Monday, December 16, 2024

Caroling on Gaudete and Guadalupe

The past few days have been a very joyous occasion for the Brothers and Chorus Breviarii. From the celebration of Vespers to the singing of carols, we have been kept quite busy this Advent. Thank you to Marlon for providing the video above from our little carols session at Fratellino's house following First Vespers of Our Lady of Guadalupe. 


Gaudete at the Crown Point Country Club


Fratellino provided music at this year's party at the Crown Point Country Club on Gaudete Sunday. Seeing how this particular Sunday calls for rejoicing, the penances of Advent are relaxed, and so delicious meats were on the menu for that afternoon. Many thanks to the cook at Crown Point for the cornbread, the various meats (pork, turkey, and brisket); and for the blueberry chutney, which, although meant to be served upon the brie baked in puff pastry, made a delicious condiment for the meats. 

Other than the various piano improvisations, Fratellino also accompanied the singing of carols listed in the 1958 album Christmas Sing-Along with Mitch. These caroling sessions have been quite informative and interesting, as besides the hymn tunes most familiar to Americans, we also sang the carols using the hymn tunes found in Britain. For "O Little Town of Bethlehem" we switched between the original American tune (St. Louis), the British tune from Vaughan Williams (Forest Green), and Fratellino's own setting which he composed for Holy Martyrs. The Austrian folk qualities of Franz Xaver Gruber's original accompaniment to "Silent Night", the many translations of "Silent Night" across the world, and the Latin version of "O Come All Ye Faithful" were also discussed.

After sunset, we continued our caroling at Fratellino's house, this time with three-part harmony and eggnog.


A Christmas Carol at Balboa Park





The day before Gaudete Sunday, Fratellino gave a dramatic reading of Charles Dickens' timeless classic A Christmas Carol in front of the House of England in Balboa Park. Tea with milk and sugar was served inside alongside fruitcake and biscuits. 


Guadalupe Photos from Ken

Ken Onoda of Chorus Breviarii Murrieta took these pictures at the Guadalupe side altar at St. Anne following Vespers.


Mr. Shaun Rossettos, 
our ceremoniere for the night


Gaudete in Domino semper!

No comments: