Music Suggestions
The Nativity of the Lord - Mass at Dawn (ABC)
Liturgical Music
Official texts
- Introit:
- Lux fulgebit [Graduale Romanum, p.44]
- Lux fulgebit [Gregorian Missal, p.193/210]
- Lux fulgebit (Gregorian chant) Proper Introit for Christmas: Mass at Dawn [Liber usualis p.403]
- Lux fulgebit (Giuseppe Mignemi)
- Dominus dixit ad me [Graduale simplex, p.64]
- Radiant light will shine upon us [Simple English Propers, p.24 (Adam Bartlett) CMAA]
- A light will shine on us this day [Simple Choral Gradual, p.20 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
- Today a light will shine upon us [Lumen Christi Missal, p.910 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
- Today a light will shine upon us [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.57-59]
- Today a light will shine upon us [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.18, with Psalm 93[92] / Liturgical Press]
- Today a light will shine upon us [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #155, with Psalm 93 / Illuminare Publications]
- The Lord said to me: You are my Son [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.12, with Psalm 2 / Liturgical Press]
- Today a light will shine upon us [Mass Propers for Christmastide (Penkala) p.1, with Psalm 2]
- A Radiant Light Has Come [tune: Saint Michael] from Introit Hymns #7 (Christoph Tietze)
- Gradual (Responsorial Psalm):
- Benedictus qui venit [Graduale Romanum, p.45]
- Benedictus qui venit [Gregorian Missal, p.194/211]
- Benedictus qui venit (Johann Michael Haydn)
- Tecum principatus [Graduale simplex, p.65]
- Before the morning star I have begotten you [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.13, with Psalm 110 / Liturgical Press]
- Chabanel Psalmody
- Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner)
- Alleluia (Gospel Acclamation):
- Dominus regnavit decorum [Graduale Romanum, p.46]
- Dominus regnavit decorum [Gregorian Missal, p.195/212]
- Cantate Domino [Graduale simplex, p.66]
- Alleluia, O sing to the Lord a new song [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.13, with Psalm 98 / Liturgical Press]
- Offertory:
- Deus enim firmavit [Graduale Romanum, p.46]
- Deus enim firmavit [Gregorian Missal, p.196/213]
- Deus enim firmavit (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina)
- Lætentur cæli [Graduale simplex, p.67]
- For it is God who has established [Simple English Propers, p.15 (Adam Bartlett) CMAA]
- From all eternity, O Lord, you are [Simple Choral Gradual, p.21 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
- God has established the world [Lumen Christi Missal, p.910 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
- God has established the world [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.60-62]
- God has established the world [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #156, with Psalm 93 / Illuminare Publications]
- Be glad, you heavens [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.15, with Psalm 96 / Liturgical Press]
- And he has made the world firm [Mass Propers for Christmastide (Penkala) p.3, with Psalm 96]
- Communion:
- Exsulta filia Sion [Graduale Romanum, p.47]
- Exsulta filia Sion [Gregorian Missal, p.197/214]
- Exsulta filia Sion [Communio, p.93 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
- Viderunt omnes [Graduale simplex, p.68]
- Exult, O daughter of Zion [Simple English Propers, p.26 (Adam Bartlett) CMAA]
- Exult, O daughter of Zion [Choral Communio, p.14 (Richard Rice) Hostia Laudis Co]
- Daughter of Zion, exult [Simple Choral Gradual, p.22 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
- Behold, your King will come [Lumen Christi Missal, p.910 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
- Rejoice Greatly from Messiah (G.F. Handel)
- Exult, O daughter of Zion [Laudate Dominum Communion Antiphons (Andrew Motyka)]
- Rejoice, O Daughter Sion [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 5 versions, pp.63-65]
- Rejoice, O Daughter Sion [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.19, with Psalm 34[33] / Liturgical Press]
- Behold, your King will come [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #157, with Psalm 34 / Illuminare Publications]
- Rejoice, O Daughter Sion [Communion Antiphons for Christmas (Richard J. Clark) with Psalm 34 / GIA Publications]
- All the ends of the earth have seen [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.15, with Psalm 98 / Liturgical Press]
- Rejoice, O Daughter Sion [Mass Propers for Christmastide (Penkala) p.5, with Psalm 98]
- Mass settings:
- Latin Chant Masses VIII (De angelis) & XI (Orbis factor)
- Latin Gregorian Chant Masses XI (Orbis factor) & VIII (De angelis)
- Latin Missa sanctorum angelorum (Calvert Shenk)
- Latin Mass of Saint Jerome (Christopher Bord)
- Mass of Our Lady, Help of Christians (Richard Connolly)
- Mass of Saint Agnes (B. Andrew Mills)
- Mass of the Angels (Richard J. Clark)
- Mass of the Redemption (Calvert Shenk / Adam Taylor)
- Modal Mass (Calvert Shenk / Adam Taylor)
- 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)
- Lux fulgebit (Gregorian chant) Proper Introit [Liber usualis p.403]
- Mass Propers of Christmastide (Gary Penkala)
- Psalm 96 (Christopher Bord)
- Universal Music for Morning Prayer (Gary Penkala)
- Universal Music for Evening Prayer (Gary Penkala)
Hymns
- A Great and Mighty Wonder (ICEL #13, CHB #11, EH #18)
- A Radiant Light Has Come [tune: Saint Michael] from Introit Hymns #7 (Christoph Tietze)
- All My Heart This Night Rejoices (CH #228, ICEL #14, CHB #14, EH #32)
- From East to West, from Shore to Shore (HH #39, VII #335)
- God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (AH #326, CH #224, ICEL #19, PMB #39, WIII #383, CHB #20, SMH #539, EH #40, VII #233, LCH #23, SEC #807, CBH #86)
- How Brightly Beams the Morning Star (CD #815, WIII #390, HH #55, CH #214, CHB #45, EH #329)
- O Little Town of Bethlehem (AH #333, CH #198, HPSC #249, ICEL #24, PMB #27, WIII #386, CHB #27, SMH #668/9, EH #21, LCH #16, CBH #192/193)
- Silent Night (AH #338, CBW #455, CH #226, HPSC #295, ICEL #29, PMB #22, WIII #379, CHB #35, SMH #747, EH #33, VII #331, LCH #27, SEC #809, CBH #)
- The Living Light of Heaven (Kathleen Pluth) from Hymns for the Liturgical Year
- Thou Who Wast Rich (CD #810)
- Wexford Carol (CH #205)
- 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
- Benedictus qui venit (Johannes Brahms, Jacob Handl, Orlando di Lasso, Alonso Lobo, Philippe Rogier, August Söderman, Francisco Valls)
- Et incarnatus est (Calvert Shenk)
- Gloria III Canon (Jacques Berthier) Music from Taizé [GIA Publications]
- Dies sanctificatus (Palestrina / Siebert)
- Hodie Christus natus est (Gregorian chant) from Booklet of Chant, Volume 1
- Hodie Christus natus est (William Grabbe)
- Of the Father's Love Begotten (Andrew Motyka)
- Personent hodie from Hymn Trilogy 1 (Harry McMurray)
- Lux fulgebit (Gregorian chant) Proper Introit [Liber usualis p.403]
- Psallite unigenito (Michael Praetorius / Thomas Vozzella)
- Puer natus in Bethlehem from Eight Liturgical Rounds (Heath Morber)
- Shepherds, What Is This Lovely Fragrance? (Gregory Hamilton)
- Ten New Carols for Advent and Christmas, Volume 1 (Gary Penkala)
- Ten New Carols for Advent and Christmas, Volume 2 (Greene, Brumby, Penkala)
- Two Christmas Anthems (Colin Brumby)
- Unto Us a Boy Is Born! (Colin Brumby)
- When Christ Was Born of Mary Free (J. William Greene)
Organ Music
- A Trumpet Celebration (Grimoaldo Macchia)
- Carol-Prelude: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Robert Elmore) [American Organ Music, Vol 2 - Sacred Music Press]
- Communion on Saint Louis (Mahlon Balderston) [Organist's Companion, November 2001]
- Fantasy on God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (W.T. Best) [Joyce Jones Christmas Collection - Bradley Publ]
- From Heaven Above (Wilbur Held) [Six Carol Settings - Concordia 97-4985]
- God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Wilbur Held) [Six Carol Settings - Concordia 97-4985]
- In dulci jubilo from Five Chorale Preludes (Colin Brumby)
- Noel sur les flutes (L.C. Daquin)
- Partita on God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Grace Schwanda) [Organist's Companion, December 1985]
- Pastorale on Ebeling (Gordon Young) [Ten Christmas Organ Voluntaries - Presser]
- Pastorale on Silent Night (Jack Goode) [Organist's Companion, December 1987]
- Prelude and Introit from Messe basse (Camil van Hulse)
- Prelude & Postlude on Jesu Redemptor omnium (Jonathan Hellerman)
- Prelude on Silent Night (Peter Pindar Stearns) [Consoliere VI-4 - World Library Publ]
- Prelude on Stille Nacht (Gordon Young) [Ten Christmas Organ Voluntaries - Presser]
- Puer natus est (Dom Paul Benoit) from Esquisses liturgiques [J. Fischer & Bros.]
- Saint Louis (Lewis H. Redner) [American Hymns and Carols of the Nineteenth Century - Abingdon]
- Silent Night (Dudley Buck) [Joyce Jones Christmas Collection - Bradley Publ]
- Silent Night (Michael Fontana) [Organist's Companion, November 1993]
- Silent Night (Wilbur Held) [A Nativity Suite - Concordia 97-4461]
- Silent Night (Joseph Lowe) [Organist's Companion, November 1989]
- Silent Night, Holy Night (Robert J. Powel) [Organist's Companion, December 1983]
- Stille Nacht from Seven Preludes for the Church Year (Donna Robertson)
- Tucket and Variants for God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen (Kevin Norris) [Organist's Companion, December 1980]
- Vom Himmel hoch, da komm' ich her (J.S. Bach) from Orgelbüchlein
- Vom Himmel hoch, da komm' ich her (Johann Pachelbel)
- What Is This Lovely Fragrance? (Paul Manz) [Improvisations for the Christmas Season, Set II - Morning Star Music Publ 10-101]
- Wie schön leuchtet from Five Chorale Preludes (Colin Brumby)
Liturgical Hints & Ideas
Because of the early hour, this might be a Mass in which to emphasize the quiet and calm nature of the Incarnation. Mystical settings, chant, French Romantic organ literature all seem appropriate.