Sunday, June 30, 2013

St Peter & St Paul

30 June 2013

EntranceInto a world
Penitential RiteAt the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
GloriaAt the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 33From all my terrors (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationAlleluia (Murray)
Profession of FaithCredo III
Preparation of GiftsThe love of the Lord (Michael Joncas)
Eucharistic AcclamationsMissal
Lamb of GodLuton (mtgf)
Communion AntiphonPeter said to Jesus (mtgf)
CommunionNow we remain (David Haas)
FinalThy hand, O God, has guided

It seems to be a long time since we had Ss Peter & Paul on a Sunday - 5 years I think. I had forgotten what we 'do' and with just a few of us plumped for Pauline texts. It was the last week of Credo III. I have a suspicion that it has been enjoyed, and sung, by those for whom it is ingrained in their past - indeed I have had more positive comments about that is usual. Whether it has spoken those to whom it is a foreign language I am less sure. I am pleased we have done it - if we do it again at Christmas we shall see if it has become part of people's songs of faith.

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

23 June 2013

EntranceLord Jesus Christ, you have come to us
Penitential RiteAt the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
GloriaAt the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 62For you my soul (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationAlleluia (Murray)
Preparation of GiftsOurs were the griefs (Stephen Dean)
Eucharistic AcclamationsMissal
Lamb of GodLuton (mtgf)
Communion AntiphonI am the good shepherd (mtgf)
CommunionChrist our peace (Marty Haugen)
FinalAt the name of Jesus

Sunday, June 16, 2013

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

16 June 2013

EntranceThere's a wideness in God's mercy
Penitential RiteAt the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
GloriaAt the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 31Forgive, Lord (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationAlleluia (Murray)
Profession of FaithCredo III
Preparation of GiftsThy mercy, O Lord God (Benedetto Marcello)
Eucharistic AcclamationsMissal
Lamb of GodLuton (mtgf)
Communion AntiphonThere is one thing (mtgf)
CommunionNo longer I (Bob Hurd)
FinalSing of the Lord's goodness (Ernest Sands)

This is a gospel I expect to find music/texts which are more directly connected. I am not looking for a hymn that retells the story but some images. I am not sure why it has not inspired contemporary composers (or at least I am not aware of anything). The Communion antiphons which can pick up a thread of the gospel do not offer anything either in Missal or Graduale Romanum. It is worth remembering that the majority of Gospel readings in 1962 Lectionary were from Matthew which must be a factor. There are also few 'popular' motets about either forgiveness or healing. The 'canon' is fundamentally Eucharistic. This all may say something about present viewpoints rather then ancient lack.

The motet by Marcello does speak of mercy flowing like a fountain which seemed a suitable image for the gospel. Without having the score to hand the English text is I think authentic - like Haydn he provided settings for an English market.

I noticed in the psalm setting, which dates from 2004, I had used the revised Grail 1993 edition. The first verse begins 'Happy those…' as opposed to 'Happy the man…' — the most recent Grail revision 'Blessed the man…'. Though the tradition does understand the 'man' as referring to Christ this obviously not the case here. I would probably prefer 'the one' but the more important point I think the revised Sunday Lectionary, keeping with tradition applies the psalm forward and backward. The happy person is David, but it is also the woman in the gospel and so 'man' narrows down the layers of meaning which Lectionary inspires.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time

9 June 2013

EntranceO changeless Christ
Penitential RiteAt the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
GloriaAt the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 29I will praise you, Lord (Paul Inwood)
Gospel AcclamationAlleluia (Murray)
Profession of FaithCredo III
Preparation of GiftsHealer of our every ill (Marty Haugen)
Eucharistic AcclamationsMissal
Lamb of GodLuton (mtgf)
Communion AntiphonThe Lord is my rock (mtgf)
CommunionEye has not seen (Marty Haugen)
FinalPraise we our God with joy

This week is a good example of where the first reading is a mirror of the gospel - what Elijah did Jesus now does. This was one of those occasions when hearing the word made more sense than just looking at it because the focus of the story moves away from the child. Or to repeat a question I sometimes ask - who is singing the psalm response? Who should my 'I' identify with/ (This is also the 3rd time we have sung this psalm in almost as many months and the context has been slightly different each time.

What we sang spoke of healing but not of raising from the dead - or perhaps more importantly of giving life both to the child and to the widow.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

The Body & Blood of the Lord

2 June 2013

EntranceMy God, and is thy table spread
Penitential RiteAt the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
GloriaAt the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 109You are a priest for ever (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationAlleluia (Murray)
Profession of FaithCredo III
Preparation of GiftsO sacrum convivium (Croce)
Eucharistic AcclamationsMissal
Lamb of GodLuton (mtgf)
Communion AntiphonWhoever eats my flesh (mtgf)
CommunionTake and eat (Michael Joncas)
FinalAlleluia, sing to Jesus

I commented a number of years ago on the, perhaps, surprising echoes of O sacrum convivial in the first hymn. Looking at web versions of Dodderidge's lifer he was possibly a local lad, he at least grew up in Shepperton and was first schooled in Kingston. It was noted that many of his (400 or so) hymns were written to follow and reinforce the message of his sermons.

We sang Giovanni Croce's well-known version of O sacrum convivial. It may be the relative shortness of the phrases and the closeness of the entries but my impression was we found it easier than some polyphony we used before. I suspect we are getting more familiar with the idiom but the writing also helped.

My impression is that people are singing the Mass parts. Credo III i suspect is being predominantly sung by our more mature members of the Congregation - whether those to whom it is unfamiliar are dipping their tonsils in - we shall see.