I am the cantor at one of my home parish’s Christmas Eve Masses this year. Here’s what I was given:
Processional: O Come, All Ye Faithful Gloria: “A Christmas Gloria” - P. Gibson Psalm: Psalm 96 - B. Farrell Gospel Acclamation: “Jubilation Mass” - J. Chepponis Offertory: Angels We Have Heard on High Eucharistic Parts: Mass of Christ the Savior - D. Schutte Communion: Infant Holy, Infant Lowly & Silent Night Recessional: Joy to the World!
Quite the mix. I’m not a fan of Glorias that make use of “Angels We Have Heard on High.” I could also do without Schutte’s Mass setting; however, I’d much rather sing Gibson’s Gloria over Schutte’s “My Little Pony” Gloria. Bernadette Farrell’s psalm is serviceable.
Christmas Eve at St. James in Madison GA, 5:00pm, OF (Sadly we do the vigil and not midnight Mass)
Prelude: half an hour of carols, followed by Le Creche, Guilmant Hymn: O Come All Ye Faithful Introit: Hodie Scietis (GR) Kyrie: Missa VIII Gloria: Missa VIII Gradual: Hodie Scietis (GR) Alleluia: mode VI w/ Latin verse Credo: Credo III in English Offertory: Tollite Portas (GR) Offertory other: Good Christian Men, Rejoice Sanctus: Missa VIII Mysterium fidei: Mortem tuam Paternoster: English Agnus Dei: Missa VIII Communion: Revelabitur (GR) Communion Motet: Corde Natus in two parts Hymn: Hark, the Herald Angels Sing Postlude: BWV 729
9am for Christmas Day (me as both cantor and organist, small crowd today so I give the schola the day off)
Prelude: BWV 751 Introit: Puer Natus Est (GR) Kyrie: Missa VIII Gloria: Missa VIII Gradual: Viderunt Omnes (Chants Abreges) Alleluia: mode VI w/ Latin verse Credo: Credo III in English Offertory: Tui Sunt (GR) Offertory other: Good Christian Men, Rejoice (if there is a congregation to sing it) Sanctus: Missa VIII Mysterium fidei: Mortem tuam Paternoster: English Agnus Dei: Missa VIII Communion: Viderunt Omnes (GR) Hymn: Hark, the Herald Angels Sing Postlude: BWV 729 (Yes, I like this hymn tune a lot, okay?)
Our Lady of Czestochowa, Turners Falls, MA (Historically Polish Parish, now RotR) (I am stuck cantoring and playing for both of these Masses--long story: Old age, work, and illness has cancelled 98% of the choir this Christmas. I think that my registration will mainly be the 8' Stopped Diapason, adding the 4' Harmonic Flute for last verses...) NB: an asterisk (*) indicates congregational (hopefully)
Vigil Mass: 4:00 p.m. *Prelude: Adeste fideles (vs 1.)/O come all ye faithful (Vss. 1, 2, 6)--Last verse, Cleobury. Introit: Today you will know--Weber *Procession: Ach ubogi zlobie *Blessing of Creche: Sliczna panienka *Kyrie & Gloria: Mass VIII (de angelis) Psalm: Recited *Alleluia: Anglican Use Gradual (verse from Lectionary) Offertory: Lift up, O gate--Weber *Hymn: Gdy sie Chrystus rodzi *Sanctus: Mass XVIII ("Jubilate Deo") *Agnus Dei: Mass of St. Teresa--Willan Communion: The glory of the Lord will be revealed--Weber -*Hymn: Tryumfy Krola niebieskiego -Carol: A Virgin most pure--harm. Martin Shaw -Organ: Noel sur les flutes--Daquin *Hymn of Praise (after Communion): Hark! the herald angels--Last verse, Gaida *Recessional Hymn: Angels we have heard--Barnes Postlude: BWV 606 --- Carol Concert & Midnight Mass: 11:30 p.m. *Once in royal--Last verse, Gaida *Dzisiaj w Betlejem Little star of Bethlehem--Charles Ives *Bog sie rodzi/God is born (vs 1 Polish/vss. 1 & 2 English) Away in a manger--Kirkpatrick *While shepherds watched--Last verse, Cleobury Ding dong! Merrily on high--Keyte & Parrott *O come, all ye faithful (Vss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7)--Verses 6 & 7, Gaida *Wsrod nocnej ciszy/In the night's stillness (Vs 1 Polish/vss 1 & 2 English) Introit: The Lord said to me (Kelly) --- Christmas proclamation *Procession to creche: W zlobie lezy/Infant holy (vs. 1 Polish/vss 1 & 2 English)--arr Gaida *Enshrining of the Christ Child: Lulajze Jezuniu *Retiring to sacristy/Entrance for Mass: Silent Night--Gruber (original version, adapt) *Kyrie & Gloria: Mass VIII Gradual: Yours is princely power--Arbogast *Alleluia: Anglican Use Gradual (verse from Lectionary) Offertory: Let the heavens rejoice--Weber Carol: Sussex Carol--Vaughan Williams *Sanctus: Mass VIII (de angelis) *Agnus Dei: Mass of St. Teresa--Willan Communion: The Word became flesh--Weber --Carol: Bracie patrzcie jeno --Carol: Przybiezeli do Betlejem --Organ: Vom himmel hoch--Pachelbel *Hymn of Praise (After Communion): O little town of Bethlehem--Last verse, Cleobury *Recessional Hymn: Joy to the world (Vss 1, 2, 4)--Mason Postlude: BWV 729 --- 1:30 a.m.: Sherry & Devotions to the Venerable Bed.
I grew up near ethnic enclaves (in Buffalo, New York), but I wasn't Catholic at the time, so I knew little or nothing of the musical genre which clearly peppers your parish. In later years, I've wondered how to recapture some of this before it has simply disappeared because of the biological solution. Could you record anything and post it here, for our general aedification?
Here is what our choir is doing for Christmas day in Akron, Ohio.
Prelude: Psallite (SAB a capella) Entrance: O Come All Ye Faithful (Pew Missal #200) Ent. Chant: Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. Dominion is on his shoulder and his name shall be called the Angel of Great Counsel. (Barlett p.28) Kyrie: Recited by the priest or deacon Gloria: Mass of St. Francis Cabrini (Kevin Keil) Responsorial Psalm: Setting by Royce Nickel Gospel Acc. Mass of the Angels (Clark) Offertory: In the Bleak Mid-Winter (Holst) Holy, Holy, Holy: Mass of St. Francis Cabrini Memorial Acc. When we eat this bread - Mass of St. Francis Cabrini Communion: All the Ends of the earth have seen (Motyka) Prayer of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Alma Redemptoris Mater (Pew Missal #85) Recessional: Joy to the World (Pew Missal #176)
Prelude: Organ: Divinum Mysterium (Held) and Greensleeves (Purvis) Carols: Once in Royal David's City, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Angels We Have Heard on High, and What Child Is This Choir: O Holy Night (arr. Jay Althouse)
Proclamation of the Birth of Christ: Roman Missal Processional: O Come, All Ye Faithful (arr. Willcocks) Introit: Dominus dixit ad me (GR) Kyrie: A Community Mass Gloria: A New Mass for Congregations
Responsorial Psalm 96: antiphon set to Adeste Fideles refrain, verses: Meinrad 6 Alleluia: Celtic Credo: III
Offertory: Of the Father's Love Begotten (Isele) Sanctus, Mysterium, Amen: A Community Mass Agnus Dei: Holy Cross Mass Communion: The Word of God became flesh... (Fr. Kelly), O magnum mysterium (Near), and Silent Night
Prelude: Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen, Op. 122, No. 8 (J. Brahms) Hymn: 804 Adeste Fideles Mass VIII, Credo IV Gradual/Alleuia: Griesbacher, other Proper Gregorian Offertory: Gaudete (anon) Communion: O Salutaris (Walkiewicz)
It's nothing to be proud of. We were just starting to rebuild, and we got hit by COVID.
Prelude: A mix of hymns from our parishoners of many ethnicities and congregational carols (a tradition at our parish)
-Il est ne le divin Enfant (French- sung by a Congolese family) -Ab' ijuru (Kinyarwanda (Angels We have heard on high)- sung by a Congolese family) followed by English verses -Hang Belem (Vietnamese sung by Viestnamese sisters and parishoners) -Go Tell It On the Mountain -Gaudete (arr. de Silva)
Entrance: O Come, All Ye Faithful (Proulx arr.) Gloria: Mass from Age to Age Psalm Guimont Alleluia: Alleluia Noel (Penkala from CanticaNova) Offertory: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Mass from Age to Age (I know. I am ready to be done with this one) Communion: Oh Santa Noche (solo in spanish while choir goes to communion) Silent Night O Magnum Mysterium ( Ramos- SAB, contemporary- perfect for my small trio) Recessional: Joy to the World
This parish was very used to contemporary hymns and even P&W and I'm trying hard (too hard?) to bring in new (old! haha) things to open up new ideas of beauty. De Silva's arr of Gaudete was really accessible to my singers and is the first a cappella piece they have done- we have teens-70 year olds from various ethnic backgrounds/ countries in my group and everyone loved this piece! They also loved the setting of O Magnum Mysterium, even though I had to pare it down to a very capable trio instead of the whole group singing it. This is also the first year I hired brass and have been working hard on my organ to use for a few songs. I hope we are slowly and surely "getting there."
Anticipated Midnight Mass, EF (the N.O. Mass at our parish is at Midnight).
Entrance "Gaudete Christus Natus est" 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. Personent Hodie 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. Virgini Mariae Laudes (Former Sequence) Procession to the crib, Adeste Fidelis Christmas Martyrology sung by a cantor Marian Anthem. Alma Redemptoris (Palestrina setting)
11am Day Mass E.F. INT. Puer Natus (Isaac 4 part setting) KY. Missa Super Dixit Maria, Hasler. GLO. Missa Super Dixit Maria, Hasler. GRD. Viderunt (Sung in full from the G.R.) ALL. Dies sanctificatus (Sung in full from the G.R.) CRD. Missa super Dixit Maria, Hasler. OFF. Tui sunt caeli (Sung in full from the G.R.) Off motet. Quem Pastores Laudavere SAN. Missa Super Dixit Maria, Hasler. BEN. Missa Super Dixit Maria, Hasler. AGN. Missa Super Dixit Maria, Hasler. COM. Viderunt omnes (Sung in full from the G.R.) Com motet. Puer Natus in Bethlehem. Marian Anthem. Alma Redemptoris, Guerrero.
The Isaac Introit sung in full perfectly matched the Kyrie and Gloria of Hasler, a few minutes of heaven to begin our Mass today.
We are singing again tomorrow... and possibly everyday this coming week!
I played as a hired musician at a large wealthy mega parish. We played mainly contemporary Christian type music with exactly three traditional hymns. A drumset was played for almost every musical selection, including "O Holy Night". On the other hand, the priest chanted a lot. The pews were full for 11 pm service.
hymn 195 Creator of the stars of night Callaway: Wake, awake for night is flying hymn 196 O come divine Messiah Mateo Flecha(?): Riu riu chiu hymn 214 Lo how a rose Hassler: Dixit Maria hymn 211 Of the Father’s love begotten Holst: Christmas Day
Midnight Mass
O come all ye faithful Mix: Missa Brevis (with Gloria VIII) Offertory: Tavener: Today the Virgin+ Sursum & Our Father (sung, first time in a while!) Comm. In splendoribus (American Grad.) Silent Night Hark the Herald
Christmas Day
(as last night, but for hymns) Angels we have heard It came upon the midnight Joy to the World
St. John the Evangelist, Goshen IN • Midnight Mass:
35mins of hymns and choral preludes incl. a rousing rendition of Gaudete Christus Est Natus, among others.
As the bells tolled:Choral Fanfare for Christ the King by H. Hamilton Smith, followed by the Christmas Proclamation (chanted, english). Entrance Hymn:Adeste Fideles (first verse in latin) – Willcocks Entrance Antiphon:Puer Natus † (sung from the medieval manuscript that I've shared in this thread: https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/19451/puer-natus-est-free-pdf-of-franciscan-manuscript#Item_5) Ordinary: Dalitz Missa Tribus Vocibus, a cappella (I'm so proud of my little schola!) Psalm setting of my own followed by my Christmastide Alleluia Offertory Hymn: Angels We Have Heard on High Communion Antiphon:In splendoribus, sung from "Communio with English Verses" while the choir received communion Communion Hymns: Hark the Herald Angels Sing – Willcocks (restrained registration on the final verse since it was during communion) followed by Silent Night during the purification, which worked down to a cappella by the last verse. Recessional Hymn:Joy to the World, introduced by my fanfare: https://www.psallitedomino.com/store-1/p/fanfare-introduction-to-joy-to-the-world-antioch
† - I realize this is technically incorrect, and only for mass during the day; I realized my mistake too late to reverse course.
Today on Sunday we had the Feast of St. Stephen E.F.
9.30am Mass E.F. (with 12 servers). INT. Etenim sederunt (Sung in full from the G.R.) KY. Missa O quam gloriosum, Victoria GLO. Missa O quam gloriosum, Victoria GRD. Sederunt principes (Sung in full from the G.R.) ALL. Video caelos (Sung in full from the G.R.) CRD. Missa O quam gloriosum, Victoria OFF. Elegerunt Apostoli (Sung in full from the G.R.) Off motet. O quam gloriosum, Victoria SAN. Missa O quam gloriosum, Victoria BEN. Missa O quam gloriosum, Victoria AGN. Missa O quam gloriosum, Victoria COM. Video caelos (Sung in full from the G.R.) Com motet. Deus Tuorum Militum, Victoria Marian Anthem. Alma Redemptoris, Palestrina
Followed by handing out of gifts for our servers for their faithful service.
We have sung 3 different polyphonic Masses with Credo in just over 24 hours, we are singing tomorrow (chant) for the Feast of St. John.
Our Parish priest is holding the usual Diocesan Mass on the 29th for St Thomas of Canterbury, Parton of the secular clergy in England. We have been asked to sing a polyphonic Mass, and fortunately members of our amateur choir have volunteered to sing! Our Choir is amazing... and so is our Parish priest, even if he asks for Polyphonic Mass settings during the week with less than a weeks notice.
Merry Christmas from us all at St. Bede's to CPDL and @CHGiffen without whom our music programme would be far far poorer.
Midnight Mass: Carols at 11:30 (was originally planned for 11:15 but church was empty until about 11:30 so we waited until then to start, we had a full house for Mass) Once in Royal David's City (boy soloist v1) Magnificat Septimi Toni - Lassus Ding dong, merrily - Wood The Angel Gabriel Organ: La Nativite du Seigneur - Langlais (played by an SMCS organ student) In Dulci Jubilo BWV 751 - J. M. Bach Mass: Christmas Proclamation from the Martyrology, Solemn Tone - Cantor O Come All Ye Faithful (with rousing Willcocks descant, boy treble sang it) Introit - Dominus Dixit ad me - GR, in full Gloria - Missa O Magnum Mysterium - Victoria (with bells and fanfare a la Easter Vigil, as is custom with ICKSP at Gricigliano, first time done here at my humble NO parish) Choral Psalm by T. B. Armstrong Full Gregorian Alleluia - GR, in full (first time done ever here, went very well) Credo III with Et Incarnatus from Missa Papae Marcelli Offertory - O Magnum Mysterium - Victoria Sanctus - Community Mass (you win some, you lose some, though it could be worse) Agnus - Missa O Magnum Communion: In Splendoribus - GR In the bleak midwinter - Holst Silent Night, arr. Ronan Concluding: Hark the herald (with rousing Willcocks descant) Widor Toccata
The Agnus at Midnight was quite simply the best my choir has ever sounded - the blend was incredible, and the sustain and expressivity of the whole thing was just stunning. My only regret is that I didn't get a recording of it. And despite it being late and everyone being tired, I was really pleased with how the whole Mass sounded.
Christmas Day 10am: O come all ye faithful (we skipped the Introit, one of my all-time favourites, to my great disappointment, mostly because I was having issues with the organ and just forgot to intone it) Gloria VIII with bells/fanfare Psalm from the New Cathedral Gradual Full Gregorian Alleluia Credo III Offertory: Tui sunt coeli - GR Sanctus: Community Mass Agnus: VIII Communion: Antiphon Viderunt with verses Concluding: Hark the herald Truncated Widor Toccata (this time at Diane Bish tempo since there was an 11:30 Filipino choir coming in with all their gear...)
The morning Mass was less nice... as our choir had shrunk from 6 extremely strong singers to 3 singers who were tired from the night before... so it didn't go nearly as well. Oh well, like I said, you win some and you lose some. Lesson learned - make Christmas Day a cantor/organ Mass or split the choir next year.
Where do you cut/jump to and from in the Widor? I’ve heard that people truncate it sometimes, but I’ve never figured out where they do it. I also played the Widor and would have loved to have spared my arm at 1:30am lol.
The truncation was actually quite extreme because of the next Mass at 11:30, whose equipment takes at least 10-15 minutes to set up (their words, not mine) and that doesn't include before Mass warmup. I basically played the exposition, then when the pedal came in, halfway through I jumped to where the pedal was playing in octaves and finished from there. No quiet part, there wasn't any time (and I didn't really want to play a single solitary note more after it all).
I had the pleasure of being part of a Christmas concert a few days ago. We sung such wonders as Saint-Saens' "Tollite Hostias", Bouzignac's "Ave Maria", "In the bleak mid-winter", "Les anges dans nos campagnes", "Entre le bœuf et l'âne gris", "Ô Dieu de clémence", "A la crèche accourons tous", and so on.
Unfortunately, I was unable to go to the Midnight Mass. I did go to the Mass of the day, in a Dominican Monastery. The Mass was celebrated in French, ad orientem (kinda) with Gregorian Propers and Ordinary. - Introit: Puer natus est (GR). - Kyrie: Fons bonitatis. - Gloria: Fons bonitatis. - Responsorial Psalm: "La terre entière a vu le Sauveur que Dieu nous donne" (All the Earth hath seen the Saviour which God gives us), in Polyphony. - Alleluia: Dies sanctificátus (GR). - Sequence: Laetabundus (the Dominicans have faithfully kept this wonderful sequence to this day, even in the modern form of the Roman Rite). - Creed: Credo I. - Offertory: Tui sunt cæli (GR). - Sanctus: Fons bonitatis. - Lord's Prayer: recited in French. - Agnus Dei: Fons bonitatis. - Communion: Vidérunt omnes (GR). - Recessional hymn: "Il est né, le Divin Enfant" ("He is born, the Heav'nly Child").
12.15pm 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, Amore Christi nobilis SAN. Mass IV BEN. Mass IV AGN. Mass IV COM. Exiit sermo (Sung in full from the G.R.) Com motet. Hymn, Exsultet caelum laudibus (Christmas melody) Marian Anthem. Alma Redemptoris, Solemn tone Recessional, Puer Natus in Bethlehem
Here's what we did at my OF parish where I am organist & director:
Prelude at 11:30 p.m. Carol: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (Praetorius) Carol: Away in a Manger (arr. Willcocks) Carol: Noche de luz (Bortniansky) Carol: Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle (arr. Arantes) Carol: While Shepherds Watched (arr. Willcocks) Motet: Alma Redemptoris Mater (Palestrina) Carol: Silent Night Prelude: Desseins éternels (from La Nativité du Seigneur) (Messiaen)
The Solemn Proclamation of Christmas
Hymn at the Procession: O Come, All Ye Faithful (arr. Willcocks) Introit: Dominus dixit ad me Kyrie: Heritage Mass (Alstott) Gloria: Heritage Mass (Alstott) Gradual: Resp. Psalm (Sam Schmitt) Alleluia: Mode VI Credo: Recited Offertory: Laetentur Caeli Offertory: Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (arr. Willcocks) Sanctus: Heritage Mass (Alstott) Mysterium Fidei: Chant Amen: Chant Agnus Dei: Holy Cross Mass (David Clark Isele) Communion: In splendoribus sanctorum Communion: It Came Upon The Midnight Clear Communion Motet: O Magnum Mysterium (Victoria) Hymn at the Retiring Procession: Joy To The World (arr. Willcocks) & Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (arr. Willcocks) Postlude: In Dulci Jubilo (J. S. Bach) Postlude: Ave Maris Stella (de Grigny)
Feast of the Holy Innocents 12.15pm Mass, EF INT. Ex ore infantium (Sung in full from the G.R.) KY. Mass IV 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 IV BEN. Mass IV AGN. Mass IV COM. Vox in Rama (Sung in full from the G.R.) Marian Anthem. Alma Redemptoris, Simple tone
Full Gregorian Propers Mass IV Procession: Corde natus ex parentis Offertory: Puer natus in Bethlehem Marian: Alma Redemptoris (Simplex) Retiring Procession: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Mendelssohn)
12.05pm Solemn High Mass, with 5 clergy in choir. All diocesan! St. Thomas of Canterbury is the Patron of the secular Clergy in England, so they always meet and celebrate today.
INT. Gaudeamus (Sung in full from the G.R.) KY. Missa Super Dixit Maria, Hasler. GLO. Missa Super Dixit Maria, Hasler. GRD. Ecce Sacerdos (Sung in full from the G.R.) ALL. Ego Sum Pastor bonus (Sung in full from the G.R.) CRD. Missa Super Dixit Maria, Hasler. OFF. Posuisti Domine (Sung in full from the G.R.) Off motet. O quam gloriosum, Victoria SAN. Missa Super Dixit Maria, Hasler. BEN. Missa Super Dixit Maria, Hasler. AGN. Missa Super Dixit Maria, Hasler. COM. Ego Sum Pastor Bonus (Sung in full from the G.R.) Com motet. Ave Verum, Byrd Marian Anthem. Alma Redemptoris, Palestrina.
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