Music Suggestions
The Nativity of the Lord - Mass at Dawn (ABC)

Liturgical Music

Official texts

Introit:
1. Lux fulgebit [Graduale Romanum, p.44]
2. Lux fulgebit [Gregorian Missal, p.193]
3. Lux fulgebit (Gregorian chant) Proper Introit for Christmas: Mass at Dawn [Liber usualis p.403]
4. Lux fulgebit (Giuseppe Mignemi)
5. Mass Propers for Christmastide (Gary Penkala)
6. Radiant light will shine upon us [Simple English Propers, p.24 (Adam Bartlett) CMAA]
7. A light will shine on us this day [Simple Choral Gradual, p.20 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
8. A Radiant Light Has Come [tune: Saint Michael] from Introit Hymns #7 (Christoph Tietze)
Gradual (Responsorial Psalm):
1. Benedictus qui venit [Graduale Romanum, p.45]
2. Benedictus qui venit [Gregorian Missal, p.194]
3. Benedictus qui venit (Johann Michael Haydn)
Alleluia (Gospel Acclamation):
1. Dominus regnavit decorum [Graduale Romanum, p.46]
2. Dominus regnavit decorum [Gregorian Missal, p.195]
Offertory:
1. Deus enim firmavit [Graduale Romanum, p.46]
2. Deus enim firmavit [Gregorian Missal, p.196]
3. Deus enim firmavit (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina)
4. Mass Propers for Christmastide (Gary Penkala)
5. For it is God who has established [Simple English Propers, p.15 (Adam Bartlett) CMAA]
6. From all eternity, O Lord, you are [Simple Choral Gradual, p.21 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
Communion:
1. Exsulta filia Sion [Graduale Romanum, p.47]
2. Exsulta filia Sion [Gregorian Missal, p.197]
3. Mass Propers for Christmastide (Gary Penkala)
4. Exult, O daughter of Zion [Simple English Propers, p.26 (Adam Bartlett) CMAA]
5. Daughter of Zion, exult [Simple Choral Gradual, p.22 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
6. Rejoice Greatly from Messiah (GF. Handel)
Mass settings:
1. Latin Chant Masses VIII (De angelis) & XI (Orbis factor)
2. Latin Gregorian Chant Masses XI (Orbis factor) & VIII (De angelis)
3. Latin Missa sanctorum angelorum (Calvert Shenk)
4. Latin Mass of Saint Jerome (Christopher Bord)
5. Mass of Our Lady, Help of Christians (Richard Connolly)
6. Mass of Saint Agnes (B. Andrew Mills)
7. Mass of the Angels (Richard J. Clark)
8. Mass of the Redemption (Calvert Shenk / Adam Taylor)
9. Modal Mass (Calvert Shenk / Adam Taylor)

Other liturgical music

Christmas Litany (J. William Greene)
Common Psalms for Schools & Parishes (Thomas Cosley)
Communion Psalms for the Liturgical Seasons (Gary Penkala)
From East to West: A Christmas Processional (arr. Gary Penkala)
Gospel Verses for the Christmas Cycle (Gary Penkala)
Graduale Romanum [Solesmes edition]
Graduale simplex [Vatican edition]
Gregorian Missal [Solesmes edition]
Hail, Holy Mother (Gary Penkala) from Seven Roman Basilica Processionals
Lux fulgebit (Gregorian chant) Proper Introit [Liber usualis p.403]
Mass Propers of Christmastide (Gary Penkala)
Psalm 96 (Christopher Bord)
Universal Music for Morning Prayer (Gary Penkala)
Universal Music for Evening Prayer (Gary Penkala)

Hymns

A Great and Mighty Wonder (ICEL #13, CHB #11, EH #18)
A Radiant Light Has Come [tune: Saint Michael] from Introit Hymns #7 (Christoph Tietze)
All My Heart This Night Rejoices (CH #228, ICEL #14, CHB #14, EH #32)
From East to West, from Shore to Shore (HH #39)
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (AH #326, CH #224, ICEL #19, PMB #39, WIII #383, CHB #20, SMH #316, EH #40)
How Brightly Beams the Morning Star (CD #815, WIII #390, HH #55, CH #214, CHB #45, EH #329)
O Little Town of Bethlehem (AH #333, CH #198, HPSC #249, ICEL #24, PMB #27, WIII #386, CHB #27, SMH #454/5, EH #21)
Silent Night (AH #338, CBW #455, CH #226, HPSC #295, ICEL #29, PMB #22, WIII #379, CHB #35, SMH #523, EH #33)
The Living Light of Heaven (Kathleen Pluth) from Hymns for the Liturgical Year
Thou Who Wast Rich (CD #810)
Wexford Carol (CH #205, SMH #325)

AH = The Adoremus Hymnal, Ignatius Press

CBW = Catholic Book of Worship II / Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

CD = Cantate Domino / Hymnal Supplement, GIA Publications, Inc.

CH = The Collegeville Hymnal, The Liturgical Press

CHB = The Catholic Hymn Book [London Oratory], Gracewing Publishers

EH = The Hymnal 1940 (Episcopal), used by many Anglican Use Roman Catholic parishes

HH = Hymnal of the Hours, GIA Publications, Inc.

HPSC = Hymns, Psalms & Spiritual Canticles, out of print but excellent

ICEL = ICEL Resource Collection, GIA Publications, Inc.

PMB = People's Mass Book, World Library Publications, Inc.

SMH = The Saint Michael Hymnal, Saint Boniface Church, Lafayette IN

WIII = Worship, 3rd Edition, GIA Publications, Inc.

Choral Music

Benedictus qui venit (Johannes Brahms, Jacob Handl, Orlando di Lasso, Alonso Lobo, Philippe Rogier, August Söderman, Francisco Valls)
Et incarnatus est (Calvert Shenk)
Gloria III Canon (Jacques Berthier) Music from Taizé [GIA Publications]
Dies sanctificatus (Palestrina / Siebert)
Hodie Christus natus est (Gregorian chant) from Booklet of Chant, Volume 1
Hodie Christus natus est (William Grabbe)
Personent hodie from Hymn Trilogy 1 (Harry McMurray)
Lux fulgebit (Gregorian chant) Proper Introit [Liber usualis p.403]
Psallite unigenito (Michael Praetorius / Thomas Vozzella)
Ten New Carols for Advent and Christmas, Volume 1 (Gary Penkala)
Ten New Carols for Advent and Christmas, Volume 2 (Greene, Brumby, Penkala)
Two Christmas Anthems (Colin Brumby)
Unto Us a Boy Is Born! (Colin Brumby)
When Christ Was Born of Mary Free (J. William Greene)

Organ Music

Carol-Prelude: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Robert Elmore) [American Organ Music, Vol 2 - Sacred Music Press]
Communion on Saint Louis (Mahlon Balderston) [Organist's Companion, November 2001]
Fantasy on God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (W.T. Best) [Joyce Jones Christmas Collection - Bradley Publ]
From Heaven Above (Wilbur Held) [Six Carol Settings - Concordia 97-4985]
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Wilbur Held) [Six Carol Settings - Concordia 97-4985]
In dulci jubilo from Five Chorale Preludes (Colin Brumby)
Noel sur les flutes (L.C. Daquin)
Partita on God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Grace Schwanda) [Organist's Companion, December 1985]
Pastorale on Ebeling (Gordon Young) [Ten Christmas Organ Voluntaries - Presser]
Pastorale on Silent Night (Jack Goode) [Organist's Companion, December 1987]
Prelude and Introit from Messe basse (Camil van Hulse)
Prelude on Silent Night (Peter Pindar Stearns) [Consoliere VI-4 - World Library Publ]
Prelude on Stille Nacht (Gordon Young) [Ten Christmas Organ Voluntaries - Presser]
Puer natus est (Dom Paul Benoit) from Esquisses liturgiques [J. Fischer & Bros.]
Saint Louis (Lewis H. Redner) [American Hymns and Carols of the Nineteenth Century - Abingdon]
Silent Night (Dudley Buck) [Joyce Jones Christmas Collection - Bradley Publ]
Silent Night (Michael Fontana) [Organist's Companion, November 1993]
Silent Night (Wilbur Held) [A Nativity Suite - Concordia 97-4461]
Silent Night (Joseph Lowe) [Organist's Companion, November 1989]
Silent Night, Holy Night (Robert J. Powel) [Organist's Companion, December 1983]
Stille Nacht from Seven Preludes for the Church Year (Donna Robertson)
Tucket and Variants for God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen (Kevin Norris) [Organist's Companion, December 1980]
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm' ich her (J.S. Bach) from Orgelbüchlein
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm' ich her (Johann Pachelbel)
What Is This Lovely Fragrance? (Paul Manz) [Improvisations for the Christmas Season, Set II - Morning Star Music Publ 10-101]
Wie schön leuchtet from Five Chorale Preludes (Colin Brumby)

Liturgical Hints & Ideas

Because of the early hour, this might be a Mass in which to empahsize the quiet and calm nature of the Incarnation. Mystical settings, chant, French Romantic organ literature all seem appropriate.

Music SuggestionsThe Nativity of the Lord - Mass at Dawn (ABC)