Tenebrae

Under the direction of Claire Hodge, the Cathedral Chamber Singers present Tenebrae, an ancient Holy Week service whose origins trace back to the early medieval monastic Offices of Matins and Lauds. Centered around the Passion of Christ, Tenebrae unfolds through a sequence of readings, psalms, and choral meditations that evoke the abandonment, suffering, and profound sorrow of Good Friday.

As the service progresses, the gradual extinguishing of lights—traditionally symbolizing the encroaching darkness of Christ’s betrayal and death—creates a powerful spiritual atmosphere of contemplation and emotional intensity. The Chamber Singers offer a carefully curated selection of sacred works that mirror Tenebrae’s themes: lament, longing, and the aching stillness that precedes Easter’s dawn.

This moving liturgy invites the congregation into one of the most solemn and beautiful traditions of Holy Week, offering space for reflection, grief, and hope