Christmas 2020
  • Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    I am sure this year’s Christmas celebrations may be scaled-back in many locations compared to past years. What are you doing for your Christmas Masses this year? Is anything different from prior years?
    Thanked by 1CharlesW
  • ViolaViola
    Posts: 392
    Very different!
    We are only allowed two cantors plus organist. Only 50 in the congregation and Mass has to be over in under an hour.
    Thanked by 1mmeladirectress
  • matthewjmatthewj
    Posts: 2,694
    Prelude -
    Kyrie pour Noel, Franck
    Joy to the World, ANTIOCH
    Elevation sur le Noel Carcassonnais, Guilmant
    Ding Dong Merrily on High
    Noel Eccosais, Guilmant
    O Come All Ye Faithful
    Carol of the Bells
    Dixit Maria, Hassler
    Proclamation

    Mass -
    Dominus Dixit, GR
    Kyrie Missa Brevis in F Minor, Villard
    Gloria VIII
    Psalm, Schmidt
    Gregorian Alleluia, psalm tone verse
    Offertory, Rice
    ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime
    Sanctus/Agnus Dei Missa Brevis in F Minor, Villard
    In Splendoribus, GR
    Silent Night
    O Magnum Mysterium, Victoria
    Angels We Have Heard in High
    Sortie pour Noel, Franck
  • St. Sebastian, Akron OH, 1PM, EF
    Solemn High Mass with lame music (me & organ)
    Processional/Recessional: Adeste fideles
    Mass VIII, Credo III
    Offertory: Gaudete (Pie Cantiones)
    Communion: Noe noe psallite (Jean Mouton. STB parts on organ)

    Normally we'd do the Yon Mass of the Shepherds, and had we maintained the trajectory we were on at the beginning of the year, maybe more.

    On the bright side, the D. of Cleveland is having a dizzying array of TLM Christmas masses this year. Nobody's doing Lux fulgebit yet, but I woudn't be surprised if it happened next year.
  • At the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston -
    all high masses for Christmas Eve, Midnight, and Christmas Day will be as normal, all with the cathedral choir providing its normal schedule of music.

    A live streamed mass of Christmas Eve may be heard at olwcatholic.org.

    Complete Palmer-Burgess propers
    Anonymous XXth century English ordinary (with Willan Gloria)
    Anglican chant
    Anonymous renaissance Hodie at offertory
    Victoria O magnum at communion
    Last Gospel
  • St. Mary's, Tampa

    4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. Eve with cantor and organ
    Midnight with SATB quartet and socially-distanced bell choir
    9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon Day with cantor and organ

    All of them really scaled back from what I'm used to doing, and it's kind of depressing.

    Prelude for Midnight:
    Of the Father's Love Begotten (arr. Held)
    Angels We Have Heard on High (I forget the arranger off-hand)
    O Holy Night (arr. Althouse)

    Midnight Mass
    O Come, All Ye Faithful (Willcocks arr. for final stanza, arr. for bells by Leferink)
    Community Mass Kyrie
    A New Mass for Congregations Gloria
    Psalm 96 - refrain set to Adeste Fideles, verses set to Meinrad Tone 6 (I think)
    Celtic Alleluia
    Credo III
    Offertory from Simple English Propers + Coventry Carol (arr. Dobrinski)
    Community Mass Sanctus, Mysterium, and Amen
    Holy Cross Mass Agnus Dei
    Communion from Simple English Propers + In the Beginning Was the Word (Singh) + Silent Night
    Hark the Herald Angels Sing

    Music for the other Masses is similar with the following exceptions:
    Psalm 89 for Vigil Masses - Leferink
    Psalm 98 for Day Masses - Gelineau
    Offertory from SEP + Silent Night
    Communion from SEP + The First Noel
  • Midnight Mass at Saint-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile (Extraordinary Form):

    Mattins:
    Hymn "Christe Redemptor omnium".
    First nocturn, with three psalms, three lessons and three responsories.
    The Genealogy of Christ, according to Saint Matthew (as customary in the Parisian Use).
    Te Deum.

    Carols:
    "Entre le bœuf et l'âne gris".
    "Or nous dites Marie".
    "Silence, ciel ! Silence terre !".
    "Minuit chrétiens".
    "Les anges dans nos campagnes" (Angels we have heard on high).

    Mass:

    Ordinary: Missa de Angelis.
    Propers: Gregorian Chant.
    Credo III.
    Offertory Motet: "Tollite hostias"
    After the consecration: "O Salutaris Hostia" (as it was the custom in France).
    Communion hymn: "Adeste fideles".
    After the blessing: "Alma Redemptoris Mater".
    Final hymn: "Il est né le divin enfant.

    Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend this Mass, being outside of Paris at the moment.

    Merry Christmas to all!
  • We sang the Missa O Quam Gloriosum by Tomas de Victoria. Credo 3. Ego Sum Panis Vivus by Palestrina and O Magnum Mysterium also by Victoria at midnight.

    First time EVER at a Christmas Mass in the Latin Mass and third time ever at Mass on Christmas, period. Long story. Pretty magical experience.
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,704
    We usually have a professional Choir in for the Midnight singing the Mozart Coronation Mass. But they were expensive so we were asked to sing this year. Last year we sang the Byrd 3 for Christmas Day (Half our choir go home for Christmas so we are short of singers.

    Anticipated Midnight Mass, EF (the N.O. Mass at our parish is at Midnight).

    INT. Dominus dixit (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    KY. Byrd 3 part Mass (alternated with Mass XVI Kyrie)
    Kyrie: Chant, Byrd, Chant,
    Christe: Byrd, Chant, Byrd,
    Kyrie: Chant, Byrd 1, Byrd 2.

    GLO. Byrd 3 part Mass
    GRD. Tecum principium (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    ALL. Dominus Dixit (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    CRD. Byrd 3 part Mass
    OFF. Laetentur (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    Off motet. Hymn Veni Redemptor gentium (Sarum melody)
    SAN. Byrd 3 part Mass
    BEN. Byrd 3 part Mass
    AGN. Byrd 3 part Mass
    COM. In splendoribus (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    Com motet. Hymn A solis ortes cardine (Sarum melody)
    Marian Anthem. Alma Redemptoris (simple tone)
    Procession to the crib, Adeste Fidelis
    (Our cantors forgot to sing the Christmas Martyrology)

    11am Day Mass E.F.
    INT. Puer Natus (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    KY. Missa Dixit Maria, Hasler.
    GLO. Missa Dixit Maria, Hasler.
    GRD. Viderunt (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    ALL. Dies sanctificatus (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    CRD. Missa Dixit Maria, Hasler.
    OFF. Tui sunt caeli (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    Off motet. Virgini Mariae laudes (Former Sequence)
    SAN. Missa Dixit Maria, Hasler.
    BEN. Missa Dixit Maria, Hasler.
    AGN. Missa Dixit Maria, Hasler.
    COM. Viderunt omnes (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    Com motet. Per Natus in Bethlehem
    Marian Anthem. Alma Redemptoris, Guerrero.

    Our risk assessment allows us to use every other bench and so our Church only has a total of 48 units plus 6 units in the choir. A unit is around 3 people that are part of a household group and can fit in a bench with the 6' social distancing between then and the next unit. A family of say 10 count as two units as they take up the whole bench. So thanks to the large families we had 138 at the first Mass and 95 in the second!
  • Midnight Mass was nixed this year by our new pastor, so for the OF vigil we programmed...

    - Prelude: Noel en Musette, Daquin
    - Mass VIII
    - Introit: Hodie Scietis, GR
    - Gradual: Hodie Scietis, GR
    - Credo III, Englished
    - Offertory: Tollite Portas, GR
    - Offertory hymn: Good Christian Men, Rejoice!
    - Communion: Revelabitur
    - Communion Motet: Corde Natus a 2 (Rice)
    - Recessional: Adeste Fideles
    - Postlude: BWV 729

    Unfortunately, I was told on the 23rd that we were no longer allowed to sing on Christmas due to an increase in COVID cases, so the overwhelming majority of that program was nixed. Made for quite the Christmas disappointment.
  • Here’s what we did at my parish:

    Processional: O Come, All Ye Faithful
    Kyrie: Mass XVI
    Gloria: Christmas Gloria (arr. D. Laginya)
    Psalm: Psalm 96 (H. Hughes)
    Gospel Acc.: Christmastime Alleluia (J. Chepponis)
    Offertory: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
    Holy: A Community Mass (R. Proulx)
    Mystery: A Community Mass (R. Proulx)
    Amen: A Community Mass (R. Proulx)
    Agnus Dei: Mass XVIII
    Communion: The First Nowell & Silent Night
    Recessional: Joy to the World

    The 10:00 a.m. Mass was sparsely attended this year. It’s typically one of the more crowded Masses of the year, but the pandemic combined with the wintry conditions made for a small turnout.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • >> Solemn High Mass with lame music (me & organ)

    Mass VIII may draw back to the Faith some people attending who hadn't been to Mass in decades. It has been known to happen!
    Don't be so hard on yourself! :-) you put what you could, at the feet of the holy Child !!
  • High Mass (EF) for Midnight Mass (at 8 p.m., partly because of local curfew and partly because Mass had to be outside.... but that's another kettle of fish to fry.)

    Chant Propers (3 members of schola)
    Missa de Angelis
    carols sung beforehand.
    synthesizer (toaster, keyboard) instead of (unavailable) pipe organ -- also a long story.


  • Here are some recordings from Midnight Mass (TLM) in Sleepy Eye.

    We did the Victoria Missa O Magnum, but Credo III. Shortened Gradual.
  • Beautiful church and beautiful altar, Nihil.
    When was it built and what is your organ like?
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,704
    Feast of St. Stephen E.F. (with 14 servers).

    9.30am Mass E.F. (with 14 servers).
    INT. Etenim sederunt (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    KY. Mass II
    GLO. Mass II
    GRD. Sederunt principes (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    ALL. Video caelos (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    CRD. Credo I
    OFF. Elegerunt Apostoli (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    Off motet. Hymn Stephano primo martyri
    SAN. Mass II
    BEN. Mass II
    AGN. Mass II
    COM. Video caelos (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    Com motet. Hymn Sancta Dei pretiose, Protomartyr Stephane
    Marian Anthem. Alma Redemptoris, Solemn tone

    Followed by Benediction (with 21 servers)
    O salutaris (1st melody in liber)
    Tantum ergo (Common melody)
    Adoremus in aeternum (Rush harmonisation)
    Marian Anthem. Alma Redemptoris, Simple tone

    Followed by blessing of our servers and renewal of promises, and handing out of gifts for their faithful service. The usual party was cancelled with year due to COVID.
  • Beautiful church and beautiful altar, Nihil.
    When was it built and what is your organ like?


    Built in 1902. Altar by the Hackner company.

    Organ was first built by Schaefer in 1907, then rebuilt twice, first by Wicks in the 1940s, then by Allen Moe in 2011, both times very sympathetically (history has been good to its tonal specification -- not as good to its casework). Very rich, warm, Romantic, almost English palette.

    Stoplist follows:

    Sleepy Eye, Minnesota
    St. Mary Help of the Christians

    Moe Pipe Organ Co. 2011

    GREAT ORGAN
    16 Bourdon
    8 Open Diapason 61
    8 Melodia 61
    8 Viola da Gamba 61
    8 Gemshorn 61
    8 Salcional II (Sw)
    8 Dulciana II (Ch)
    4 Octave 61
    4 Viol 12
    4 Rohr Flute 61
    2 2/3 Twelfth 61
    2 Fifteenth 61
    II-III Mixture 165
    8 Trumpet 61
    Chimes

    SWELL ORGAN
    16 Lieblich Gedeckt 12
    8 Geigen Diapason 61
    8 Stopped Diapason 61
    8 Gedeckt 61
    8 Salicional 61
    8 Voix Celeste tc 49
    4 Geigen Octave 12
    4 Flute d’Amour 12
    4 Gambetta 12
    4 Violina12
    4 Voix Celeste 12
    2-2/3 Nazard
    2 Flautino 12
    1-1/3 Larigot
    1 Piccolo
    III Dolce Mixture 183
    8 Oboe Gamba 61
    8 English Horn 61
    8 Vox Humana 61
    Tremolo

    CHOIR ORGAN
    8 Flute Amibile 61
    8 Viola da Gamba (Gt)
    8 Gemshorn (Gt)
    8 Dulciana 61
    8 Unda Maris tc 49
    4 Flauto Amoroso 12
    4 Wald Flute 61
    4 Dulciana 12
    4 Unda Maris 12
    2-2/3 Quint
    2 Piccolo 12
    III Mixture (synthetic)
    8 Clarinet 61
    4 Clarinet 12
    Tremolo

    PEDAL ORGAN
    32 Resultant
    16 Open Diapason 32
    16 Bourdon 32
    16 Lieblich Gedeckt (Sw)
    8 Octave 12
    8 Bass Flute 12
    8 Flauto Dolce (Sw)
    4 Choral Bass (Gt)
    II Raush Bass (syn)
    16 Trombone 12
    8 Trumpet (Gt)
    4 Clarion (Gt)
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,157
    7 a.m. Christmas Day
    This was an extra Mass scheduled for the holy day, at a parish far away at the edge of the archdiocese.

    The music director had a conflicting obligation and did not succeed in obtaining an organist for the Mass, but got me to agree to sing for it unassisted.

    Before the Mass, carols
    Ihr Kinderlein kommet
    In dulci jubilo
    Wśrod nocnej ciszy (the last verse is a great confession of eucharistic faith)
    O Come, All Ye Faithful

    Then the Mass, Ordinary Form in English, mostly spoken, with sung chant in Latin from the GR74:

    Ordinary: Mass VIII

    Propers Ad Missam in Die:
    IN. Puer natus est nobis
    GR. Viderunt omnes
    AL. Dies sanctificatus (verse on a psalm-tone)
    OF. Tui sunt caeli
    CO. Viderunt omnes (with verses)

    Additional carols:
    during the Offertory rites: Hark, the Herald Angels Sing
    after the dismissal: Joy to the World

    The attendance was about 20, but it was worth doing.
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,704
    Feast of St. John E.F. (N.B. We follow the older calendar)

    11am Mass E.F.
    INT. In medio (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    KY. Mass IV
    GLO. Mass IV
    GRD. Exiit sermo (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    ALL. Hic est discipulis (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    CRD. Credo I
    OFF. Justus et Palma (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    Off motet. Hymn Exsultet caelum laudibus (Christmas melody)
    SAN. Mass IV
    BEN. Mass IV
    AGN. Mass IV
    COM. Exiit sermo (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    Com motet. Hymn Amore Christi nobilis
    Marian Anthem. Alma Redemptoris, Solemn tone
    Recessional, Personent Hodie, Holst arrangement

    We think it best not to mention too much about our Mass attendance... While Public celebrations are allowed, we do have a stay at home order although that does come with a long list of exemptions!
    The EF attendance is up, c. 50 on Sunday and c.20 during the week, On Sundays the two Latin Masses now provide over 50% of the Parish Sunday Mass count, during the week it is between ¾ and 9/10ths. We will be singing every day this week, Covid has been a blessing!
  • For the Mass at Night:

    Prelude of Carols

    Once in Royal David's
    Sing We Now of Christmas
    Choir: The Sussex Carol (arr. Willcocks)
    God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
    Choir: O Little One Sweet (arr. Bach)
    Angels from the Realms of Glory
    Choir: All My Heart this Night Rejoices (Rutter)
    In the Bleak Midwinter
    Solo: O Holy Night

    Mass

    Processional: O Come, All Ye Faithful
    Offertory Motet: Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (arr. Willcocks)
    Offertory Hymn: Silent Night
    Communion: O Magnum Mysterium (Lauridsen)
    Recessional: Hark, the Herald Angels Sing

    Palmer-Burgess propers
    Healey Willan - Missa De Sancta Maria Magdalena (Credo: Shaw Anglican Folk Mass)
    Anglican Chant psalm

    For Dec 27, Feast of the Holy Family:

    Missa Quam Gloriosum - Victoria (Credo and Gloria: Shaw Anglican Folk Mass)
    Chanted propers from the Anglican Use gradual
    Anglican chant psalm
    Processional: The Snow Lay Upon the Ground
    Offertory: Ave Maria (Ravanello)
    Offertory: What Child is This
    Communion: Lully, Lulla, Lullay (Philip Stopford)
    Recessional: Good Christian Men, Rejoice
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,704
    As it is still Christmas,

    Feast of the Holy Innocents 12.15pm Mass, EF
    INT. Ex ore infantium (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    KY. Mass XIV
    GRD. Anima nostra (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    TRACT. Effuderunt (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    CRD. Credo I
    OFF. Anima nostra (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    Off motet. Hymn Audit tyrannus anxius (Christmas melody)
    SAN. Mass XIV
    BEN. Mass XIV
    AGN. Mass XIV
    COM. Vox in Rama (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    Com motet. Hymn Salvete flores Martyrum (Augsburg antiphonal melody)
    Marian Anthem. Alma Redemptoris, Simple tone
    Recessional, Coventry Carol (1591 melody)
  • Well, if we're going to play the Octave like that...
    The only exciting thing I've got coming, is that for the Octave I'm doing a solo/organ setting of O magnum mysterium. I finished writing it Monday, so it'll be a 4 day turnaround, positively Bachian (the turnaround, I mean, not the music). They say that what you do on New Years Day is what you'll do all year, and I could use some more performances of my music, so...
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen tomjaw
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,704
    The Octave day of Christmas 12.15pm Mass

    Hymn Veni Creator,V.R. and prayer (for Indulgence)
    INT. Puer Natus (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    KY. Missa Dixit Maria, Hasler.
    GLO. Missa Dixit Maria, Hasler.
    GRD. Viderunt (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    ALL. Multifarie olim (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    CRD. Missa Dixit Maria, Hasler.
    OFF. Tui sunt caeli (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    Off motet. Dixit Maria, Hasler
    SAN. Missa Dixit Maria, Hasler.
    BEN. Missa Dixit Maria, Hasler.
    AGN. Missa Dixit Maria, Hasler.
    COM. Viderunt omnes (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    Com motet. Quem pastores laudavere.
    Marian Anthem. Alma Redemptoris, Guerrero.

    We also sang on New years Eve 12.15pm Mass Due to restrictions we could not have our usual Midnight Mass.

    31st Dec, Feast of St. Silvester. Pope

    INT. Sacerdotes tui (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    KY. Mass XIV
    GLO. Mass XIV
    GRD. Ecce sacerdos (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    ALL. Inveni David, (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    CRD. Credo I (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    OFF. Inveni (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    OFF. Motet. Laetabundus, Former Sequence
    SAN. Mass XIV
    BEN. Mass XIV
    AGN. Mass XIV
    COM. Beatus servus (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    Com motet. Puer Natus in Bethlehem.
    Marian Anthem. Alma Redemptoris, Simple tone.
    Te Deum, V.R. and prayer (To gain indulgence)

    and the 30th Dec. Transferred Mass of the Sunday within the Octave.

    INT. Dum medium (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    KY. Mass XIV
    GLO. Mass XIV
    GRD. Speciosus forma (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    ALL. Dominus regnavit (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    CRD. Credo I (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    OFF. Deus denim firmavit (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    OFF. Motet. Hymn Christe Redemptor Omnium, (Dominican melody)
    SAN. Mass XIV
    BEN. Mass XIV
    AGN. Mass XIV
    COM. Tolle puerum (Sung in full from the G.R.)
    Com motet. Hymn Veni Redemptor omnium, (Dominican melody)
    Marian Anthem. Alma Redemptoris, Simple tone.