Holy Week: Tenebrae
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Beginning my series of posts on my Holy Week experiences this year is this post on the Tenebrae service held at the Cathedral of Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary. For those interested in the history of Tenebrae services, particularly the Catholic tradition, here are two resources: Tenebrae from the Catholic Encyclopedia and the Tenebrae Service entry at Wikipedia. In brief, the service used to span three nights during the Triduum. During the first of the three services the space would be lit as normal. During the second service, the candles would slowly be extinguished throughout until total darkness was achieved. The third service was held in almost total darkness, allowing for a small light for the readers. In most modern, English-speaking Catholic churches, Tenebrae has been shortened to one service held late on the Wednesday of Holy Week. It compresses the three previous services into one, longer service.
The Cathedral service impressed me. I felt it well done throughout. It begins like a typical Office of the Church with the intonation to service. Like most services with the Bishop, he sang the introduction. Unfortunately, you could tell that most people the congregation had no idea the proper melodic responses and only the words were printed in the worship aide. I suspect a large number of people in attendance had expected a concert atmosphere and not exactly a worship service (which is fine. I think there are places for concerts in churches, too, but that’s another post). Given that audience it would have been nice to include the melodies with the text, especially since they included music for the psalm responses and lamentation responses later in the aide. As it was, I think the priests on the dais and a handful of people could confidently sing along, which in turn decreased my confidence of what I thought the correct melodies were. I have been to a number of Offices (but again, that’s another post), but not enough to be completely confident.
Other than that small omission, the aides contained a good guide to the service. The Cathedral Chancel Choir provided the music throughout the service and sung completely a cappella. I enjoyed the experience greatly. The choir sang from the loft, which is rare at the Cathedral. Because of the location, and the reduced number of choristers, it was hard to hear sometimes. Thankfully, following was easier, possibly because of the 800 other people in the Cathedral and those that could hear more clearly. In defense of the choir, I was seated past halfway in the nave.
The director chose a number of works by Palestrina, Ingegneri and other medieval and Renaissance composers. The Lamentations of Jeremiah were sung in their entirety by three of the diocesan priests. It appeared that all three priests had some musical training, though the first sang the best of them. He sounded almost like an operatic baritone. His voice provided a clear sense of melody as well as an affect of calm and meditation–exactly what is required from this type of religious service.
The extinguishing lights throughout the service lent another air of awareness to the entire service. Fifteen candles began lighted on the Tenebrae hearse (much like a candelabra). By the end of the service an acolyte removed the last, lighted candle from the space and we were left in darkness. A loud “noise” (timpani roll in this case) signified the earthquake after the death of Jesus and a moment of meditative silence ensued. Because this service is now an amalgam of the previous three services, the acolyte returned the candle to the hearse and the bishop said a small prayer before the congregation departed in silence.
Having experienced this service for the first time this year, I can say that I plan on participating in future years. I have long been a fan of the Offices of the Hours in any form, and this special Lenten service added to that appreciation. I often question just how religious I am, but I do know that I am very spiritual, and this service was clearly an highly spiritual moment. I don’t know if I would have included such young children as some families did (perhaps sitters were unavailable). But that and the lack of a melody for the people in the worship aide were the only two negatives that suck in my mind.
More on this series to come including Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil.
