Viewpoint: It is time to bring Tenebrae out of the Shadows

Tenebrae hearse Mainz Cathedral - Wiki image

It is one of the oldest offices in the liturgy of the Catholic Church. It features some of the most beautiful music ever written. So why have so many of us never heard of it? Why am l completely in the dark about Tenebrae?

One of my jobs as the new head of publicity for the Latin Mass Society is to promote the wonderful selection of Masses and services happening in the traditional rite across the country during Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum, the three days leading up to Easter. Looking at the list though, l realised that Tenebrae, sung from 'Spy Wednesday' in Holy Week has completely passed me and l suspect many of my 40-something generation by. I had to find out what Tenebrae was and what I was missing out on.

So over to the experts. Speaking to Charles Finch, who runs the group Cantores Missae, and will be singing Tenebrae at St.Bede's in London on Wednesday in Holy Week. He explained to me that Tenebrae meaning darkness, is made up of Matins and Lauds from the Divine Office. It takes place on the evenings before each of the days it is assigned to and takes its name from the gradual extinguishing of candles during the service. These are made from unbleached wax, the same as we use for funerals - this represents mourning. The candles are lit on a 'hearse' which is a triangular candelabra which is hung on the sanctuary. They are snuffed out one-by-one after each of the psalms. At the end one candle is left alight representing the light of Christ. This candle is taken down and hidden, usually behind the altar. The church is now left in total darkness symbolizng the abandonment, the death and the burial of Christ. Right at the end of the service, the candle is restored to enable the people to see their way out but it has been suggested that this also represents the death and the resurrection of Christ. For those attending the service, they know when to rise and leave when there is a loud noise made by a clapper or by the knocking of books against the pews.

Charles continues by explaining to me that Matins is divided into three parts or nocturns, each with three psalms and three lessons with their accompanying responsories. Lauds which follows has five psalms and then the Benedictus. "It is the responsories that have inspired composers to write some of their finest religious music, none more so than Victoria whose incomparable settings of the texts for the second and third nocturns have not been surpassed and reach out to all and not just to the observant Catholic. Who can fail to be drawn into the drama of the passion when listening to these sublime works?"

At St Mary Moorfield's in London, the Latin Mass Society under the musical direction of Matthew Schellhorn are holding all three of the Tenebrae Services beginning on the Wednesday evening in Holy Week and for the first time the full set of responsories by the Renaissance composer Felice Anerio will be sung. That is twenty-seven pieces of music of breath-taking beauty. Schellhorn explains to me how some of our greatest composers 'saved their best compositions for moments of extreme desolation."

Speaking to those that have experienced the awe of a Tenebrae service, l can be left in no doubt that this precious gem of the traditional rite is quite unique in its power to evoke such feelings of intensity and emotion. From the immortal words of St Paul's letter to the Philippians 'Christus factus est pro nobis obediens' (Christ became obedient for us unto death) to the powerful text from the responsory O vos omnes, 'if there be any sorrow like my sorrow' it appears to perfectly evoke the betrayal, abandonment, and the agony of Christ's crucifixion on the cross. Tenebrae is an office rich in symbolism and the music, both the chant and polyphony, which at its best contributes powerfully and poignantly to the recounting of the drama of the final days of Our Lord, makes this an office all the more not to be missed.

Tenebrae will be held at St Bede's Clapham Park, SW12 0LF on Wednesday 23 March 7pm and at St Mary Moorfield's in London, EC2M 7LS on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9 pm.

Clare Bowskill is Director of Music at St Mary Magdalen's in Brighton and Publicity Officer for the Latin Mass Society.

See the new LMS video here: www.facebook.com/latinmassuk/videos/1240584349303923/