Advent Procession with Lessons and Carols (November 27, 2022) Artwork

Choral Services at the Cathedral of St. Philip

Listen to choral services, recorded live at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, each Sunday at 4 p.m., September–May. Most services are Choral Evensong (sung Evening Prayer), which dates from the sixteenth century, yet has its roots in the far more ancient Daily Offices of Vespers and Compline. One of the jewels of our Anglican/Episcopal worship tradition, Evensong has given birth to one of the largest and richest bodies of sacred music outside of the Mass itself. It is, at its heart, a contemplative worship service, and much of the service is sung by the choir alone, employing sounds that span the known history of Christian music. At the formal close of Evensong, an intimate “liturgy of the table” is celebrated for those who wish to receive Communion. Occasionally a classically sung Choral Eucharist, or a diocesan confirmation, or a service of Lessons and Carols takes the place of Evensong.

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Choral Services at the Cathedral of St. Philip

Advent Procession with Lessons and Carols (November 27, 2022)

November 28, 2022 • cathedralATL

This Advent Procession with Lessons and Carols is sung by the Cathedral Choir. The officiant is the Rev. Canon George Maxwell.

Organized around the O Antiphons – beautiful plainchant texts which invoke the Messiah to return, sung since the 8th century at Vespers on the seven evenings leading up to Christmas – the choir gradually moves into the chancel, stopping at various stations around the Cathedral nave. Each of the biblical prophecies is expanded upon by the singing of carols, anthems, and hymns which anticipate the coming of Christ, culminating in a glorious setting of the Magnificat (The Song of Mary, Luke 1:46-55) and the singing of “O come, O come, Emmanuel,” the text of which is an English translation of the very O Antiphons that the choir has sung throughout the service.

Choral repertoire includes:

Great O Antiphons
Richard Marlow (1939-2013), Advent Responsory
“Lo! he comes with clouds descending” Helmsley
Ben Parry (b.1965), Adam lay ybounden
“Creator of the stars of night” Conditor alme siderum
Francisco Guerrero (1528-1599), Rorate caeli
“Come, thou Redeemer of the earth” Puer nobis nascitur
Kerensa Briggs (b.1991), A tender shoot
“Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming” Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
Charles Beaudrot, Jr. (b. 1951), Comfort, comfort ye my people
Howard Helvey (b. 1968), There is no Rose of such virtue
arr. David Schelat (b.1955), The Angel Gabriel
Herbert Howells (1892-1983), Magnificat (Gloucester Cathedral)
Elizabeth Poston (1905-1987), Jesus Christ the apple tree
“O come, O come, Emmanuel” Veni, veni Emmanuel