Christmas Musicals for Church
Issue link: http://read.jwpepper.com/i/514830
3 44543 As Organist/Choirmaster of Calvary Episcopal Church in Cincinnati, one of the annual highlights to which I always look forward is the parish's Festival of Lessons and Carols. It remains a special privilege each year to assemble the various readings, prayers, and music to help re-tell the story of Jesus' birth. The voices of Old Testament prophets, the angel Gabriel, Mary, and Gospel authors join together to unfold an elegant narrative pointing to the great mystery of the Incarnation. And the interspersed music helps reflect, emphasize, and in some cases foreshadow the various readings. It has been an honor to collaborate with Susan Dengler, Mark Cabaniss, Lee Dengler, and John Purifoy to create Sing We Now of Christmas: A Service of Lessons and Carols. Hopefully the simplicity of form that has been the hallmark of the Lessons and Carols structure for many generations has been retained. While the service can be rendered by the choir and readers alone, the congregation is invited (as an option) to participate throughout by using selections from the suggested hymns and carols. Other performance options are outlined below. —Howard Helvey Sing We Now of Christmas: A Service of Lessons and Carols may be used in a variety of ways, depending upon the needs and desires of your congregation: * Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Educat ion of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. It may be presented exactly as printed, choosing hymns and carols from the suggested lists for the congregation to sing at the appropriate points in the service. For a longer choral concert program, it may be presented as printed, but includes having the choir sing the hymn and carol choices. It may be presented as printed, without adding any hymns and carols. All of the scripture passages are from New Revised Standard Version.* Feel free to use a different translation if you wish. For use as part of a worship service, it may be presented as heard on the recording, without the scripture passages, using only the seven anthems and six poetic narratives. It may be presented with orchestra, or simply with piano accompaniment. The seven anthems may be used individually in worship services and concert settings throughout the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. FOREWORD PERFORMANCE OPTIONS For Preview Only