Music Notes for Dec. 20

Advent 4- We light the candle of love. We sing the epitome of love, Mary’s Magnificat. Like any Sunday, and especially this one, love’s theme lightens the dark world and our music enflames our spirits. The prelude from Charles Tournemire’s transcendent work, L’Orgue Mystique bears the loving spirit of Mary and the story of the annunciation is sung in the sequence hymn, The angel Gabriel from heaven came. The anthem, A New Magnificat by Carolyn Jennings, is a loving dialogue between Hannah and Mary. This Advent Sunday puts our hearts and minds where needed to accept the birth of love on this and every Christmas.

Music for Christmas Eve will once again be outstanding. So many fine parish musicians have worked with me to make the best possible musical offering unto God for our Christmas liturgies. Christmas music is memorable music. We sing carols and hear our favorite music for choirs, organ and instruments. St. Paul’s is blessed to have an outstanding and large group of musicians that make our worship music vivid and memorable. I am deeply grateful for the talents of our wonderful musicians: Bryan Sable, our Music Assistant; the Chancel Choir, Handbell Choir, Praise Band and Canterbury Choir; our soloists, instrumentalists, and Chamber Orchestra. We hope that our musical offering reaches the heart of God and that all our hearts combine to make this Christmas as memorable as Christmas’ past.

At our new 2:00 Christmas Eve liturgy, Ethan LaPlaca, Associate Organist of St. Andrew's, Episcopal Church, will accompany carols and perform the voluntaries. At the 4:00 Pageant the Praise Band and Canterbury Choir provide the worship music. For both the 7:15 and 10:00 liturgies you may wish to arrive early. Both services will have extended prelude music for strings, handbells, soloists, and choir. Of course, at 10:00 we feature the Chamber Orchestra, Chancel Choir and soloists and conclude with a Carol sing.