“Seven Last Words” – a meditation on the Seven Last Words of Christ sung by the st. Cecilia Choir and soloists. Includes scripture readings and choral settings by Frank, Gounod, DuBois, Bach, and Pergolas. Tenebrae (“shadows”) is an ancient service celebrated for Holy Week celebrated in a church lit only by candles held in a special, 15-candle holder called a hearse. As the service continues, the candles are extinguished one by one, until the church is dark and the choir and priests make a loud noise (“strepidus”) meant to recall the earthquake that took place at Christ’s death.