As we come to celebrate the Feast of the Reign of Christ, our minds turn towards the seasons of Advent and Christmas. The two musical set pieces at this time of year are, as always, the Procession with Carols and Lessons for Advent (Sunday, December 2nd at 4.00pm) and the traditional Service of Nine Lessons and Carols (Sunday, December 23rd at 4.00pm).
One of the major historical roles of cathedrals around the world has been the support, encouragement and promotion of the arts. In its own small way, St Paul’s Cathedral carries on this traditional role throughout the year, but, at least where music is concerned, most evidently during Advent and Christmas.
The Procession with Carols and Lessons for Advent on December 2nd will present some newly written music as well as settings of the familiar traditional texts such as The Angel Gabriel. We will, as always, sing the Advent Prose in candlelit procession and the service will begin with a Responsory composed for the Cathedral Choir and will end with a Vesper Responsory written by David Briggs (sometime Organist of Gloucester Cathedral and currently Artist in Residence/Director of Music at St James’ Cathedral, Toronto) for the Church of St Thomas, Fifth Avenue (and Director of Music, John Scott, formerly of the “other” St Paul’s Cathedral).
The major new work in the service will be a setting of Ave virgo sanctissima (Hail, most holy Virgin) by English composer Judith Bingham, which received its American première in January this year – Judith tells us that this will be its Canadian première performance, but, given the number of choirs in the country, we are not making that claim (at least in public!).
On December 23rd we will sing the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, starting, as has been traditional since 1918 in King’s College, Cambridge, with the soprano soloist in Once in Royal David’s City. Again, this service presents an entirely new selection of carols, apart from one item, with some delightful twists on the old musical themes and texts. The major work in the service is the hauntingly beautiful setting of O Magnum Mysterium (O great mystery and wondrous sacrament) by Morten Lauridsen, one of the top American choral composers of his generation.
We will be joined at both services by our Bishop, The Right Reverend Robert F. Bennett, who will in each case read the final lesson and give the blessing.
As usual, the music for both of the two Christmas Eve services (at 7.30pm and 11.00pm) will be crowned by the participation of our friends in the brass group, led by Dave Robertson, and on Christmas Day, the Men of the Cathedral Choir will sing the Gregorian chant Missa de Angelis to accompany the BCP Eucharist at 10.00am.
We hope you’ll put these dates in your calendars and look forward to seeing you as we celebrate Advent and Christmas.
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