The Sunday after Christmas, but it was also New Year’s Eve so there may have been a rearrangement of Masses in a few places. Because Christmas day was on the previous Monday it felt quite a long time in between, especially as the secular world had seemingly finished with Christmas. The challenge for musicians on this Sunday is to make sure we are still celebrating the Christmas season while we may have fewer resources.
The Gospel for Year B is the story of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple and the song of Simeon. The Nunc Dimittis would be an obvious choice of music but I do wonder how many Catholic parishes actually know a setting of this prayer. You might if you celebrate a sung Night Prayer (Compline) but…. Anglican choirs who sing Evensong are much more likely to know at least one setting.
So, what did we sing?
- Sung on 10 occasions – Once in royal David’s city
- Sung on 8 occasions – O little town of Bethlehem
- Sung on 5 occasions – In the bleak midwinter
- Sung on 4 occasions – See amid the winter’s snow
- Sung on 3 occasions – Angels we have heard; Away in a manger; Infant holy; O come all ye faithful; Silent night
And the rest of England
- Sung on 13 occasions – Once in royal David’s city
- Sung on 12 occasions – In the bleak midwinter; What child is this
- Sung on 11 occasions – Unto us is born a Son
- Sung on 10 occasions – See amid the winter’s snow
- Sung on 9 occasions – Away in a manger; O little town of Bethlehem
- Sung on 7 occasions – While shepherds watched their flocks by night
- Sung on 6 occasions – Child in the manger; O come all ye faithful; Sing of Mary
It should be noted that, of the people who sang ‘While shepherds watched’, one place used the ‘Sweet chiming Christmas bells’ version as we did on Christmas morning. It’s interesting that this tune is sung slightly differently in different places and I suspect that it was mainly passed on aurally.
Well, I think we can safely say that the majority of places rose to the challenge of keeping Christmas. Surprisingly, this was one Sunday when ‘Offertory’ songs didn’t make into the lists. Possibly places used ‘In the bleak’ with the last verse of ‘What can I give him’ instead but it was noticeable. There were a couple of streams where other hymns crept in, including one church where there was nothing Christmassy at all. Maybe their musicians were away but I’d have thought that carols would have been easier to sing.
Finally, I know it was New Year’s Eve but I really don’t like ‘Auld lang syne’ at Mass. After all, don’t we believe in the promise of eternal life? As I once heard a priest say, “Jesus promised two things. You will live for ever and your life will have meaning. If you get a better offer, take it!”
Music, Liturgy and ME 