Music during Holy Week and Easter
at St. Hugh's
You're invited to join us on a journey that begins with a joyful reception (Palm Sunday) and then continues on into a great expression of love (Maundy Thursday), followed by a betrayal, condemnation, crucifixion, and burial (Good Friday); this journey culminates with even greater joy on Easter Day. Here, Ed Hansen, our Organist/Pianist/Minister of Music reflects on the liturgies of Holy Week and the music that is a vital part of each liturgy.
Holy Week and Easter are sacred in the Christian tradition. Come join us in this sacred journey. All are welcome.
Holy Week and Easter are sacred in the Christian tradition. Come join us in this sacred journey. All are welcome.
The Sunday of the Passion, also known as Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter) commemorates Jesus Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The Eucharistic Celebration starts outside with Readings, prayers, and the Blessing of the Palms. Palm Sunday music reflects the joyous mood and celebration of the triumphal entry. Jesus is declared the "King."
The refrain, "Hosanna," which means 'save' or 'rescue,' is repeated over and over. Hosanna is an ancient Jewish expression of praise and adoration. It is a central part of Christian worship. The Procession continues with the hymn, "All Glory, Laud, and Honor," one of the oldest works of Christian hymnody. It was written around 821, A.D.
As the Service progresses, the tone becomes more somber—more serious. After the Reading of the Passion and Death of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, the hymns, "Were you There?", "O, Holy Jesu," and "O Sacred Head, Sore Wounded" tell of Christ's passion and suffering. The music is very introspective. The Service on the Sunday of the Passion ends in silence.
The Easter Triduum (or Paschal Mystery) re-enacts the three part drama of Christ's Redemption and consists of three continuous Services: Maundy Thursday (called Holy Thursday in the Roman Catholic tradition), Good Friday, and the Great Vigil of Easter.
Maundy Thursday celebrates Jesus’ gift of His Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist and, as such, it is an anniversary of the Last Supper. The word, "Maundy" comes from the Latin word, mandatum, or ‘commandment. On Maundy Thursday we remember the words of Jesus: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” John 13:34 NRSV
The liturgy of Maundy Thursday recalls the Passover of the Lord, and the Last Supper, which includes the "Washing of the Feet." The hymn, "Ubi caritas," or "Where Charity and Love Prevail" is sung at this time. The music of Maundy Thursday reflects the joy for the institution of the Sacrament and Mystery of the presence of Christ in the Eucharistic elements of bread and wine; at the same time there is a sorrowful pre-shadowing of the crucifixion to come.
The hymns, "Adoro devote," ("Humbly I adore Thee") and "Pange lingua" ("Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle") stress the importance of the gift of the Holy Eucharist. After the Post-Communion Prayer, there is no Final Blessing. We recall Jesus's Agony in the Garden and His arrest and imprisonment as the Altar is stripped bare. Crosses, pictures, and statues are removed or covered. The church is darkened and all depart in total silence.
Good Friday commemorates the agony and death of Our Lord, Jesus Christ on the Cross. Organ music is minimal, if at all, on this day. Chant and pentatonic hymns are particularly suited for today's liturgical mood. There is no Prelude or Postlude music on Good Friday. The entrance and departure are in absolute silence. The Good Friday Service is not a complete Sunday liturgy. There is no Great Thanksgiving and, of course, no Consecration. All of the music has an austere sacred quality to it. It assists us to contemplate the awesome events of the Passion and Death of our Savior. It's timelessness makes it a perfect accompaniment for the timeless re-enactment of the sacred mysteries of Good Friday.
The Great Vigil of Easter is the most important Service of the Liturgical Year. It is the heart and soul of the Christian year. It defines the Resurrection of Jesus - "the coming of the light in the darkness." Saint John says, "the Light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it."
The Service begins outside with the Lighting of the New Fire (Celtic in it's origins). As the sun is down, the Light defies the darkness. The Paschal Candle is lit, which presides over all Services in Eastertide (a period of 50 days extending from Easter Day through the Eve of Pentecost).
Inside the church I will intone the Exultet, an ancient and incredible prayer of thanksgiving, gratitude, hope, and praise. After this, the Vigil begins with the Liturgy of the Word.
There are nine possible Readings, of which we will use four. After each Reading an appropriate meditation or Responsorial Psalm is said or chanted. At the conclusion of the Readings, the sun should be peeking over our glorious mountain village and we sing a sublime Hymn of Praise (replacing the Gloria) during which all of the bells are rung to their fullest extent. You are invited to bring a bell to ring vigorously on this Easter morning.
After the reading of the Epistle, we sing the Easter Alleluia three times—each time a half-step higher and more intensely. The Gospel Reading is enthusiastically proclaimed and at its conclusion we sing an abbreviated version of the same Alleluia.
After the Easter Homily, we renew our Baptismal Vows. "We are buried with Christ in His death—by it we share in His Resurrection.”
Finally, we celebrate the First Eucharist of Easter. During the Offertory, our choir will sing, "This Joyful Eastertide." The Doxology is now sung again (after being said during Lent), the Preface, Sanctus, and Great Thanksgiving are proclaimed. This is followed by the rousing "Great Amen." The Lord's Prayer is sung again followed by the Fraction Anthem ("Lamb of God"). After the Communion and the Post-Communion hymn, we are commissioned to become the "Resurrection people of the world." Save your "Alleluias" for this Service—the more, the better. As you can see, this is an incredibly joyous Service.
Finally, we will return to singing the Schubert "Deutsche Messe" ("German Mass") during this Service and throughout Eastertide.
I wish everyone a very meaningful, holy Lent and Holy Week and a truly Blessed Easter.
Edwin S. Hansen
Orgainst/Pianist/Minister of Music
The refrain, "Hosanna," which means 'save' or 'rescue,' is repeated over and over. Hosanna is an ancient Jewish expression of praise and adoration. It is a central part of Christian worship. The Procession continues with the hymn, "All Glory, Laud, and Honor," one of the oldest works of Christian hymnody. It was written around 821, A.D.
As the Service progresses, the tone becomes more somber—more serious. After the Reading of the Passion and Death of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, the hymns, "Were you There?", "O, Holy Jesu," and "O Sacred Head, Sore Wounded" tell of Christ's passion and suffering. The music is very introspective. The Service on the Sunday of the Passion ends in silence.
The Easter Triduum (or Paschal Mystery) re-enacts the three part drama of Christ's Redemption and consists of three continuous Services: Maundy Thursday (called Holy Thursday in the Roman Catholic tradition), Good Friday, and the Great Vigil of Easter.
Maundy Thursday celebrates Jesus’ gift of His Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist and, as such, it is an anniversary of the Last Supper. The word, "Maundy" comes from the Latin word, mandatum, or ‘commandment. On Maundy Thursday we remember the words of Jesus: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” John 13:34 NRSV
The liturgy of Maundy Thursday recalls the Passover of the Lord, and the Last Supper, which includes the "Washing of the Feet." The hymn, "Ubi caritas," or "Where Charity and Love Prevail" is sung at this time. The music of Maundy Thursday reflects the joy for the institution of the Sacrament and Mystery of the presence of Christ in the Eucharistic elements of bread and wine; at the same time there is a sorrowful pre-shadowing of the crucifixion to come.
The hymns, "Adoro devote," ("Humbly I adore Thee") and "Pange lingua" ("Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle") stress the importance of the gift of the Holy Eucharist. After the Post-Communion Prayer, there is no Final Blessing. We recall Jesus's Agony in the Garden and His arrest and imprisonment as the Altar is stripped bare. Crosses, pictures, and statues are removed or covered. The church is darkened and all depart in total silence.
Good Friday commemorates the agony and death of Our Lord, Jesus Christ on the Cross. Organ music is minimal, if at all, on this day. Chant and pentatonic hymns are particularly suited for today's liturgical mood. There is no Prelude or Postlude music on Good Friday. The entrance and departure are in absolute silence. The Good Friday Service is not a complete Sunday liturgy. There is no Great Thanksgiving and, of course, no Consecration. All of the music has an austere sacred quality to it. It assists us to contemplate the awesome events of the Passion and Death of our Savior. It's timelessness makes it a perfect accompaniment for the timeless re-enactment of the sacred mysteries of Good Friday.
The Great Vigil of Easter is the most important Service of the Liturgical Year. It is the heart and soul of the Christian year. It defines the Resurrection of Jesus - "the coming of the light in the darkness." Saint John says, "the Light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it."
The Service begins outside with the Lighting of the New Fire (Celtic in it's origins). As the sun is down, the Light defies the darkness. The Paschal Candle is lit, which presides over all Services in Eastertide (a period of 50 days extending from Easter Day through the Eve of Pentecost).
Inside the church I will intone the Exultet, an ancient and incredible prayer of thanksgiving, gratitude, hope, and praise. After this, the Vigil begins with the Liturgy of the Word.
There are nine possible Readings, of which we will use four. After each Reading an appropriate meditation or Responsorial Psalm is said or chanted. At the conclusion of the Readings, the sun should be peeking over our glorious mountain village and we sing a sublime Hymn of Praise (replacing the Gloria) during which all of the bells are rung to their fullest extent. You are invited to bring a bell to ring vigorously on this Easter morning.
After the reading of the Epistle, we sing the Easter Alleluia three times—each time a half-step higher and more intensely. The Gospel Reading is enthusiastically proclaimed and at its conclusion we sing an abbreviated version of the same Alleluia.
After the Easter Homily, we renew our Baptismal Vows. "We are buried with Christ in His death—by it we share in His Resurrection.”
Finally, we celebrate the First Eucharist of Easter. During the Offertory, our choir will sing, "This Joyful Eastertide." The Doxology is now sung again (after being said during Lent), the Preface, Sanctus, and Great Thanksgiving are proclaimed. This is followed by the rousing "Great Amen." The Lord's Prayer is sung again followed by the Fraction Anthem ("Lamb of God"). After the Communion and the Post-Communion hymn, we are commissioned to become the "Resurrection people of the world." Save your "Alleluias" for this Service—the more, the better. As you can see, this is an incredibly joyous Service.
Finally, we will return to singing the Schubert "Deutsche Messe" ("German Mass") during this Service and throughout Eastertide.
I wish everyone a very meaningful, holy Lent and Holy Week and a truly Blessed Easter.
Edwin S. Hansen
Orgainst/Pianist/Minister of Music