24 December - Christmas Eve

Picture "borrowed" from Catholic line art images via inillotempore.com

First of all, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

I will admit that this post was written well after Christmas (it's already Lent as I write this ... Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa) ... but anyway, I will share three lists with you.

Carol Woods. Services there are organised by Chapel of the Cross. This service resembles the 8.00 am summer morning Rite I services at Chapel of the Cross with a few omissions, depending upon the Presider of the Day. Numbers are out of the Hymnal 1982.

Christmas Eve: Holy Eucharist Rite I
Prelude: O Magnum Mysterium (T.L. de Victoria)
Processional Hymn: 83, O come, all ye faithful (ADESTE FIDELES)
Sequence Hymn: 87, Hark the herald angels sing (MENDELSSOHN)
Offertory Hymn: 115, What child is this (GREENSLEEVES)
Communion Hymn: 82, Of the Father's love begotten (DIVINUM MYSTERIUM)
Recessional Hymn: 100, Joy to the World (ANTIOCH)
Postlude: Vom Himmel Hoch (J.G. Walther; F. Zachau)

St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played the 5.30 pm Christmas Eve service. The service was preceded by a 15 minute carol service. Because most of my choristers said they'd be out, I made the decision to have only hymns for the carol service. Numbers are out of the Hymnal 1982.

Christmas Eve: Holy Eucharist Rite II
A Prelude of Christmas Music:

• 102, Once in royal David's city (IRBY)
• 78, O Little Town of Bethlehem (FOREST GREEN)
• 101, Away in a manger (CRADLE SONG)
• 81, Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming (ES IST EIN ROS)
• 99, Go tell it on the mountain (GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN)
• 105, God rest you merry, gentlemen (GOD REST YOU MERRY)

Pro: 83, O come, all ye faithful (ADESTE FIDELES)
Gloria: S-278 (W. Mathias)
Psalm: Psalm 96 (Barrett)
Sequence Hymn: 80, From heaven above to earth I come (VOM HIMMEL HOCH)
Offertory Hymn: 87, Hark the herald angels sing (MENDELSSOHN)
Sanctus: S-128 (W. Mathias)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-165 (W. Mathias)
Communion Anthem: Coventry Carol (arr. M. Shaw)
Communion Hymns: 111, Silent night, holy night (STILLE NACHT); 96, Angels we have heard on high (GLORIA)
Recessional Hymn: 100, Joy to the World (ANTIOCH)
Postlude: Wir Christenleut' (J. G. Walther)

We didn't have enough time to sing the second Communion hymn, so I made the decision to invite everyone to sing it (Angels we have heard on high) right after the dismissal and before my postlude. Amazingly enough, no one left—they all stayed to sing the hymn! After the service, so many people approached me, thanking me for doing that. It made me feel wonderful for having made the last-minute decision to do that.

After a lovely supper (and a beautifully roasted turkey, I dashed off to Chapel Hill for service #3: the 11.00 pm Christ Mass at the Chapel of the Cross. As usual - it was a glorious service, a High Mass of sorts, complete with smells and bells. Oh, and music. Lots and lots of music.

Christ Mass: Holy Eucharist Rite I
Organ and Choral Voluntaries

• In dulci jubilo (BWV 729; J. S. Bach)
• Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein (most likely BWV 734; Bach)
• Choral Anthem: Ding Dong! Merrily on high (G. R. Woodward/C. Wood)
• Noël, Grand Jeu et Duo (L. C. D'Aquin)
• Choral Anthem: The Infant King (S. Baring-Gould; arr. D. Willcocks)
• La Nativité: La Crèche; Les Anges; Les Bergers; La Sainte Famille (J. Langlais)
• Choral Motet: O magnum mysterium (T. L. de Victoria)

Pro: 83, O come, all ye faithful (ADESTE FIDELES)
Gloria: S-202 (Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena; H. Willan)
Psalm: Psalm 98 (Ford; Plainchant Mode 7)
Sequence Hymn: 91, Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light (ERMUNTRE DICH)
Offertory: Motet: Hodie Christus natus est (J. Sweelinck)
Sanctus: S-114 (Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena; H. Willan)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Comm: 79, O little town of Bethlehem (FOREST GREEN); 101, Away in a manger (CRADLE SONG); 96, Angels we have heard on high (GLORIA); 111, Silent night, holy night (STILLE NACHT)
Re: 87, Hark the herald angels sing (MENDELSSOHN); 100, Joy to the World (ANTIOCH)
Postlude: Toccata (from Symphonie V; C.-M. Widor)

It was heaps of fun singing with the Senior Choir once again, and it was wonderful being with choristers who I haven't seen on a regular basis. Considering all that Chapel of the Cross has done for me, I'm more than happy to help out whenever I can.

So again: a very Happy Christmas to everyone.