The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at The Oratory was an outstanding evening of adoration, musical beauty and excellence on Friday, 16th December.
It was exhilarating to be enveloped in the true message of Christmas with sacred readings from scripture and powerfully evocative music. The Oratory embraces these special occasions impressively with calmness, authority, and a sense of dignity and profound joy, fulfilling their mission that ‘only our best is good enough for God’.
The Oratory’s Director of Scared Music and Organist, S.A. Bowers, together with guest organist Sebastian Thomson, led the Choral Clerks with energy, expertise and elan, responding to the vision of St. Philip Neri, who inspired the central role music plays in the life of the Oratory.
The Choral Clerks — who will be joined by the Bristol Baroque Ensemble and nationally-recognised soloists to present Handel’s Messiah on 23rd December — showed depth, range, sensitivity to tempo and phrasing, adding immense gravitas. They added colour, texture and lightness with moments of profound emotion. When they needed to, they soared to the heavens leading the congregation to the core of the magnificent Christmas message.
Howell’s Cradle song was a well-chosen organ introduction before the impressive procession and the traditional ‘Once in Royal David’s City’, beautifully sung and setting the mood for the evening. Arrangements by Wilcocks, Mathias, Ord, Ledger and Todd ensured the service was rooted in tradition and excellence. The sixteenth-century carol, “Lully, Lully” added a sense of the innocence and wonder of the Birth of the Saviour, while the Responsory, “O, Magnum, mysterium,” evoked the joy and glory of the nativity.
Thanks to the leadership of the musicians, the congregational singing was strong and responsive, reflecting the solemnity and reverence of the evening. In particular, “Adeste Fideles” rang out beyond the gates of The Oratory, far out into the darkest, coldest of nights.
Singing to celebrate the birth of Christ has a long history. One of the earliest known Christmas songs is from the 4th Century, “Jesus refulsit omnium”, composed by the indefatigable St. Hilary of Poitiers. Christmas carols originate from the 14th century, with the first carols produced by Franciscan friars.
The Christmas Eve carol service by the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge was broadcast for the first time in 1928, but the traditional Christmas carol service, as we know it today, was probably started in Truro in 1880. That fine tradition was followed on 16th December with the strongest and most distinctive Oratorian spirit of excellence and commitment to our Catholic Faith. It was an evening to savour, enjoy, reflect, and give thanks for all that The Oratory contributes to strengthening and developing liturgical excellence.
—Review by Christopher Crowley, 17 December 2022
The Choral Clerks of the Oratory will be joined by nationally-recognised soloists and the Bristol Baroque Ensemble to present Handel’s Messiah by Candlelight on Friday, 23rd December 2022. Tickets are still available online, at the Oratory daily from 7 am to 6 pm, and at the door.