelinck
Postlude: "St Anne" Fugue [BWV 552] -- J.S. Bach
I'm getting into late recital preparations mode -- the concert at St Gabriel's Reservoir is at 3pm on Sunday 6 June. If you happen to be in the area, please do come and have a listen.
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