April 2, 2023

Tenebrae to be celebrated at St. Michael’s Cathedral on Good Friday

REGIONAL
By Sharon Roulier

(iObserve photo/courtesy of Mary Jeanne Tash)

SPRINGFIELD – The ancient observance of Tenebrae (“darkness”) will be celebrated at St. Michael’s Cathedral, 254 State St., here, on Friday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m., under the direction of cathedral music director Ashley Duplessis.

Tenebrae is held on Good Friday each year at the cathedral. It is a special service of prayers, readings, hymns, and choir anthems, which ends in total darkness, signifying Jesus’ death.

The event at the cathedral will include chants, spirituals, and choral music performed by the Cathedral Choir of Boys and Adults. Duplessis told Catholic Communications that the adults of the choir rehearse on Thursdays and on Sundays when the full choir sings. The boys rehearse every Friday for 2 1/2 hours.

“We need a significant amount of time, as we will lead the congregation in seven hymns and the choir sings four anthems,” said Duplessis, noting that an anthem will also be sung by Schola, the choir’s quartet of section leaders, as well as two solo pieces.

The service begins at 7:30, and lasts approximately an hour and a half.

The choir anthems are: “Kyrie” (Delibes); “Lazarus” (traditional spiritual, arranged by Robert T. Tanner); “In Monte Oliveti” (Prieto); and Cantique de Jean Racine (Faure). Schola will be singing “Popule Meus” (Victoria). The solo selections are: “He Was Cut off From the Land of the Living and But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul in Hell” (from Handel’s Messiah), and “Tief Gebueckt” (from Bach’s Cantata 199).

“Tenebrae is a very special service,” said Duplessis, explaining that the service requires more music than a typical Sunday Mass. “On an average Sunday, the choir will sing three to four hymns and one to two anthems. For Tenebrae, we prepare seven hymns and several anthems.”

In addition to the choir preparation, Duplessis said she has enlisted the accompaniment of several string players and has written parts for close to 10 selections this year.  

Tenebrae is free and open to the public.