Music Suggestions
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Liturgical Music

Official texts

Antiphon during Lighting of Candles:
1. Behold, our Lord will come [Roman Missal]
2. Ecce Dominus noster [Roman Missal]
3. Ecce Dominus noster [Graduale Romanum, p.539]
4. Ecce Dominus noster [Gregorian Missal, p.607]
5. Ecce Dominus noster [Graduale simplex, p.259]
6. The Lord will come [Simple Choral Gradual, p.265 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
7. Behold, our Lord will come [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.180, with Psalm 95[94] / Liturgical Press]
8. Behold, our Lord will come [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #451 / Illuminare Publications]
9. Ecce Dominus noster [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #452 / Illuminare Publications]
10. The Lord our God will come [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.191 / Liturgical Press]
Procession:
1. A light for revelation [Roman Missal]
2. Lumen ad revelationem [Roman Missal]
3. Lumen ad revelationem [Graduale Romanum, p.540]
4. Lumen ad revelationem [Gregorian Missal, p.608]
5. Lumen ad revelationem [Graduale simplex, p.259]
6. Lumen ad revelationem gentium (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Christopher Upton)
7. Adorna, Sion, thalamum (Charles H. Giffen)
8. Adorna thalamum tuum (Giovanni Matteo Asola, William Byrd)
9. Responsum accepit [Graduale Romanum, p.541]
10. Responsum accepit [Gregorian Missal, p.610]
11. Responsum accepit Simeon (William Byrd)
12. Obtulerunt pro eo [Graduale Romanum, p.542]
13. Obtulerunt pro eo [Gregorian Missal, p.611]
14. Christ is the light of the nations [Simple Choral Gradual, p.265 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
15. A light for revelation [Saint Meinrad Antiphons for the Church Year, p.97 / Mode 8 (Columba Kelly OSB) OCP]
16. Sion, adorn your bridal chamber [Saint Meinrad Antiphons for the Church Year, p.97 / Mode 8 (Columba Kelly OSB) OCP]
17. Behold, our Lord will come [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.772-774 / Ignatius Press]
18. A light of revelation [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 2 versions, pp.775-776 / Ignatius Press]
19. Sion, adorn your bridal chamber [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 2 versions, pp.777-778 / Ignatius Press]
20. A light for revelation [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.181 / Liturgical Press]
21. A light for revelation [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #454, with Luke 1 / Illuminare Publications]
22. Christ is the light of the nations [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.191, with Luke 2 / Liturgical Press]
23. They brought him up to Jerusalem [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.192, with Psalm 24 / Liturgical Press]
Entrance Antiphon [Introit]:
1. Suscepimus Deus [Graduale Romanum, p.543]
2. Suscepimus Deus [Gregorian Missal, p.492]
3. Suscepimus Deus [Graduale simplex, p.261]
4. Suscepimus Deus (William Byrd)
5. Ecce advenit [Graduale Romanum, p.56]
6. Ecce advenit [Gregorian Missal, p.217]
7. Ecce advenit dominator Dominus (William Byrd)
8. We have received your mercy [Simple English Propers, p.352 (Adam Bartlett)]
9. Behold, the Sovereign Lord [Simple English Propers, p.353 (Adam Bartlett)]
10. Within your temple [Simple Choral Gradual, p.266 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
11. Your merciful love, O God [Lumen Christi Missal, p.961 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
12. Your merciful love, O God [Saint Meinrad Antiphons for the Church Year, p.98 / Mode 1 (Columba Kelly OSB) OCP]
13. Your merciful love, O God [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.779-781 / Ignatius Press]
14. Your merciful love, O God [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.182, with Psalm 48[47] / Liturgical Press]
15. Your merciful love, O God [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #345, with Psalm 48 / Illuminare Publications]
16. Within your temple [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.193, with Psalm 48 / Liturgical Press]
17. Your merciful love, O God [Mass Propers for Solemnities and Feasts I (Penkala) p.1, with Psalm 104]
18. Within Your Temple [tune: Winchester New] from Introit Hymns 74 (Christoph Tietze)
Gradual (Responsorial Psalm):
1. Suscepimus Deus [Graduale Romanum, p.360]
2. Suscepimus Deus [Gregorian Missal, p.582]
3. Opera mea regi [Graduale simplex, p.324]
4. Alleluia, on the holy mount [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.194, with Psalm 87 / Liturgical Press]
5. Chabanel Psalmody
6. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner)
Alleluia (Gospel Acclamation):
1. Senex puerum [Graduale Romanum, p.544]
2. Senex puerum [Gregorian Missal, p.612]
3. Senex puerum portabat (William Byrd, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Tomás Luis de Victoria)
4. Fundamenta eius [Graduale simplex, p.263]
5. Fundamenta eius [Graduale simplex, p.264]
6. Alleluia, on the holy mount [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.195. with Psalm 87 / Liturgical Press]
Offertory:
1. Diffusa est gratia [Graduale Romanum, p.421]
2. Diffusa est gratia [Gregorian Missal, p.613]
3. Diffusa est gratia. [Graduale simplex, p.264]
4. Diffusa est gratia (William Byrd, Giovanni Maria Nanino, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Johannes Nepomuk Skraup, Francisco Valls)
5. Grace has been poured out [Simple English Propers, p.354 (Adam Bartlett)]
6. Graciousness is poured upon your lips [Simple Choral Gradual, p.267 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
7. Graciousness is poured upon your lips [Lumen Christi Missal, p.961 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
8. Grace is poured out upon your lips [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 5 versions, pp.782-784 / Ignatius Press]
9. Graciousness is poured upon your lips [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #346, with Psalm 45 / Illuminare Publications]
10. Grace is poured upon your lips [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.195, with Psalm 45 / Liturgical Press]
11. Grace is poured out upon your lips [Mass Propers for Solemnities and Feasts I (Penkala) p.4, with Psalm 72]
Communion:
1. Responsum accepit Simeona [Graduale Romanum, p.544]
2. Responsum accepit Simeona [Gregorian Missal, p.614]
3. Responsum accepit Simeona [Graduale simplex, p.265]
4. Responsum accepit Simeona [Communio, p.234 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
5. Simeon had received [Simple English Propers, p.355 (Adam Bartlett)]
6. Simeon had received [Choral Communio, p.196 (Richard Rice) Hostia Laudis Co]
7. With my own eyes I have seen [Simple Choral Gradual, p.268 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
8. My eyes have seen your salvation [Lumen Christi Missal, p.961 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
9. Simeon would not die before he had seen the Messiah Laudate Dominum Communion Antiphons (Andrew Motyka)
10. My eyes have seen your salvation [Saint Meinrad Antiphons for the Church Year, p.98 / Mode 8 (Columba Kelly OSB) OCP]
11. My eyes have seen your salvation [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 5 versions, pp.785-787 / Ignatius Press]
12. My eyes have seen your salvation [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.183, with Psalm 48[47] / Liturgical Press]
13. My eyes have seen your salvation [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #347, with Psalm 48 / Illuminare Publications]
14. Simeon received the child [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.196, with Luke 2 / Liturgical Press]
15. My eyes have seen your salvation [Mass Propers for Solemnities and Feasts I (Penkala) p.7, with Psalm 23]
Mass settings:
1. Latin Chant Masses VIII (De angelis) & XI (Orbis factor)
2. Latin Gregorian Chant Masses XI (Orbis factor) & VIII (De angelis)
3. Latin Missa sanctorum angelorum (Calvert Shenk)
4. Latin Mass of Saint Jerome (Christopher Bord)
5. Mass of Our Lady, Help of Christians (Richard Connolly)
6. Mass of Saint Agnes (B. Andrew Mills)
7. Mass of the Angels (Richard J. Clark)
8. Mass of the Redemption (Calvert Shenk / Adam Taylor)
9. Modal Mass (Calvert Shenk / Adam Taylor)

Other liturgical music

Canticles of Evening (Robert Dorum)
May Christ Be Our Life from Seven Roman Basilica Processionals (Gary Penkala)
Now, Master, You Can Dismiss Your Servant (Canticle of Simeon) [Hymns, Psalms and Spiritual Canticles #513]
Nunc dimittis (Canticle of Simeon) [Hymns, Psalms and Spiritual Canticles #514]
Universal Music for Morning Prayer (Gary Penkala)
Universal Music for Evening Prayer (Gary Penkala)

Hymns

Before All Creation (CH #653)
Blest Are the Pure in Heart (CBW #719, CH #450, HH #257, HPSC #123, ICEL #182, CHB #208, EH #418, VII #320)
Canticle of Simeon (CBW #728)
Christ Is the World's Light (CBW #543, HPSC #130, WIII #543, CD #897, EH #258)
God of Mercy, God of Grace (HPSC #169, CH #636, VII #212)
Hail to the Lord Who Comes (WIII #692, ICEL #37, CHB #44, HH #258)
How Brightly Beams the Morning Star (CD #815, WIII #390, HH #55, CH #214, CHB #45, EH #329)
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (PMB #118, WIII #512, ICEL #233, HH #193, CH #566, CHB #225, SMH #578, EH #301, LCH #88)
In His Temple Now Behold Him (ICEL #38, HPSC #196, HH #259, SMH #580)
Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates! (AH #485, HH #19, HPSC #211, ICEL #7, WIII #363, SMH #615, EH #484, VII #211, LCH #6)
Lord, Bid Your Servant Go in Peace (WIII #691, CH #439)
O Christ, the World's Salvation (Dennis DiPaolo)
O Lord of Light, by Love Inclined (CD #819)
O Lord of Light, Who Made the Stars (PMB #3)
O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright (HPSC #256, SMH #677)
O Word of God Incarnate (CH #657, SMH #688, EH #402)
Of the Father's Love Begotten (AH #331, CBW #470, CH #220, HH #44, HPSC #269, ICEL #25, WIII #398, CHB #28, SMH #691, EH #20, VII #332)
On Walls around Jerusalem from Hymns for the Liturgical Year (Kathleen Pluth)
Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens, Adore Him (WIII #529, ICEL #243, HPSC #282, PMB #662, CBW #656, CH #573, CHB #259, LCH #83, SMH #718)
Thanks Be to God (WIII #526, CBW #678)
The Lord Is King! Lift up Your Voice (CH #517, HPSC #326, CBW #422)
The Only Son from Heaven (HH #51, CD #817)

AH = The Adoremus Hymnal, Ignatius Press

CBW = Catholic Book of Worship II / Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

CD = Cantate Domino / Hymnal Supplement, GIA Publications, Inc.

CH = The Collegeville Hymnal, The Liturgical Press

CHB = The Catholic Hymn Book [London Oratory], Gracewing Publishers

EH = The Hymnal 1940 (Episcopal), used by many Anglican Use Roman Catholic parishes

HH = Hymnal of the Hours, GIA Publications, Inc.

HPSC = Hymns, Psalms & Spiritual Canticles, out of print but excellent

ICEL = ICEL Resource Collection, GIA Publications, Inc.

LCH = Lumen Christi Hymnal, Illuminare Publications

PMB = People's Mass Book, World Library Publications, Inc.

SMH = The Saint Michael Hymnal – 4th Edition 2011, Saint Boniface Church, Lafayette IN

VII = Vatican II Hymnal, Corpus Christi Watershed

WIII = Worship, 3rd Edition, GIA Publications, Inc.

Choral Music

Alma redemptoris mater (Stephen McManus)
Alma redemptoris mater (Palestrina/Angelini)
And He Shall Purify from Messiah (G.F. Handel)
Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning (Larkin)
Christ the Glory (Lallouette) [GIA Publications]
Eternal Light, Shine in Our Hearts (Tim Knight)
Gaudete, gaudete (Colin Brumby)
Great Is the Lord (Leo Sowerby) [H.W. Gray]
Haec Deum cæli (Jacob Obrecht)
Hodie Beata Virgo (Jacques Arcadelt, William Byrd, Fabio Costantini, Claudio Merulo, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Peter Philips, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck)
I Have Rejoiced (Antonio Vivaldi) [Augsburg]
I Was Glad (William Boyce) [Novello]
I Was Glad (C. Hubert Parry) [Novello]
I Was Glad (Daniel Pinkham) [AMP]
I Was Glad (Henry Purcell) [Novello]
I Was Glad; (Leo Sowerby) [H.W. Gray]
In the Breaking of the Bread (Austin Lovelace)
Jesus, Sun of Life, My Splendor (G.F. Handel)
King of Glory (Robert Powell) [GIA Publications]
Laetatus sum (M.A. Charpentier) [Concordia]
Laetatus sum (Claudio Monteverdi) [Mark Foster]
Laudate pueri Dominum (G.S. Geiger)
Lift Up Your Heads (Rev. Brian K. Muzas)
Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates from Messiah (G.F. Handel)
Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates (John Blow) [Novello]
Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates (William Croft) [Abingdon]
Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates (Orlando Gibbons) [Oxford]
Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates (Andreas Hammerschmidt) [Presser]
Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates (Healey Willan) [Concordia]
Lord of Life and King of Glory (Grancini) [GIA Publications]
Media vita (John Sheppard)
Mirabile misterium! (David Barton)
Ne timeas Maria (Tomas Luis de Victoria) [Broude]
Nunc dimittis Music from Taizé (Jacques Berthier) [GIA Publications]
Nunc dimittis (Sumison)
Nunc dimittis (Thomas Tomkins) [Presser]
O Send Forth Thy Light (Elizabeth Lademan)
O Splendor of God's Glory Bright (John Reese)
O Thou That Tellest from Messiah (G.F. Handel)
Of the Father's Love Begotten (Michael Cox)
Of the Father's Love Begotten (Andrew Motyka)
Prayer of the Venerable Bede (Robert Benson)
Presentation of Christ in the Temple (John Eccard) [Novello]
Reges Tharsis (Adam Taylor)
Song of Simeon (Claude Goudimel) [Presser]
Te Deum laudamus (Calvert Shenk)
The Glory of the Father (Egil Hovland)
The Lord Is King (Heinrich Schütz)
The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation (Eugene Englert) [GIA Publications]
The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation (Heinrich Schütz)) [Belwin]
Videte miraculum (Thomas Tallis)
When to the Temple Mary Went (Johannes Eccard)

Vocal Music:

Ad offertorium (Wesley /Schwarz)
But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming from Messiah (G.F. Handel)
O Thou That Tellest from Messiah (G.F. Handel)

Organ Music

Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (J.G. Walther)
Chaconne for Violin/Flute, Cello, and Organ (André Campra / arr. Gary D. Penkala)
Divinum mysterium (Richard Purvis) [Leeds Music Corp]
Divinum mysterium (Dorothy Howell Sheets) [Organist's Companion, November 1992]
Fanfare (Jean Mouret)
Fantasia and Fugue in g minor (J.S. Bach)
Four Preludes on Chant Hymns (Mark Siebert)
God of Grace and God of Glory (Paul Manz)
How Lovely Shines the Morning Star (Jan Bender) [Parish Organist, Part 9: Wedding Music - Concordia]
How Lovely Shines the Morning Star (Paul Manz) [Improvisations for the Christmas Season, Set III - Morning Star Music Publ 10-102]
How Lovely Shines the Morning Star (Flor Peeters) [Thirty Chorale Preludes, Book 1 - Peters 6023]
How Lovely Shines the Morning Star (Max Reger) [Chorale Preludes for the Church Year - Carl Fischer]
Immortal, Invisible (Harold Rohlig) [Parish Organist XII - Concordia]
Lift Up Your Heads (Ewald Weiss) [Parish Organist XII - Concordia]
Maestoso: Five Processionals (Calvert Shenk)
Music for a Festive Occasion (Tim Knight)
Of the Father's Love Begotten (Wilbur Held) [Six Carol Settings - Concordia 97-4985]
Of the Father's Love Begotten (David N. Johnson) [Augsburg 11-841]
Prelude and Postlude on Jesu Redemptor omnium (Jonathan Hellerman)
Psalm XIX (Benedetto Marcello)
Suite for Worship on Truro and Duke Street (G. Winston Cassler) [Organist's Companion, April 1985]
Wie schön leuchet der Morgenstern (Andreas Amrsdorff) [Church Organist's Golden Treasury III - Oliver Ditson Co]
Wie schön leuchet der Morgenstern (J.C. Bach) [Eighty Chorale Preludes - Peters 4448]
Wie schön leuchet der Morgenstern (J.S. Bach) [Church Organist's Golden Treasury III - Oliver Ditson Co]
Wie schön leuchet der Morgenstern from Five Chorale Preludes (Colin Brumby)
Wie schön leuchet der Morgenstern (Dieterich Buxtehude) [Church Organist's Golden Treasury III - Oliver Ditson Co]
Wie schön leuchet der Morgenstern (Victor Klauss) [Organist's Companion, November 1989] [Organist's Companion, November 1997]
Wie schön leuchet der Morgenstern (Johann Pachelbel) [Church Organist's Golden Treasury III - Oliver Ditson Co]
Wie schön leuchet der Morgenstern (Flor Peeters) [Thirty Chorale Preludes]
Wie schön leuchet der Morgenstern (Max Reger) [Thirty Chorale Preludes - Peters 3980] [Joyce Jones Christmas Collection - Bradley Publ]
Wie schön leuchet der Morgenstern (Stephen Rohde) [Organist's Companion, December 1985]
Wie schön leuchet der Morgenstern (Russell Schulz-Widmar) [Organist's Companion, December 1980]

Liturgical Hints & Ideas

This feast of the Presentation of the Lord was earlier known by other titles: The Purification of the Blessed Virgin, Candlemas, and in the Greek Church, Hypapante, meaning "meeting," which is alluded to in the Roman Rite in the Greeting the celebrant uses before blessing the candles. The commemoration of this event can be traced back as far as the fourth century, where the ritually-important fortieth day after Christ's birth was celebrated with a procession and Mass.

Candles are traditionally blessed before Mass in a place apart from the nave, recalling the Gospel text of Simeon's canticle: "A light for revelation to the Gentiles." A solemn procession then enters the church, all bearing candles, as the "Light of Christ" comes to his temple.

Music plays a vital role in this blessing and procession. Look for settings of the antiphons, or adapt known music to fit the proper texts given above. The procession should be accompanied by the Nunc dimittis with its antiphon, perhaps extended with verses of Psalms 24, 27 and 48. A festive Gloria should ring out in the church, and other music, choral and congregational, should explore the themes of light, splendor and glory.

Music SuggestionsThe Feast of the Presentation of the Lord