O Clap Your Hands: A Musical Tour of Sacred Choral Works »

Gordon Giles is a trained musician and the Vicar of St. Mary Magdalene North London. He hold's Master's degrees in Philosophy and Theology from Cambridge University. HE is also the author of the popular Advent devotional O Come Emmanuel: A Musical Tour of Daily Readings for Advent and Christmas.

Singled out by the American Record Guide for " performances which are impeccable and deeply moving," Gloriae Dei Cantores ( Singers to the Glory of God) is directed by Elizabeth Patterson and dedicated to authentic and compelling interpretation of sacred choral music. Learn more at www.gdcchoir.org.

Enrich your listening to the great music of the church!

Accompanied by a full-length CD by the acclaimed choir Gloriae Dei Cantores, Gordon Giles's O Clap Your Hands unlocks thirtyof the great anthems of the churchto discover their hidden meanings, offering spiritual reflections and prayers, and enabling you to fully engage with the musical theology and history of beloved choral works.

" This superb collection is a gem!"

Gerre Hancock -The School of Music, The University of Texas at Austin

" Gordon Giles's perspective and insightful commentaries enhance our appreciation and understanding og these works, especially while listening to the glorious CD performances. This is an inspiring resource for personal devotion, prayer and reflection, enchouraging us to know the way to heaven's door."

John Scott, Organist and Director of Music, St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue

Gordon Giles is a trained musician and the Vicar of St. Mary Magdalene North London. He hold's Master's degrees in Philosophy and Theology from Cambridge University. HE is also the author of the popular Advent devotional O Come Emmanuel: A Musical Tour of Daily Readings for Advent and Christmas.

Singled out by the American Record Guide for " performances which are impeccable and deeply moving," Gloriae Dei Cantores ( Singers to the Glory of God) is directed by Elizabeth Patterson and dedicated to authentic and compelling interpretation of sacred choral music. Learn more at www.gdcchoir.org.

 

Graham Christian - Library Journal

Music is a medium of spiritual communication that is arguably more popular and more effective than the spoken word: only images, from stained-glass windows to prayer wheels, could challenge its hold over the human imagination. Giles, a professional musician himself and vicar of St. Mary Magdalene in North London, has written a light and accessible series of reflections on a huge variety of anthems, canticles, and psalms through their musical settings, touching gently on the composers' lives and approaches. The music selected-to be heard on the accompanying CD, executed by the soundly competent Gloriae Dei Cantores-is by no means the obvious Bach, Handel, Haydn, and Mozart; Giles and the Cantores take on Lotti, Charles Ives, and Leo Sowerby, as well as William Byrd and Palestrina. This brief but charming book-and-CD set will remain timely through the Christmas season. Includes a four-session Group Study guide; for most collections.

How This Book Might Be Used     7
Introduction     9
30 Reflections with Music
Viadana: Exsultate, justi     29
Rubbra: Nunc Dimittis in A-flat     32
Hylton Stewart: Psalm 137 (Chant)     35
Rachmaninov: Bogoroditse Devo (Ave Maria from Vespers)     38
Kedrov: Otche nash (Our Father)     42
Gregorian Chant: Psalm 150     45
Ives: Psalm 100     49
Langlais: Kyrie from Messe Solennelle     53
Mathias: Gloria from Missa Brevis     56
Thomson: Credo from Mass for Two-Part Chorus and Percussion     60
Lassus: Sanctus from Missa Super Bella Amfitrit' Altera     64
Monteverdi: Benedictus from Missa "In illo tempore"     68
Rheinberger: Agnus Dei from Mass in E-flat     72
Esquivel: Ego sum panis vivus     76
Palestrina: Miserere nostri, Domine     80
Handl: Rorate caeli     84
Hassler: Dixit Maria     87
Nanino: Adoramus te, Christe     91
Lotti: Crucifixus     95
Tchaikovsky: Angel vopiyashe     98
Byrd: Terra tremuit     102
Mendelssohn: Am Himmelfahrtstage     106
Philips: Tibi laus     109
Sowerby:Eternal Light     113
Brahms: Ach, arme Welt     117
Traditional, arr. Parker: Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal     121
Copland: Simple Gifts from Old American Songs     125
Mozart: Salus infirmorum from Litaniae Lauretanae     129
Argento: Let All the World     133
Vaughan Williams: O Clap Your Hands     137
A Four-Session Group Study of O Clap Your Hands
Introduction to the Four-Session Group Study     143
Opening Our Lips     145
Music, Mercy, and the Mass     147
Musical Seasoning     148
Heaven and Healing     149
Acknowledgments     151
Where to Obtain the Gloriae Dei Cantores Recordings
Used in This Book     153