That's a very good point, CK. We've presented an annual musical (PreK-8) for ten years now, and I've chosen musicals that prominently feature traditional carols for nine of those ten years. But the proof pudding is when I arrange a carol for our Bell Choir, this year Gloria, they have the fundamental melodies already on board when I then treat them to alternate accompaniment schemes, transpositions, complex harmonies etc.
@chonak, I went up to the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for Midnight Mass. It was lovely. We had been planning to go there, as we love the EF, and we have family connections to the Feeneys. But we made sure to go after that rather unfortunate vigil Mass at my mom's home parish. I definitely will do that in the future though.
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