Music for Lent 2023

Our traditional liturgical music combines the mysterious, ancient beauty of Gregorian Chant with the resplendent choral harmonies of later centuries.

During Lent, the music takes on a sombre beauty, allowing for reflection and contemplation. On Easter Day, the glory of the Resurrection is amplified with magnificent, joyful choral and organ music.


Wednesday, February 22, 2023 – Ash Wednesday

  • Mass: Missa Brevis – Antonio Lotti (1698)
  • Motet: Miserere mei – Orlando di Lasso (1585)
  • Motet: Lord, teach us how to pray aright – Thomas Tallis (1567)
  • Lent Prose
  • Chants for the Imposition of Ashes

Sunday, February 26, 2023 – Lent 1

  • Mass: Chant mass for Sundays in Lent & Monastic Creed
  • Motet: Lord teach us how to pray aright – Thomas Tallis (1567)

Sunday, March 5, 2023 – Lent 2

  • Mass: Chant mass for Sundays in Lent & Monastic Creed
  • Motet: Jesu, Lord, that madest me – R.R. Terry (1923)

Sunday, March 12, 2023 – Lent 3

  • Mass: Chant mass for Sundays in Lent & Monastic Creed
  • Motet: Purge me, O God – Thomas Tallis (c.1570)

Sunday, March 19, 2023 – Lent 4 (Lætare)

  • Mass: Messe Basse (for women’s chorus) – Gabriel Fauré (1882)
  • Motet: Ave verum (for women’s chorus) – Gabriel Fauré (1894)

Saturday, March 25, 2023 Feast of the Annunciation

  • Mass: Missa Ave Maris Stella – Jean de Bournonville (c.1585-1632)
  • Motet: Ecce concipies – Jacob Handl (1586)
  • Motet: Gabriel archangelus (for women’s voices) – Francisco Guerrero (1528-1599)

Sunday, March 26, 2023 – Passion Sunday

  • Mass: Chant mass for Sundays in Lent + Monastic Creed
  • Motet: O mortal man, remember well – English traditional, arr. R. Vaughan Williams

Sunday, April 2, 2023 – Palm Sunday

  • Mass: Missa Brevis – Antonio Lotti (1698)
  • Motet: Alas, and did my Saviour bleed? – Urania Psalm Collection
    (1761)
  • Motet: In Monte Oliveti – Giovanni Croce

Wednesday, April 5, 2023 – Spy Wednesday

  • Gregorian Chant
  • Additional Music by Orlandus Lassus, Robert White, Edmund Rubbra

Thursday, April 6, 2023 – Maundy Thursday

  • Mass: Mass for Four Voices – William Byrd (1592)
  • Motet: Ave verum corpus – William Byrd (1605)
  • Motet: O Salutaris Hostia – Pierre de la Rue (c.1452-1518)

Friday, April 7, 2023 – Good Friday

  • Reproaches – Gregorian Chant, arr. John Botari
  • Faithful Cross – Healey Willan (1938)

Saturday, April 8, 2023 – Easter Vigil

  • Mass: Missa Lux et Origo (Gregorian Chant)
  • Motet: Sicut cervus – G.P. Palestrina (1582)

Sunday, April 9, 2023 – Easter Day

  • Mass: Missa Brevis – Andrea Gabrieli (1572)
  • Sequence: Victimae paschali laudes (Gregorian Chant)
  • Motet: Christ ist erstanden – J.S. Bach (1685-1750) BWV 276
  • Motet: This joyful Eastertide – Dutch Carol (1685), arr. Charles
    Wood
  • Regina Caeli: Adrian Willaert (c.1490-1562)
Music for Lent 2023