I don’t hear people getting all giddy about being able to crank up their Lenten music, the way they did with Christmas songs when it was Christmas time (or mid-October, whatever). That’s a shame, though—Lent is a wonderful reason to really wallow in some gorgeous harmonies that just don’t sound right any other time of year. And no, the terminally lame and casually heretical “Ashes” theme song (I can’t bring myself to call it a hymn) doesn’t count.
I do wish I knew more old Lenten hymns. There is, for instance, one called “The World Is Very Evil” which intrigues me, but somehow we never seem to sing that one at the 11:15 mass.
Here is some of my favorite Lenten music:
O Sacred Head Surrounded
How tender; and the tentative resolution as the singer sits with his quiet grief at the end of each stanza is just heartbreaking.
Josquin: Miserere
Here’s something I discovered only recently: the Josquin Des Prez (1455-1521)motet “Miserere”—very stark and lovely, with the phrase “miserere mei, Deus” (Have mercy on me, o God”) turning up over and over throughout the piece, which is a setting of Psalm 51. Very much like a soul in prayer, returning again and again to the same thought of his own sinfulness, sometimes in pain, sometimes in sorrow, sometimes gently, sometimes with a glimmer of hope.
When Jesus Wept
I learned this canon as a child. Although it’s by the American composer William Billings (1746-1800). Sung as a straight melody, it sounds bracingly early American: you can just see the unadorned wooden chapel on the edge of the salt marshes. But sung as a canon, medieval harmonies push their way forward, lending it an unforgettable ancient beauty. I couldn’t find a better version of it than this heartfelt one sung by schoolgirls. The words (what accent is that?) are a little tough to understand in parts, so here is the text:
When Jesus wept, the falling tear
in mercy flowed beyond all bound;
when Jesus groaned, a trembling fear
seized all the guilty world around.
What Lenten music do you hope to hear this year?
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I really love the two traditional (at least for me) Good Friday spirituals, “Were You There?” and “Calvary”. I think spirituals have a much more honest and raw kind of sorrow to them, mostly because the people who first sang them didn’t have the more traditional, sophisticated methods of communicating what they wanted to say. That said, I do love hearing “O Sacred Head”, and all the parts of Handel’s “Messiah” that have to do with Lent and the Crucifixion, especially “He Was Despised”
Pergolesi: Stabat Mater
Allegri: Miserere
Tallis: Lamentations of Jeremiah
Taverner: Missa Corona Spinea
Pärt: De Profundis
Keyrouz: Psalms for the Third Millenium
Bach’s St. Matthew’s Passion…the source of “O Sacred Head surrounded”. It’s repeated by the choir throughout, and changes hauntingly as the crucifixion approaches. Magnificent.
Open to me the doors of repentance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CSbIBkjq4g
I know it’s not politically correct to say this on the NC Register, but I love listening to the Godspell soundtrack during Lent. Flame away! I’ll bonk you over the head with the singing nun’s big acoustic guitar. ;)
The traditional Gregorian setting of Parce Domine is also quite remarkable but hard to come across outside of a monastic setting.
Here’s the sheet for Parce Domine and the midi file to follow along. Great stuff.
The Bach song that really does it for me is the opening of his St. Johannes Passion, “Herr, unser Herrscher”. Something about the swirling, intertwining lines, the fact that it’s in German… it just suggests the supreme cosmic significance of Lent and the Passion to me.
Here it is performenced by some Russian college kids:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBJ3cQ5uyE4
Palestrina’s Improperia are some of the most beautiful music ever composed, stunning in their simplicity (and therefore difficult to sing!) and unbearably moving to listen to on Good Friday.
Eileen, I was going to say Godspell too! *ducks*
I don’t know why…but I like it. I try to go all deep and pretend to be moved by the solemn old hymns of yore, but the truth is, I like showtunes!
Not at Mass, of course. But at home or in the car…Godspell it is!
“Roll away your stone” by Mumford and Sons is a good Lenten tune:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlYrOBvt9IQ
Arvo Part’s Passio and his Miserere.
O Sacred Head Surrounded for sure, and I’m glad someone mentioned Were You There. Very beautiful hymns. And you’re right, Ashes makes me cringe.
The 21st Century’s masterful new Passion is the “Via Crucis” by Polish composer Pawel Lukaszewski. I have heard it performed live in a Cathedral setting, and it moved everyone in attendance from the townsfolk all the way up to the local Cardinal. Worth a (meditative and undistracted) listen! Since I’m not a publicist (just an independent musician working for the good of Catholic music), I hope that you allow me to share a link to a special website dedicated to the piece, which has a link to the recording by the always impecable Stephen Layton. It has become my personal soundtrack to the Lenten season. Have a blessed Lent!
http://viacrucis.pl/
I agree with the first poster, Christina, about loving the raw honesty of spirituals. My favorite is “Take My Mother Home”. It really brought home for me the emotional anguish Christ must have been suffering in His human nature, when before I tended to focus only His physical pain. A great version is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eM8bXW3fhU
Above All! “Crucified, laid behind a stone, He lived to die, rejected and alone. Like a rose, trampled on the ground, He took the fall, and thought of me, above all.”
“Behold the Cross”, by Bob Hurd.
“Lament Like a Virgin”, by Healey Willan (very powerful, haunting piece written as a responsory for a Tenebrae service.
Tomas Victoria’s version of the Reproaches for Good Friday.
As Palm Sunday and Easter approach, I find I’m singing “Hosanna Filo David” and “Victimae Paschali Laudes” to myself a lot.
Maybe I’m nuts, but I think you ought to hear this one. I don’t know anything about it, but it freaked me out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZSyUZ7kYdI&feature=related
@Julie: far out! Google translates the text under the clip:
Choir of the Valaam monastery, Penitential Canon of St.. Andrew of Crete, Kontakion, Tone second
, my soul, my soul, arise, why dost thou slumber? The end is approaching, and smutitisya Imashev: DRC awake, but Christ God have mercy on thee, everywhere sy and fulfilling all my soul, my soul, arise, what are you asleep? The end is approaching, and you will be embarrassed; awake just to spare you the Christ God, omnipresent and all pervading. My soul, My soul, Arise! Why are you sleeping? The end is drawing near, and you will be confounded. Awake, then, and be watchful, that Christ our God may spare you, Who is everywhere present and fills all things.
In re: Godspell, “On The Willows” will always be my favorite “setting” of that Psalm, no matter how it changes the imagery a bit. In re: my own favorite Lenten songs, “Behold the Wood” by John Foley, S.J., when done with all its harmonies and swells, never fails to choke me up.
Great post! I have a Lenten music mix in my iTunes,and you have given me a few new tunes to check out! Thanks! I love the song “By the Rivers Dark” By Leonard Cohen. I think he is Buddhist, but the song is very evocative of Psalm 137, with a haunting feel to it. I love the line it where he sings “and he covered me and I saw within, my lawless heart and my wedding ring.”
Whenever I read the Psalms through, I “read” “On the Willows” with Psalm 137 ... “How can we sing the songs of Zion in a foreign land” is such a profound and submissive lament ... it hits right on my life right here right now ...
Here are a couple of opposite genre that create the Lenten mood for me: “Distant Land” by John Rutter, a gorgeous orchestral and choral CD that includes lovely settings of a few of the most beautiful music by The Beatles, of all things (So much better than the 101 Strings vinyl we had as kids!) AND, “Hosea,” by Gregory Norbert. The lyrics, “Come back to me, with all your heart, don’t let fear keep us apart ... Long have I waited for your coming, home to me and living, deeply our new life”—that’s Lent.
Attende domine is one of my favorites, in Latin or English. Usually only hear it on Ash Wednesday, though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz1kinHarMQ&feature=related
handel’s messiah; vaughan williams’ requiem; “what wonderous love is this?”
“The Glory of These Forty Days” is one of my very favorites; love the tune—and it is OLD. I feel like i am singing along with at least 1000 years of Church history. Really the music of Lent is my favorite, when you are talking about traditional, chant, polyphoney, etc…love the minor keys.
Regarding spirituals, I feel bad because I always cringe when they are sung in your typical suburban parish. Yes, the emotions and the sentiments transcend boundaries, but it never feels authentic. I dunno, perhaps it’s just me.
Does liking “Were you there?” put in with the THomas Kincaid fans?
Friends;
There are many hauntingly beautiful works for Lent that are very rarely performed or heard today. Happily, some of these treasures are available on disc.
In this regard, might I recommend the Lenten works of J. Michael Haydn (brother of Franz Joseph)who lived from 1737-1806. These include his Missa Tempore Quadragesimae, the Missa pro Quadragesima, the Missa Quadragesimalis, Graduale for Dominica Palmarum (Palm Sunday) and his Missa Sanctae Crucis. They can all be found on a wonderful disc produced by Hungaraton.
You might also explore ‘Die letzen Leiden des Erloesers’ (The Last Sufferings of the Saviour); a stirring Passion Cantata by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788). You can find this on the Erato Classica label.
Finally, might I also recommend ‘The Great Passion’ by Carl Heinrich Graun (1703/04-1759). A very moving performance of this seldom played work can be heard on the label CPO.
May your Lent and Easter be filled with the glories of this wonderful music.
I always love “O Sacred Head surrounded”. It somehow reminds of Medieval liturgy in Cathedrals of those times.
New York Hymns has an album for free download via Noistrade called “Songs for Lent”. It has songs for the Stations of the Cross. Most are original songs, although some words are taken from other sources. I approach all modern hymns & religious music with a grand dose of cynicism and disdain, but this knocked me flat. Listen to the two songs for Station Four: Jesus Meets His Mother - it moves me to tears every time.
“I’m dying, Mother, dying now;
Please raise my aching head,
And fan my heated, burning brow,
Your boy will soon be dead.
Turn o’er my pillow once again,
And kiss my fevered cheek;
I’ll soon be freed from all the pain,
For now I am so weak.”
Go to NoiseTrade.com and search New York Hymns. Please download. :) You won’t regret it. I hope.
I thought you’d find this article interesting so sending to you.
Have a terrific & blessed weekend!
Pat
Interesting info. here so enjoy!
“Were you there?” “Jesus, remember me” “O Sacred Head Surrounded” “Behold the wood of the cross”
A blessed lent to all!
Ashes is not my favorite…but I have to ask, why is it heretical?
Thanks for the link to “Oh, Sacred Head Surrounded.” I played it, and remembered the Good Friday services I attended as a school child in the fifties. I have no scholarship in music, but I remember both liking it and thinking it a bit eerie, possibly (as I now understand) because it is written in a minor key.
At the end of services everyone lined up to kiss the feet of Jesus on a crucifix. This being the fifties, there was a fair amount of lipstick smeared on the feet by the time one got there. Time for a decision—air kiss or real kiss?
I’m sure they don’t even do this anymore, since it would be a better way to transmit illness than the common Communion cup.
I’m not a Catholic anymore, but my childhood is my childhood, with good and bad. Among bad, I remember being uncomfortable with the extreme emotions displayed by a neighbor at Good Friday services. She cried and carried on as though she were actually at the foot of the cross. But what we knew was that she was one of the most extreme hypochondriacs ever. She loved the DRAMA,always. The source didn’t much matter.
Actually, “O Sacred Head Surrounded” (or “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”) is not specifically Bach—it’s Hassler and from the Renaissance. Bach just happened to base a chorale around it.
Andrea Bocelli & Zucchero is the best Miserere I’ve heard in years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_KVsJLFxz0
Then again anything Andrea sings makes me melt!!
For Easter rather than Lent, but still—“Song at the Empty Tomb” by Marty Haugen. The definitive version is by the Daughters of St. Paul, but unfortunately that isn’t available on YouTube. On the other hand, there’s something so simple and moving about this performance by members of a small church dedicated to helping the poor and feeding the hungry, and the images are incredibly powerful. No sugarcoated fluff here—this is about the reality of the Resurrection, and doing our part for humanity as members of the Body of Christ:
http://youtu.be/BxO0RO5p-p4
I love Parce Domine, and Attende Domine, as well as Stabat Mater. There’s something terribly poignant about Latin hymns for Lent. I do not like Were You There at all. I used to, but after years of hearing it badly sung, I have burned out on it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys9W4Jgc9eg&feature=related
Wilt Thou Forgive. Check it out on iTunes. There is a traditional and a moder version. Haunting and comforting lyrics from John Donne (hymn to God the Father)
I can’t think of a particular hymn, but I LOVE that our parish does many responses, such as the Agnus Dei, in Latin during Lent. I just think that Latin sounds much better chanted than English does. I really dislike that Ashes song. Or pretty much anything accompanied by an acoustic guitar. Sorry! :)
Ashes is semi-heretical because we don’t create ourselves anew. God does. But that isn’t clear from the lyrics. At best, it’s poor theology. Ashes falls within that group of songs that grew out of the misdirected, neoheretical, “spirit of Vatican II” theology that diminished Catholicism for an entire generation. There was little of it that actually sprang from Vatican II documents, much of it was advanced by feminists and anti-clerics wishing to persuade all of us that Holy Orders (and Christ’s exclusive conferral of it to men) was an erroneous doctrine, and most of it sounds similar to theological claims advanced by past heretical movements such as Arianism and Gnosticism.
On Palm Sunday, until the Mass went to the vernacular, we used to process to “Gloria, Laus, et Honor Tibi Sit; Rex Christe, Redemptor”. On Holy Thursday, the Pange Lingua (used to process from the main altar to the altar of repose) ends with the verses used to close Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. And on Good Friday, “Vexilla Regis” (The banners of the King) are very moving to me.
Thanks, Simca, for bringing up the subject of Lenten music.
TeaPot562
The Reproaches.
Ubi Caritas - the chant, but more so, Durufle’s setting. :)
Thank you for this topic and for the recommendations from readers. Just the other day I wanted to find a list of some Lenten music.
Messiah is pretty much my go-to—never gets old. ‘Since by Man Came Death’ is quite haunting. Check out Heinrich Biber’s sonatas on the mysteries of the rosary, strange but cool stuff, the music is packed with symbolism.
Another vote for Pange Lingua. And my husband’s favorite is What Wondrous Love is This?
I remember a haunting hymn from my Protestant childhood that went
Behold, behold the Lamb of God,
On the cross
For us He shed his precious blood
On the cross
O hear his all important cry
‘Eli Lama Sabathani’
Draw near and see the Saviour die
On the cross
Behold, His arms extended wide
On the cross
Behold his bleeding hands and side
On the cross
The sun withholds it’s rays of light
The heavens are clothed in shades of night
While Jesus wins the glorious fight
On the cross
By faith we see him lifted up
On the cross
He drinks for us the bitter cup
On the cross
The rocks do rend, the mountains quake
as Jesus doth atonement make
While Jesus suffers for our sake
On the cross
And now the mighty deed is done
On the cross
The battle fought the victory won
On the cross
To heaven he turns his languid eyes
‘tis finished now the conquer cries
Then bows his sacred head and dies
On the cross
My biggest problem with Lenten music, and church music in general, is that churches seem reluctant to put the resources into creating good music. Just about any average Joe can “shoo-boop” along with most contemporary Catholic music, thereby eliminating the need to patron strong, educated musicians to lead. Most polyphonic works by composers such as Byrd, Pergolesi, and Palestrina are beyond the skill level of your average choir, so we resort to badly sung motets, or badly composed crap, let alone Bach (a Protestant, by the way.) I wish the Church would rediscover how much beauty came out of patroning the arts, and trained musicians like myself wouldn’t have to explain to fellow parishioners that I’m not in the choir because it is absolutely awful, and the director must have been trained by some guitar hippie in a field of dancing pot-heads. I would love to make beautiful offerings for Mass without being given a line about how Susie Smith has been the cantor for years, and how I would need to pay my dues before “earning” my place as a cantor.
And finally, sorry Simcha, for using your blog to air my grievances about church music. All the selections you recommended are beautiful. I guess I just want to see if there are any other like minded people about church music. Anyone?
Thank you SWP for answering my question about the Ashes song!
“In Christ Alone” by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty. Various renditions can be found on You Tube including some with scenes from “The Passion”. It always moves me to tears.
Ooh! I’m so glad you asked, and I’m so glad to read everyone else’s recommendations! I created a “Lent CD” and a “Holy Week” CD for our family this year. It ended up with some duds (since I didn’t know how the whole song would sound from just an iTunes clip), but I also got some great ones.
Attende Domine
Pange Lingua
Thou Who Wast Rich (technically an Incarnation hymn, but we LOVE it) by Ordinary Time
My Song Is Love Unknown
Jesus, Remember Me
A Prayer of St. Richard of Chichester
Parce Domine
Adoro Te Devote
Jesu Salvator Mundi (by the Trapp family singers…awesome)
Stabat Mater AND At the Cross Her Station Keeping, because too much Latin makes me tune out
Ah Holy Jesus by Sola Gratia
There is A Fountain Filled With Blood by Red Mountain Church
Abide With Me
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
We’re Protestant converts, my husband went to a Protestant seminary, no less, so he hates most of the English hymns that I chose, but I still love some Protestant hymns…so I fought him tooth and nail to get them in there. :)
I didn’t see this hymn listed yet, but it’s one that I find especially good for reflecting on just how serious sin is and just how necessary Christ’s sacrifice is. Also profound for anyone who has been away from Confession for a while.
God of Mercy and Compassion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4W_CLRW9Lo
Just like Christmas music, I have my favorite Lenten songs I want to hear in the liturgy and others I enjoy listening to on my iPod. Most of the liturgical ones have been mentioned, but here’s a few from my iPod.
Before This Cross—Noelle Garcia; Crown of Thorns—Danielle Rose; Every Little Prison—Matt Maher (an homage to the Litany of Humility); John (Good Friday Song)—Martin Doman; Make Me Holy and Tree of Life—Aaron Thompson; Take, Lord, Receive—Julie and Curt Carrick. I also listen to the Taize chant, Jesus Remember Me sometimes before prayer times as a way of sort of calming down and focusing.
Cowalker - At the end of services everyone lined up to kiss the feet of Jesus on a crucifix. This being the fifties, there was a fair amount of lipstick smeared on the feet by the time one got there. Time for a decision—air kiss or real kiss?
I’m sure they don’t even do this anymore, since it would be a better way to transmit illness than the common Communion cup.
We still do it here in St. Alphonsus Ligouri parish in Zionsville, Indiana.
As for Lenten music, ‘Behold the Wood of the Cross’, ‘Jesus Remember Me’ & ‘O Sacred Head Surrounded’ are prominent with our choir. We also sing ‘The Old Rugged Cross’.
I have trouble with these, but that’s just because there’s something in my eye…must be the incense…
You might want to explore Eastern rite music as well. I cannot recommend enough the Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete, performed by the Schola of St Peter’s in the Loop, Chicago, directed by J. Walter Thompson. Link for the CD is here at http://www.nextag.com/Have-Mercy-on-Me-1229309897/prices-html?nxtg=85d0a500543-BC8B66F7C539E3D9
The sound of this choir is reverent, timeless, deeply mystical, and yet tranquil, heart-stoppingly so.
Correction: that should be J. Michael Thompson. Sorry.
I have been trying to come up with more lent songs to sing to my 2 year old since I told her that we couldn’t sing “Jingle Bells” anymore at bedtime since that was a Christmas song and it is Lent now. Since then she asks for a Lent song every night. I have mostly alternated between “White as Snow” by Jon Foreman and “Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy.”
Lenten music is my favorite! I love all the Latin we sing and our choir director always composes something new for us to sing during Lent and it’s been a wonderful experience. Christmas now seems a little cheesy to me. I love the season in the Church of course, but the best music is during Lent! “Behold the Wood of the Cross” is such a beautiful meditation. SO much good music….
Now the Green Blade Rises!
I love your selections, Simcha! I work as a full-time Music Director in a Catholic Church, and I always look forward to Lent, due in part to the beautiful music. “O Sacred Head, Surrounded” is a beautiful one! Our choir loves singing it, because it has beauty and complexity, but is not too difficult for them to sing in 4-part harmony. I think the Josquin piece would be a bit beyond our abilities.
I am sad to say we sung “Ashes” on Ash Wednesday. Sometimes, obedience to one’s pastor can be a Lenten Penance.
So it’s now Easter, but I’m still listening to Ancient Faith Radio. It’s streaming of chant in the Orthodox tradition in several languages. I thoroughly love it. It seems to be seasonally appropriate.
I too have sung “Ashes”. Mercifully, those books are now retired in our chapel.
Actually, two “Christmas” songs come to mind for consideration for Lent:
I Wonder as I Wander (How Jesus the Savior did come for to die).
Also, What Child Is This takes on a whole new meaning if you visualize the Pieta as you contemplate the words, and use the lyrics “Nail, spear shall pierce Him through, the Cross He bore for me and you…”
As mentioned in the first response, Allegri: Miserere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcWo1hKHu40
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