Music Suggestions
The Nativity of the Lord - Vigil Mass (ABC)

Liturgical Music

Official texts

Introit:
1. Hodie scietis [Graduale Romanum, p.38]
2. Hodie scietis [Gregorian Missal, p.185/200]
3. Dominus dixit ad me [Graduale simplex, p.64]
4. Today you will know that the Lord is coming [Simple English Propers, p.16 (Adam Bartlett) CMAA]
5. Today you will know that the Lord is coming [Simple Choral Gradual, p.13 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
6. Today you will know that the Lord will come [Lumen Christi Missal, p.908 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
7. Today you will know that the Lord will come [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.39-42]
8. Today you will know that the Lord will come [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.12, with Psalm 24[23] / Liturgical Press]
9. Today you will know that the Lord will come [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #148, with Psalm 24 / Illuminare Publications]
10. The Lord said to me: You are my Son [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.12, with Psalm 2 / Liturgical Press]
11. Today you will know that the Lord will come [Mass Propers for Christmastide (Penkala) p.1, with Psalm 2]
12. Today It Will Be Known to You [tune: Puer nobis] from Introit Hymns #5 (Christoph Tietze)
Gradual (Responsorial Psalm):
1. Hodie scietis [Graduale Romanum, p.38]
2. Hodie scietis [Gregorian Missal, p.186/201]
3. Tecum principatus [Graduale simplex, p.65]
4. Before the morning star I have begotten you [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.13, with Psalm 110 / Liturgical Press]
5. Chabanel Psalmody
6. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner)
Alleluia (Gospel Acclamation):
1. Crastina die [Graduale Romanum, p.40]
2. Crastina die [Gregorian Missal, p.187/202]
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. Tollite portas [Graduale Romanum, p.40]
2. Tollite portas [Gregorian Missal, p.188/203]
3. Tollite portas (William Byrd, Giovanni Battista Martini)
4. Lætentur cæli [Graduale simplex, p.67]
5. O Princes, lift up your gates [Simple English Propers, p.17 (Adam Bartlett) CMAA]
6. Let him enter, the king of glory! [Simple Choral Gradual, p.14 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
7. O princes, lift high your gates [Lumen Christi Missal, p.908 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
8. Lift up, O gates, your lintels [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 5 versions, pp.42-44]
9. O princes, lift high your gates [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #149, with Psalm 24 / Illuminare Publications]
10. Be glad, you heavens [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.15, with Psalm 96 / Liturgical Press]
11. Lift up, O gates, your lintels [Mass Propers for Christmastide (Penkala) p.3, with Psalm 96]
Communion:
1. Revelabitur gloria Domini [Graduale Romanum, p.40]
2. Revelabitur gloria Domini [Gregorian Missal, p.188/204]
3. Revelabitur gloria Domini [Communio, p.237 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
4. Viderunt omnes [Graduale simplex, p.68]
5. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed [Simple English Propers, p.18 (Adam Bartlett) CMAA]
6. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed [Choral Communio, p.10 (Richard Rice) Hostia Laudis Co]
7. The glory of the Lord will be revealed [Simple Choral Gradual, p.15 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
8. The glory of the Lord will be revealed [Lumen Christi Missal, p.908 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
9. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed [Laudate Dominum Communion Antiphons (Andrew Motyka)]
10. The glory of the Lord will be revealed [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.45-46]
11. The glory of the Lord will be revealed [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.13, with Psalm 24[23] / Liturgical Press]
12. The glory of the Lord will be revealed [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #150, with Psalm 24 / Illuminare Publications]
13. The glory of the Lord will be revealed [Communion Antiphons for Christmas (Richard J. Clark) with Psalm 24 / GIA Publications]
14. All the ends of the earth have seen [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.15, with Psalm 98 / Liturgical Press]
15. The glory of the Lord will be revealed [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

Alleluia Noel (Gary Penkala)
Christmas Litany (J. William Greene)
Common Psalms for Schools & Parishes (Thomas Cosley)
Communion Psalms for the Liturgical Seasons (Gary Penkala)
From East to West: A Christmas Processional (arr. Gary Penkala)
Gospel Verses for the Christmas Cycle (Gary Penkala)
Graduale Romanum [Solesmes edition]
Graduale simplex [Vatican edition]
Gregorian Missal [Solesmes edition]
Hail, Holy Mother (Gary Penkala) from Seven Roman Basilica Processionals
In splendoribus (David Gleba)
Mass Propers of Christmastide (Gary Penkala)
Psalm 96 (Christopher Bord)
Tollite hostias from Christmas Oratorio (Camille Saint-Saëns)
Universal Music for Morning Prayer (Gary Penkala)
Universal Music for Evening Prayer (Gary Penkala)

Hymns

A Child Is Born in Bethlehem (HH #42, HPSC #99, WIII #384, LCH #24)
Christ Is Born, He Is Born Today (CD #812)
I Wonder As I Wander (CH #192, SMH #576)
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (CH #194, CHB #24, SMH #584, LCH #20, CBH #123)
Of the Father's Love Begotten (AH #331, CBW #470, CH #220, HH #44, HPSC #269, ICEL #25, WIII #398, CHB #28, SMH #691, EH #20, VII #332, SEC #810)
Once in Royal David's City (ICEL #27, PMB #21, WIII #402, AH #328, HPSC #270, CBW #473, CHB #30, CH #212, SMH #702, EH #236, VII #336, LCH #31, SEC #818, CBH #222)
Savior of the Nations, Come (AH #302, CD #801, CH #184, HH #33, WIII #372, SMH #741, VII #228, LCH #12, SEC #798, CBH #234)
The Living Light of Heaven (Kathleen Pluth) from Hymns for the Liturgical Year
Today It Will Be Known to You [tune: Puer nobis] from Introit Hymns #5 (Christoph Tietze)

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

All My Heart This Night Rejoices (John Sittard)
As Joseph Was A-walking from Five Simple Anthems (Colin Brumby)
Cantate Deo [SA] (Walker Williams)
Christmas Triptych (Robert Jordahl)
En natus est Emmanuel (Michael Praetorius)
Gloria III Canon (Jacques Berthier) Music from Taizé [GIA Publications]
Noel Sing We from Three Medieval Carols (Colin Brumby)
On This Day / Personent hodie (arr. Lynn Arthur Koch)
Puer natus in Bethlehem from Eight Liturgical Rounds (Heath Morber)
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day (arr. David Willcocks) Choirs for Carols II [Oxford]
Ten New Carols for Advent and Christmas, Volume 1 (Gary Penkala)
Ten New Carols for Advent and Christmas, Volume 2 (Greene, Brumby, Penkala)
The Shepherd's Tale (J. William Greene)
Unto Us A Boy Is Born! (Colin Brumby)
When Christ Was Born of Mary Free (J. William Greene)

Organ Music

Canonic Partita on Savior of the Nations, Come (J. William Greene) [Choral Web]
Divinum mysterium (Richard Purvis) [Leeds Music Corp]
Divinum mysterium (Dorothy Howell Sheets) [Organist's Companion, November 1992]
Divinum mysterium from Four Preludes on Chant Hymns (Mark Siebert)
Es ist das Heil uns kommen her (anonymous) [Eighty Chorale Preludes - Peters 4448] [Church Organist's Golden Treasury I - Oliver Ditson Co]
Es ist das Heil uns kommen her (J.S. Bach) from Orgelbüchlein
Es ist das Heil uns kommen her (Max Reger) [Thirty Short Chorale Preludes - Peters 3980]
Es ist das Heil uns kommen her (J.P. Sweelinck) [Joyce Jones Christmas Collection - Bradley Publ]
Es ist das Heil uns kommen her (F.W. Zachau) [Church Organist's Golden Treasury I - Oliver Ditson Co]
How Far Is It to Bethlehem (Paul Manz) [Improvisations for the Christmas Season, Set II - Morning Star Music Publ 10-101]
Hymnus de Adventu Domini: Veni Redemptor gentium (Samuel Scheidt) [Organist's Companion, November 1988]
In dulci jubilo from Five Chorale Preludes (Colin Brumby)
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly from Three Preludes for the Christmas Cycle (Robert Farrell)
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (Jack C. Goode) [Organist's Companion, December 1985]
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (Lois Hill) [Organist's Companion, November 2000]
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (Paul Manz) [Improvisations for the Christmas Season, Set II - Morning Star Music Publ 10-101]
Noel polonais (Alexandre Guilmant) [Joyce Jones Christmas Collection - Bradley Publ]
Now Come, Savior of the Gentiles (John Diercks) [Six Sacred Compositions for Organ - Abingdon APM-255]
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (J.S. Bach) [Orgelbüchlein] [Orgelwerke VII - Peters 246] [Church Organist's Golden Treasury III - Oliver Ditson Co]
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (Dieterich Buxtehude) [Anthologia pro organo II - Schott Frères] [Joyce Jones Christmas Collection - Bradley Publ]
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (G.F. Kauffmann) [Organist's Companion, December 1980]
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland from Four Advent Chorales (Stephen McManus)
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (Johann Pachelbel) [Church Organist's Golden Treasury III - Oliver Ditson Co] [Organist's Companion, November 2000]
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (Max Reger) [Thirty Chorale Preludes - Peters 3980]
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (A.N. Vetter) [Eighty Chorale Preludes - Peters 4448]
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (F.W. Zachau) [Organist's Companion, December 1984 & November 1990]
Of the Father's Love Begotten (Wilbur Held) [Six Carol Settings - Concordia 97-4985]
Of the Father's Love Begotten (David N. Johnson) [Augsburg 11-841]
Polish Carol: W zlobie lezy (Alice Jordan) [Organist's Companion, November 1989]
Prelude on Divinum mysterium (Andrew Gant)
Prelude on Bring A Torch (Christopher Uehlein)
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]
Salvation unto Us Has Come (Charles Ore) from 11 Compositions, Set III
Savior of the Nations, Come (J.H. Buttstedt) [Parish Organist, Part 3 - Concordia]
Savior of the Nations, Come (Paul Manz) [Improvisations for the Christmas Season, Set I - Morning Star Music Publ 10-100]
Savior of the Nations, Come (Charles Ore) [Eleven Compositions for Organ Bk 1 - Concordia 97-5019]
Savior of the Nations, Come (Charles Ore) [Eleven Compositions for Organ Bk 4 - Concordia 97-6013]
Savior of the Nations, Come (Max Reger) [Chorale Preludes for the Church Year - Carl Fischer]
Savior of the Nations, Come (Frank Speller) [Three Organ Settings for Advent - Concordia]
Stille Nacht from Seven Preludes for the Church Year (Donna Robertson)
Toccata on Savior of the Nations (Paul Manz) from Improvisations for the Christmas Season Set 1 [Morning Star Music Publishers #10-100]
Variations on Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (Anton Heiller)
Wir Christenleut (J.S. Bach) from Orgelbüchlein

Liturgical Hints & Ideas

The Vigil Mass of Christmas is a wonderful setting to explore the ancestors of Christ (see Gospel reading). Tie in the symbols of the Advent Jesse tree with today's liturgy. Some Advent carols (especially those with final "Christmas" verses) are perfect for this Mass.

Music SuggestionsThe Nativity of the Lord - Vigil Mass (ABC)