Strings or Brass for Christmas eve 10pm mass
  • Brysonfoster33
    Posts: 6
    Just shopping for input or advise:

    Is it more appropriate to hire strings, brass or neither for a 10pm christmas eve mass?

    It will most likely be accompanied with an organ, cantor and small choir.
    Thanked by 1Lars
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    > more appropriate

    Wrong question. Instead ask...

    > Which is more fun, strings or brass, for a 10pm Christmas Eve Mass?

    Phrased this way, the answer should be obvious. (Brass)
    Thanked by 3Lars Liam Brian Michael Page
  • LarsLars
    Posts: 127
    Had a trumpet for Easter vigil, gloria fanfare. One of the valves on the trumpet got stuck mid way and it was quite a disaster, funny though.

    this would be nice to play on Christmas with a trumpet
    IMSLP292899-PMLP177339-BacInDulall.pdf
    151K
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,092
    Unless you are doing a Baroque Christmas concerto or the strings are a harp, brass.
  • mmeladirectress
    Posts: 1,100
    a harp with brass strings? :-)
  • Diapason84
    Posts: 79
    I like when the organ is allowed to shine on its own terms without brass or other instruments.
    Thanked by 3Nathan_the_Organist rich_enough PaxTecum
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    > Thanked by (1): Nathan_the_Organist

    Username checks out.
    Thanked by 1Richard Mix
  • MarkS
    Posts: 282
    For me Christmas Eve is always about mystery and wonder, and angels singing—harp and strings!
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,092
    Cross-posting because I put this first in the wrong Xmas thread:

    I think of harp (with flute, perhaps) - rather than organ or brass - for this carol, for example:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IOTyW287v4

    All this night shrill chanticleer,
    Day's proclaiming trumpeter,
    Claps his wings and loudly cries,
    Mortals, mortals, wake and rise!
    See a wonder Heaven is under;
    From the earth is risen a Sun,
    Shines all night, though day be done.

    Wake, O earth, wake everything!
    Wake and hear the joy I bring;
    Wake and joy; for all this night
    Heaven and every twinkling light
    All amazing, still stand gazing.
    Angels, powers, and all that be,
    Wake, and joy this Sun to see.

    Hail, O sun, O blessed Light,
    Sent into the world by night!
    Let Thy rays and heavenly powers
    Shine in these dark souls of ours;
    For most duly thou art truly
    God and man, we do confess:
    Hail, O Sun of Righteousness!
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • JacobFlahertyJacobFlaherty
    Posts: 331
    Seems like a good, thoughtful question. One local church always does a very triumphant Christmas Midnight Mass with brass and organ. The church I grew up in always did things with Strings and Woodwinds. The music director, hearing about the other church, would remark saying, "They're going to wake the baby Jesus up with all that noise - I don't think His mother would appreciate that very much..." :)
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • NihilNominisNihilNominis
    Posts: 1,021
    Which is more fun, strings or brass, for a 10pm Christmas Eve Mass?


    Honestly, I find strings more fun. It's like having an extra set of singers with unimaginably beautiful voices and nearly limitless range.
    Thanked by 4CHGiffen JacobFlaherty LauraKaz hilluminar
  • Richard MixRichard Mix
    Posts: 2,798
    Don't most of us start from repertoire? Charpentier or Handel are more fun than … Pinkham, maybe?
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • L_CrottiL_Crotti
    Posts: 8
    This Year I'm organizing a Baroque "church trio" with two violins, cello and (hopefully) a theorbo to play a full church sonata by Corelli
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen Lars
  • ghmus7
    Posts: 1,483
    I usually book strings and one tpt
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