I need Christmas Mass music ideas

[Sarabande]

By the way… “Ave Maria” is another song incredibly suited for fingerstyle guitar

Oh, my gosh! Yes. I did a wedding with a classical guitarist and the Schubert sounded beautiful on the classical guitar. The Bach-Gounod version is also beautiful on classical guitar.

 

[chriso]

I love it, too. Here’s a nice version.

The Byzantine Liturgy has beautiful hymns for the Nativity. No instruments, other than the human voice. Worth listening to at least:
Proceed, O Angelic Powers, Christ is Born, Heaven and Earth are United Today.

I learned to play thanks to Talbot! We’re a bit removed from mainstream society here in alaska, internet was pretty new still and I couldnt find any sheet music for his songs. I’d take my CD over to my instructors house, have the lyrics all written out, and he’d listne and tell me the chords. Then he’d show me hoe to make them, I’d torture my wife and kids for a few weeks till I learned it (and ontinue to torture them to this day I might add) Anyway, you’re right, thats as beautiful a rendition as I’ve ever heard.

Thanks for both the links… though I have to admit, terrible as I play, the thought of singing without the guitar to hide my inadequacies really terrifies me! Often enough I find myslef charging into some song thinking the congregation knows it and will join in, only to be told afterward “your the first person who ever played that one for us here”!

 

[chriso]

Oh, my gosh! Yes. I did a wedding with a classical guitarist and the Schubert sounded beautiful on the classical guitar. The Bach-Gounod version is also beautiful on classical guitar.

I actually learned them the other way around… (polish descent coming into play I guess!) Anyway, I’m working on the Schubert one this season…

Did I interpret your signature line correct? 11 days? Oh happy, holy days! My family and I pray its as wonderful for you as it has been for us!

 

[pnewton]

Christmas carols. People love to sing Christmas carol on Christmas morning. I stick to the traditional ones everyone knows off the top of their heads. For offertory, I will only sing a couple of verses of each so I can squeeze in everyone’s favorite.

 

[Sarabande]

I actually learned them the other way around… (polish descent coming into play I guess!)…

Hey! Don’t knock the Polish. My husband is half Polish with his father growing up in a very Polish family which spoke the language, the food, played the accordian, etc., and look who came from Poland - Chopin, JPII, Kosciuszko, Gorecki, Stokowski, Pulaski, Copernicus.

Seriously, though, the only reason I was thinking the Schubert first was because it was just recently that I did Schubert with classical guitar accompaniment. I was aware of Bach-Gounod’s setting on guitar long before I even knew that the Schubert worked well on guitar.

Did I interpret your signature line correct? 11 days? Oh happy, holy days! My family and I pray its as wonderful for you as it has been for us!

Thank you so much! Yes… 11 days more or less. It is our first and we’re all so excited. She’s our little miracle baby after trying for a couple of years. It’s so true that you have to work on God’s time - not your own. Once I told Him that I would accept if it was in His plan that we were not meant to have children, SURPRISE, I was pregnant.

 

[chriso]

Hey! Don’t knock the Polish. My husband is half Polish with his father growing up in a very Polish family which spoke the language, the food, played the accordian, etc., and look who came from Poland - Chopin, JPII, Kosciuszko, Gorecki, Stokowski, Pulaski, Copernicus.

Seriously, though, the only reason I was thinking the Schubert first was because it was just recently that I did Schubert with classical guitar accompaniment. I was aware of Bach-Gounod’s setting on guitar long before I even knew that the Schubert worked well on guitar.

Thank you so much! Yes… 11 days more or less. It is our first and we’re all so excited. She’s our little miracle baby after trying for a couple of years. It’s so true that you have to work on God’s time - not your own. Once I told Him that I would accept if it was in His plan that we were not meant to have children, SURPRISE, I was pregnant.

Here’s a teaser of what God just might have coming your way… I got to play for her while she sang “Hold Me Jesus”. I hope we get to see one like this of your sweetie soon too! I pray God blesses all you fine mothers, and keeps us fathers in line while he’s at it!

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[ljubim]

Actually, O Little Town of Bethelehem may not be a bad choice at all for Holy Communion. After all, Bethlehem means the “House of Bread.” The imagery is beautiful because the true Bread come down from Heaven was born in the “House of Bread.”

You could use “Silent Night” for the offertory.

Something else that is interesting is that the Sistene Chapel Choir sings Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful) for Communion for the Midnight Mass.

Definitely Adeste Fideles!! What a beautiful song… and if you just have one or two different parts to get a nice melody, you don’t need the guitar at all.

 

[Sarabande]

Here’s a teaser of what God just might have coming your way… I got to play for her while she sang “Hold Me Jesus”. I hope we get to see one like this of your sweetie soon too! I pray God blesses all you fine mothers, and keeps us fathers in line while he’s at it!

So CUTE!!!

She hears music all the time from her mommy and daddy while in utero (she “dances” in my belly any time I’m performing or when she hears my colleagues performing), so it wouldn’t be a surprise if she wants to get into music as well. I plan on bringing all of our Christmas cds with us to the hospital to help me relax when I’m in labor and so that she can hear them too. haha!

 

[corsair]

Thank the good Lord for the EF, I don’t have to concern myself with this sort of thing. High Mass with 10 Altar Boys, incense, bells and Sacred Polyphony.

God Bless

 

[chriso]

Thank the good Lord for the EF, I don’t have to concern myself with this sort of thing. High Mass with 10 Altar Boys, incense, bells and Sacred Polyphony.

God Bless

You are truly fortunate. I still spend half my life in a remote worksite where we have to take turns carrying the Holy Eucharist up here on the plane and hold small gatherings to celebrate the LIturgy of the Word with a communion service. We’ve managed to find a priest, and actually even a couple of times the Archbishop to fly up here and say Mass for us so we konw we’re cared for, but we’re still on our own a lot.

I consider myself blessed to have the folks at the Chapel willing to let me play with them the half of the time that I am in town, and fell to some small degree like I’m contributing something to their celebration as well.

I’m getting pretty excited as I practice up for the daily Mass on the 23rd… the first day I’ll be home again.

 

[Sarabande]

Thank the good Lord for the EF, I don’t have to concern myself with this sort of thing. High Mass with 10 Altar Boys, incense, bells and Sacred Polyphony.

God Bless

A couple of my colleagues are music directors for the EF mass at the parishes where they work, so they still have to concern themselves with the music. And unless they have a professional choir or quartet, you should hear the concern that they have for getting a volunteer choir to properly present the music for the EF mass. It’s twice/thrice as much work. I also have other colleagues who do the beautiful sacred polyphony, chants, motets, etc. for the OF weekly mass, and especially for the holy days, etc. also usually for volunteer choirs. So, you may not have to concern yourself, but believe me, we musicians and music directors still do whether for EF or OF. Still the same amount of stress and anxiety, although perhaps over different things.

 

[Bluegoat]

My church will be singing a lot of these same hymns, one more unusual one they sing is the Huron Carol, which is lovely and would likely do well on guitar (I think).

Here is the most common version of the English translation of the words.

*'Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled
That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim and wondering hunters heard the hymn,
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

Within a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found;
A ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped his beauty round
But as the hunter braves drew nigh the angel song rang loud and high
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory on the helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

O children of the forest free, O seed of Manitou
The holy Child of earth and heaven is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant boy who brings you beauty peace and joy.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.*

Words: Jean de Brebeuf, ca. 1643; trans by Jesse Edgar Middleton, 1926
Music: French Canadian melody (tune name: Jesous Ahatonhia)

And here is another used by Bruce Coburn, which is apparently closer to the Huron:
*
Have courage, you who are human beings: Jesus, he is born
The okie spirit who enslaved us has fled
Don’t listen to him for he corrupts the spirits of our thoughts
Jesus, he is born

The okie spirits who live in the sky are coming with a message
They’re coming to say, “Rejoice!
Mary has given birth. Rejoice!”
Jesus, he is born

Three men of great authority have left for the place of his birth
Tiscient, the star appearing over the horizon leads them there
That star will walk first on the bath to guide them
Jesus, he is born

The star stopped not far from where Jesus was born
Having found the place it said,
“Come this way”
Jesus, he is born

As they entered and saw Jesus they praised his name
They oiled his scalp many times, anointing his head
with the oil of the sunflower
Jesus, he is born

They say, "Let us place his name in a position of honour
Let us act reverently towards him for he comes to show us mercy
It is the will of the spirits that you love us, Jesus,
and we wish that we may be adopted into your family
Jesus, he is born *

 

[VAC]

Thanks, everyone!! great ideas. Congrats on your upcoming blessing, Sarabande!!
I liked the song clip “Once in Royal David’s City,” and the idea of using the refrain of 'Let all Mortal Flesh Keep silence for the mass parts. I ended up chosing commonly known carols, as I am having practice space and time issues.

Entrance: O come all ye faithful. 2 singers love Latin and I told them to ‘have at it’ if they wanted to sing the 4th verse in Latin.

Offertory: The First Nowell: Transposed slightly for easier fingerpicking
On the off chance there is a large crowd, “God rest ye merry gentlemen” will be added. Not pollitically correct, but I was spellbound by the lyrics.

Communion: Child of the Poor + What Child is This (countermelody) I have asked to folks who don’t know the first song to sing the latter in the blend.

The daughter of one of my singers who also sings with us has been asking me for ages to use Dona Nobis Pacem, but I haven’t because of logistical practice problems. It’s going to be for meditation, and I just may have to play it for several masses so people will learn it before adding the parts…

Recessional: Joy to the World.

I’ve been playing Kyrie, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei for all of Advent + the chanted 'Our Father" The groups that lead the other masses are in a bit of turmoil=ugly politics, etc.
A voice in my head is telling me to leave in the a capella Latin chant mass parts in for Christmas season and beyond. Our priest is conservative, and I believe our group is on the back burner

 

[agapewolf]

Thank the good Lord for the EF, I don’t have to concern myself with this sort of thing. High Mass with 10 Altar Boys, incense, bells and Sacred Polyphony.

God Bless

I don’t understand this. So if you had to go to the OF, you WOULD concern yourself with this? You are a musician/music director, but you don’t have to do anything for the EF? Or you aren’t a musician/music director and you wouldn’t concern youself either way…but wanted to just make a snide remark about people doing Christmas carols at Mass? How do you figure?

 

[Sarabande]

Thanks, everyone!! great ideas. Congrats on your upcoming blessing, Sarabande!!

Thanks VAC!

I liked the song clip “Once in Royal David’s City,” and the idea of using the refrain of 'Let all Mortal Flesh Keep silence for the mass parts. I ended up chosing commonly known carols, as I am having practice space and time issues.

Entrance: O come all ye faithful. 2 singers love Latin and I told them to ‘have at it’ if they wanted to sing the 4th verse in Latin.

Offertory: The First Nowell: Transposed slightly for easier fingerpicking
On the off chance there is a large crowd, “God rest ye merry gentlemen” will be added. Not pollitically correct, but I was spellbound by the lyrics.

Communion: Child of the Poor + What Child is This (countermelody) I have asked to folks who don’t know the first song to sing the latter in the blend.

The daughter of one of my singers who also sings with us has been asking me for ages to use Dona Nobis Pacem, but I haven’t because of logistical practice problems. It’s going to be for meditation, and I just may have to play it for several masses so people will learn it before adding the parts…

Recessional: Joy to the World.

I’ve been playing Kyrie, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei for all of Advent + the chanted 'Our Father" The groups that lead the other masses are in a bit of turmoil=ugly politics, etc.
A voice in my head is telling me to leave in the a capella Latin chant mass parts in for Christmas season and beyond. Our priest is conservative, and I believe our group is on the back burner

Your choices sound great. You have a good mix and I think you should follow your gut regarding leaving in the Latin chant. We started doing the Agnus Dei during Advent at the parish where I work and each week more and more people are singing it. (It also helps that the priest sings it loud and clear as well.)

 

[Sarabande]

My church will be singing a lot of these same hymns, one more unusual one they sing is the Huron Carol, which is lovely and would likely do well on guitar (I think).

The link you provided didn’t work, but I found this. Is this the same… the 17th century French carol? youtube.com/watch?v=Va7bZAEGMhk&feature=related

The melody is really lovely. I never heard it before.

I also found this version of it with guitar:
youtube.com/watch?v=UqKD5EOQHVM&feature=related

 

[BernadetteM]

Another thing I just thought of, besides processing around the church and singing Once in Royal David’s City. At the end of Mass we all had candles and the lights were turned off and we knelt down and sang Silent Night. It was also quite beautiful.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

 

[VAC]

The link you provided didn’t work, but I found this. Is this the same… the 17th century French carol? youtube.com/watch?v=Va7bZAEGMhk&feature=related

The melody is really lovely. I never heard it before.

I also found this version of it with guitar:
youtube.com/watch?v=UqKD5EOQHVM&feature=related

The melody is absolutely haunting. Great for guitar picking

 

[Sarabande]

I KNOW that these Christmas songs aren’t appropriate for mass and I’m definitely not suggesting these, since the way they are performed, especially the first, are definitely more secular in nature. But I really like these two particular pieces for those so inclined to perform this music for concerts and such. I could see them being done just with guitar and voice alone. It is traditional Renaissance music from Southern France. I own the cd, myself, and like the Terra Nova Consort.
terranovaconsort.com/about.shtml

And the singers, don’t necessarily have to sound like these.

First one is called “Bressarello” or “Cradle Song”. I like the roughness of the voices because I can picture this being sung during the period by people who gathered around to sing Christmas songs. The song is about St. Joseph rocking the baby Jesus and singing to him. I feel more like dancing than it being a cradle song, but still enjoy it.

terranovaconsort.com/audio/bressarello.mp3

First stanza:
Saint Joseph was rocking Jesus with his foot
And singing,
“Sleep now, sleep,
The angels, all creatures angelic
Are playing music
As they hover around the crib.”

This one is called “Je sais, vierge Marie” or “I Know, Virgin Mary”. Totally different feeling in the way it is presented compared to the first song.

amazon.com/Je-Sais-Vierge-Marie/dp/B001TZX3SG

It’s a long song, but this one stanza I always thought was beautiful:
“Virgen, holy and perfect,
Ah, tell us
What the sweet prophet did,
Who came to you
To announce that wonderful mystery
That you would be the mother
Of this sweet infant.”

 

[benedictgal]

Thanks, everyone!! great ideas. Congrats on your upcoming blessing, Sarabande!!
I liked the song clip “Once in Royal David’s City,” and the idea of using the refrain of 'Let all Mortal Flesh Keep silence for the mass parts. I ended up chosing commonly known carols, as I am having practice space and time issues.

Entrance: O come all ye faithful. 2 singers love Latin and I told them to ‘have at it’ if they wanted to sing the 4th verse in Latin.

Offertory: The First Nowell: Transposed slightly for easier fingerpicking
On the off chance there is a large crowd, “God rest ye merry gentlemen” will be added. Not pollitically correct, but I was spellbound by the lyrics.

Communion: Child of the Poor + What Child is This (countermelody) I have asked to folks who don’t know the first song to sing the latter in the blend.

The daughter of one of my singers who also sings with us has been asking me for ages to use Dona Nobis Pacem, but I haven’t because of logistical practice problems. It’s going to be for meditation, and I just may have to play it for several masses so people will learn it before adding the parts…

Recessional: Joy to the World.

I’ve been playing Kyrie, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei for all of Advent + the chanted 'Our Father" The groups that lead the other masses are in a bit of turmoil=ugly politics, etc.
A voice in my head is telling me to leave in the a capella Latin chant mass parts in for Christmas season and beyond. Our priest is conservative, and I believe our group is on the back burner

The one thing that I dread hearing is Child of the Poor. I just cannot stand the song. It is too laced with social justice and it just takes the whole beauty out of an otherwise festive day. Silent Night would be a good Communion piece, or, even O Little Town of Bethlehem, since Bethlehem means “house of bread”.

The First Noel is better suited for the Feast of the Epiphany, since the bulk of the song is about the Three Wise Men’s journey. What Child is This is also more of an Epiphany hymn since it goes over the gifts of the Magi. Would you consider eithe Hark, the Herald Angels Sing or Angels We Have Heard on High?