Midnight Mass (2023)
Greetings all—
Here commences the mega-list of resources and reference recordings for Christmas Eve, 2023.
A few notes first:
Brass, please be to the loft by 10:40pm, so we can discuss the sequence of the evening, practice starting intros, etc.
Choir, please be in place and ready to sing by 11pm. (Please be discreet and not make too much noise while the brass players and myself are warming up.)
While you have your ordos, I will be interspersing extra organ works to both give your voices a rest and fill additional time. Please don’t be surprised if I start something and it is not what you are expecting. We WILL go in order of the booklet; I will simply be adding extra things. If it’s extra, just sit tight and the next thing will be what you’re expecting.
Sing your hearts out!
Ordo:
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Maria Walks Amid the Thorns (listen to the original! and this spine-chilling rendition by the Hamburg girl’s choir)
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Once in Royal David’s City
A Day of Joy and Feasting
Away in A Manger
Gaudete, Christus est Natus (normal speed | “learning speed”)
Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella!
Ding-Dong Merrily on High! (check the time-stamps for different parts, including a slowed down intro)
Choral Fanfare for Christ the King (penultimate piece before Mass begins)
Christmas Proclamation (Chanted by Kathy; this immediately precedes Mass)
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful)
Dominus Dixit Ad Me (plainchant)
Kyrie, Missa Tribus Vocibus (timestamped in the description)
Gloria, Missa Tribus Vocibus (timestamped in the description)
Psalm 96 “Today is born our Savior…” (timestamped in the description)
Christmastide Alleluia (see below for old tracks)
Credo III
Angels We Have Heard on High
Sanctus Missa Tribus Vocibus (timestamped in the description)
Benedictus Missa Tribus Vocibus (timestamped in the description)
Agnus Dei Missa Tribus Vocibus (timestamped in the description)
In splendoribus sanctorum (communion antiphon; chanted by JJR)
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Silent Night
Joy to the World (with Fanfare Introduction)
[Vierne Finale]
Lessons & Carols 2023
Hello Friends—
Here are the resources you need for the special music we are singing for Lessons & Carols. I will not bother to link the generic hymns here since you are fine with those, and you have the booklets already, so you can look them up on your own if you so desire.
A few notes:
SJ WARMUPS ARE AT 6:10. Please be in the loft and ready to go by that time if you are able. I realize a few of you may not be able to get there that soon, but please do your best if you can. Each choir will only have 10 minutes to warm up, so if you miss the window, well, you snost and lost.
We will be sitting on the opposite side of the loft from where we rehearsed. Ben is going to set up folding chairs for us, and we will nestle (‘nestle’ is the key word here…) over by the sound system controls and in the space on the other side of the stairs. It will be tight. We will make it work.
The event itself starts at 7pm (this is more for any friends/family who may ask).
Make sure you remember your music! You will need the L&C ordo booklet, and your Advent Motets booklet. That is all.
In spite of not having time for this at all… but because I love you, here are some brand new practice tracks for Ad Te Levavi.
UPDATE: The video below links to a whole playlist of new PT vids on YT.
I am sorry I haven’t had a chance to re-make this particular practice track. The melody is in the Tenor octave, so it hits a little odd. But you get the picture.
PS—the YouTube channel is at 1,997 subscribers… so if you are on social media, please share a link with your friends, and if you haven’t subscribed yet, well, you know what to do! Let’s get a Christmas miracle and hit 2k by the end of the year :)
Advent III (B • 2023)
Friends, here is our Advent III ordo.
Looking for Lessons and Carols resources? Click Here.
Entrance Antiphon Hymn: Hark the Glad Sound (EAH V. 4)
Entrance Antiphon: Fr. Weber #48
Psalm: Isaiah 1:46 “My soul rejoices in my God.”
Gospel Acclamation: “Genevan Alleluia”
Offertory Hymn: Comfort, Comfort Ye, My People (Genevan 42)
Communion Antiphon: Fr. Weber #63
Communion Motet: Tollite Portas (Dalitz)
Communion Hymn: Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending (Helmsley)
[Alma Redemptoris Mater']
Recessional Hymn: Hark! The Prophet’s Voice is Calling (Merton)
NB: both #47 & 48 are featured in this video; we are singing 48 (option ii).
Immaculate Conception (B • 2023)
Just in case you’d like to do a little extra preparation for tomorrow:
Advent I (B • 2023)
Hi Friends—
So the show officially begins! I want to thank you again for an excellent rehearsal on Wednesday—we managed to work our way through a lot of music. Be prepared to have more rehearsals like it, because we haven’t even started the «Christmas» music yet!
At any rate, here are the practice tracks for this coming weekend. I’m really looking forward to this seasonal change. It is good for us.
Entrance Antiphon Hymn to the tune of PUER NOBIS.
Entrance Antiphon: Fr. Weber #2
Missa XVII
Psalm 80: Lord, make us turn to You; let us see Your face and we shall be saved.
Alleluia ‘Regem Venturum’
Offertory Antiphon (vernacular chant)
Communion Antiphon: Fr. Weber # 17
Communion Motet: Ad Te Levavi by Witt.
Communion Hymn: Saviour of the Nations, Come to the tune of NUN KOMM DER HEIDAN HEILAND
Marian Antiphon: Alma Redemptoris Mater
*NB: we will not hold the lengthened notes (groupings of three with the bars over the top) as long as these recordings.
Lastly, don’t forget about the Advent Lookahead list, if you want to continue working on some of the motets we will be singing in the next few weeks.
See you Sunday morning!