CHOIR EDITION - The name Tenebrae is the Latin word for "darkness" or "shadows," and has for centuries been applied to the ancient monastic night and early morning services of the last three days of Holy Week. This hymnal is a condensed version of these ageless and very poignant prayers of Lent. The service is marked by chanting of psalms, singing of gospel excerpts, a reading from the Book of Lamentations and the gradual extinguishing of candles and other lights until a single candle, a symbol of the Lord, remains. The Psalms and lamentations are sung using psalm tones similar to the chant heard daily in a monastery that takes the choir and congregation on a penitential journey of the soul beside Christ during his passion. ...... (No part of this work may be reproduced in any form or by any means)