Maundy Thursday

I've decided during Holy Week to go to a different church each day and experience the services and music as much as possible throughout the city. Tonight I went to the Pfarre Altlerchenfeld, a church not too far from me that I have written about and posted pictures of before. I took one new picture because I think it's boring to make a post here without something to look at! Overall, the music was fairly plain tonight. The musical tradition in Vienna does not include a prelude before the service, and instead of using an opening hymn during the procession, the organist typically improvises something or plays a short chorale prelude. The organ was used very minimally, and there was no choir at this mass, just a cantor. This is, of course, just a neighborhood church, although it is huge by typical American standards. The music wasn't complicated, but was very good and effective, and was certainly supported by the fine acoustics in the building. It was also interesting to hear this service in German for the first time.