I composed this season's congregational mass setting during my tenure as Cathedral Organist at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine .  The Mixolydian Mode , known as the “church mode,” incorporates a lowered seventh within the major scale and is prominent throughout this setting which includes The Venite in place of The Gloria . Our Prayer Book states that any "song of praise" may be used after the acclamation in addition to the Gloria, the Kyrie, and the Trisagion. Sunday's Offertory Anthem, Bless the Lord, was composed by Joseph Roff (1910-1993), a Roman Catholic priest who was ordained in England and served in the presbyterate of the Diocese of Brooklyn. With a double career as musician and priest he wrote over a thousand compositions for the liturgy of the Church before and after the Second Vatican Council in which he strove to write for parish choirs of the church, composing psalmody and anthems which he felt were more accessible for parish choirs of the day. This setting of Psalm 103 is one of his classic anthems which utilizes a simple melodic strain, ending with a triumphant exclamation.

The music for Sunday's Communion Anthem, Bread of the World in Mercy Broken , was composed by John Ebenezer West (1863-1929), a British organist and composer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The timeless and traditional text was written by English Bishop Reginald Heber (1783-1826) who served as Bishop of Calcutta. Bp. Heber was one of the church’s most prolific hymn-writers with his poems recognized the world over having been set to music by countless composers. One of his most famous, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty , is a favorite hymn for Trinity Sunday.

I'll see you in Church,
-Tim