Tell about your Christmas music program
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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!
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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. -
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)
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One hour of Christmas carols before Mass, with organ and violin. Mass with organ, violin, 4-part harmony hymns, full propers (in English).
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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. -
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)
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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! ...
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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!
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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)
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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.
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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.
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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 -
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 -
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
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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
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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
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