Audio and Visual

NOTE:  The Mass Video is available on the website's landing page:  St. Basil's Catholic Church - Ottawa, ON (stbasilsparish.ca)

The first performance of Handel's Messiah was in Dublin in 1742, just after Easter. What has become a Christmas tradition in our time was, back in the 18th Century, very much an Easter tradition. No matter when it is sung, Handel's Messiah celebrates Christmas, Easter, and everything in between.

Watch and listen to this "virtual" Hallelujah Chorus. If you look at the musician in the top right frame, you will recognize John McGovern. And does that organ sound familiar? It should, because it's the St. Basil's organ you can hear. For your Easter listening - and for singing along, should you wish!

Greg Norbert’s hymn, “Hosea – Come Back to Me” is a favourite hymn of the St. Basil’s community of worship. It now has a special resonance, during this strange time of the COVID-19 pandemic, and especially after the long-for date when we would finally be able to return gathering inside this church. In order to help celebrate this, on the St. Basil’s website you can hear versions of this hymn that have been recorded by all three of our musical leaders: Wolanyo Akakpo, Bob Jones, and Bob Czerny, with John McGovern at the piano. 

The result was separate recording sessions with 7 musicians, one at a time. They recorded piano, organ, guitar, soprano, alto, tenor, and bass tracks. The recordings were made inside St. Basil’s, everyone at a safe distance The result is a beautiful multitrack recording that you can hear by clicking on this link.

Long have we waited…
Welcome home.

Do you miss the familiar sound of the music at St. Basil’s Masses? Bob Czerny (voice with guitar), long-time leader of liturgical music at the 9 o’clock Sunday Mass, John and Maureen McGovern (keyboards and chorister respectively at the 11 o’clock Sunday Mass) and Bob Jones (5 PM Saturday) have recorded some of the frequently used hymns. It’s not the same thing with a single voice instead of a group of singers, and home acoustics via a cell-phone recorder rather than that special echo underneath St. Basil’s round, domed interior. Still, they hope it ‘strikes a chord’ with you, that it will encourage you to actually sing along, and in that way help you to feel connected, even at a distance, with worship in our wonderful community at such an unsettling time for us all.  After all, the music we hear at St. Basil’s is not a concert, or a form of soundtrack. It is another form of prayer. This is why we invite you to sing and to pray in your own way until we gather once more to participate in the sacramental life of our community. Finally, thank you to our musicians and to Kevin Burns for his finishing touches so that the recordings work on our web site.

St. Basils' YouTube Channel Link with all the Videos can be found at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkWLbVWqFXTeYoVTtC5NI2Q

There are currently 3 playlists with now organized by weekend Mass time (based on the Musician) with St. Basil's Parish hits in each of them:

Playlist 1 - index (YouTube Playlist below) 
SUNDAY 9 AM

Here I Am, Lord - The composer of “Here I Am, Lord” is Dan Schutte, the composer of one of the Mass settings that we use frequently at St. Basil’s. He was one the “St. Louis Jesuits” who wrote many hymns in a contemporary style from the 1960s through the 1980s. This one captures the core concept, well-embraced by our Parish community, that we should cooperate with Christ in doing good in the world in practical ways.

Come to the Water - John Foley, another of the “St. Louis Jesuits” who wrote many hymns in a contemporary style from the 1960s through the 1980s, based this simple, powerful hymn on passages found in Isaiah and Matthew. The water of “Come to the Water” is the water that Jesus offered to the Samaritan woman at the well, that of true and eternal life.

Dona Nobis Pacem - Please sing along with the wonderful chorus, Dona nobis pacem, give us peace. You may know some of the harmonies, or you can make up your own! The chorus appears in a Mozart Mass, but it is thought to be an older melody that he adapted. Marty Haugen added the verses.

Come Back to Me -  (Hosea) - Gregory Norbet, composer of many hymns at the Weston Priory, based “Come Back to Me” on the biblical book of the prophet Hosea. The prophet speaks gently and consolingly of faithfulness that reaches optimistically toward relationship.

Now the Green Blade Rises - Once a Christmas carol and now a stirring Easter hymn, “Now the Green Blade Rises” meditates on the Resurrection and applies it to our own lives when we are in need of returning “back to life again.” John M.C. Crum set his lyrics to the tune you might remember because it was originally a medieval French carol.

Prayer of St. Francis - There are many settings of the prayer “Make me a channel of your peace” ascribed to St. Francis of Assisi. This version was composed by Sebastian Temple in the 1960s and continues to provide a guiding light to many of us at St. Basil’s.

O Healing River - (lyrics by Fran Minkoff and music by Fred Hellerman, © 1964) is not in our hymn books, but  it does get used on special occasions. It seems a very appropriate choice at a time when bodily, social and spiritual healing are urgently needed.

Peace is Flowing -  (by Rev. Carey Landry) is a soothing hymn and is a long-time St. Basil’s favourite

O Sacred Head Surrounded -  is Bach’s glorious Passion Chorale that he based on an older melody by Hans Leo Hassler. Like all great artists, Bach had a knack of borrowing with great taste. It is a beloved staple used often towards the end of Lent and especially on Good Friday.

The King of Glory  -  This powerful hymn is especially appropriate on April 4-5 (Palm or Passion Sunday), and can be used at other times too.

Listen My People - is another familiar hymn, especially in Advent but appropriate throughout the liturgical year. In our present circumstances, its refrain that includes the words “your hopes are answered” and is repeated three times is especially fitting! And it is a locally produced work. This powerful hymn was written in 1994 by Paul-André Durocher, now the Archbishop of Gatineau.

For Pentecost Sunday (new!) - Send Us Your Spirit!
The 11 a.m. choir is happy to share with all our parish community, the Dan Schutte Hymn: “Send Us Your Spirit.”  We recorded it remotely and virtually this past week in order to celebrate an important date in our liturgical calendar: Pentecost Sunday.

The composer, Dan Schutte, was inspired by the ancient chant, Veni Sancte Spiritus and adapted both the text and the melody to come up with this very popular hymn, and now a contemporary classic, “Send Us Your Spirit.” Text and music © 1985, Daniel L. Shutte (b. 1947) and OCP Publications. All rights reserved.

All the musicians and singers at St. Basil’s look forward to the day when we can celebrate liturgy
together (and safely!) once more. 

Jesus Christ Is Ris'n Today - as we celebrate our “triumphant holy day.” (multitrack recording)

The Supper of the Lord (new!) -  The 11 am choir has recorded this hymn to continue sharing thoughts and prayer with parishioners. It can be a way to enter the Easter Triduum.

On Eagle’s Wings (new!) - Michael Joncas’s beautiful hymn of hope helps us keep our faith alive as God lifts us up during times of frustration and powerlessness.

The Lord is my Shepherd (new!) - We hope you will find comfort in the words of Psalm 23 where we experience how God tenderly cares for all our needs in this world and the next.

No Greater Love - With its beautiful melody and theme of reconciliation, this is an ideal selection for Holy Thursday.

With Joy You Shall Draw Water – These hope-filled words from Isaiah 12 form the response to the fifth reading at the Easter Vigil (Isaiah 55:1-11): “Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.”

Let Heaven Rejoice - For Easter season we encourage you to sing of joy, praise and resurrection.  Hosanna to our King!

All the Ends of the Earth - Based on Psalm 98, this hymn speaks of redemption and the joy that will ensue.  We invite you to sing along with gusto!

Ubi Caritas - Where there is true charity, God is present. This setting is by Bob Hurd an in it he emphasizes the paschal mystery, making it especially appropriate for Holy Thursday.

Something Which is Known - This gentle hymn of serenity takes us from the beginning of time to the fullness of eternal life.

Song of the Lord’s Command - This is often sung on Holy Thursday at the washing of the feet. This is a reflective hymn that reminds us to do as the Lord has done for us.

Jesus Remember Me - This traditional Good Friday hymn seems particularly appropriate during this time of uncertainty.

Hold On To Love - is a new hymn that we recently added to the repertoire at St. Basil’s. While the world is experiencing pain, confusion and turbulence, we are reminded to hold on to hope, joy and love.

Each track opens with Bob’s identification of which liturgy the hymn has been chosen for and he also gives the Catholic Book of Worship number as well. These items in the collection begin with a short verbal explanation.

All Glory Praise and Honour – for Palm Sunday. CBW 62

O Sacred Head Surrounded – CBW 378 – for Good Friday

Good Christians All - CBW 386 – Easter Sunday

O Sons and Daughters - CBC 404 – for the Second Sunday of Easter.