Out and about for Christmas

There are two times in the year when being in the church music game can be like a running race. The work of Holy Week and Easter is spread out over a few days, which gives time to rest before starting again. Christmas is a different matter: it is a sprint from the middle of the day on Christmas Eve to lunch on Christmas day.

This Christmas is as busy as ever. Before this post pops up, I will have done a series of carolling gigs including in a hospital, a parish street-side singalong, a couple of more formal carol services, along with all the associated rehearsals and preparatory work. When I started out as a church musician I was given a useful piece of advice: plan your Christmas music before September.

From Wednesday afternoon to Thursday morning I have four services. Here is the music I have planned for each of these.

4.00pm Family Service at Christ Church, Brunswick

Minuet Gothique — Leon Boëlmann

8.30pm Christmas Eve Mass at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Hawthorn

Minuet Gothique — Leon Boëlmann

11.00pm Carols and 11.30pm Midnight Mass at Christ Church, Brunswick

There will be a choir for this service, and here is the music we have planned:

Missa O Quam Gloriosum -- Tomas Luis da Victoria
All this time -- William Walton

Toccata from Douze Pieces (1886) -- Theodore Dubois


10.00am High Mass for Christmas Day at Christ Church, Brunswick

Trio super Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Her [BWV 664] -- J.S. Bach