[Illustration: THE MORNING STARS _CHORUS_ _Child of Heaven, now we heed!_ _We will bind Thy wounds that bleed,_ _We will build Thy works of joy and charity:_ _We are risen in Thy right,_ _We are singing through the night—_ _We are singing, we are singing to the Tree!_] COMMENTARIES ON THE MASQUE [Illustration: GROUND PLAN OF “THE EVERGREEN TREE” (Not drawn to Scale) (For Standard Outdoor Production—Alterable for Indoors)] SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY PRELUDE AND EPILUDE I.—PRELUDE In producing this Masque, different communities will doubtless wish to observe different ways of assembling to prepare and begin its production. Some, especially those given on a small scale, may need and desire no prelusive form of ceremony, in action, speech or song. For productions given on a larger scale, however, since a receptive and devotional state of feeling is greatly to be desired for its proper rendering and its impression upon those who witness and take part, it is strongly recommended that some kind of brief, general Song Overture of the people be held just before the Masque begins. With this need in mind, the suggestions here made by the author are given for whatever service they may render to the desired end. As Prelude to the production of “The Evergreen Tree,” the following kind of Song Overture and informal Ceremony are suggested for such large-scale types of the Masque’s production as are witnessed and performed by all classes, races, ages and creeds of the community. After night-fall, on a winter’s evening, let us imagine men, women and children of a town or city gathered together out of doors in a public square or park, or indoors within some level-floored structure, to assemble by the community Christmas Tree, and to join in general singing under a leader. The Leader will gather the best trained singers at a central place (indicated by the roped-off circle in the Ground Plan on the page opposite), and will start the community singing, or guide its spontaneous beginnings under his leadership. The trained Chorus will perhaps sing the “Adeste Fidelis,” or “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing,” and the carollers will raise their voices in such old Christmas songs as may best appeal to them. So, perhaps for twenty minutes or half an hour, the singers will hold an informal Overture, in which all the gathered people may have joined. Meanwhile, or beforehand, the Chorus will have put on their outer garments of red and white (designed according to Mr. Jones’ costume suggestions), and will have divided into their two separate bodies—(1) the mixed voices, Chorus A, and (2) the male choir, Chorus B.