Cathedral again

This morning I went back to St. Matthew's for church this morning. I'm not really sure which choir it was....I think it was the Schola Cantorum.....but there were a dozen singers plus the conductor, all dressed in magenta choir albs. It appears from the service leaflet that the woman who cantored yesterday's and this morning's Masses is the director of music. She, as well as the organist, joined the Schola for some of their a capella anthems. I got there in the middle of a choral prelude not mentioned in the leaflet....wasn't really sure what it was, but it sounded churchy. ;-)

His Eminence the Pointy Hat of Washington was there today, so there was lots of extra ceremonial, loads of incense, and tons of clergy in procession. He chants very well, and stays on pitch, too! He actually gave an interesting homily, and also talked about his trip tomorrow to go to the Indian Ocean region where so many people perished in the tsunami. After Mass, he gave out chocolate gold coins in honor of the Feast of the Epiphany and the gold, frankincense, and myrrh of the Magi. The college-aged altar boy who was the thurifer was just adorable. I did think it a bit peculiar, though, that his boat boy was older and taller than him.

The choral anthems today were "Videntes stellam" by Francis Poulenc for the offertory, and "Here Is the Little Door" by Herbert Howells for communion. Both, along with the prelude, were a capella. The postlude was the choral and organ arrangement of "The Shepherds' Farewell" by Hector Berlioz.