Kyrie, eleison; Christe, eleison; Kyrie, eleison
We had the most amazing music at church today. Lenten music is much more subdued and solemn and quiet and thoughtful, and right now that's the kind that I'm craving. So I thought I'd share a few versions of the songs that my church choir sang. As always, right-click to save and if you take something and like it, let me know. All songs will be up for a week, then deleted, and if you like the artists, all have albums available on Amazon, iTunes or emusic.com.
Kyrie elesion
The Kyrie is familiar to Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, and to anyone who's listened to the performance of a classical Mass. In English it's translated to Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy, Lord, have mercy. It can be spoken as part of the liturgy (which is how we do it) or sung. My favourite sung versions of it are all chants, which is how our choir sang it in the opening procession today.
Kyrie Eleison (A Medieval Mass) - The Cathedral Singers, Richard Proulx
Kyrie: Requiem - Gregorian Sense
Kyrie Eleison (Christian-Arabic Tradition, Lebanon) - Oni Wytars Ensemble (Note: This comes from an album that Amazon is offering for free.)
Mass for Five Voices: Kyrie Eleison - Virtual Byrd Choir
Amazing Grace
I've sung Amazing Grace all my life; I know all the words to all the verses. My favourite versions are the ones that are entirely or mostly a cappella because the mournful beauty of this hymn doesn't really need accompaniment.
Amazing Grace - Judy Collins
Amazing Grace - LeAnn Rimes
Come Sunday
A lot of people don't know that Duke Ellington, the jazz maestro, wrote three sacred concerts before his death. They're so complex that they're not frequently performed. But this song from one of them was made popular by Mahalia Jackson.
Come Sunday - Duke Ellington & Mahalia Jackson (3:55 min, remastered live version)
Come Sunday - Mahalia Jackson (7:56 min, m4a)
Kyrie elesion
The Kyrie is familiar to Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, and to anyone who's listened to the performance of a classical Mass. In English it's translated to Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy, Lord, have mercy. It can be spoken as part of the liturgy (which is how we do it) or sung. My favourite sung versions of it are all chants, which is how our choir sang it in the opening procession today.
Kyrie Eleison (A Medieval Mass) - The Cathedral Singers, Richard Proulx
Kyrie: Requiem - Gregorian Sense
Kyrie Eleison (Christian-Arabic Tradition, Lebanon) - Oni Wytars Ensemble (Note: This comes from an album that Amazon is offering for free.)
Mass for Five Voices: Kyrie Eleison - Virtual Byrd Choir
Amazing Grace
I've sung Amazing Grace all my life; I know all the words to all the verses. My favourite versions are the ones that are entirely or mostly a cappella because the mournful beauty of this hymn doesn't really need accompaniment.
Amazing Grace - Judy Collins
Amazing Grace - LeAnn Rimes
Come Sunday
A lot of people don't know that Duke Ellington, the jazz maestro, wrote three sacred concerts before his death. They're so complex that they're not frequently performed. But this song from one of them was made popular by Mahalia Jackson.
Come Sunday - Duke Ellington & Mahalia Jackson (3:55 min, remastered live version)
Come Sunday - Mahalia Jackson (7:56 min, m4a)