Prelude Music to Midnight Mass

The Cathedral Choir and a string quartet offer a richly curated musical prelude to the 11 p.m. Midnight Mass, presenting a tapestry of sacred works that trace the emotional and spiritual contours of the Christmas story. Drawing from the Anglican choral tradition, the program weaves together beloved carols, seasonal motets, and instrumental selections that invite calm reflection and joyful anticipation.

Anchoring the program is Francesco Durante’s celebrated Magnificat in B-flat—a vibrant and expressive setting of the Virgin Mary’s canticle that showcases the choir’s artistry and the expressive color of strings. Its Baroque brilliance, alternating between contemplative lyricism and jubilant praise, mirrors the very heart of Christmas Eve: a night that holds both quiet wonder and overflowing joy.

This musical offering serves as a doorway into the solemnity and splendor of Midnight Mass, inviting the gathered community to step out of the busyness of the season and into the sacred rhythm of worship and expectation.