Sung by the Schola Antiqua, the "Missa Ave Regina Coelorum" was written by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. It is one of 104 masses securely attributed to Palestrina and, despite its stunning beauty and rich complexity, was left unpublished during the composer’s lifetime. This is one of the only commercial recordings of this mass in the world.

Boris Ord is most known for his tenure as Organist/Choirmaster at King's College, Cambridge. This setting of "Adam Lay Ybounden" is his only published work and is commonly sung as the response to the first reading in the service of Advent Lessons and Carols. This track is sung by the full choir.

"O Magnum Mysterium" was composed the Spanish Composer Tomas Luis Victoira who lived from c. 1548 - 1611. This track is sung by the St. Thomas's Schola Antiqua, a professional ensemble dedicated to singing music from 1600 and before.

This Sunday at ten o’clock, the choirs of St. Thomas’s will lead us in music for Advent Lessons and Carols. This is a venerable tradition of the Anglican Church and a once-a-year opportunity to enjoy beloved musical settings such as the Palestrina Matins Responsory. As in previous years, we will celebrate with five lessons, rather than the traditional nine lessons. A sermon is not part of this liturgy.