April 16, 7:30 pm
The name Tenebrae (Latin for “darkness” or “shadows”) has for centuries been applied to the ancient monastic night and early morning services (Matins and Lauds) of the last three days of Holy Week, which in medieval times came to be celebrated on the preceding evenings.
It is a dramatic and highly symbolic service featuring the gradual extinguishing of candles and other lights in the church until only a single candle remains, representing the light of Christ. Toward the end of the service, this candle is hidden (but not extinguished), to symbolize the apparent victory of the forces of evil. At this time of total darkness, the choir will sing Gregorio Allegri’s famous setting of Psalm 51: Miserere Mei, Deus.
At the very end, the liturgy calls for a loud noise to be made, symbolizing the earthquake that took at the Resurrection (“And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.” Matthew 28:2). At Epiphany, this is done with a loud and droning blast of the organ. At this point, the hidden candle is restored to its rightful place, and by its light, all depart in silence.
