Christmas - Mass during the Night

25 December 2011

Carols
Carol	Once in royal David's city
Choir	Alma Redemptoris Mater (Palestrina)
Carol	While shepherds watched
Choir	O holy night (Adam)
Carol	O little town
Choir	I saw a maiden (Pettman)
Mass
Entrance	O come all ye faithful
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	Christmas Gloria (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 95	Today a Saviour (Bernadette Farrell)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	In the bleak midwinter (Holst)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Christmas (Ebeling arr. mtgf)
Communion	Carol of the Birds
	Night of Silence (Daniel Kantor)
	Silent Night
Final	Hark the herald angels sing

I think there were more changes to this year's Mass than there have been for a long time. For some, the most significant change might have been the new translation. Though I had heard some prophets of doom say that Midnight Mass would be a disaster - with the sudden influx of those who were not aware of the new translation - our experience did not reflect this. There might have been some variety with the initial 'And with your spirit' - it was hard to tell and I would not like to claim either way. That said the responses were as usual good and strong - I am not sure whether this is because of their novelty or because they are on the leaflet. In rehearsal I was thrown by the revised adaptation of the Christmas Gloria to the new translation. The composer has resolved the problem of extra lines by inserting 4/8 bars into each verse of a freshly composed melody - which is a solution. I am not sure ow successful it is but the congregation do seem to enjoy their Gloria refrain and came in loudly.