Tell about your Christmas music program
  • mmeladirectress
    Posts: 1,100
    1. Hour before midnight Mass
    ** Carols & Christmas music by choir, organ, young girls’ chorus, harp - in English, Latin, a bit of German & Spanish
    ** Duet, harp and organ Il Est Ne
    ** Solo on organ Or Nous Dites Marie -Dandrieu

    2. A bell struck the hour of midnight, then
    Processional: O Come All Ye Faithful
    Kyriale VIII, Credo III, full Gregorian propers
    at Offertory: O Magnum Mysterium - de Victoria
    at distribution of holy Communion: Several solos on organ and harp
    Recessional: Carillon-Sortie in D Mulet

    I have never seen the church so full; it was simply packed. Every one in the musical program had worked hard, but it was amazing that everything came together so well. What a grace and a privilege to be part of it. Merry Christmas!
    Thanked by 7CHGiffen Incardination Carol 32ContraBombarde cesarfranck CharlesW toddevoss
  • Richard MixRichard Mix
    Posts: 2,801
    St. David of Wales, Richmond California

    11:30 Nachtmusik
    Hymn: Creator of the Stars of Night
    Watchman Tell us of The Night (Hovhannes)
    Hymn: O come Divine Messiah
    Riu riu chiu (Flecha?)
    Hymn: Lo How a Rose
    Dixit Maria (Hassler)
    Hymn: Of the Father's Love Begotten

    Midnight Mass
    Proclamation of Christmas
    Adeste/O Come All Ye Faithful
    Kyrie XVII, Gloria VIII
    Today the Virgin (Tavener)
    Sanctus & Agnus XVII
    In Splendoribus (American Gradual), O Little Town of Bethlehem
    Hark the Herald

    11:00 AM Choral Mass
    Angel we have Heard
    (Tavener)
    Viderunt omnes, It Came Upon a Midnight
    Joy to the World

    A merry tide was had, with our first sung Sursum corda with our new priest (and for a while before that!), and Snow's Pater noster.
    Thanked by 6CHGiffen Carol 32ContraBombarde mmeladirectress CharlesW toddevoss
  • 32ContraBombarde32ContraBombarde
    Posts: 138
    Mater Dei, Harrisburg, PA

    11:30pm Carols

    Once in Royal David’s City
    Coventry Carol
    Sussex Carol
    The First Nowell
    Quem Pastores
    Silent Night
    In Dulci Jubilo
    Corde Natus (Wohlgemuth)
    Ding Dong Merrily On High
    Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming

    Midnight Mass

    Procession: Joy to the World (https://youtu.be/6SXXwi6KFuM)
    Propers: Full Gregorian
    Ordinary: Missa O Magnum Mysterium (Victoria)
    Offertory motet: O magnum Mysterium (Victoria)
    Communion motet: Laetabundus (Dufay)
    Recessional: O Come, All Ye Faithful (Willcocks)
    Postlude: Variations on Adeste Fideles (arr. Diane Bish)
    Post-Postlude: Hallelujah Chorus (wrong season, but everyone still associates it with Christmas, and I’m a pushover)
    Thanked by 6mmeladirectress Incardination CHGiffen Joseph Michael CharlesW toddevoss
  • TCJ
    Posts: 986
    One hour of Christmas carols before Mass, with organ and violin. Mass with organ, violin, 4-part harmony hymns, full propers (in English).
    Thanked by 3Carol mmeladirectress toddevoss
  • Jeffrey Quick
    Posts: 2,086
    St. Sebastian, Akron OH 1:00PM
    Pro/recessional: Adeste fideles
    Proper: Mass of Christmas Day (Gregorian, psalm-tones verses on Gradual and Alleluia)
    Ordinary: Mass of the Shepherds (Pietro Yon), Credo IV
    At Offertory: Gaudete (Piae Cantiones)
    At Communion: In natali Domini (Specialnik Codex), Flos de radice Jesse (Trad. Roman Hymnal, 1st ed.)

    We were bedevilled by communication issues, but the sound was very nice, and we managed 4 parts for Flos and a very solid 3 for In natali, which is new for us (don't laugh). Attendence was a little weak, partly because there was actually a midnight TLM in Akron at St. Paul's, with our former DM and a few of my peeps.

    I was singing "midnight mass" at 7 at my old Anglo-Catholic parish (16 in pews, 4 servers, 9 in the choir). I teased that, given the hour, we should have been singing Hodie scietis instead of Dominus Dixit. Then real midnight at Immaculate Conception Cleveland.
    Thanked by 6Incardination Carol mmeladirectress CharlesW CHGiffen toddevoss
  • Joseph Michael
    Posts: 258
    32ContraBombarde: Your arrangement of "Joy to the World" is fabulous!

    At Saint Pius, Flint Mi
    11:30 Carols
    Angels From the Realms of Glory
    To A Virgin Meek and Mild (David Johnson)
    The First Nowell (Willcocks)
    Ding, Dong! Merrily on High (Richard Shephard)
    It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
    The Holly and the Ivy (Richard Shephard)
    Lovely Child, Holy Child (David Johnson)
    Go, Tell It On the Mountain
    Sussex Carol - Vaughan Williams
    Of the Father's Love Begotten - Gieschen

    Christmas Proclamation, sung by the pastor

    Mass
    Entrance: O Come, All Ye Faithful (Willcocks) and a truckload of incense
    Kyrie Missa VIII
    Gloria Holy Name of Jesus Gloria - Norah Duncan IV (with all the descants etc)
    Psalm Calvert Shenk
    Gospel Christmas Alleluia (Chepponis)
    Gospel: chanted
    Angels We Have Heard on High (Willan)
    Holy & Mystery of Faith Community Mass - Proulx (choral arrangements)
    Agnus Dei Missa XVII (I know! It's for Advent, but it is such a graceful, lingering melody.)
    Communion Proper followed by Silent Night ( arr. Sister M Cherubim)
    Recessional: Hark, the Herald Angels (Willcocks)



    Thanked by 7Incardination Carol mmeladirectress CharlesW 32ContraBombarde CHGiffen toddevoss
  • cesarfranck
    Posts: 162
    At 4:30pm
    Prelude of French baroque organ Noels and carols with trumpet
    5:00pm
    "Family Mass"
    Tons of carols
    Soloist on OHN
    Ensemble on Wilcocks' "Away in a manger" and Burt's "Some children see him lily white"
    Homily with priest inviting children forward to say, "Hooray for God." (My wife has told me to let it go and move forward... I just cannot.)

    10:15pm
    Carol suite of Wilcocks' settings with voice, trumpet, string quartet and organ interspersed with Daquin Noels.
    11:00pm
    Introit: Gloria! Gloria! Gloria! -Austrian carol
    At the procession: O come, all ye faithful
    Schubert German Mass:Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei
    Carols during Mass sung with organ, strings, and trumpet:
    Angels, we have heard
    Good Christian friends rejoice
    Hark! The herald angels
    Silent Night
    Choir: Rutter's "Candlelight Carol" and "Star Carol" and Burt's "Some children see Him"
    At the procession The First Nowell"
    Closing Voluntary: Suisse Noel -Daquin

    Eggnog, sangria, spiced tea, ham biscuits, okra pickles, pimento cheese, and shrimp at our home with family, choir, and friends until 3am!

    Merry Christmas to all! ...


    Thanked by 6Incardination Carol mmeladirectress CharlesW CHGiffen toddevoss
  • Carol
    Posts: 856
    Small very amateur choir with NO Mass. We sang Cantique de Noel, Wake From Your Sleep (if you don't know this one by Dan Schutte it is modern but sounds old) and a few more before Mass. Then O Come All Ye Faithful, Angels We Have Heard on High, Bach Noel and Night of Silence/Silent Night (of which I am no fan), Joy to the World and Unto Us a Child is Born which was supposed to be after celebrant recessed but he waited at the foot of the altar until it was almost over. Before final blessing, usual thanking of everyone including a BIG thank you to the choir which was very nice to hear. We have a new young alto and I am grateful to be able to sing more softly!
    Thanked by 6mmeladirectress Incardination CharlesW cesarfranck CHGiffen toddevoss
  • JacobFlahertyJacobFlaherty
    Posts: 331
    All Saints (FSSP), Minneapolis

    9:30 PM Matins w/ Men’s Choir
    Solemn High Midnight Mass
    Processional: O Come, All Ye Faithful
    Full Gregorian Propers
    Mass VIII
    Credo III
    Resonent in Laudibus
    Puer Natus in Bethlehem
    Angels We Have Heard on High

    8:00 AM small Schola Mass at Dawn Full Propers, Mass VIII, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing

    10:00-10:30 carols with 1 Flute, 2 Clarinets, 2 French Horns, 2 Trumpets, 4 Violins, 1 Viola, 1Cello
    +While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night
    +Angels we have heard on high
    +Oh Little town of Bethlehem (Forest Green)
    +See Amid the Winter’s Snow
    +The shadows are falling-Austrian Carol
    +Silent Night
    +Ding Dong Merrily On High
    10:30 Solemn High
    +O Come, All Ye Faithful (Wilcocks)
    +Pastoralmesse in G-Karl Kempter
    +Tollite Hostias (Saint-Saens)
    +Pueri Concinite (Herbacek)
    +Hark, the Herald Angels Sing (Wilcocks)


    Thanked by 6mmeladirectress Incardination CharlesW cesarfranck CHGiffen toddevoss
  • NihilNominisNihilNominis
    Posts: 1,023
    4.00 p.m. Children's Choir (gr. 3-6)

    3.40 p.m. Prelude of Carols
    O Come, Little Children
    Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
    Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
    In Old Judea

    4.00 p.m. Holy Mass
    Introit
    O Come, All Ye Faithful
    Mass of Wisdom
    OCP Psalm / Alleluia
    Where Shepherds Lately Knelt, Schalk
    Angels We Have Heard on High
    Away in a Manner
    Silent Night
    Joy to the World
    Sortie pour Noel, Cesar Franck

    ==================================

    8.00 p.m. Caecilian Choir (about 35)/ Brass and Winds

    7.30 Prelude (a slowly evolving set of pieces from "the Binder")
    Still, Still, Still
    A Christmas Celebration (carol medley)
    In Old Judea
    His Name is Wonderful
    O Night of Holy Memory

    Hymn schedule as at 4 p.m., but
    Offertory: "Gesu Bambino," Pietro Yon (SATB arrangement)
    Communion: Sleep, Holy Babe
    Stille Nacht
    O Holy Night
    Post-Mass: And the Glory of the Lord Shall be Revealed, Handel

    ==================================

    12:00 p.m. Midnight Mass (EF)

    11:30 Prelude
    Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
    Angels We Have Heard on High
    Away in a Manger
    Gesu Bambino (2 voice ladies)
    Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
    Silent Night

    Holy Mass
    Processional: Dominus Dixit ad Me (introit)
    Propers: Full, except shortened Gradual (priest's request)
    Ordinary: Mass VIII, Creed III, but polyphonic Sanctus/Benedictus (Bartschmid)
    Motets: Adeste Fideles, Puer Natus in Bethlehem (Tollite Hostias of Saint-Saens scheduled, but no time)
    Recessional: Joy to the World
    Postlude: Interlude on Sanctus VIII, Dom Gregory Murray

    ===================================

    9:30 a.m. Christmas Day Mass, Caecilian Choir, Brass, and Winds

    Schedule nearly identical to the 8:00 p.m. Mass.

    Thanked by 6Incardination CharlesW mmeladirectress cesarfranck CHGiffen Carol
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,982
    Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Knoxville, TN

    It was the best of times, the worst of times. God provided ample illnesses and choir absences to go around.

    Early Christmas Eve Vigil Mass:

    I don't normally have anything to do with this but the availability of the music teacher who normally does this mass, threw a wrench in this one. I was fortunate to find a last minute cantor.

    Pre-Midnight Mass:

    A thirty minute choral concert before the mass. Selections included:
    Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
    Christmas Peace Canon - Shafferman
    See Amid the Winter's Snow - John Goss
    Wonderful Peace - Gustaf Nordquist
    What Child is This - Flute and organ arrangement by Lani Smith
    Of the Father's Love Begotten - Paul Wohlgemuth
    Lovely Child, Holy Child - David N. Johnson
    Ave Maria - Guilio Caccini

    Mass:

    O Come, All Ye Faithful - Willcocks
    Gloria and remaining Ordinary - ICEL chant mass
    Psalm - Today is born... Ferris from WLP
    Offertory: I Wonder as I Wander - choir anthem
    Communion Proper: Rice
    Communion Carols: It Came upon the Midnight Clear and Silent Night
    Recessional: Joy to the World
    Postlude: Grand Jeu from Pieces d'Orgue du Grand Marchand - Deuxieme Livre

    Three hours sleep then back again.

    Christmas Day:
    8:00 a.m. - No cantor, psalm read, and singing led by organ
    10:00 a.m. - Singers from the Latin Mass choir served as cantors giving the parish choir a deserved and appreciated day off. Carols recycled from Midnight Mass.

    Thanked by 6mmeladirectress Joseph Michael cesarfranck CHGiffen Carol toddevoss
  • oldhymnsoldhymns
    Posts: 229
    St. Paul's, Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts
    3 p.m., December 24
    Nine Lessons and Carols

    Prelude--Praeludium in C Major - Dietrich Buxtehude
    Once in David's Royal City, Irby
    Adam lay ybounden - James Kennerley
    A Spotless Rose - Herbert Howells
    The First Nowell - English Traditional
    Star Carol - John Rutter
    A Maiden Most Gentle - French, Andrew Carter
    The Little Road to Bethlehem - Michael Head
    Angels We Have Heard on High
    Silent Night - arranged, Theodore Marier
    While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - Winchester Old
    Lux aurumque, Eric Whitacre
    God is with us, John Tavener
    O Come, All Ye Faithful
    Postlude--Final from Symphonie no. 1, Louis Vierne
    Thanked by 6Incardination CharlesW CHGiffen Carol mmeladirectress cesarfranck
  • matthewjmatthewj
    Posts: 2,700
    We do an hour of carols, choral works, and organ music before the Pontifical Mass during the night.

    In keeping with the long standing tradition (established waaaaay back in 2013), we sing a different setting of the text O Magnum Mysterium each year. While we are physically in a thunderstorm in Phoenix, we all felt a little Portuguese that night.

    2013, Victoria
    2014, Lauridsen
    2015, Morales
    2016, Cristo
    2017, Clemens non Papa
    2018, Byrd
    2019, Morago
    Thanked by 8CharlesW CHGiffen Carol 32ContraBombarde mmeladirectress Kathy toddevoss cesarfranck
  • redsox1
    Posts: 217
    St. Hugo of the Hills
    Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

    Jesus Christ the Apple Tree- Poston
    A Maiden Most Gentle- Carter
    O Magnum Mysterium- Victoria
    Shepherd’s Carol- Chilcott
    In the Bleak Mudwinter- Darke
    Good Christian Friends Rejoice- arr. Proulx
    Who Comes?- Nestor

    Propers: plainsong and Bartlett

    Carols: arr. Willcocks

    Organ voluntaries: In Dulci Jubilo- Dupre and Bach settings
    Thanked by 6Incardination CharlesW mmeladirectress CHGiffen toddevoss cesarfranck
  • Gustavo Zayas
    Posts: 87
    Sorry I'm late, but if this might help anyone, then here goes.

    The Cathedral of St. Mary
    Miami, FL

    Lessons & Carols, 9pm
    The Virgin Mary had a Baby Boy - arr. Connor SATB
    Campanitas Navideñas - trad. Colombian SA
    Nowel Jezi vini - trad. Haitian
    Resonet in laudibus - Gregorian Christmas antiphon, anon. unison/harmonized
    Venez divin Messie - trad. French (with English and Haitian Kreyol words) SATB
    Little Drummer Boy - Pentatonix version (with a Spanish verse) SATB, perc.
    Nowel fet delivwans - trad. Haitian
    The First Nowell - trad. SATB

    Mass at night, 10pm
    O come all ye faithful - trad. SATB
    Simple English Introit: The Lord said - Bartlett
    Kyrie XVI - with the longer ending
    Gloria VIII - alt. men/women
    Salmo 96 - Hoy nos ha nacido - Florián SATB
    Alleluia - Gregorian chant, Mode VI
    Lord, hear our prayer - Byzantine chant, harmonized
    Sing we now of Christmas - trad. French SATB
    Holy, Holy, Memorial Acclamation, Amen from Community Mass - Proulx
    Agnus Dei XVIII - cantor/choir
    Simple English Communio: Amidst the splendors - Bartlett
    An nou chante viv Nowel - trad. Haitian
    Silent Night - (English, Kreyol, Spanish words) SATB
    Joy to the world - trad. SATB
    Thanked by 4Incardination mmeladirectress CHGiffen cesarfranck
  • GambaGamba
    Posts: 548
    St. Mary's, Auburn, NY

    Carols at 11:30p; +congregation ad lib.
    Once in royal David’s city (Willcocks)
    Lo, how a rose e’er blooming (Praetorius, straight up)
    In the bleak midwinter (Gustav Holst)
    Away in a Manger (Wilberg)
    Tu scendi dalle stella
    Gesú Bambino
    The Bells of St. Mary’s (someone wrote vaguely Christmasy words to this years ago, and it is now do-it-or-be-guillotined).

    11:55 Darkness; tower bells; Proclamation of the Birth of Christ (RM); bells strike midnight.
    Procession to Créche for blessing of same: Silent Night
    Introit (Gregorian)
    O Come, All Ye Faithful; Willcocks, adding in "Adeste Fideles" between 1&2.
    Kyrie/Gloria/Sanctus/Agnus: Mass VIII "de Angelis", alt. choir/all
    Responsorial Psalm: Theodore Marier
    Alleluia VI; SATB verse of my own devising
    Sung Gospel; improv for procession back
    Creed III; Muñoz Et incarnatus
    Offertory: Gregorian, + Saint-Saëns Tollite Hostias
    Mystery of Faith, Amen, Lord's Prayer: RM
    Communion chant: Gregorian + Psalm 110 in English; thereafter Willcocks, "Of the Father's heart begotten, +congregation on v. 6
    After communion: Hark, the herald angels sing (+Congregation) CFC p. 107
    Postlude: Toccata on 'Vom Himmel Hoch', Garth Edmunson

    This is about doable for our all-volunteer group, and I was very glad at how it turned out.

    If anyone wants to be a fly on the wall: https://soundcloud.com/saintmarymusic/sets/midnight-mass-2019-st-marys-church-auburn-ny


    Thanked by 3CHGiffen mmeladirectress Incardination
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