Music for Saint Michael and All Angels

In 1961, when the Duke of Edinburgh entreated Benjamin Britten to write a setting of Psalm 100 for the choir of the chapel at St. George’s Castle, he was in the midst of a rather turbid turn of musical style. His recent operas, Noye’s Floode and Turn of the Screw, embodied a rather more tortured and morose artistic expression than his younger, cheerful works. As he set out to compose and publish the anthem, he remembered his 1934 setting of the Te Deum in C, for which he determined this new work would be a companion. The result is a delightfully concise canticle overbrimming with joy, from the first cascading descent of the melodic theme in the organ part through the many tiered crescendos where the choir seems to embody angel choir singing exultations in never-ending echoing chorus.

Perhaps it is fitting that we sing one of the most “musical” psalms on the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels. Angels are often associated with song or other musical endeavours, depicted as a “heavenly chorus” in renaissance art, with visions of paradise often portraying polychoral angelic consorts of viols, dulcians, and plucked-string instruments.

I would be remiss to forego a mention of the special occasion this Sunday: as we celebrate Fr Matthew Johnson’s tenure as Street Outreach Priest at St. James’, our musical offerings reflect the impact of his presence here. Not only was Fr Matthew’s visible commitment to street outreach one of the things that drew me most to be a part of St. James’ community, but we have built a strong bond over our shared passion for music, art, and spirituality; core interests we believe to be inextricably linked. The choir will sing one of Fr Matthew’s favourite anthems as the motet, and I have prepared organ voluntaries that recall some of the quite moving conversations we have shared. Thank you, Fr Matthew, for your service, advocacy for the sacred arts, and your very special continued presence in our spiritual life.

– Abraham Ross

Solemn Mass takes place at St. James’ Anglican Church, Vancouver at 10:30 am every Sunday.