Vespers began at a quarter past one and was a comparatively simple service; the music consisted of Hymns, a Motet, and the Magnificat. On the last three Sundays in Advent and throughout Lent neither Cantatas nor Motets were sung. The Organ was silent. On the three great Festivals the appointed Hymn for the season was sung at the beginning of the principal service, before the Organ Prelude: at Christmas, Puer natus in Bethlehem; at Easter, Heut’ triumphiret Gottes Sohn; at Whitsuntide, Spiritus Sancti gratia. During the Communion service the Sanctus and concerted music were sung. A festal hymn followed the Benediction. The three great Festivals were each observed for three consecutive days, on the first and second of which Cantatas were sung at both churches. On the third day concerted music was sung at only one of the two churches. The other week-day Festivals for which Cantatas were provided were the Feast of the Circumcision (New Year’s Day), Epiphany, Ascension Day, Purification of the B.V.M., Annunciation of the B.V.M., Visitation of the B.V.M., Feast of St. John Baptist (Midsummer Day), Feast of St. Michael the Archangel. The Reformation Festival was kept on October 31, or if that date was a Saturday or Monday, on the previous or following Sunday. On Good Friday the Passion was performed in the two principal churches alternately. Leipzig adopted no official Hymn-book. The compilation from which the Hymns were chosen by Bach was the eight-volumed Gesangbuch of Paul Wagner, published at Leipzig for Dresden use in 1697. It contained over five thousand Hymns but no music, merely the name of the tune being stated above the Hymn. For the most part the Hymns for special, and even for ordinary, occasions were prescribed by custom. Otherwise the power of selection was in the hands of the Cantor, and Bach’s exercise of it caused some friction with the clergy in 1728. The provision and direction of the music at weddings and funerals was in the Cantor’s hands. He arranged the choirs and the music sung at the scholars’ annual processions and perambulations of the town, which took place at Michaelmas, New Year, and on St. Martin’s and St. Gregory’s Days. Augmenting the School’s choristers, the Town Musicians took part in the Church services and were under the Cantor’s direction. Their numbers and efficiency were inadequate.