Since my previous post, I’ve been able to log some significant time getting bugs fixed and features added to the new code base.
Morning Prayer in the new format is here: http://breviary.stbedeproductions.com/test/Morning_79_BCP.html
I’m happy to announce that Evening Prayer can now be found here: http://breviary.stbedeproductions.com/test/Evening_79_BCP.html
But…you might be saying…what if I don’t want to have to go to two different places to get my offices? Never fear, this is a temporary intermediate state while I get things functioning correctly. I’ve already thought of a number of possible end-states where you can go to one place and get the offices you’re after. As usual, I’ll play with a couple, and we’ll figure out what you like best…
Some items to note:
- The Prayer for Mission is now a choice; all of the options are available, but one is made active.
- If you’re overwhelmed by options, you can get rid of most of them with the “Simplify Options” button.
- A number of things will appear now as they ought too—hymns, commemorations, etc.
- The right creeds are with the right rites.
- Kalendar selections exist now. There are only three options at the moment: Lesser Feasts & Fasts 2006 (the official Calendar of the church—more on this anon), Great Cloud of Witnesses (made available at General Convention but not yet published in tangible form), and my own idiosyncratic House Kalendar. I’ll add back more as time allows and as I receive requests.
There are some known issues that I am working on:
- If you begin on a day with ferial psalm antiphons, select a kalendar that is observing a saint, then decide that you really want to go back and not celebrate the saint, the code has trouble recall the initial ferial antiphons.
- I’m sure there are more waiting to be found…
There are some things I haven’t gotten to.
- Chief among them is a way to capture/save/apply preferences. I think we’re really close on this one; I’m just trying to determine if there are some more elegant ways to make it happen rather than a basic brute force approach.
- Non-current BCP adds. Some folks have recommended some additional changes not yet included. I am both sympathetic and supportive of these—but not right now. The mission on the SBS is to provide an office with full options that is licit within the rubrics and rules of the ’79 BCP. I may well consider incorporating some of your earlier or ore far-reaching options once I can get the core material nailed down—but the core material does now and will always take precendence.
Things I’m mulling over…
- Yes, both canticles deserve antiphons. And, I have a nice model for Evening Prayer in the Palmer Evening Office antiphon book where there are appointed Magnificat antiphons coupled with broadly seasonal Nunc Dimittis antiphons. However, that raises questions. What if the first canticle at EP is something else and the second is the Mag? Where does the Mag antiphon go? With the Second (Gospel) canticle? What about a good source for MP First Canticles?
Let me know what you think, and we’ll keep moving forward here…
Derek, not a comment on this post but I would like to contact you with a couple of questions about the usage of Rite I vs II in TEC today for a presentation I’m giving in a Eucharist seminar. Thanks, Sophia
I once inquired at Haligeweorc about software for square notation chant, so that I might offer my version of the chanted Daily Office. I have not yet found a convenient way to enter these, but I can offer my suggestions to your “mulling over” questions in your last paragraph, concerning canticles and antiphons. Ever since the proposed services in the early 1970s, I’ve tried to make sense of the office options, and used this book alone or with others. For the Psalter, I use the Plainsong Psalter, with antiphons, and with some modifications.
First, for Evensong I keep things very simple and traditional: Always Rite I, always Suffrages A, and always Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, with seasonal antiphons. Office hymns are another issue, but always precede Magnificat. Psalm tones below are designated according to Palmer.
For Mattins, I use Rite II and Suffrages B, and embrace more of the new options for invitatory and canticles. But that is for a subsequent posting, if you’re interested. Here I’ll stick with Evening Prayer I. Here goes:
Advent: Magnificat Tone 2.1
Ant. Prepare ye the way of the Lord: make straight in the desert a pathway for our God.
[If desired, the “O” antiphons may be used from December 16-23 with the same tone.]
Nunc dimittis Tone 7.7
Ant. A light to lighten the gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Christmastide: Mag. Tone 4.4
Ant. Alleluia. The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, alleluia.
Nunc. Tone 5.1
Ant. Alleluia. A light to lighten the gentiles, alleluia: and the glory of thy people Israel, alleluia.
Ordinary time (after Epiphany and Pentecost): Mag. (weekdays) Tone 1.5
Ant. He that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is his name.
Mag. (Sundays) Peregrine Tone
Ant. He that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is his name.
Nunc . Tone 3.4
Ant. Preserve us, O Lord, while waking and guard us while sleeping,
That awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Lent: Mag. Tone 1.1
Ant. His mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations.
Nunc. Tone 4.1
Ant. Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Eastertide: Mag. Tone 8.1
Ant. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Nunc. Tone 6
Ant. Alleluia, mine eyes have seen thy salvation, alleluia,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, alleluia, alleluia.
Hello Derek, not to blow my own horn to much on your page, but I do have seasonal antiphons for some of the OT Canticles (Benedicite, omnia opera Domini, Benedictus es Domine, Ecce, Deus, Quaerite Dominum, Surge, illuminare, Cantemus Domino, De Tribulatione mea, and Laetificat cor meum) in my proposed revised book of common prayer. They are spread out between Morning Prayer, the Little Hours, and Vigils/Matins.
http://proposedrevisedbookofcommonprayer.blogspot.com/
Thank you, Stephen (or Cuthbert), for your comments. You have given us much to think about. Having grown up with 1928, I don’t share so much of his love for it, nor of his antipathy toward 1979. I share his affection for the 1549 book, and for the pre-Reformation English rites that preceded it. The main problem with 1979 is too many options, which I have attempted to make sense of in my daily office book. While my Evensong may be even more conservative than his, adhering to Rite I and excluding all canticles but the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, in Mattins I have used Rite II and tried to explore some of the additional canticles and other options. As I wrote earlier, these are working office books with complete melodies, which I have used for years and would love to share had I convenient notation software.
Having offered a scheme for Evening Prayer, I now offer that for Morning Prayer. I always use Morning Prayer II with second suffrages. The arrangement of the Canticles presented here is a new arrangement on traditional lines. Previous Anglican rites have used the Te Deum and Benedictus, with Benedicite or some other substitute for the Te Deum in Lent, and other substitutions allowed in various national rites. The present arrangement calls for the Benedictus (Song of Zechariah) at every service, much as the Magnificat is prescribed at every Evensong. The position of the Benedictus, however, varies, reflecting its role as a bridge between the Old Covenant and the New. When Old Testament canticles are used, Benedictus comes after the New Testament lesson. When Christian texts are used, such as Te Deum and Dignus es, Benedictus comes earlier, after the Old Testament lesson.
Advent Sundays
*Invitatory: Venite Tone 2
Ant. Our King and Savior now draws near : Come let us adore him.
*Benedicite Tone 7.1
Ant. Every creature in heaven and earth, praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
*Benedictus Tone 8.1
Ant. You will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
Advent Weekdays:
*Invitatory: Venite Tone 6.3
Ant. Our King and Savior now draws near : Come let us adore him
*Surge illuminare Tone 3.6
Ant. Nations will stream to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawning.
*Benedictus, as on Sundays
Christmastide
*Invitatory: Venite Tone 4.3
Ant. Alleluia. To us a child is born: come let us adore him, alleluia.
*Benedictus Tone 8.1
Ant. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David, alleluia.
*Te Deum laudamus (traditional tune, no antiphon) 3
Ordinary Time (After Epiphany and Pentecost), Sundays and Feasts:
*Invitatory: Venite Tone 2
Ant. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: come let us adore him.
Ant. (Feasts of the Incarnation: The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us: come let us adore him.
Ant. (Other Saints’ days): The Lord is glorious in his saints, come let us adore him.
Ant. (Transfiguration, Holy Cross): The Lord has shown forth his glory: come let us adore him.
*Benedictus Tone 6
Ant. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us.
*Te Deum laudamus (traditional tune, no antiphon)
Ordinary Time (After Epiphany and Pentecost), Weekdays
*Invitatory: Venite Tone 6.3
Ant. (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday) The earth is the Lord’s for he made it: come let us adore him.
Ant. (Wed., Friday, Sat.) The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: come let us adore him.
*Benedictus Peregrine Tone
Ant. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us.
*Dignus es (special tune, no antiphon)
Lent Sundays:
*Invitatory: Psalm 95 Tone 2
Ant. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: come let us adore him.
*Benedicite Tone 4.4
Ant. You that are holy and humble of heart, praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
*Benedictus Tone 5.1
Ant. He promised to show mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant
Lent Weekdays:
*Invitatory: Psalm 95 Tone 6.3
Ant. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: come let us adore him.
*Quaerite Dominum Tone 7.2
Ant. Turn to the Lod, and he will have compassion, and to our God, for he will richly pardon.
*Benedictus, as on Sundays
Eastertide:
*Invitatory (Easter Week): Christ our Passover Tone 8.2
Ant. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Invitatory (Easter 2 to Ascension) Venite Tone 5
Ant. Alleluia, the Lord is risen indeed, come let us adore him.
Invitatory (Ascensiontide): Venite Tone 5
Ant. Alleluia, Christ the Lord has ascended into heaven: come let us adore him.
Invitatory (Day of Pentecost): Venite Tone 5
Ant. Alleluia, the Spirit of the Lord renews the face of the earth: come let us adore him.
*Benedictus Tone 2.1
Ant. Alleluia, thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord, alleluia.
*Te Deum laudamus (traditional tune, no antiphon)