Christmas Eve is here

Dear Friends and Saint Philipians,

We are arriving at one of the best moments in the liturgical calendar: the Nativity of our Lord and Savior. This is a time of unprecedented joy and delight for church musicians, even those who have been at it for some time, and we hope to share that delight with you.

We are looking forward with great anticipation to five afternoon and evening services today, each with something unique:

3:00pm, Christmas Pageant

5:00pm, Mass with the Saint Nicholas (Youth) Choir

7:00pm, Nine Lessons and Carols with the Saint Nicholas Choir and Schola Cantorum

9:00pm, Mass with the combined Adult Choirs

11:00pm, Solemn Mass with the combined Adult Choirs

Having observed the pageant rehearsal, I can tell you we are in for a visual spectacle to match the biblical lessons. Saint Philip’s youth choristers have been learning Christmas carols at great speed, and look forward to participating in two services, the latter of which is the full Nine Lessons and Carols liturgy from Truro Cathedral and Kings College, Cambridge, replete with harp and organ.

The late services will be truly splendid with traditional carols accompanied by organ, brass quintet and timpani. The adult choirs also have prepared a special mass setting from Westminster Cathedral, the Missa ad praesepe (Mass at the Manger) by George Malcom and the beloved Fantasia on Christmas Carols by Ralph Vaughan Williams. This is music to accompany a great liturgical feast!

One of the great dynamics on this day is the selection of soloists to sing the opening verse of Once in Royal David’s City. Each year, two youth choristers have the opportunity to stand in front of the church and sing this solo, while everyone listens quietly. It’s a special moment and one of electric excitement for the choristers. The tradition comes from King’s College, where the chorister is chosen at the last second before the liturgy begins, and sung to a radio audience of millions. You can get a sense for how this works by watching the first five minutes or so of the documentary A Year at Kings (https://youtu.be/OBNQz6cruSY?t=83).

We look forward to seeing everyone at church today. This is not just a day for choirs and trumpets. It is a day for all of us to remember Christ becoming like us. This is a day for us to celebrate, to bring our children to church, to sing our favorite carols with gusto, and to revel in the sights and scents of the season. Christmas is for all of us.

Christ is Born!

—Justin Appel, Director of Music