Vincentian Christmas Novena
  • Earl_GreyEarl_Grey
    Posts: 904
    Is anyone familiar with this? I found this history: http://via.library.depaul.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1045&context=vhj

    I have also found several variant versions. In particular I am interested in the origins of the music. I've been charged with resurrecting this long-standing tradition after a few years of hiatus. While I have records of what was done here, I'd still like to learn more--particularity if any choral/organ scores are still in print. But like I said there seems to be several variations.
  • ClemensRomanusClemensRomanus
    Posts: 1,023
    Not familiar, but very interested in starting it at my parish now.
  • vogelkwvogelkw
    Posts: 55
    We did a version of the Christmas Novena at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis while I was there a few years ago. We did it earlier in Advent while the students were at the school instead of the days immediately leading up to Christmas. The public was invited and we had different homilists each night.

    I had made some recordings of myself singing it, though the quality is low and my singing is far from polished. http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL29911FF5ECBEE5CA

    I wish I had recordings of the real thing from the seminary - they would be much better and you would get all the parts. During my time there the Christmas Novena was morphed into evening prayer with some of the novena music performed in conjunction with it. So I am not sure of the current the state of their use of the novena today. They do have a new director of sacred music since then.

    I do have a copy of the music that we used, but I am not sure if I have permission to disseminate it. Perhaps one can contact the seminary and see if they would be willing to give copies of themusic. I don't know more about the novena's history beyond Rybolt's article above. I really enjoyed taking part in the Christmas Novena so I highly encourage its use.

    Fr. Vogel
  • Earl_GreyEarl_Grey
    Posts: 904
    They do have a new director of sacred music since then.


    I am the one of whom you speak.

    The Novena hasn't been performed in a number of years and apparently some things have been lost when they moved to a temporary location during the renovations. As you described it has morphed over the years, and I am attempting to restore it to it's original devotional practice rather than have it be a quasi-vespers service-especially since we do the novena early and the antiphons wouldn't line-up with the breviary.

    I had run across your you-tube videos, but I was trying to avoid taking dictation from that source alone! ;) I recently spoke with the former director who has given me some Finale files to work with. I also found another parish in the area that has a tradition of doing this Novena and they are sending me some things as well. I don't know what the copyright status is on any of this, so I will post what I can once I sort it all out. I'm surprised there isn't anything in the archives here. I suppose the problem I'm having is that there is not one official edition, so I just need to figure out what we are going to do now.

    --Jeff
  • ronkrisman
    Posts: 1,394
    @Earl_Grey:
    The seminarians sang the Vincentian Novena the 5 years I was at St. Thomas in Denver (1964-1969). I remember that the texts were partially or completely changed to English sometime during those years.

    Perhaps you could get someone to sleuth through the music files in the music room in the seminary tower in Denver. The same goes for the files at St. John's Seminary, Camarillo.
    Thanked by 1Earl_Grey
  • vogelkwvogelkw
    Posts: 55
    Jeff,

    I am so glad to hear you are looking into bringing back the novena at Kenrick! If you have Finale files I am sure you wouldn't want my pdf of scanned copies of the music. One thing I did do with the music is insert the scripture and antiphon/responsory references from Rybolt's article beside the prophecies and Laetentur coeli in the pdf. If you want a copy let me know and I can email it to you. Fr. Vogel
    Thanked by 1Earl_Grey
  • Earl_GreyEarl_Grey
    Posts: 904
    Please do e-mail me anything you might have. I'm at the point where I just need to put something down on paper and create the program and start rehearsals. Still, I'm open to future revisions as I find out more of the history of this tradition.
  • BruceL
    Posts: 1,072
    Jeff, the sisters in O'Fallon, MO, would be a good source if you're looking for the roots. I think Msgr. Hellriegel started it there, it became popular, then he moved it to Holy Cross when he was there. As I recall, he did structure it to have some of evening prayer (the Mag, etc.), but played it loose with the psalmody. In any case, he was doing it in the vernacular well before the council, so I'm sure it was intended to be a devotional.

    Best,
    BruceL
    Thanked by 2Earl_Grey SamuelDorlaque
  • SamuelDorlaque
    Posts: 318
    Sr Luella Dames, the Director of Music for the Precious Blood Sisters in O'Fallon MO, knew
    and worked with both Msgr. Hellriegel and Dom Ermin Vitry, OSB, who served for many years as Director of Music for the Sisters. In 2003 Sr. Luella updated the Novena "Maranatha" as designed by Msgr. Hellriegel. It is one of the most moving novena services I've experienced.
    At Holy Cross it was sung in the evening, followed by Benediction. It was a truly spiritual way
    to prepare for Christmas. Contact Sr. Luella. The Sisters have music books, pew books and
    detailed instructions, all updated in 2003.
    Thanked by 1expeditus1
  • Earl_GreyEarl_Grey
    Posts: 904
    I have been in touch with Sr. Luella and I now have copies of her materials. The issue I'm having is that there are many versions. Someone at some point had adapted it for men's choir at the seminary. For example, in the one version, the prophesies are sung by a solo cantor whereas I have evidence that the choir sang these in parts. Simply doing the O Fallen version as is wouldn't quite work here.

    I've got a lot to work with now. It may not be perfect, but I'll have something ready for Advent.
  • expeditus1
    Posts: 483
    Earl_Grey, is the Novena at the following link, part of the one that you are constructing? I'm at a language disadvantage, but I recognized some pages of chant as I scrolled down. http://costumbrario.blogspot.com/2008/12/ejercicio-de-preparacin-para-navidad.html
  • SamuelDorlaque
    Posts: 318
    Earl Grey,
    At my office I have three-part settings of the prophecies. When I was at Holy Cross in
    the 1970s, the Children's Schola sang the Novena. The English will be the translations
    Msgr. Hellriegel had done in the 1930's. I'd be glad to share what I have.
  • Earl_GreyEarl_Grey
    Posts: 904
    @expeditus. Yes that is basically it.

    @samuelD. I'd love to see the harmony that you have. It may or may not be the same as the ones Fr. Vogel sent to me. You can send it to Wisniewski at Kenrick.edu.

    I also came across on old LP recording. It was arranged for SATB choir. There was also a lot of added choir pieces and organ solos including Wachet Auf, and Brahm's prelude on Lo, How a Rose.

    I should also add that if anyone is looking for this novena in a nice convenient package, the one available through the Precious Blood sisters in O'Fallen is quite simple. They have congregation booklets, an accompaniment edition and the prophesies for solo singers all written out and reasonably priced. The reason I'm making this more complicated is that I have a men's chorus now, so I can't simply use the O'Fallen version.
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