2nd Sunday of Easter

15 April 2012

Entrance	O sons and daughters
Penitential Rite	Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco)
Psalm 117	Give thanks to the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Gospel Acclamation	Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Now we remain (David Haas)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco)
Lamb of God	Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco)
Communion	Put your hand here, Thomas (Collegeville Composers Group)
Final	This joyful Eastertide

The plan is that the Mass of Wisdom will be our Mass setting for the Easter Season. We introduced it earlier this year so that people would begin to know, in particular when sung at the Easter Vigil. This is not instant music. I do think one of the gifts of the last 30-40 years was the idea that because the parts of the Mass should be sung by all we need music which could be sung by all - instantly. However the large danger is that it becomes the only model when actually those who come to Mass are pretty constant. I remember in another parish using a responsorial Mass for a time and realising that the congregation were bored of it, and perhaps they were even saying we are better than this. (Responsorial Masses have their place when the congregation has no common repertoire or when you are introducing singing at Mass). I am sure I have said before that one the things I like about the Mass of Wisdom is that it is written with an eye to how the congregation will pick it up - there is plenty of melodic repetition. In the Gloria the first and last section (as is often the case) use the same melodic material - the middle section is being sung by the choir alone - possibly next year everyone will sing everything. I am not sure though I am keen that the congregation should during the year sing the whole text of the Gloria, not just have only a series of refrains, but I also like the musical/ministerial contrast.

I wondered with *Put your hand here, Thomas* whether the world of medical soaps have transformed how we view this moment - from a discrete wound to real flesh.