Charpentier’s Messe De Minuit Pour Noel

Sunday, December 28, 2025
St. George’s Church, 2222 Brunswick St, Halifax
7:00 pm (Church will be open at 6:30 for participating singers and instrumentalists)

The annual reading of Charpentier’s Messe de minuit pour Noël (1690) has become an EMSNS holiday tradition, and will take place this year on Sunday, December 28, once again under the direction of Andrew Pickett.

The ancient French carols that weave their way between the Latin propers of this Midnight Mass include La pucelle, the melody believed by some to underlie The Huron Carol.

Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643 – 1704) was a prolific and celebrated French composer of the Baroque era, who brought Italian influences to bear on French music and who collaborated with Molière on the Parisian stage. The prelude to his Te Deum is used today as the signature tune for the European Broadcasting Union, heard in the opening credits of Eurovision events.

The event is free for EMSNS members. Non-members are welcome by donation.

All singers and instrumentalists are welcome. However, we ask that you indicate your intention to participate by e-mailing earlymusicns@gmail.com by Tuesday, December 23.