Christmas carols in English, Latin… and Nahuatl

It’s beginning to look and sound like Christmas, and the Cathedral Christmas added art, poetry and beauty to this special season. This year’s edition of the Cathedral Christmas featured choir classics, brass instrumentals and surprising modern interpretations of the theme of Jesus’ birth.
 
The Pontifical Chorale of Corpus Christi Cathedral and a small orchestra were conducted by Alex Oldroyd, the cathedral’s music director, and his wife, Meaghan King, the music director at Most Precious Blood Parish. The first round took the audience on a musical journey with carols from the U.S., England, Catalonia and Ukraine.
 
“The Dream Isaiah Saw” is a contemporary piece by Glenn L. Rudolph. It expresses the prophet’s foreseeing that was fulfilled with Jesus’ birth. Bishop Michael Mulvey spoke to the audience and invited them all on a journey of hope—preparing for Christmas with the Aramaic word “Maranatha” – “Come, our Lord!”
 
The next round of songs was centered on Mary, the mother of God, with carols from Germany and in Nahuatl, the language common in Mexico when Saint Juan Diego saw the apparition of our Lady of Guadalupe.
 
With the two classic songs “Silent Night” and Hark! the Herald Angels Sing,” Fr. James Stembler, Rector of the Cathedral, recited the birth of Jesus according to the Gospel of Luke.
 
The Cathedral Christmas was recorded and will be aired on PBS on different dates in the last two weeks before the feast.