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Henri Tomasi’s Procession Nocturne (1942) is a seven‐minute, thirty‐second cantata for solo soprano, mixed chorus, brass ensemble, and percussion.  Its title and scoring evoke a solemn nocturnal ritual, with the soprano’s declamatory line leading the choir through a series of chorale‐like statements.

The brass ensemble—four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, bass trombone and tuba—alongside timpani and assorted percussion, provides a stark, sonorous backdrop. Tomasi uses muted brass chorales and punctuated percussion to suggest the steady footfalls of a procession, contrasting with moments of suspended harmonic calm in the choral writing. Stylistically, the work blends mid‑20th‑century modal harmony with Tomasi’s characteristic clarity of texture. The tight interplay between soloist, choir, and brass requires precise dynamic control and ensemble cohesion, making Procession Nocturne both atmospheric and ritualistic without resorting to overt melodrama.