Jean-François Dandrieu (1682-1738) was a Parisian composer, harpsichordist and organist who developed a prodigious childhood gift [he played for Louis VIV at the age of 5…] into a distinguished life-long career, ending up as one of the organists of the Chapel Royal of France. His music combines typical French baroque flair with a certain Germanic clarity of counterpoint.

We happen to have so many and such terrific tenors and basses in the St. Philip Choir that I have decided to do several TTBB pieces throughout the coming year, starting with this mornings’ setting of ‘Deep Peace.’ This texture, four choral parts – two tenor and two bass – is common: you hear it in ‘Barbershop” styles, in college Glee Clubs and Gay Men’s choruses worldwide, and is notable for its richness and warmth. Nancy Telfer (b. 1950) is a Canadian composer whose works now number near 300…

At the Offertory, Robin Angly brings us the stirring barn-burner ‘O Divine Redeemer,’ from the work of Charles Gounod (1818-1893), whose opera ‘Faust’ remains the most popular work of the Lyric Theatre from 19th century France, through a century and a half of wildly shifting musical tastes. His melodies, as in this song, toe the tightrope [successfully, I think…] between noble grandeur and cloying sentimentality.

-Keith Weber