Maundy Thursday

21 April 2011

Gathering	I have been crucified (Christopher Walker)
Entrance	For God so loved the world (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Gloria	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Psalm 115	The blessing cup (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Lenten (mtgf)
Washing of the Feet	Faith, hope and love (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations	No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of God	Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion	Take and eat (Michael Joncas) Ave verum Corpus (Byrd)
Procession	Pange lingua (Ricky Manalo) Tantum ergo (chant)
Watching	Lay down your head (John Bell) Stay with me (Taizé)

I reflected last year that change in the musical choices was gradual and evolutionary rather than radical. This year the changes concerned communion. It was request that we might sing Byrd Ave verum always a welcome choice but we also need something to accompany the communion procession. Two changes this year came from looking through the choir library and being reminded of pieces that might not otherwise have been chosen. In some ways there is a wealth of music about communion/the Eucharist. I did want something though that was about 'tonight' and the refrain of Take and Eat good enough for that. We did it with the men starting while the women went to communion and then vice versa.

Pange lingua was last year's innovation and though people seem not to do singing in procession it was being sung well once we reached the altar of repose - as if we had always known it.

There was a slight temptation to try the new, for example, to test a revision of the Gloria but in preparing we decided to enjoy our current texts and settings. It is probably farewell to No Greater Love Eucharistic Acclamations. There are some settings that I will let go of without a tear, they may have served their time well, others, and I would include No Greater Love in this category will be a loss. I have an idea what we might do next year in its place but we shall see. I am not sure how the new translation will affect everything else - though it might be a good opportunity to reflect on the Missal texts and see how we respond to them. Whatever happens the change will most likely be gradual.