Festival of Lessons and Carols Dec. 15 at Monroe church
MONROE — The annual Festival of Lessons and Carols will take place at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 in the sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church, 108 Washington St. Admission is free; the public is welcome.
The popular Christmas program has been put on by the John Tyner Chorale for 15 years. It’s based on a 105-year-old service in England that is now offered around the world.
Typically more than 200 attend the local program, Tyner said.
The Festival of Lessons and Carols features songs performed by 20 members of the John Tyner Chorale and the congregation as well as Bible readings read by several pastors and community leaders, including Doris Chandler from First Presbyterian Church; chorister Jennifer Benavente; the Rev. David Burgard from Sts. Mary and John Catholic churches; Tyner; David Thompson from the Monroe County Drain Commissioner; William McCloskey, retired Monroe County Community College professor; the Rev. Rey Mondragon from St. Paul's United Methodist Church; Deacon Mike Stewart from Sts. Mary and John Catholic churches; and the Rev. James Bischoff from Trinity Episcopal Church.
Jonathan Chadwick Barton from Trinity Episcopal Church is returning as the organist. Last year was his first year in the role.
Most of the songs are performed every time, but several new ones are added each year. Among this year’s 20 selections are: “Sing We Now of Christmas,” “ Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "Adam Lay y'Bounden," "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "See Amid the Winter's Snow," "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" "Angels We Have Heard on High" "Ave Maria" and "The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Come."
Traditionally, the opening verse is sung unaccompanied by a boy soprano. In the past, those soloists were Tyner’s grandsons, Orion and Harrison Tyner. For the second year, another of Tyner's grandsons, Emmett Mehki, is singing the first verse of “Once in Royal David’s City.”
Emilie LaRoux has a solo on the recorder for the song "Huron Carol."
Interspersed among the songs are Bible readings. The verses tell the Christmas story, from Genesis to the birth of Jesus.
The Festival of Lessons and Carols has a long history.
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“This Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a recreation of a service which was first held on Christmas Eve 1918 in Cambridge Cathedral. Slight revision was made in 1919 and, from that date, the service has always begun with the hymn ‘Once in Royal David’s City.’ Hymns and carols change, but the backbone of the service — the lessons and prayers — has remained virtually unchanged,” Tyner said. “The service has been widely used and adapted around the world. However, the pattern and strength of the service, as Dean Milner-White pointed out, derive from the lessons, and not the music. This type of service has become a tradition of the Christmas season. This performance will move you and help set the mood for your holiday celebrations.”
Tyner, a retired Monroe Public Schools music instructor, started the John Tyner Chorale in 1996. He also is the director of music for St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and a past conductor of the Agora Chorale at MCCC. This year, he also is filling in as the choir director at Monroe High School.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Festival of Lessons and Carols Dec. 15 at Monroe church
