Good Friday Choral Tenebrae

In-person and via Livestream

Since it is the middle of the Service of the Three Days, Good Friday begins abruptly, taking up where Maundy Thursday stopped. No procession, no hymn: the prayer of the day is followed by the readings, culminating in an extended passage from the Gospel of St. John. This year we sing the Gospel rather than reading it. Michael Devine, a frequent soloist at Redeemer, will sing the narration (Evangelist), as soloists from the Choir take the character roles (Peter, Pilate, Jesus, etc.), and the Choir sings the words of the crowds and, with the Congregation, responds at various points with stanzas of “Ah, Holy Jesus.” Though it is in a very simple, old style, the piece was written in 2013 by Erik Meyer, a Philadelphia church musician.

We had prepared the piece for 2020, but it was postponed by COVID. In 2021, we performed it as a virtual choir, assembling 1,041 individual clips of music to allow the choir to “sing together.” We are very grateful for the technologies that made that version possible, but this year we look forward to singing it truly together, in person, in real time, in the room worshiping with you.