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Music Suggestions
The Nativity of the Lord – Mass during the Night [Midnight Mass] (ABC)

Liturgical Music

Official texts

  • Introit:
    1. Dominus dixit ad me [Graduale Romanum, p.41]
    2. Dominus dixit ad me [Gregorian Missal, p.192/205]
    3. Dominus dixit ad me [Graduale simplex, p.64]
    4. Dominus dixit ad me (Gregorian chant) Proper Introit for Christmas: Mass at Night [Liber usualis p.392]
    5. The Lord said unto me [Simple English Propers, p.20 (Adam Bartlett) CMAA]
    6. The Lord said to me [Simple Choral Gradual, p.16 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
    7. Let us rejoice in the Lord [Simple Choral Gradual, p.17 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
    8. The Lord said to me [Lumen Christi Missal, p.909 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
    9. The Lord said to me [Saint Meinrad Antiphons for the Church Year (Columba Kelly OSB) p.8, Mode 2 / OCP]
    10. Let us all rejoice in the Lord [Saint Meinrad Antiphons for the Church Year (Columba Kelly OSB) p.8, Mode 1 / OCP]
    11. The Lord said to me [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.47-49 / Ignatius Press]
    12. Let us all rejoice in the Lord [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.49-51]
    13. The Lord said to me [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.7, with Psalm 2 or Psalm 147 / Liturgical Press]
    14. Let us all rejoice in the Lord [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.14, with Psalm 2 or Psalm 147 / Liturgical Press]
    15. The Lord said to me [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #151, with Psalm 2 / Illuminare Publications]
    16. The Lord said to me: You are my Son [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.12, with Psalm 2 / Liturgical Press]
    17. The Lord said to me: You are my Son [Mass Propers for Christmastide (Penkala) p.1, with Psalm 2]
    18. Let us all rejoice in the Lord [Mass Propers for Christmastide (Penkala) p.1, with Psalm 2]
    19. I Proclaim the Lord's Decree [tune: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland] from Introit Hymns #6 (Christoph Tietze)
    20. The Lord Announced His Just Decree [tune: Forest Green] from Introit Hymns #89 (Christoph Tietze)
  • Gradual (Responsorial Psalm):
    1. Tecum principium [Graduale Romanum, p.42]
    2. Tecum principium [Gregorian Missal, p.190/206]
    3. Tecum principatus [Graduale simplex, p.65]
    4. Tecum principium (Marc-Antoine Charpentier, G.F. Handel, Isabella Leonarda)
    5. Psalm 96 (Christopher Bord)
    6. Before the morning star I have begotten you [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.13, with Psalm 110 / Liturgical Press]
    7. Chabanel Psalmody
    8. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner)
  • Alleluia (Gospel Acclamation):
    1. Dominus dixit ad me: Filius meus [Graduale Romanum, p.43]
    2. Dominus dixit ad me: Filius meus [Gregorian Missal, p.191/207]
    3. Cantate Domino [Graduale simplex, p.66]
    4. Alleluia, O sing to the Lord a new song [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.13, with Psalm 98 / Liturgical Press]
  • Offertory:
    1. Lætentur cæli [Graduale Romanum, p.44]
    2. Lætentur cæli [Gregorian Missal, p.192/208]
    3. Lætentur cæli [Graduale simplex, p.67]
    4. Lætentur cæli (David Gleba)
    5. Let the heavens rejoice [Simple English Propers, p.21 (Adam Bartlett) CMAA]
    6. At the presence of the Lord [Simple Choral Gradual, p.18 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
    7. Let the heavens rejoice [Lumen Christi Missal, p.909 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
    8. Let the heavens rejoice [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.52-54]
    9. Let the heavens rejoice [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #152, with Psalm 96 / Illuminare Publications]
    10. Be glad, you heavens [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.15, with Psalm 96 / Liturgical Press]
    11. Let the heavens be glad [Mass Propers for Christmastide (Penkala) p.3, with Psalm 96]
  • Communion:
    1. In splendoribus sanctorum [Graduale Romanum, p.44]
    2. In splendoribus sanctorum [Gregorian Missal, p.193/209]
    3. In splendoribus sanctorum [Communio, p.117 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
    4. Viderunt omnes [Graduale simplex, p.68]
    5. In splendoribus (David Gleba)
    6. Amidst the splendors [Simple English Propers, p.22 (Adam Bartlett) CMAA]
    7. Amidst the splendors [Choral Communio, p.12 (Richard Rice) Hostia Laudis Co]
    8. The Word of God became man [Simple Choral Gradual, p.19 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
    9. In the splendor of the holy ones [Lumen Christi Missal, p.909 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
    10. The Word became flesh [Lumen Christi Missal, p.909 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
    11. Amidst the heavens [Laudate Dominum Communion Antiphons (Andrew Motyka)]
    12. The Word became flesh [Saint Meinrad Antiphons for the Church Year (Columba Kelly OSB) p.9, Mode 6 / OCP]
    13. The Word became flesh [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.54-56]
    14. The Word became flesh [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.16, with Psalm 98[97] / Liturgical Press]
    15. Amid the splendor [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.17, with Psalm 110[109] / Liturgical Press]
    16. In the splendor of the holy ones [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #154, with Psalm 110 / Illuminare Publications]
    17. The Word became flesh [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #154, with Psalm 98 / Illuminare Publications]
    18. The Word became flesh [Communion Antiphons for Christmas (Richard J. Clark) with Psalm 98 / GIA Publications]
    19. All the ends of the earth have seen [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.15, with Psalm 98 / Liturgical Press]
    20. The Word became flesh [Mass Propers for Christmastide (Penkala) p.5, with Psalm 98]
  • Mass settings:
    1. Latin Chant Masses VIII (De angelis) & XI (Orbis factor)
    2. Latin Gregorian Chant Masses XI (Orbis factor) & VIII (De angelis)
    3. Latin Missa sanctorum angelorum (Calvert Shenk)
    4. Latin Mass of Saint Jerome (Christopher Bord)
    5. Mass of Our Lady, Help of Christians (Richard Connolly)
    6. Mass of Saint Agnes (B. Andrew Mills)
    7. Mass of the Angels (Richard J. Clark)
    8. Mass of the Redemption (Calvert Shenk / Adam Taylor)
    9. Modal Mass (Calvert Shenk / Adam Taylor)
    10. Stirling Bridge Mass (Gary Penkala)

Other liturgical music

Hymns

  • A Child Is Born in Bethlehem (HH #42, HPSC #99, WIII #384, LCH #24)
  • Angels We Have Heard on High (AH #323, CBW #463, CH #219, HPSC #113, PMB #34, WIII #376, CHB #15, SMH #434, EH #42, LCH #18, SEC #812, CBH #12)
  • Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light (HPSC #126, EH #25, SMH #459)
  • Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (AH #325, CBW #462, CH #222, HPSC #182, ICEL #20, PMB #37, WIII #387, CHB #21, SMH #558, EH #27, VII #230, LCH #15, SEC #803, CBH #102)
  • I Proclaim the Lord's Decree [tune: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland] from Introit Hymns #6 (Christoph Tietze)
  • In the Bleak Mid-winter (CH #193, CHB #23, SMH #582, EH #44, CBH #120)
  • It Came upon the Midnight Clear (PMB #30,WIII #400, AH #335, CH #195, CHB #25, SMH #586, EH #19, LCH #22, CBH #124)
  • O Come, All Ye Faithful (AH #322, CBW #458, CH #225, HPSC #235, ICEL #23, PMB #25, WIII #392, CHB #13, SMH #650, EH #12, VII #231, LCH #14, SEC #805, CBH #176)
  • On Christmas Night (ICEL #26, CHB #29)
  • Tell Me, Shepherd (CD #805)
  • The Living Light of Heaven (Kathleen Pluth) from Hymns for the Liturgical Year
  • The Lord Announced His Just Decree [tune: Forest Green] from Introit Hymns #89 (Christoph Tietze)
  • While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (AH #332, CH #199, ICEL #28, WIII #382, CHB #40, SMH #833, EH #13)
AH = The Adoremus Hymnal, Ignatius Press
CBH = A Catholic Book of Hymns, Sacred Music Library
CBW = Catholic Book of Worship II / Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
CD = Cantate Domino / Hymnal Supplement, GIA Publications, Inc.
CH = The Collegeville Hymnal, The Liturgical Press
CHB = The Catholic Hymn Book [London Oratory], Gracewing Publishers
EH = The Hymnal 1940 (Episcopal), used by many Anglican Use Roman Catholic parishes
HH = Hymnal of the Hours, GIA Publications, Inc.
HPSC = Hymns, Psalms & Spiritual Canticles, out of print but excellent
ICEL = ICEL Resource Collection, GIA Publications, Inc.
LCH = Lumen Christi Hymnal, Illuminare Publications
PMB = People's Mass Book, World Library Publications, Inc.
SEC = Saint Edmund Campion Hymnal & Missal, Corpus Christi Watershed
SMH = The Saint Michael Hymnal – 4th Edition 2011, Saint Boniface Church, Lafayette IN
VII = Vatican II Hymnal, Corpus Christi Watershed
WIII = Worship, 3rd Edition, GIA Publications, Inc.

Choral Music

Organ Music

  • Adeste fidelis (David Schack) [Organist's Companion, December 1982]
  • Adeste fidelis with Variations (Thomas Adams) [Organist's Companion, November 1992]
  • All Glory Be to God on High (Paul Manz) from Improvisations for Pentecost and Trinity Sunday [Morning Star Music Publishers #10-500]
  • Angels We Have Heard on High (Ronald Arnatt) [Preludes for Hymns in Worship Supplement I]
  • Angels We Have Heard on High (Charles Ore) [Eleven Compositions for Organ Bk 2 - Concordia 97-5385]
  • Angels We Have Heard on High (Charles Ore) [Eleven Compositions for Organ Bk 4 - Concordia 97-6013]
  • Berceuse: It Came upon a Midnight Clear (Mary Gifford) [Organist's Companion, November 1998]
  • Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light (F.W. Marpurg) [Twenty-one Chorale Preludes - Augsburg]
  • Chorale Prelude on Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (Bill Cain) [Organist's Companion, November 2001]
  • Christmas Tuba Tune on Antioch (Grimoaldo Macchia)
  • Concerto for Organ & Strings (Michael J. Starke)
  • Fanfare on Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (Alec Wyton) [Preludes, Fanfares & a March for the Liturgical Year - Flammer]
  • Fanfare on Mendelssohn (Gordon Young) [Ten Christmas Organ Voluntaries - Presser]
  • Fanfare on Mendelssohn (Martin Setchell)
  • Fanfare-Toccata on Mendelssohn for Organ and Brass (J. William Greene) [Choral Web]
  • Festive Processionals for Organ & Brass (Calvert Shenk)
  • Gloria in excelsis Deo (Max Reger)
  • Gloria for the Flutes (Alice Jordan) [Organist's Companion, December 1980]
  • In dulci jubilo from Five Chorale Preludes (Colin Brumby)
  • O Come, All Ye Faithful (Sigvart Hofland) [Parish Organist, Part 1 - Concordia]
  • Prelude & Postlude on Jesu Redemptor omnium (Jonathan Hellerman)
  • Prelude on This Endris Nyght (Healey Willan) [Ten Hymn Preludes for Organ, Set II - Peters]
  • Postlude from Messe basse (Camil van Hulse)
  • Postlude on Adeste fidelis (Gordon Young) [Ten Christmas Organ Voluntaries - Presser]
  • Puer natus in Bethlehem (J.S. Bach) from Orgelbüchlein
  • Puer natus in Bethlehem (Dieterich Buxtehude) [Joyce Jones Christmas Collection - Bradley Publ]
  • Puer natus in Bethlehem (G.F. Kauffmann) [Organist's Companion, November 1991]
  • Stille Nacht from Seven Preludes for the Church Year (Donna Robertson)
  • To Shepherds As They Watched by Night (Charles Ore) from Eleven Compositions, Set I
  • Variations on Adeste fidelis (Raynor Taylor) [A Century of Amercian Organ Music, Bk 1]
  • Variations on The Echo Carol (Stephen Rohde) [Organist's Companion, November 1988]
  • Vom Himmel kam der Engel schaar (J.S. Bach) from Orgelbüchlein

Liturgical Hints & Ideas

Midnight Mass attracts the largest number of curious non-Catholics of any celebration. Make the music and the liturgy dignified and memorable. A Service of Lessons and Carols might precede the Mass. Begin the procession in darkness (with many candles) — switch on the lights when the ministers reach the altar and sing a familiar carol with the congregation. More ideas may be found on our "Musical Musings" page: [see the article A Narrower Christmas]

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