Sanctus from "Midnight Mass for Christmas"

Drawn from the Messe de Minuit pour Noël by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, this accessible setting, Sanctus reflects the charm and clarity of French Baroque style. One of Charpentier’s twelve settings of the Mass Ordinary, the Midnight Mass for Christmas is distinctive for its use of traditional French Christmas carols as melodic foundations. This movement calls for a light, lifted tone, smooth legato phrasing, and clear attention to metrical and syllabic stress. An optional accompaniment is included, with the flexibility to perform a cappella for additional programming options.