Epiphany lessons and carols

Sunday being the Feast of the Epiphany, I went Sunday evening to St. Paul's K Street with my friend Spencer (the former Marine Band bassoon player who's a lawyer now) to hear Epiphany lessons and carols sung by choir of men and boys.

The church was packed. We ended up having to sit on folding chairs in the narthex.

I thought the music was all nice, and most of the anthems were very familiar. Afterwards, I was talking to John, and he was bewailing having three boys get sick that day and not being there to sing, but I thought they sounded okay. I'm still getting used to the new English guy they brought in as choirmaster. He does an excellent job of "repairing" problems when the boys are singing, and that's not something every director can do.

Benediction followed, but we slipped out and went to eat during the postlude before they started Benediction.

There was another reception in the parish hall after the service. Lots of cheeses of all sorts and egg salad tea sandwiches made up the bulk of the menu. They were serving a Spanish cava for the wine.

Here's a list of the program:

Prelude:
Pachelbel, Vom Himmel hoch, da komm' ich her'
Titcomb, Chorale Improvisation on "Puer Natus Est"

Processional Hymn: Irby, Once in royal David's city
Invitatory Carol: arr. Ledger, Sussex Carol

First Lesson: Genesis 3: 8–15
Carol: Ord, "Adam Lay Y Bounden"

Second Lesson: Isaiah 9: 2, 6–7
Carol: arr. Lloyd, "I Saw Three Ships"
Hymn: Divinium mysterium, Of the Father's love begotten

Third Lesson: Micah 5: 2–4
Anthem: Handel, "He shall feed his flock" from Messiah
Hymn: Forest Green, O little town of Bethlehem

Fourth Lesson: Luke 1: 26–38
Motet: R. R. Terry, Myn lyking, "I saw a fair mayden sytten and sing"

Fifth Lesson: Luke 2: 1–7
Carol: Reginald Jacques, "Away in a manger"
Hymn: Wincester New, While shepherds watched their flocks by night

Sixth Lesson: Luke 2: 8–10
Carol: arr. Craig Phillips, "The holly and the Ivy"

Seventh Lesson: Matthew 2:1–12
Anthem: Mendelssohn, Christus, Op. 97 (There shall a star from Jacob come forth)
Hymn: The First Nowell, The first Nowell

Eighth Lesson: Hebrews 1:1–12
Carol: Mathias, "Sir Christemas"

Ninth Lesson: John 1:1–14
Hymn: Mendelssohn, Hark the herald angels sing

Closing Hymn: Adeste fideles, O come all ye faithful

Postlude: Keith Chapman, "Bring a torch, Jeaneatte, Isabella"