Tenebrae Service of Darkness

Set to the music of the 16 Century composer Tomas Luis de Victoria - Sung by Choral8 Join us again this year to experience the third and final setting of the Tenebrae service for Holy Week on Wednesday 27 March at 7.30pm, set to the wonderful music of Tomas Luis de Victoria. The Tenebrae service (latin for darkness) all but disappeared from the church calendar after the 1950s. However, in recent years there has been a resurgence of interest and here at High Beach we will be holding a shortened version of the third original setting using music written specifically for the occasion. The service is very theatrical in its presentation and is characterised by the gradual extinguishing of candles throughout, symbolising the desertion of Jesus's disciples in his hours of need. It finishes in total darkness with a loud noise or 'strepitus' taking plalace near the end. There is just one hidden candle left alight - the 'Christ Candle'