thoughts on music, design and literature

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Gregorian Christmas Mass

I happened to attend a Gregorian Christmas Mass with my mother today--it was a totally new experience for me, and it was fascinating. For those who don't know, it's conducted almost entirely in Latin (aside from the homily). The Missal included an English translation so I could follow along, but even more fun was the fact that it contained the plainchant responses in Neumatic notation. It had been awhile since I had to read neumes (since I was an undergrad music major, really) so it was a fun exercise in refreshing an old skill.

Gregorian_chant.gif

The missal had this to say:

The liturgy for Christmas expresses the uniqueness of the day by providing three different Masses, one at midnight, one at dawn, and one in the day; of these, the first and the third are most frequently celebrated. While the mass at midnight is still and intimate, that in the day is festive and public. Christmas is placed on the calendar about at the winter solstice, symbolizing that point when the length of day--the light--begins to increase. This realizes the dictum of St. John the Baptist, "He must increase and I must decrease," with the Nativity of St. John celebrated at the summer solstice, when the light begins to decrease. Midnight of the longest night of the year thus represents life of Him who is God of God, Light of Light. Its obscurity recalls the obscurity of that night in Bethlehem, when, unbeknown to the public world, the Savior quietly arrived in the world, being adored first by humble shepherds, then by wise men. It thus harks back to unseen beginnings in an intimate way; the chants for the Midnight Mass express the mysterious eternal begetting of the Son from the Father.

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20 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've only read and sung in Neumatic notation once, but even that one time was fun.

To attend a Gregorian Christmas Mass must to have been a real treat.

Happy belated Holidays and Happy New Years!

December 31, 2009 at 12:30 PM

 
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The Gregorian Christmas Mass is a revered tradition that offers a serene and spiritually enriching experience. The timeless chants and solemn atmosphere capture the essence of the season, creating a sense of peace and reverence. The ethereal music and harmonious voices create a sense of reverence, transporting attendees to another time and place. The Gregorian Christmas Mass is a perfect way to celebrate the holiday, focusing on its spiritual significance, and leaves a deep sense of spirituality.

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El misal tenía una traducción en inglés para que pudiera seguirlo, pero lo que fue aún más divertido fue que contenía respuestas de canto en notación neumática. I had to read neumes for a while (since I was actually an undergrad music major), so it was a fun exercise in refreshing an old skill.Me gustaría agradecer su tiempo y esfuerzo en esto. Muchas cosas nuevas aprendí de este post. Es maravilloso ver contenido tan útil disponible. Esta publicación proporcionó información y recomendaciones útiles. Estoy agradecido de que este post haya aclarado el tema. This post was well-written and easy to understand. Looking forward to reading more posts like this in the future.

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The ancient chants and prayers have a way of stirring the soul and drawing us closer to the mystery of the Incarnation. Thank you for reminding us of the beauty of this sacred tradition.
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