Lessons and carols

Advent Lessons and Carols
The Cathedral Church of Saints Peter and Paul
"Washington National Cathedral"
Washington, D.C.
3 December 2006

Choral Prelude: Glorystar Children's Chorus, Potomac, Maryland
Organ Prelude: Bruce Neswick, Aria from "Partita on Winchester New"

Introit: Plainsong: O Sapientia
Opening Hymn: Veni, veni, Emmanuel

First Lesson: Isaiah 40:1-11
Anthem: Ralph Vaughn Williams, "This is the truth sent from above"
Hymn: Stuttgart

Second Lesson: Ezekiel 47:1-2, 6-12
Anthem: Herbert Howells, "A spotless Rose"
Hymn: Wachet auf

Third Lesson: Baruch 4:36 - 5:9
Anthem: arr, Barry Ferguson, Besançon Carol"
Hymn: Winchester New

Fourth Lesson: Mark 1:1-15
Anthem: Robert Parsons, Ave Maria

Fifth Lesson: Luke 1:26-38
Anthem: arr. Andrew Carter, Angelus ad Virginem

Recessional Hymn: Helmsley

Postlude: Max Reger, Fugue on "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme," Op. 62, No. 2

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Went to a lovely service of Advent lessons and carols this afternoon at the National Cathedral. The Cathedral Choir of Men and Girls sang from the chancel and a mixed group of adults called Cathedral Voices sang from the mid-nave. It was lovely to see all of the clergy and musicians in proper choir dress: cassock, surplice, academic hood, and tippets for the clergy.

I was excited to see my friend John singing in the choir this afternoon. We have to take him shopping, though: he was the only man in the choir not wearing a hood! Shame, shame!

They had moved the port-a-altar from the crossing platform, so we didn't have to deal with that.

There were a couple of odd things in the liturgy (which, of course, is not surprising; they really must get rid of that priestess who's been the liturgist of late). Mid-service, they had the cathedral choir process to a spot in the south transcept to sing an anthem, then process to the Advent wreath that was set up mid-nave to sing another anthem, then process back up. I've no idea why they did that or what purpose it served, especially since no clergy traveled with the choir to say collects at those two stations. During the final anthem, they lit the candles they had earlier distributed to each member of the congregation. Again, I'm not sure what the purpose of that was. As there were prayers of the people (some sappy modern creation written by the liturgist), some concluding prayers, and a recessional hymn to do, it was difficult to juggle the long, skinny candle with the service booklet and a hymnal. I saw people dripping wax all over the place.

All in all, though, it was a nice service. I was glad they only did five lessons instead of the traditional nine! I'd debated whether to go out to the cathedral or to stay in the neighborhood to see Advent Lessons and Carols at St. Paul's K Street; St. Paul's is repeating the service next Sunday evening, so I decided to go to their version next week.