St Mary's Choir

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2012-01-29T20:59:00.001Z

29 January 2012

Entrance	God whose almighty word
Penitential Rite	Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco)
Gloria	Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco)
Psalm 94	O that today (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Song of God among us (Huijbers)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco)
Lamb of God	Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco)
Communion	Blessed are they (Russian)
Final	At the name of Jesus

I don't know when was the last time I used a whole Mass setting. Sometimes this is because there is just a Gloria or, perhaps more often, one movement or section is good and the rest less so. This morning we introduced the Eucharistic Acclamations and Lamb of God. I find the Lamb of God the weakest or least interesting section I think this is both intrinsic but also a complete setting can have a sameness which is static rather than a dynamic unity. As the reason for using this setting now is so that it will be our regular Easter setting - the Lamb of God may be on probation.

We had one of our usual supply priests this morning. In the past he has commented that one of the reasons he enjoys coming to us is that we sing proper hymns - though we only sang the first 3 verses of the last hymn rather than all 7. I do try when shortening a hymn to both pick out the verses which were the reason it was chosen and so that it makes some sort of narrative sense.

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

2012-01-22T18:10:00.001Z

22 January 2012

Entrance	Dear Lord and Father
Penitential Rite	Mass of Wisdom (Steve Janco)
Gloria	Mass of Wisdom (Steve Janco)
Psalm 24	Lord, make me know your ways (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Lord, you have come to the seashore
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion	In love you summon (John Bell)
Final	Will you come and follow me (John Bell)

I forgotten to prepare a Mass sheet so that it meant people had a chance to listen to the new Gloria and it will be another week before we introduce the Eucharistic Acclamations.

We had a new visiting priest before Mass who demanded that all hymns be short as they were usually irrelevant and people did not sing them. I hope our choices this morning were relevant. The predominant theme was the invitation to follow Christ but the idea of repentance was also present both in the Entrance Hymn and at Communion. The Iona chant I paired with some verses from Psalm 26.

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

2012-01-15T21:53:00.001Z

15 January 2012

Entrance	Here I am, Lord
Gloria	Wisdom (Steven Janco)
Psalm 39	Here I am, Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	As the deer longs (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion	Agnus Dei - Mass for 3 voices (Byrd)
Final	Forth in the peace of Christ

Today we began a new Mass setting. One of the effects of using a Christmas Gloria is that it cannot out stay its welcome. So today we needed to change though we were unaccompanied and we had a baptism. The Gloria from the Mass of Wisdom by Steven Janco is I think the first through setting we have used (or at least one not using a tone). In my overall plan it will be our Easter setting but I decided to start it now so that it will be familiar at Easter. We begin the Eucharistic Acclamations - I also can't think when we have used as much of a Mass setting. I do think that the Gloria is one of the best written of the new settings.The composer seems to looked at the words and thought about what a melody needs to do to bring out the shape and meaning. To give just one example. Many other settings shaped by the previous text seem to see that 'we give you thanks for your glory' is the climax of the first section and then discover there is another phrase to sing. The Mass of Wisdom is shaped so that 'Lord God, heavenly King…' is where the melody is leading.

There was a baptism today, discovered after the leaflet was prepared. This affected a number of the choices. The first and last hymn though connected to the Liturgy of the Word were also chosen because they would be familiar and the explicit reference to 'priest, prophet and king' in James Quinn's text. As the deer for baptism though I realised that I mentally connect lambs and deer. Byrd as a celebration of 'behold the Lamb of God'.

Epiphany of the Lord

2012-01-10T21:25:00.001Z

8 January 2012

Entrance	Bethlehem! of noblest cities
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	Christmas (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 71	O Lord, all the earth (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	What shall we give (Catalan/Dean)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Christmas (Ebeling/mtgf)
Communion	Bethlehem Down (Warlock)
Final	We three kings

After many years doing so today we did not sing The First Nowell. Despite my protestations last week about singing carols I find the First Nowell not a particularly interesting tune which does not merit that much repetition. This is a matter of taste as some people have similar feelings for, say, O little town. I was also aware that Epiphany hymnody could add a richness which a simple retelling of the story would lack.

As a new translation record today was the first time we used the first form of the Penitential Act - but I am not sure how aware people were.

Mary, Mother of God

2012-01-04T22:14:00.001Z

1 January 2011

Entrance	See amid the winter's snow
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	CHristmas (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 66	O God, be gracious (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Reflection	Peace Child (Bernadette Farrell)
Communion	I saw a maiden (Pettman)
Final	Unto is born a son

As had happened on the Sunday following Christmas before the supply Priest was a no-show so at 11.05 we started a service of Word and Communion. It was an interesting confection. One appreciates the skills of those who normally preside the more perhaps for holding the liturgy together and giving it a sense of direction. From a new translation point of view it was interesting as though our presider was using the new Missal as his source I suspect he was not familiar with its layout. By the Communion Rite he had gone into the 1973 text by heart - with people responding with the new translation. O to be a participant observer.

As i was asked a couple of times beforehand. Mary, Mother of God is the octave of Christmas and as a solemnity it takes precedence over the Holy Family which normally falls on the Sunday after Christmas. When this occurs (i.e. when Christmas Day is on a Sunday) the Holy Family is celebrated on 30 December.

Peace Child was chosen to reflect that the 1 January is when the Holy Father gives is address for peace. I wrote more about the song a couple of years ago.

I am wondering how much attention one might give to the content and place of Christmas Carols — should they follow through the narrative of the season or just be used as a generic sprinkling. They are for this country genuinely popular religious music. I know some one would argue them away and want propers and the like. Would that leave them to services or invented occasions imagined by Vaughan Williams and Percy Dearmer over a cup of hot chocolate… that last statement is a little unfair as at least those two had image of the genuinely popular and not exercises in kitsch and ingenuity. So today's liturgy began and ended with carols rather than as some might have done more specific Marian hymns (both our choices acknowledged Mary - she was at least name checked. I wonder if i use the days of the CHristmas season from Nativity to Epiphany as a working through a repertoire of carols - with only some thought as to place and content. And may be that is OK.

Christmas - Day Mass

2011-12-27T17:21:00.001Z

25 December 2011

Entrance	Once in royal David's city
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	Christmas Gloria (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 97	All the ends (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Carol at Bethlehem Cave (Spanish arr. Walker)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Christmas (Ebeling arr. mtgf)
Communion	Infant lowly
	Away in a manger
Final	O little town of Bethlehem

For Christmas morning we usually have reduced forces - the Sunday A-Team - and Mass which always feels as though in contrast to Mass during the night is quieter and more reflective. I suspect that is the reflection of someone who attends both and for many people this is their Christmas Mass. Indeed the chapel was full for both. As I may have commented before we are not a very child oriented congregation - this does not mean that there are not any children just there is no particular provision for them. I think, to be shocking to many, this, though it isn't a deliberate standpoint, has an element of truth in it. That was a long preamble to saying that 'Away in a manger' is intended as child-friendly.

A passing though about homilies and rhetoric. It can be a useful device to paint the negative images so that you can than illuminate with the positive but if the imagination of the congregation gets stuck on the negative the device has failed.

Christmas - Mass during the Night

2011-12-27T16:57:00.001Z

25 December 2011

Carols
Carol	Once in royal David's city
Choir	Alma Redemptoris Mater (Palestrina)
Carol	While shepherds watched
Choir	O holy night (Adam)
Carol	O little town
Choir	I saw a maiden (Pettman)
Mass
Entrance	O come all ye faithful
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	Christmas Gloria (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 95	Today a Saviour (Bernadette Farrell)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	In the bleak midwinter (Holst)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Christmas (Ebeling arr. mtgf)
Communion	Carol of the Birds
	Night of Silence (Daniel Kantor)
	Silent Night
Final	Hark the herald angels sing

I think there were more changes to this year's Mass than there have been for a long time. For some, the most significant change might have been the new translation. Though I had heard some prophets of doom say that Midnight Mass would be a disaster - with the sudden influx of those who were not aware of the new translation - our experience did not reflect this. There might have been some variety with the initial 'And with your spirit' - it was hard to tell and I would not like to claim either way. That said the responses were as usual good and strong - I am not sure whether this is because of their novelty or because they are on the leaflet. In rehearsal I was thrown by the revised adaptation of the Christmas Gloria to the new translation. The composer has resolved the problem of extra lines by inserting 4/8 bars into each verse of a freshly composed melody - which is a solution. I am not sure ow successful it is but the congregation do seem to enjoy their Gloria refrain and came in loudly.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

2011-12-27T16:37:00.001Z

18 December 2011

Entrance	Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Kyrie Orbis Factor
Psalm 88	I will sing for ever (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	No wind at the window (Irish/Bell/Haugen)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Advent (mtgf)
Communion	Alma Redemptoris Mater (Palestrina)
Final	O come, O come Emmanuel

Third Sunday of Advent

2011-12-12T08:56:00.001Z

11 December 2011

Entrance	Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Orbis factor
Psalm - Magnificat	My soul rejoices (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Song of God among us (Huijbers)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Advent (mtgf)
Communion	On Jordan's Bank (Monteverdi)
Final	Blest be the Lord (Bernadette Farrell)

On Jordan's Bank is an anglicised version of Monteverdi's Deus tuorum militum from Selva morale of 1640 - I suspect you could fit many Common metre (?) hymns to it. The Gospel was also taken up by one of my favourite pieces by Huijbers - it has a lean simplicity that is beautifully crafted. John the Baptist's final appearance was in the Benedictus at the end - as I am sure I have said before I do think it is important that people sing texts such as this - even as a paraphrase.

The Magnificat setting was new and still needs a little work - the accompaniment was probably a little busy. In the refrain I repeated 'rejoice' twice - this chimed in with Gaudete - partly to give it a slight over the top feel which I think did work.

We have been singing the 3rd acclamation, Save us Saviour, for Advent. It seems to me the least successful mostly because of the ¾ bar which does not yet feel natural.

Immaculate Conception

2011-12-11T22:02:00.001Z

8 December 2011

Entrance	The Angel Gabriel ()
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	Mass of the Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 97	Sing a new song (John Bell)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Adam lay bounden (Boris Ord)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Mass of Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion	No wind at the window (Irish/Bell/Haugen)

The Immaculate Conception is our titular Solemnity - our Feast Day. In recent years the Mass has moved to early evening followed by a meal and then retiring to the SU bar. It usually falls in the same week as the Carol Service and so the musical economist manages his music carefully. Again musicians are drawn from Sunday musicians and the College Choir and so music is chosen which in some cases suits all and in others allows one group to take a lead. The keen eyed will notice similarities with the Carol Service, Remembrance Sunday (when the College Choir sang at Mass) and last year's celebration - preparation is organic business.

The only item wholly new to us was the psalm. I took the rare decision to have a choral psalm. John Bell's setting is unaccompanied and joyful with an Alleluia refrain for the congregation.

Carol Service

2011-12-08T12:23:00.001Z

5 December 2011

Part 1 - Prepare a way for the Lord

Entrance	Litany of the Word (Bernadette Farrell)
Opening Responses
Reading	Isaiah 40:1–5 The prophet Isaiah tells the people of Israel to prepare a way for the Lord
Song	My soul in stillness waits (Marty Haugen)
Reading	Mark 1: 1-8 St Mark writes of John the Baptist who prepares a way for the Lord
Prayer
Hymn	O come, O come Emmanuel

Part 2 - Behold the virgin will conceive

Reading	Isaiah 7: 10-14 The prophet Isaiah tells of the coming of Emmanuel — God is with us
Carol	Adam lay ybounden (Boris Ord)
Reading	Luke 1: 26-38 St Luke tells of the Incarnation of Jesus
Carol	No wind at the window (Irish/Bell/Haugen)
Prayer
Carol	O little town of Bethlehem

Part 3 - Today is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord

Reading	Luke 2:1-14 St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus
Song	O holy night (Adolphe Adam)
Reading	Luke 2:15-20 St Luke tells of Mary who treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Song	Night of Silence (Daniel Kantor)
Carol	Silent Night
Prayer

Part 4 - The Word was made flesh and lived among us

Reading	1 John 1:1–4 St John reflects on the Incarnation
Motet	Cantique de Jean Racine (Gabriel Fauré)
Reflection
Intercessions	Holden Evening Prayer Marty Haugen
Lord's Prayer & Blessing
Carol	O come all ye faithful

This year we tried something different. Firstly I wanted to establish a pattern or structure that we could use each year. Secondly we included Christmas. This came from two things: a suspicion that for some this maybe the only time they hear the Christmas story proclaimed; secondly observing the delight some (non church going) students took in singing carols. The structure was in four parts and in my original notes it went: Expectation, Mary, Birth, Consequences. I wonder if sometimes there is a naive fallacy at work - pretending that the birth did not happen whereas we know that God's promises have been and so will be fulfilled.

Musically, it needed to include items sung by the College Choir, the Music Group and all. I hope there was enough contrast. The 3rd section was probably a little too saccharine for my taste but I suspect it was the highlight for many. We began with a candle light procession with the Litany of the Word slowly building up.

For the prayers and final blessing we used texts from the new translation and for the scripture readings we used the English Standard Version which is being considered as the base translation of the Lectionary. On the whole it proclaimed well it was only a couple of phrases in the Annunciation that seemed awkward - but may be that was just unfamiliar.

The evening was finished off by mulled wine and mince pies in the cafe and a rendition of Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Second Sunday of Advent

2011-12-05T13:09:00.001Z

4 December 2011

Entrance	Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Kyrie Orbis Factor
Psalm 84	Let us see, O Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Rorate Caeli (chant)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Advent (mtgf)
Communion	Bread of Life (Bernadette Farrell)
Final	Come, thou long expected Jesus

Being unaccompanied does shape the musical choices. Longing, trusting came back and the congregation seemed to remember it and it sound fine with accompaniment. I was considering a setting of the Benedictus for the end but was less sure that this would be sung with confidence - it may appear next week. Rorate caeli, of course works well unaccompanied as pure melody. Bread of Life sounds effective enough with the refrain in harmony and the verses sung by cantor.

First Sunday of Advent

2011-11-27T19:12:00.001Z

27 November 2011

Entrance	Litany of the Word (Bernadette Farrell)
Psalm 79	God of hosts (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	In the day of the Lord (M D Ridge)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Advent (mtgf)
Communion	There is a longing (Anne Quigley)
Final	Hark a herald voice

And so we begin once more. The Litany of the Word made a simple beginning - the challenge of its simplicity is making sure that it goes somewhere. A contrast was In the day of the Lord by M D Ridge. I always enjoy its infectious rhythms — the parousia is going to have some bounce!

The psalm setting is quite old now - this is a relative term, we looked at some Palestrina and Monteverdi in rehearsal, at least 99, if not 96, yet I can remember writing it on an Andalucian terrace in October sunshine while looking ahead at the coming weeks. I am not sure that it has any 'Spanish flavour'; it does a slight march-like quality with a walking ground-bass. I remember reviewing a psalm collection which had a very different setting of the same psalm - lyrical and bringing out a different quality in the words, gentle pleading rather than a stronger plea. It is one of the gifts that composers bring to the liturgy is different insights into the same text.

Christ the King

2011-11-27T17:59:00.001Z

20 November 2011

Entrance	Rejoice the Lord is king
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	Mass of the Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 22	The Lord is my shepherd (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Shepherd me, O God (Marty Haugen)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion	Jesus, you are the bread (Bernadette Farrell)
Final	Hail Redeemer

Well it might have been our last use of the 1973 translation but I suspect like a many places as soon as the Missal arrived it was put in to use and therefore I think people may not have noticed the shift. We began withe Gloria and Eucharistic Acclamations in July, used the Order of Mass from September and now the liturgical texts are all from the new translation. Even for the Order of Mass, however, there are texts to be discovered. We have only used the third form of the Penitential Act so far, the Apostles' Creed will wait until Lent, and we will begin to use the third Memorial Acclamation from next week.

We used Rejoice the Lord is King /em> a number of weeks ago - at which point the musicians all suggested that they did not know it. So it was worth repeating it again.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-11-13T18:03:00.001Z

Remembrance Sunday

13 November 2011

Entrance Eternal Rest (mtgf)
Gloria Mass of the Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 127 o blessed are those (Paul Inwood)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Funeral Ikos (John Tavener)
Eucharistic Acclamations Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Agnus Dei XVIII (Chant)
Communion God remembers (Marty Huagen)
Good and faithful Servant (Andrew Everson)
Final Lord of all hopefulness
Today we were joined by members of the College Choir which gave us a fuller sound and the opportunity to do a piece such as John Tavener's Funeral Ikos. In preparing today's liturgy there was a balance between the Sunday scriptures, Remembrance and the musical resources. Today is a day when we recall the 65 students who died in the First World War and the 75 in the Second World War. It is also when we remember those, students, staff and local community, who have died in the last year.
I have long thought that though it is possible readings from the Masses for the Dead at one Mass today that the eschatological themes of the Lectionary in these last Sundays of the Year work well so that they are appropriate. I noticed this morning that though you could pigeon hole each piece under a particular category (Remembrance or 33rd Sunday) in the context of the liturgy they spoke more broadly.
An aspect I enjoyed about this morning, and I think worked, was the variety of the music: Plainchant, Orthodox, Gospel, traditional hymn and contemporary liturgical. It worked, I think, because the liturgy provided the space and context. By this I don't mean that the liturgy is necessarily big enough that you can 'bung anything at it' but that if the choices draw their origins from the liturgy, the liturgy deepens the meaning of the chosen pieces. So the choices are about entering mystery and therefore about helping others to enter - participation. I wonder if liturgy is stronger if there are different styles. That one style might be bland and therefore the difference might be about engagement. More importantly it is about the mystery we celebrate is exhaustible in the ways we can approach and begin to understand it.

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-11-06T21:53:00.001Z

6 November 2011
Entrance Awake, awake fling off the night
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria Mass of the Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 62 For you my soul (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts How far is the night? (Huijbers)
Eucharistic Acclamations Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Lamb of God 6 (mtgf)
Communion As the deer longs (Bob Hurd)
Final Love divine
Today's Gospel says Advent is close — in some ways it has already begun. We had 3 Baptisms today so I was pleased how the themes of the liturgy also spoke of baptism. The opening hymn we have not sung for at least 10 years, I think, not with our current hymnbook at least. I like both text and tune - but in the scheme of things there was time to learn the melody so we sang it to WInchester New instead - it fitted quite well and added a further baptismal resonance - the only slight problem was that in wishing to make the hymn inclusive 'men renewed' had become 'people renewed' adding an extra syllable - 'folk' or 'ones' - depending on your level of demotic? As the deer longs both picked up the idea of thirsting for God and had water imagery.
I am fond of 'How far is the night?' a simple idea, well executed - would have even better if we had 6 parts.
Today we began a new Gloria. It is intended that it will be a common setting which we will use on the College Feast Day. It is new to use — but it is a rewritten setting, however, the joins are not obvious to us.
It was interesting today that we had the baptismal parties at the front of Church many of whom may not have been wholly au fait with the new translation and one might have expected this to have 'upset' the local congregation who were further back — but the responses came back good and clear.

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-10-31T22:11:00.001Z

30 October 2011
Entrance Dear Lord and Father of mankind
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriels (mtgf)
Psalm 130 Keep me safe (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts There is a longing (Anne Quigley)
Eucharistic Acclamations Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Lamb of God 6 (mtgf)
Communion Many are the light beams (Widestrand)
Final Guide me, O thou great Redeemer
Some small changes this morning. We began using the second Memorial Acclamation 'When we eat' — my intention is to introduce all three so that we do not always turn to the same one. There seems to be a common view that composers in setting the new acclamations either start with one text and then work out what to do with the other or two or at least write one successful acclamation and two other also-rans. So far I am not sure this is true with the revised Mass of Creation; it seems to me that one of its advantages is that each acclamation is distinctive. The other change is that we began using the Lamb of God in a litany rather than a responsorial form - so the congregation comes in with 'you take away…'
I was wondering why I don't think we have used this psalm since it was written in 1999. I presume that the Sunday has been replaced by All Saints in the intervening years,

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-10-23T20:52:00.001+01:00

23 October 2011
Entrance Your love is finer than life (Marty Haugen)
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriels (mtgf)
Psalm 17 I love you, Lord, my strength (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Not for tongues (Dudley Smith/Joncas)
Eucharistic Acclamations Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Lamb of God 6 (mtgf)
Communion Love one another (mtgf)
Final Now thank we all our God ( )
Love of God; love of neighbour. I wanted the opening hymn to be about love of God and the final hymn to be about neighbour and was surprised that hymns about our love for God were not obvious. This seems odd and it may be a comment on my knowledge, our repertoire but my guess is that hymnbooks/writers may be more comfortable with love of neighbour.
So Your love is finer became the opening hymn; it always seems good to start with a psalm.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-10-16T17:53:00.001+01:00

16 October 2011
Entrance Rejoice the Lord is King
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriels (mtgf)
Psalm 95 Give the Lord glory and power (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts The love of the Lord (Michael Joncas)
Eucharistic Acclamations Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion He became poor (John Bell)
Final O God beyond all praising
The image of money shone in a number of ways today. In The Love of the Lord the text takes images from St Paul that we may not have silver or gold but we are rich by our faith in Christ. And at Communion we become rich because Christ became poor.
The hymns took the other part of the image - to render God what is his — due worship.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-10-09T18:11:00.001+01:00

9 October 2011
Entrance All are welcome (Marty Haugen)
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriels (mtgf)
Psalm 22 I shall dwell in the Lord's house (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Shepherd me, O God (Marty Haugen)
Eucharistic Acclamations Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion One in body, heart and mind (Christopher Walker)
Final Praise we our God with joy
New members today learnt one of our realties. What do you do when our accompanist is unable to come? Well, you sometimes have to discard the couple of pieces of music you prepared last week. What we replaced them with were part of what I recognise as some of our basic repertoire which is good to build up familiarity with so that it can be used as needed.
Shepherd me, O God was another version of the psalm. I presume the psalm was chosen for the image of a banquet and the Haugen setting reserves the 4 part verse for that text. I though the Walker One in body sound lovely unaccompanied with some gentle 'ahs' underneath the verses.

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-10-03T22:26:00.001+01:00

2 October 2011
Entrance Here I am, Lord
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriels (mtgf)
Psalm 79 The vineyard of the Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Ours were the griefs (Stephen Dean)
Eucharistic Acclamations Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion Now we remain (David Haas)
Final Love divine
Today's Liturgy of the Word is a good example of one of the relationships between the readings. Jesus takes Isaiah's prophecy and retells it - and when the owner of the vineyard sends his son? The psalm response is taken from the first reading and spells out the meaning of the tale — the psalm verses are poetic retelling of the first reading.
There seemed to be a number of options for the Entrance song. Some ideas took the image of the cornerstone from the Gospel — The stone which the builders rejected or Christ is made the sure foundation. For familiarity at the beginning of term we went for Here I am, Lord for the image of being sent.
A new translation note. I have know accompanist during the Eucharistic Prayer desperately needing the text so that they come in at the right time. This is something our accompanist has never needed not because of deep attention to the text but I think an (unconscious) appreciation of rhythm and structure. This does not seem to have been affected by the new translation — in other words he knows his eschatocol from his elbow.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-09-25T17:59:00.001+01:00

25 September 2011
Entrance Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us ()
Penitential Rite St Gabriel's (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriel's (mtgf)
Psalm 24 Remember your mercy, O Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts May we have the mind of Christ (Marty Haugen)
Eucharistic Acclamations Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God St Gabriel's (mtgf)
Communion Jesus, Saviour (mtgf)
Final At the name of Jesus
This time of year I am trying to keep things a little simple so that anyone new whether in the choir or congregation will not feel too out of place. Hence the hymns are chosen from a list of ones I think most people should know (whilst also picking up themes in the liturgy) — it might not be a bad exercise to write down this mental list.
As the Phillipians Canticle was part of the 2nd reading it was hard to ignore it (it's the final hymn too). Marty Haugen's setting which we have done once before I think, and so gave a new view on the text, includes the previous verse 'May we have the mind of Christ'. 'Jesus, Saviour' is an alternative refrain for an Advent Song I wrote in Cantate. I think the text is in part editorial to complement the verses from Psalm 24 which were in the original. I don't think I have used it before. I thought the end of the first line needed a longer text phrase to run across two musical phrases otherwise it sounds a bit bitty.
In Roman Missal news we sang the (first) Memorial Acclamation straight through today, rather than cantor first. I am aware that we need to get all three acclamations sung as I suspect it is easier to do now than next time. That is much a comment on my planing as the congregation's engagement.

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-09-25T17:40:00.001+01:00

18 September 2011
Entrance Praise to the holiest ()
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriels (mtgf)
Psalm 144 The Lord is close (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts God beyond all names (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion I am your Saviour (Collegeville Composers Group)
Final Tell out my soul ( )
This is delayed posting because I had to get to another Mass on Sunday afternoon and the rest of the week seems to have been quite busy too. Praise to the holiest seemed both appropriate to the Sunday and a way of marking the Papal anniversary.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-09-11T18:52:00.001+01:00

11 September 2011
Entrance Love is his word
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriels (mtgf)
Psalm 102 The Lord is compassion (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Not for tongues (Michael Joncas)
Eucharistic Acclamations Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion Now we remain (David Haas)
Final Sing of the Lord's Goodness
As the new term begins I am aware that in year A, and I think Year C, we get a series of readings about sin and repentance. It is interesting to stay faithful to the readings and yet provide music which is attractive and welcoming. As there are a number of visitors today and on the same principal as last week that new translation is enough to worry about the hymns war chosen from among the familiar. My impression was that we spoke the text well. The revised Gloria is slightly throwing people as part of the way I have dealt with longer text is to make the initial refrain cover the first paragraph rather than just repeating the first line. I suspect we will get there. In a similar way we have repeated the Memorial Acclamation for last week and this but I think we shall just go straight in. I am aware that I would like people to know more than just one acclamation.

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-09-04T18:31:00.001+01:00

4 September 2011
Entrance Brother, sister let me serve you
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriels (mtgf)
Psalm 94 O that today (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation (A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts Ubi caritas (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion Where two or three (Collegeville Composers Group)
Final God is love
And so we begin. We went again for the total with new (revised) Mass settings as well as the new translation for the Order of Mass. People were reminded before Mass that they needed an extra booklet and there was an introduction to the translation after the Gospel (though the Deacon gave a 'short' homily as well because he he had prepared one).
We sang a revised version of the St Gabriel's Gloria using the new translation, once people had got past the awkwardness of the first refrain and were onto more familiar terrain it seemed OK. The revised Mass of Creation was introduced briefly before Mass. We sang the first acclamation as cantor repeated by all, and will do so for a couple of week to introduce it. Though some are concerned that there is a danger with rewritten settings that it will be easy to lapse into 'old ways' I think with strong leadership from the musicians there should not be a problem (of course, if the musicians slip…). More interestingly when we used one practice to review new settings there was a general feeling that the rewritten settings may tied us over but we may continue looking for new ones.
In general people's responses seemed OK; nobody expects perfection in week one. What I was aware of was that I come to the text knowing what has changed and what has not whereas I got the impression this morning that people could be thrown by the familiar because you do not know what to expect, so the response 'For the kingdom' was a little subdued (actually as this is said by people alone rather than priest and people together it has often been subdued).
I particularly wanted that the choices for other texts would be familiar, hence opening and closing hymn. I think they were at one remove from the scripture texts but still appropriate. Ubi caritas linked the command of love in the 2nd reading with the idea of coming together in Christ's name. It was good to have a setting of the words 'Where 2 or 3' as that had been a link between the Gospel and the reflection on the Introductory Rites.

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-08-28T15:28:00.001+01:00

28 August 2011
Entrance All that is hidden (Bernadette Farrell)
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 62 For you my soul (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation (A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts Ours were the griefs (Stephen Dean)
Eucharistic Acclamations Missal (ICEL)
Lamb of God St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion O God, you search me (Bernadette Farrell)
Final He who would valiant be
And so farewell, our final 'And also with you' — our at least as common, intentional response as opposed forgotten out of kilter mumbling that I am sure there will be over the last few weeks. In terms of what we sing we have now been singing the new translations of the Gloria, Sanctus and Memorial Acclamation for 8 weeks and as far as I am aware this has worked well.
As mentioned last week this is the turning point of the Gospel Narrative — the prophecy of the Passion and taking the road for Jerusalem. Again nothing quite right seems to come to mind. Hymns about the Cross, such as 'When I survey' do not seem right. I had thought that 'All that is hidden' made explicit mention of taking up the cross, but apparently not, though I think it was still appropriate. 'Ours were the griefs' was a response to the image that Christ was to suffer.

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-08-21T21:30:00.001+01:00

21 August 2011
Entrance Christ is made the sure foundation
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 137 Your love, O Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation (A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts He became poor (John Bell)
Eucharistic Acclamations Missal (ICEL)
Lamb of God St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion All things are from the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Final All my hope on God is founded
I was at a meeting earlier this week where the Revised Common Lectionary was discussed and how its adoption in Reformed Churches in the US had led to hymn writers identifying readings for which there were not hymn texts and then to create them. Though I am sure I said before here that I am not sure that a hymn text should be too exact not be a retelling or paraphrase particularly I am surprised that today's Gospel has not led to more texts — or perhaps I am missing something obvious, suggestions welcome.
I think I am correct that Peter's recognition and next week's prophecy of the Passion are heard in all three Lectionary years and are the whole common events in Ordinary Time marking the turning point in the Gospel narrative. This suggests that lack of sung texts is more surprising. Another comment from the meeting is that we should think of being in the Year of John and Matthew (etc.) rather than just Matthew as in each year John is read on a significant number of Sundays (and usually significant Sundays as well).
Therefore the first hymn was in part acclamation to Christ but also shift to Christ rather Peter being the foundation; the final hymn took a similar line of foundations. I did wonder about a verse of 'O come, O come Emmanuel' to link to the first reading but that may have been a little obscure.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2011-08-15T14:14:00.001+01:00

14 August 2011

Entrance Hail Queen of heaven
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 44 On your right stands the Queen (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation (A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts Magnificat (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations Missal (ICEL)
Lamb of God St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion O holy Mary (Owen Alstott)
Final Tell out my soul

This week we down in numbers as both I and our accompanist were away. There was a pre-Olympic Cycle race which closed local streets. So a choir member reports:

Congregation were a little tentative at first but were clearly singing the Gloria and the Acclamations. We used two versions of the Magnificat (Farrell and Tell out my soul), but this seemed to be an appropriate response to the Gospel. It was something we knew and could sing unaccompanied, and somehow, 'Tell out my Soul' never quite feels like a Magnificat to me...

Meanwhile I was at the parish of Saint Jacques in Reims where Sunday Mass was for 20th Sunday. (Today, Monday, was the Assumption and a bank Holiday with large Mass in the Cathedral.) We had a cantor and an organist as well as congregation and priest who sang. Leaving aside a version of 'Make me a channel of your peace' with 'A new commandment' words. The two main things to note were a brief organ interlude after the Homily, which was effective (and also done at the Cathedral today) and there were baptisms after Mass and the infants with parents and god parents were brought to the Sanctuary after Communion and welcomed and the infants signed with the Cross. We then sang once through the Taizé Magnificat as both an acclamation and preparation for tomorrow. Otherwise it was done simply and well, in particular the disposition of ministers.

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-08-07T21:30:00.001+01:00

7 August 2011
Entrance Dear Lord and Father of mankind
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 84 Let us see, O Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation (A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts Let nothing trouble you (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations Missal (ICEL)
Lamb of God St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion As the deer longs (Bob Hurd)
Final Eternal Father, strong to save
The connections between the reading is not obvious at first glance. I think it is something about the voice that speaks of peace, the quiet voice, the calm in the heart of the storm. The opening hymn set up the still small voice, and the final hymn the raging of the sea. Let nothing trouble you is a variant on be not afraid and at Communion as we approached the altar of the Lord, we also heard of the many waters.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-07-31T19:23:00.001+01:00

31 July 2011
Entrance We come as guests invited
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 144 You open wide your hands (trad/mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation (A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts Neither death, nor life (mtgf)
Eucharistic Acclamations Missal (ICEL)
Lamb of God St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion Taste and see (Stephen Dean)
Final God is love, his the care
The story of the loaves and fishes and its eucharistic connotations inspired both the opening hymn and the psalm at Communion. The sense of the generosity of God who opens wide his hands was behind the final hymn and the preparation of gifts was based on the reading from Romans.
There was better sense this morning that the congregation was beginning to sing the Mass settings with confidence.

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-07-24T20:53:00.001+01:00

24 July 2011
Entrance Your words are spirit and life (Bernadette Farrell)
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 118 Lord, how I love your law (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation (A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts The love of the Lord (Michael Joncas)
Eucharistic Acclamations Missal (ICEL)
Lamb of God St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion Where your treasure is (Marty Haugen)
Final Be thou my vision
Our homily this morning was, unusually, on the first reading and wisdom. Wisdom seen as understanding of the law and living by it. The music choices reflected and this some ways followed the trajectory of the Liturgy of the the Word. An alternative psalm in praise of the law to begin — Psalm 18. The Joncas song in some ways goes beyond the gospel — even gold and silver cannot compare. At Communion an image from the Gospel (though here the more pictorial Lucan version) which can also be applied to Communion itself. And finally Be thou my vision brought wisdom and treasure together.

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-07-17T18:20:00.001+01:00

17 July 2011
Entrance Christ is alive
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 85 O Lord, you are good and forgiving (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation (A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts There is a longing (Anne Quigley)
Eucharistic Acclamations Missal (ICEL)
Lamb of God St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion As seed for the sowing (Collegeville Composers Group)
Final The kingdom of God
It often seems to happen that we are unaccompanied on a Sunday soon after we begin new Mass parts. It can be a good text of whether they have 'settled' yet. Three weeks in we are not there yet. I think pieces do take a while unless they are exceptionally simple towards the banal. It does strike me that the style of music is, though not unfamiliar, definitely at one end of our range of style. I am also aware that in both settings the Congregation are invited to sing everything and so they are more engaged with less familiar words than they would be with a responsorial setting.
Sometimes I am aware and I am sure that I have noted that, particularly when unaccompanied, a less well known opening hymn can seem to disengage people but the congregation definitely did sing the opening (and closing) hymn and responded well to the Lord have mercy.
As there were just two singers I went for the familiar. Anne Quigley's There is a longing inspired by the second reading and a repeat of the Psallite communion antiphon from last week, though with different psalms verses.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-07-10T21:08:00.001+01:00

10 July 2011
Entrance Unless a grain (Bernadette Farrell)
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 64 Some seed fell on rich soil (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation (A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts Parable (M D Ridge)
Eucharistic Acclamations Missal (ICEL)
Lamb of God St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion As seed for the sowing (Collegeville Composers Group)
Final God, whose almighty word
The second week of new texts. Partly because I am animating the new settings, something I do not do just for the sake of it, it is noticeable that people are reaching for their Mass sheets. This is a good sign of a willingness to participate but also retrospectively how well people have know our current settings often without recourse to the Mass sheet. The Missal chants seemed less stark this week I am not sure why.
Today is a good example of how the Lectionary adds layers of meaning — though I think the layers make more sense if you know the gospel from the beginning and hear the rest of the word through that text. Though the gospel contains a quotation from Isaiah it is a different passage we hear in the first reading. The psalm takes a different perspective — though the response is taken from the Gospel (or Luke's version for the pedant). The idea of rain as heaven's river brimming over is a wonderful image. For the gospel it suggests that we grow through God's grace. The ideas of growth were present in the second reading as well — the groans of creation.
I am aware that I think of some hymns as opening hymns and some as closing. I am not sure what affects this judgement. It is not the OT -> NT that Stephen Dean sometimes suggests. I guess I think that some are better at drawing people in and others at sending them out. The reason for these thoughts was the choice of God, whose almighty word which I think we have always sung as an opening hymn. Unless a grain of wheat seemed also an appropriate choice; it added the dimension of the Paschal Mystery to the parable. It would seem even less suitable as a closing hymn — I am aware that I don't think cantor/choir verses work at this end (though I think congregation sang through this morning). I a fond of Parable by M D Ridge - it is definitely worth the effort. I do wonder what occasion inspired the original conjunction of texts; my guess is something an end of term or graduation.

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-07-05T21:29:00.001+01:00

3 July 2011
Entrance I heard the voice of Jesus say
Gloria At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 144 I will bless your name (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation (A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts Like a child rests (Christopher Walker)
Eucharistic Acclamations Missal (ICEL)
Lamb of God St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion Come to me (mtgf)
Final Sing of the Lord's goodness (Ernest Sands)
Today we began to sing the new translation. We would usually have begun our 'Summer Mass settings' on Trinity Sunday to mark the break from the Easter season but the Conference last week meant I decided to hold off until now. We are using the chants from the Missal for the Eucharistic Acclamations. To be honest I am slightly ambivalent about them. In their favour is a simplicity which I think is suitable for the Summer period when music personnel can vary. I am also aware that the diocese, as I understand it, are encouraging the use of the chant to start with. What attracts me is the possibility of having a Mass setting people know and can be used wherever and whenever — in a similar way to the chant Paschal Alleluia. We also using the Psallite setting of the Gloria. Though melodically simpler than some settings it seems to have a bit more life about it. I decide to introduce everything in one fell swoop — in previous years the music for Summer Ordinary Time would be one of the clear breaks. The one thing I was not aware of when planning was a baptismal party who, as is often the case, can be less used to participating than the usual congregation.
The opening hymn made a nice connection between the gospel and baptism with 'come unto me and rest' in the first verse and then images of water and light in the second and third. Similarly Christopher Walker's setting of Psalm 132 at the Preparation seemed appropriate. The Communion Song uses the Gospel text for the refrain and the verses are drawn from the various 'I am' statements of Jesus ending with the invitation to 'come to me'.

The Body and Blood of the Lord

2011-06-26T20:24:00.001+01:00

26 June 2011
Entrance Of the glorious Body telling ()
Gloria Glory to God (Berthier)
Psalm 147 O praise the Lord, Jerusalem (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation (A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts Our blessing cup (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion Take and Eat (Michael Joncas)
Final My God, and they table spread ( )
Today we a Deacon's Conference at the College, I'm not sure i what the collective noun is, and an Archbishop. The deacons and their wives certainly sang lustily. We were joined by members of the music group and by their accompanist as our usual one was away. What I had not factored in that as opposed to our usual low-style celebration and just one verse of the hymn covering the procession was we needed more music at beginning and end. The hymns were the same as last year - I decided to repeat them as the tunes were well known — at least to the congregation. As we had a full leaflet we could have had an alternative translation to J M Neale for the first hymn - what we had, though familiar, is hard work. It reinforces the idea that the words we sing are carried along by the music.
Last year I also wrote about the danger of particularity. This year we sang Bob Hurd's setting of Psalm 115 which has a refrain drawn from 1 Corinthians. At Communion we repeated Take and Eat which we had sung on Maundy Thursday - a link for those who might remember.
There was a good reason to sing the Memorial Acclamation When we eat today but as today was also the last Sunday we will sing the Gathering Mass, at least in its present form, it seemed not worth introducing it. We certainly gave it a good send off.

Most Holy Trinity

2011-06-19T20:59:00.001+01:00

19 June 2011
Entrance For God so loved the world (mtgf)
Penitential Rite St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria Glory to God (Berthier)
Canticle - Daniel 3 To you glory and praise (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts Hymn of the Cherubim (Russian)
Eucharistic Acclamations Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God (Berthier)
Communion God beyond all names (Bernadette Farrell)
Final Holy God, we praise thy name
Today was a relatively normal Sunday. The accoutrements of Easter have gone. Usually like to make a complete change of Mass settings this Sunday - it may be a Solemnity, but it ain't Easter. Originally I had planned that we would be using new settings today, however we have a conference at the College next weekend and they will be coming to Sunday Mass so we will stick with settings the congregation are confident with for another week.
It seemed appropriate to repeat the Lenten Entrance song with a couple of Trinitarian verses as the refrain is drawn from today's Gospel.
Over the yearsI have noticed that this is supposed to be hard feast to preach on. Though in general clergy are good at taking the scripture as the focus on this feast it disappears and it is not as though the rest of the liturgy gets a look in even though in liturgy we are brought in to the life of the Trinity. I suspect that just as last week is about the Holy Spirit we are bound by themes and subjects rather than experience. By experience I do not mean shared emotions but celebrating liturgy is doing theology.

Pentecost

2011-06-12T21:01:00.001+01:00

12 June 2011
Entrance Veni Sancte Spiritus (Christopher Walker)
Penitential Rite Lux et Origo (mtgf)
Gloria Glory to God (Berthier)
Psalm 103 Send forth your spirit (mtgf)
Sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus (chant arr. mtgf)
Rite of Baptism Litany of the Saints (chant)
Celtic Alleluia (O'Carroll)
Rite of Confirmation Veni Sancte Spiritus (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Come Holy Ghost (Schubert)
Eucharistic Acclamations Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God (Berthier)
Communion Christ has no hands (mtgf)
Final Christ be our light (Bernadette Farrell)
Today we celebrated the Sacraments of Initiation for 2 adults and also Infant baptism. This was a first for us, Though we have a lot of infant baptisms, or so it seems at times, the RCIA group runs in term time and so people are not usually around for the Easter Vigil. We have needed to sing a Litany of the Saints before. I used the chant setting from the new Missal - partly because of convenience. It was for our congregation, unknowingly, their first taste of the translation and the chant. The plan was to sing the Celtic Alleluia after each baptism. One of the problems of applause in the liturgy is hat it is not an acclamation. The focus of the applause is usually the newly baptised whereas an acclamation, such as Alleluia, offers praise to God for the gift of new members. We then repeated the Veni Sancte Spiritus from the beginning before the Confirmations — this allowed some 'stage-management' and a pause between the rites.

Ascension of the Lord

2011-06-05T21:29:00.001+01:00

5 June 2011
Entrance At the name of Jesus
Gloria Glory to God (Berthier)
Psalm 46 Our God goes up (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts One is the Body (John Bell)
Eucharistic Acclamations Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God (Berthier)
Communion Alleluia hymn (Orthodox arr. mtgf)
Final Lord, you give the great commission
This morning we had five baptisms so opening and closing hymns we chose ones which would be well known. The final hymn was chosen because of the specific reference to baptism and we sang it to Ode to Joy on the assumption that more people would know that tune rather than Abbot's Leigh.
One is the Body is a well-crafted song based on the Ephesians text. The Alleluia hymn is based on well known Orthodox chant which I have added words in praise of Christ and made it more rhythmic than chanted.
We also had a conference in the college this weekend and were asked to sing at Mass on Friday evening and at a second Mass on Sunday morning. In preparing the music choices the key questions are how many people and are they English speaking alongside the purpose of conference and the liturgical texts. As I understood it the group was English speaking/comprehending - so the task was to identify hymns that would be widely known and appropriate. For Mass parts we sang de Angelis on Friday - which worked fine they were a group who sang well. I was interested that few seemed to know the chant of the memorial acclamation Mortem tuam. For Sunday we sang much the same as our normal Mass above but used the Mass of Creation instead of the Gathering Mass — I think was the last time we will sing as an acclamation Christ has died. We used the Penitential Rite I wrote based on the Easter chant Lux et origo and I added a Lamb of God based on the chant as well.

6th Sunday of Easter

2011-05-29T18:31:00.001+01:00

29 May 2011
Entrance Spirit of truth and grace
Gloria Glory to God (Berthier)
Psalm 65 Ring out your joy (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Ubi caritas (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God (Berthier)
Communion Live on in my love (Collegeville Composers' Group)
Final Christ is alive
Spirit and love. The opening hymn is sung to Down Ampney and so brings a resonance of Come down, O love divine. The reading speak of the gift of the spirit and as we had a baptism this seemed an appropriate choice. The images in the final hymn were also linked with baptism.
The choir parts in the Gathering Mass are more akin, I think, to instrumental parts in that they do not support the melody but add a further dimension. It also means that we leave the congregation to 'get on with' their own part unsupported by the choir - which they seem manage quite happily.
Vulpius — the hymn tune of the final hymn seems to me one of those hymns sung differently across the denominational divide: Alleluia - first bar 3 crotchets or minim-crotchet. I prefer the 3 crotchets as it gives it more of a rhythmic kick.

5th Sunday of Easter

2011-05-22T20:54:00.001+01:00

22 May 2011
Entrance We have been told (David Haas)
Penitential Rite Penitential Act - Lux et origo (mtgf)
Gloria Glory to God (Berthier)
Psalm 32 May your love be upon us (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Let nothing trouble you (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God (Berthier)
Communion Take and eat (Michael Joncas)
Final Christ is made the sure foundation
As alternative to our opening hymn we looked at Herbert/Vaughan Williams Come my way, my truth, my life but it was felt that the congregation would not know it. Actually it has a similar status to what we sang - something that has previously been a choir piece but has not necessarily sung by the congregation. One of the nice aspects as the David Haas piece is it's simple harmony which sounds as though it was originally improvised.

Bernadette Farrell's piece Let nothing trouble you though it was originally written for the dedication of a church could have been written for this Sunday as it picked up themes from both gospel and 2nd reading - actually the text skilfully weaves many scripture texts and images. The 2nd reading was also the source of the final hymn an occasion where we sang consubstantial without any seeming trouble.

The Penitential Act was new and was based on Kyrie Lux et origo which is for Eastertide. As we have some more baptisms in the coming weeks I am not sure how often it will be used.

4th Sunday of Easter

2011-05-18T20:38:00.001+01:00

15 May 2011
Entrance Crown him with many crowns
Gloria Glory to God (Berthier)
Psalm 22 The Lord is my Shepherd (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts A listening heart (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God (Berthier)
Communion Shepherd me, O God (Marty Haugen)
Final Hail Redeemer
Easter is a time of paradox: the Lord is both shepherd and lamb - the lamb upon his throne and the shepherd king.
Other choices were derived from psalm 22. Both the responsorial psalm and Marty Haugen's version we had sung on the 4th Sunday of Lent. Bob Hurd's A listening heart has verses for a cantor from psalm 22 while the refrain with its invitation to follow God's voice was appropriate for the Day of Prayer for Vocations.

3rd Sunday of Easter

2011-05-09T20:53:00.001+01:00

8 May 2011
Entrance Sing of one who walks
Gloria Glory to God (Berthier)
Psalm Show us, Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts No longer I (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God (Berthier)
Communion Easter Evening (John Bell)
Final O praise ye the Lord
Another baptism and the choices divided neatly between baptism and Emmaus - I could not think of anything that bound the two closely together. The first reading and psalm had baptismal elements - and it is why I thought it important to use the response in the Lectionary rather than just repeat the psalm setting from the Vigil. No longer I is a setting that we used to sing on Easter Sunday as a simple reflection. I once used it with a group of Franciscan sisters and it spoke directly to their spirituality. On Sunday it was intended a response for all the baptised. I may have 'missed a meeting' but I have never fully understood the connection between O praise ye the Lord and baptism. Yes, there is 'sons of new birth' and it is a hymn of praise but I presume there is something obvious I am missing. So with this weak connection and also as a hymn I thought would be known by those who were not regulars it was our final hymn.
I always think the last line of the opening hymn should be 'we will never walk alone'. Now I can see why it isn't but the internal logic of the text suggests it. It is a good hymn for Easter Evening Prayer; in the morning the darkness has to become metaphorical - it is a fine text. We sing it to Hyfrydol - it would good to use the suggested US tune in Laudate at some point.

2nd Sunday of Easter

2011-05-01T18:16:00.001+01:00

1 May 2011
Entrance O Sons and daughters
Gloria Glory to God (Berthier)
Psalm 118 Give thanks to the Lord, alleluia (Collegeville)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Put your hand here, Thomas (Collegeville)
Eucharistic Acclamations Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God (Berthier)
Communion One in body, heart and mind (Christopher Walker)
Final O sons and daughters
A Sunday with a rich variety of themes - and as I listened to the readings even more were apparent. We went with Thomas. I am not sure if the language of 'Put you hand here, Thomas' is not a little direct but it suited out low week forces this morning. We divided the hymn into two parts singing verses 4-7 which tell of Thomas' encounter with Jesus at the beginning and then verses 8-9 at the end which rounded of the celebration nicely - Blessed are those who believe. Using the same hymn at beginning and end had a certain simplicity and we also had to be finished promptly as the local parish was borrowing the chapel for their First Holy Communions afterwards.
One in Body not only was an echo of the Vigil but also picked up on the reading from Acts.

Easter Sunday

2011-04-24T17:01:00.001+01:00

24 April 2011
Entrance Jesus Christ is risen today
Gloria Glory to God (Berthier)
Psalm 117 This is the day (Marty Haugen)
Sequence Praise to the Paschal Victim (mtgf)
Baptismal Promises & Sprinkling Amen, amen (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts Christ the Glory (Lalouette)
Eucharistic Acclamations Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God (Berthier)
Communion I have seen the Lord (Bob Hurd)
Final Thine be the glory
For the musicians it is the morning after the night before and though tired and maybe not in tiptop vocal condition we offer our best. Thanks to all who contributed to the singing and playing.

Easter Vigil

2011-04-24T16:52:00.001+01:00

23 April 2011
Procession The Lord is my light (Taizé)
Exsultet simple (mtgf)
Psalm 103 Send forth your spirit (mtgf)
Psalm 15 Preserve me, God (Christopher Walker)
Exodus 15 I will sing to the Lord (mtgf)
Psalm 29 I will praise you, Lord (Paul Inwood)
Psalm 41-42 As the deer longs (Palestrina/Bridge)
Gloria Coventry (Peter Jones)
Gospel Acclamation Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Profession of Faith & Sprinkling Amen, Amen (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts For peace (Antoine Oomen)
Eucharistic Acclamations Gathering Mass (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God (Berthier)
Communion One in Body (Christopher Walker)
Final Christ be our light (Bernadette Farrell)
One of the ironies of our vigil is that we seem to have more cantors than readers. We had 5 Old Testament readings and Psalms and could have in terms of voices sung a further two. It is fair to note that Exodus 15 is sung by the men and that Psalm 41-42 is sung by the whole choir (as are the psalm verses of the Celtic Alleluia). Psalm 41-42 was new last year and, as I said last year, is a slightly cheeky arrangement of Palestrina's Sicut cervus but it is effective. It also completed our hat trick with Byrd and Victoria. Part of its effectiveness is because it is unaccompanied and so provides a different texture.
And so farewell Exultet - the sadness is not new over old or styles and theories of translation it is familiarity. This is a component of ritual we can participate because we know and recognise or at least we are in the hands of those who know. Though looking at the above the list there will be five items that will need to be replaced by new or revised setting and so much, like the psalms, can remain the same. However we will someways need to learn how to participate anew.
We also sang farewell to the Coventry Gloria in at least its current form. Other current settings will last us the Easter season. The new this year were the fourth psalm - apart from the fact that the settings suited the cantor's voice it is also good not get to stuck with exactly the same readings. One in body was the other piece that suggested itself as I perused the choir library. I think it worked well liturgically (it accompanied the action appropriately) and musically (it suited our resources). Textually it was OK but did sing of the particular mystery being celebrated.

Good Friday

2011-04-22T21:27:00.001+01:00

22 April 2011
Psalm 31 Father, into your hands (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Lenten (mtgf)
Passion Acclamation Behold the Lamb of God (John Bell)
Intercessions response (Marty Haugen)
Veneration of the Cross Invitation (A Gregory Murray)
Reproaches (Peter Jones)
O vos omnes (Victoria)
Jesus, remember me (Taizé)
O Crux ave (Rihards Dubra)
Communion Calvarie Mount (Tallis arr. Charles Wood)
When I survey the wondrous cross
I noted last year that coming changes will particularly affect the intercessions and the invitation to the cross. The procession with the cross was one of those points where the congregation really sang its response. The question becomes is it this tradition (because we have used the same setting over a number of years), this setting (an intrinsic quality in the music) or this context (this a point where the assembly wishes to express itself in song - it makes sense to sing this or at this point)? Like most things it is probably a combination. The first and third are connected - this what we do at this point - it's part of the ritual. For the most part the significant change for most musicians will be parts of the Mass and as those can be established outside the Triduum it means that tradition and ritual can be maintained.
Two motets were new this year. The catalyst for Victoria's O vos omnes from his Tenebrae Responsories was the 400th anniversary of his death. Apart from the pathos he manages to draw from simple means the text from Lamentations seem to add an extra layer to the liturgical moment. To sing All you who pass this way as people process to venerate the Cross add perhaps a further reproach. A challenge for Good Friday which I am not otherwise sure we meet except in the Gospel Acclamation is the glory of the Cross — lament is easier or at least better provided for. The second motet by the contemporary Latvian composer Rihards Dubra also addressed this in a quiet way. The text is taken from Vexilla regis and within the first bar you know that you are in the hands of confident choral composer who is not ashamed to write simply and with warmth.

Maundy Thursday

2011-04-22T18:57:00.001+01:00

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.

Passion [Palm] Sunday

2011-04-17T18:41:00.001+01:00

17 April 2011
Entrance Hosanna — Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Psalm 21 My God, my God (Christopher Walker)
Gospel Acclamation Lenten (mtgf)
Passion Acclamation Behold the Lamb of God (John Bell)
Preparation of Gifts Calvarie Mount (Tallis)
Eucharistic Acclamations Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Lamb of God Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion Ours were the griefs (Stephen Dean)
Final My song is love unknown
This Holy Week will be tinged by a certain poignancy as we celebrate using the present translation of the Missal for the last time. It is perhaps ironic that some settings we have used for Mass parts may live on once a year as acclamations. For example, Behold the Lamb of God we gave up as a Lamb of God in the Autumn but it is retained as a Passion acclamation.
We hoped to sing Christus factus est by Anerio but were short of one part and has I have noted before polyphony is less forgiving of absence than other music.
I think today's psalm setting is a good example of a long response where the congregation has something to get it's teeth into. Listening it is sung with the quiet intensity that the composer asks for and acts a suitable contrast to the more dramtic verses.

5th Sunday of Lent

2011-04-10T18:30:00.001+01:00

10 April 2011
Entrance For God so loved the world (mtgf)
Penitential Rite Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Psalm 129 God of compassion (Scott Soper)
Gospel Acclamation Lenten (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts You are mine (David Haas)
Eucharistic Acclamations Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Lamb of God Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion I am the resurrection (Bob Hurd)
Final Praise the Lord, ye heavens adore him
Considering the importance of these Sundays in the rites of Initiation and that (in theory at least) many parishes are using these texts most years as the prepare catechumens for baptism at Easter I don't feel overwhelmed by the possible choices of music. The David Haas song though not explicitly connected had a number of glancing references and I associated 'Lazarus, come out' with 'I have called you each by name'. The Bob Hurd as part of his Lenten Journey in the verses makes connections between all the readings.
The final hymn might have seemed that Lenten to some but this is a Sunday where Christ prefigures his own resurrection and conquers sin and death - not the material for a lament. As what the Church offers on the Sundays of Lent is not a 'misery-fest' it begs the question how doe we know this season to be different to others - to which the answer should be the sound should be different and we are heading somewhere. There is always room to develop and deepen. The specific images were 'for he hath spoken' (though the following couple of lines is very much of its time) and 'sin and death shall not prevail'.
Today's psalm was one of the few times we sing the psalm chorally. Though Scott Soper's setting could be sung by just a single cantor the variety of the different voices I hoped brought out some of the contrast in the text.

4th Sunday of Lent

2011-04-03T22:25:00.001+01:00

3 April 2011
Entrance For God so loved the world (mtgf)
Penitential Rite Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Psalm 22 The Lord is my shepherd (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Lenten (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts Song of the man born blind (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Lamb of God Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion Shepherd me, O God (Bob Hurd)
Final Be thou my vision
Light and shepherds were the key ideas. The gospel for these three Lenten Sundays are so rich both in their similarities and their differences. Again you might that psalm such as 26 - The Lord is my light and my help - might be first choice but the Lectionary offers a richer set of images: the one who is anointed, who is a light in the darkness, who leads to water and banquet.
I wondered if the Opening song for these weeks should more be an acclamation rather than a statement to echo the acclamations of faith in the gospels - You are the Christ…

3rd Sunday of Lent

2011-03-27T19:43:00.001+01:00

27 March 2011
Entrance For God so loved the world (mtgf)
Penitential Rite Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Psalm 94 O that today (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Lenten (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts You know me, Lord (James Walsh)
Eucharistic Acclamations Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Lamb of God Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion As the deer longs (Bob Hurd)
Final I heard the voice of Jesus say
When looking at the Sundays of Lent in year A I seem always to be surprised by the psalm for this Sunday and the next - in a 'couldn't they do better' way. This is because the link to the Gospel is through the first reading rather than providing a bridge between them.
I like how the hymn 'I heard the voice of Jesus say' reflects this and next Sunday through reference to the gospel. Given the importance of these Sundays and the fifth Sunday as well in the Initiation of Adults I once wrote a Lazarus verse as well.
Psalm 41 at Communion picked up on the thirst of the Samaritan for Jesus' gift of living water and then added baptismal imagery. As I noted a couple of weeks ago this of a type of music where beyond melody and accompaniment nothing is essential but the musicians can add and subtract to bring variation. One of the advantages of being a small group is that this process does not need to be meticulously planned. Another psalm (138) at the Preparation of Gifts - which picked up on the Samaritan woman's statement that Jesus knew all about her. Considering that Psalm 138 is on the edge of the Sunday Lectionary (Birth of St John the Baptist - so sung at the most once every 6 years) it is interesting how many settings there are. I guess that is linked to a contemporary to be known. I chose the James Walsh setting because it is in the form of dialogue which reflected the dialogue of the Gospel. The idea of the setting is simple - contrasting minor and major verses but it is beautifully worked out.

2nd Sunday of Lent

2011-03-20T17:41:00.001Z

20 March 2011
Entrance For God so loved the world (mtgf)
Penitential Rite Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Psalm 32 May your love (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Lenten (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts Eye has not seen (Marty Haugen)
Eucharistic Acclamations Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Lamb of God Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion Transfigure us, O Lord (Bob Hurd)
Final Christ be our light (Bernadette Farrell)
Reduced singers and no accompaniment - so again nought fancy. As ever one of the advantages of being unaccompanied is that you can hear people singing. Last week I was a little concerned that people had not remembered or even warmed to Bob Hurd's Ubi Caritas acclamations; this week it was not just a couple of solos at the front. It may be an idea, as we have previously, to sing always this unaccompanied. The other difference was that this week we were in unison; last week I sang tenor. One of my many theories of leading music is that the congregation attune themselves to certain voices - this maybe pure self-aggrandisement!

1st Sunday of Lent

2011-03-13T16:55:00.001Z

13 March 2011
Entrance For God so loved the world (mtgf)
Penitential Rite Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Psalm 50 Have mercy on us (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Lenten (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts Be with me, Lord (Marty Haugen)
Eucharistic Acclamations Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Lamb of God Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion Out into the wilderness (Bob Hurd)
Final Guide me, O thou great Redeemer ( )
From September until now the changes in Mass parts have been gradual, some constants, other parts changing with the seasons. With Lent, and with Easter, the changes are more abrupt. A practical reason is that as we have new people each September it allows time to learn the music and gain a foundation. For those who have been around a little longer one hopes that the return of familiar settings is a welcome memory.
One of our singers could not be with us today and as this meant a whole part in a couple of pieces I had planned we had to turn to familiar settings. Psalm 90 (91) is sung as the psalm in other years and though it is quoted in the gospel it is by the tempter! Marty Haugen's setting has an easy flow. I was struck by how this genre is intended to work whatever the resources — you can add and take away parts, beyond melody and chords everything might be seen as ornamentation; whereas Morales needs all parts present and correct.
Sometimes there is a difference in the text between the psalm setting and the Mass sheet. Obviously one goes with the Mass sheet to save confusion. This morning I noted that the psalm response is plural whereas the text of the psalm is singular, including the equivalent text of the response.

9th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-03-06T18:41:00.001Z

6 March 2011
Entrance Christ is made the sure foundation
Gloria St Augustines (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 30 O Lord, be a rock (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts These words (Tom Lowenthal)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion Exultate iusti (Viadana)
Final All creatures of our God and king
A Sunday to say farewell to the Alleluia hence the final hymn. The praise of water was appropriate as we had a baptism this morning as well. It was Sunday of leave taking of a number of texts and music. I think it will be the last time we sing 'Christ has died'. The Mass setting we sing before September and the new translation offer a choice of acclamations. It will be the last time we sing the Mass of Creation in its current guise. It is also farewell, I think, to St Augustine's Gloria. I am not aware that a rewrite with the new translation is planned. I have always enjoyed its sprightliness and forward drive. I was once in a parish where the parish priest did not like it because the refrains are in Latin.
Our organist he did not know the tune of Westminster Abbey, though we have sung Christ is made the sure foundation before, perhaps we did it unaccompanied. I am not sure it's a tune I would introduce unaccompanied. Anyway it linked to the gospel and also with the baptism. These words can sound like an off-cut from Fiddler on the Roof but it is a good memorable tune and arrangement and as well as being based on the first reading it spoke of baptism and the handing on of faith.

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-02-27T16:37:00.001Z

27 February 2011
For the first time since in over 12 years, I think, there was no music at Mass this morning. The singers went with the College Choir for the Church Colleges Choir Festival in Lincoln and our organist was on vacation in New York.

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-02-20T22:00:00.001Z

20 February 2011
Entrance Brother, Sister let me serve you ()
Gloria St Augustine's (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 102 The Lord is compassion (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion Love one another (mtgf)
Final God is love, his the care
Two baptisms this morning. I sometimes wonder if the congregation realise this is a surprise — the lack of reference to them in the Mass leaflet is the clue. Our deacon suggested before Mass that he could not make any connections between the readings and baptism so he would reflect on the MIddle East instead. Though he is experienced enough to weave some references to Baptism into the homily but the focus was regime change. And the connection with music? Well it seems to me that there is a balance between relating the gospel to current events, particular an area one has an interest in and making a judgement about the congregation that will hear it. First and last hymns were chosen was because there were two large baptismal parties and as is often the case many seem not over familiar with participating in Mass. The Servant Song because it is something the congregation knows well and it is suffused with baptismal imagery. The final hymn because I find it is well know and it is 'upbeat'.
I wondered today about the language of the Rite of Baptism given the recent debate in the Anglican General Synod. I find this a hard question, partly because I cannot listen without my 'informed' ear, but there is also a question of people's expectations. The danger is however you describe how language works in liturgy it sounds like a defence of impenetrability - for example if you suggest it may not all be meant to be taken in instantly. I also guess there is a divorcing of text from context - as this gives meaning.
A final passing thought. For another context I was wondering Ubi caritas: Hurd or plainchant? And realised I think of the chant as strongly linked to Maundy Thursday and would not be right at another time whereas Hurd (etc?) I am quite happy with elsewhere. It is not wholly rational this liturgy stuff.

6th Sunday in Ordinary

2011-02-13T18:03:00.001Z

13 February 2011
Entrance Your words are spirit and life (Bernadette Farrell)
Penitential Rite St Gabriels I (mtgf)
Gloria St Augustine's (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 118 They are happy who follow God's law (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts In perfect charity (Randall DeBruyn)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion Teach me, O Lord (Christopher Walker)
Final Praise the Lord, ye heavens adore him ( )
The lateness of Easter means that we are into a series of Sundays that usually fall into the gap of the liturgical year. One of the strokes of genius in the reform of the liturgical year was to make Ordinary Time one season — exploring the life and teaching of Jesus — with some Sundays which are never celebrated each year. For the church musician this means psalms which if they do not recur in the Sunday cycle are rarely sung and Gospel that are heard less often. So today we had a simple setting of the responsorial psalm but the opening song was a similar meditation on the law and at Communion we sang a more expansive setting from Psalm 118. I was interested to note that my instinct if we are singing a second psalm setting is to place it at Communion rather than the Preparation of Gifts. As is often the case the act of Communion adds a level of meaning to the psalm - so the way we should follow is the procession to receive Christ's Body and Blood.
In perfect charity has a text based or inspired by St Francis of Assisi by the composer Randall DeBruyn. It is sung to a fine, long, well-constructed melody which he has arranged to make a satisfying choir piece.

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-02-06T21:56:00.001Z

6 February 2011
Entrance God, whose almighty Word
Penitential Rite St Gabriels I (mtgf)
Gloria St Augustine's (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 111 Good people are a light (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Return to God (Marty Haugen)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion Bread for the world (Christopher Walker)
Final Christ be our light (Bernadette Farrell )

I am often aware that much of my knowledge of scripture comes from singing it and so it was with the first reading today. This means that the reverse can also happen. On reflecting on the passage a melody came to mind and so we sang Marty Haugen's Return to God.

Light was the dominant theme today - salt is a seemingly less attractive option for text writers - and light was there in all the musical choices.

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-01-30T16:37:00.001Z

30 January 2011
Entrance O changeless Christ
Penitential Rite St Gabriels I (mtgf)
Gloria St Augustine's (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 145 How happy are the poor (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Seek the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion What does the Lord require (mtgf)
Final For the healing of the nations
Given the history of the College I like to occasionally use O changeless Christ for its reference to Christ the teacher. I hope today it set up up the Sermon on the Mount over the next few weeks.
There are plenty of settings of the contemporary Beatitudes. A quick look at the Graduale Romanum and CPDL, those essential forms of reference, bring the text up as a Communion Antiphon in the Common of Holy Men and Women and a setting by Byrd, and later Rachmaninov. Do the number of contemporary settings say something about modern spirituality or is it a fluke of history, or have I missed something? Anyway today's Communion Song married Micah and Matthew. By chance the phrase 'and to walk with God' picked up the talk about Student Cross we received in place of a homily today (hmm).

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-01-23T19:17:00.001Z

23 January 2011
Entrance All that is hidden (Bernadette Farrell)
Penitential Rite St Gabriels I (mtgf)
Psalm 26 The Lord is my light and my help (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Cantate Domino (Pitoni)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion Lord, you have come to the seashore (Gabarain)
Final Church of God, elect and glorious
When talking about liturgical seasons I often use the image of a stone hitting the water and the ripples flowing outwards. A central event (the Birth of the Lord in Advent-Christmas) has repercussions backwards and forward. The stone/event is large enough that it ripples over the edges of the season. Today we had one of the ripples. The Christmas season has as a key image darkness and light and the first reading today was a repetition, in part, of the first reading of the Mass during the night at Christmas. Opening and closing hymns reflected this and they also responded to the idea of being called to follow Christ. That which was hidden is now made clear.
An aspect of the new translation that people pick up is what is perceived to be negative language, which often means being explicit about sin and that some are uncomfortable with this. The opposite also appears to be true that the new translation also recovers description of the people of God as holy and people are similarly uncomfortable — perhaps they want a quiet life! Church of God, elect and glorious is an unequivocal expression of God's holy people — perhaps we think it refers to somone else.

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-01-18T08:21:00.002Z

16 January 2011

Entrance God, whose almighty Word
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria St Augustine's Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 39 Here I am, Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Word of God come down to earth (Quinn/Bach)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion Behold the Lamb of God (John Bell) + psalm 33

Final Blest be the Lord (Bernadette Farrell)
Back into Ordinary Time, and a long stretch before we come to Lent. So Mass parts are settled for a couple of months.
The recently 'let go' Behold the Lamb of God made a welcome reappearance as a communion chant. We chose to sing verses from Psalm 33 for two lines - Look towards him and Come, children, and hear me which I hope provided echoes of the gospel.

Baptism of the Lord

2011-01-09T17:48:00.002Z

9 January 2011

Entrance We shall draw water (Paul Inwood)
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria St Augustine's Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 28 The Lord will bless (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts O child of promise (Andrew Maries)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Christmas (Ebeling arr. mtgf)
Communion When John baptised (Bourgeois)
Final Forth in the peace
Responsorial Psalms can be markers in the memory. Three years I must have been in Chile when last sang this psalm. I had left this setting to be used and it was revised for this morning. What struck me was the contrast between the response and the verses, between blessing people with peace and the God of glory and power who thunders over the seas.
The decorations were down, the crib put away and so only the colour white and the Lamb of God were the only echoes on the Christmas season otherwise our focus was directed to the feast and beyond. O child of promise has a sense of invocation or vigil for the feast, not now just 'come be with us' but 'come and show yourself'' and this revelation will eventually lead to passion and resurrection. If you want the textual connection he is God's delight, the one on whom the Holy Spirit rests.
The final hymn picked up references in the homily to baptism in Christ as priest, prophet and king. Though I always appreciate the articulateness of the theology of the text I find it a bit of a mouthful, all those 'Christ's to start with. May be it is the Gibbons tune. I have heard it sung to Jerusalem but then you have to lose a verse which then works against the text.

Epiphany of the Lord

2011-01-02T21:28:00.001Z

2 January 2011
Entrance Gaudete
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria Christmas Gloria (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 71 O Lord, all the earth (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Epiphany antiphons (mtgf)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Christmas (Ebeling arr. mtgf)
Communion He became poor (John Bell)
Final What child is this?
It felt early to be celebrating the Epiphany - as though it marked the end of Christmas already. Indeed it seemed to have caught our Magi unawares as they had a last minute dash top make it to the nativity scene.
I do not get that excited by most Epiphany carols/hymnody, not many sound like a joyful solemnity to me. We began with Gaudete so that there was some bounce at the beginning and the verses by Bob Hurd brought in the Magi.
The piece at the Preparation of Gifts was a setting based on the texts of the Magnificat and Benedictus antiphons which hark back to the ancient tradition of what is being celebrated:
Three wonders mark this day we celebrate:

today a star led the Magi to the manger;

today water was changed into wine at the marriage feast;

today Christ desired to be baptised by John in the river Jordan to bring salvation,

alleluia.

Today the Church has been joined to her heavenly bridegroom,

since Christ has purified her of her sins in the river Jordan:

the Magi hasten to the royal wedding and offer gifts:

the wedding guests rejoice since Christ has changed water into wine,

alleluia.
He became poor was a satisfying choice for communion and the verses we sing from the Philippians canticle brought in the Paschal Mystery which was picked up in the last hymn.

Holy Family

2010-12-27T16:13:00.001Z

26 December 2010
Entrance See amid the winter snow
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria Christmas Gloria (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 127 O blest are those (Paul Inwood)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Good King Wenceslaus
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Christmas (Ebeling arr. mtgf)
Communion Coventry Carol
Final Unto us is born a Son
Opening and Closing Hymns both present images of Holy Mother and Child for the feast. Unto us is born a Son also makes reference to Herod who slew the little childer — verses which are omitted from the Gospel for this Sunday. This episode was also the inspiration for the Coventry Carol. Piae Cantiones was the source for the melody of Unto us and also for Good King Wenceslaus sung to mark the feast of Stephen.

Christmas: Mass during the Day

2010-12-27T16:07:00.003Z

25 December 2010
Entrance Once in royal David's city
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria Christmas Gloria (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 97 All the ends of the earth (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Carol at the Bethlehem Cave (Spanish, arr. Walker)
Eucharistic Prayer Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Christmas (Ebeling arr. mtgf)
Communion Peace Child (Bernadette Farrell)
Away in manger
Night of Silence (Daniel Kantor)
Final O little town of Bethlehem
Though it was still cold the weather was not adverse. Numbers on Christmas morning which seem to vary from year to year were high, it had been full at midnight as well. The numbers meant there was a scramble for a third piece at communion as people were still processing — and Night of Silence was on the top of the pile. Though I rarely comment on the logistics of our liturgy the simple rule of 2 chalices to 1 ciborium is a good starting point: 4 to 1 much less so, hence the length of the procession. I am not necessarily say that a lengthy procession is a problem just that it can have consequences.
Peace Child by Bernadette Farrell is a lovely gentle carol. The gentleness however doew not temper the strength of the text by Shirley Erena Murray.

Christmas: Mass during the Night

2010-12-27T16:07:00.001Z

24/25 December 2010
Carols & Readings
Once in royal David's city
A boy was born (Gesius/JS Bach)
While shepherds watched
There is no rose (Medieval)
O little town of Bethlehem
On the lips of an angel (Bach/Gounod/Scott Soper
Entrance O come all ye faithful
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria Christmas Gloria (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 95 Today a Saviour has been born (Bernadette Farrell)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts What can we give (Catalan, arr. Dean)
Eucharistic Prayer Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Christmas (Ebeling arr. mtgf)
Communion Night of Silence (Daniel Kantor)
Silent Night
Final Hark the herald angels
For the carols before midnight the slashes mean different things. A boy was born 4 verses were sung to the spirited harmonisation of Bartolomaus Gesius and the last verse, more steadily, to a more chromatic harmonisation of Bach's. On the lip of an angel always reminds of a recipe by Sophie Grigson fro a triple cream vanilla mousse written for the weekend before Ash Wednesday. She argued that if that you clearing the larder of foodstuffs before Lent and could only manage pancakes it was a sorry larder. The mousse piled excess on excess and so to Gounod's confection of Bach Scott Soper adds another layer. I m not sure it is necessarily more cream rather an additional ingredient that adds flavour and meaning. To some Gounod is already an iconoclast let us just say that Soper is as successful as Gounod.
The choir carols before Mass were the changes this year the rest, as usually the case with solemn occasions, was unchanged or at least changes slowly. But I was aware that this time next year we were likely to using the new translation. Some settings you hope the composer will revise. I have a fondness for Paul Gibson's Christmas Gloria. It might be thought slightly naff, with the Gloria in excelsis refrain but it's effective naff. The greater loss maybe having a sung Eucharistic Prayer or at least a change that would require careful preparation. It is obvious that people are especially attentive when the prayer is sung and singing it at Christmas heightens the solemnity. We shall see how we manage next year. My suspicion is that Missal tones are not an adequate replacement. My experience is that 2-3 notes of the chant do not have enough character to engage a celebrant who sings well but does not read well.
One other change has already been made and has so far gone by without remark. In previous years we have always sung John Bell's Behold the Lamb of God as a Lamb of God from the end of November until first couple of weeks of Ordinary Time. It did bind together the season from the Lamb on the throne to the Lamb so long expected through to the acclamation of John the Baptist. However its seems to me that the forthcoming translation is an opportunity to reflect on our practice and it ain't a Lamb of God, arguably an acclamation rather than an invocation, a text addressed to one another rather than to the Lamb. Hence an Advent Lamb of God referring to Rorate Caeli and Veni Emmanuel and a Christmas Lamb of God adapted from a hymn tune from Ebeling (cf. Carols for Choirs 2). The leaflets were printed before the Christmas was adapted and so a broad rubric of repeat have mercy on us etc. was included. We will use it for the coming two Sundays and maybe try a combination English and Latin response. I am thinking next year that the congregation might be invited to sing the whole thing through. Though it is not that long it is still longer than the Breaking of Bread - an action which contrary to some is rarely over emphasised.
There seems a certain expectation of O coime all ye faithful and Hark the herald angels at beginning and end. O come all ye faithful works well with a pause before the last verse as the crib blessed and baby placed in the manger. Over the years we have tried alternatives for the final hymn but Mendelssohn has returned. What I find interesting is the popularity of texts which speak in the language of late 18th/early 19th century piety/theology.

4th Sunday of Advent

2010-12-24T19:21:00.001Z

19 December 2010
Entrance O come divine Messiah
Penitential Rite Orbis Factor (mtgf)
Psalm 23 Let the Lord enter (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Ave maris stella (Monteverdi)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Advent (mtgf)
Communion O holy Mary (Owen Alstott)
Final O come, O come Emmanuel
Snow meant we were unaccompanied. We were also for unknown reasons leafletless. We considered doing 'Longing, trusting' and seeing if the congregation could participate from memory. My guess is that they might have done so but we were also aware that as there was no evening Mass there would be some for whom it would be completely unknown. I am not sure we have ever used O come divine Messiah as a congregational hymn - but it sung well - one of the benefits of being unaccompanied is that you are more aware of how things are. We often sing O come divine Messiah in a simple choir arrangement and we had to pay attention so that we did not divert into the arrangement version of the melody.
Snow meant pulling out things that would work with just voices - so though they are both written to be sung unaccompanied both Monteverdi and Alstott became a capella. The Alstott with its chant-like qualities worked well. Advent seems to be when we sing more chant that the rest the year. The version of the Monteverdi begins and ends with the chant for Ave maris stella which is used as the basis for the piece.

Advent Carol Service

2010-12-16T21:17:00.001Z

13 December 2010
Gathering Chant Long is our winter (German, 15th c.)
Opening Hymn O come, O come Emmanuel
Reading May the Lord confirm your hearts in holiness (1 Thessalonians 3:12–4:2)
Response Your words are spirit (Bernadette Farrell)
Reflection We are made to receive love (Pope Benedict outside Westminster Cathedral)
Motet Ave maris stella (Elgar)
Reading Grow strong so that Christ may live in your hearts (Ephesians 3:14–21)
Response Your words are spirit (Bernadette Farrell)
Reflection God loves us with a depth and an intensity (Pope Benedict at the Big Assembly)
Song God has chosen me (Bernadette Farrell)
Meditation God has created me to do him some definite service
Reflection Be open to his voice resounding in the depths of your heart
Song No wind at the window (Irish trad./John Bell)
Gospel Acclamation Gospel Greeting (Bernadette Farrell)
Gospel Jesus is born of Mary who was betrothed to Joseph, son of David (Matthew 1:18–24)
Intercessions Your words are spirit (Bernadette Farrell)
Presentation of Cheques
Song Freedom is coming (South African)
Concluding Prayer
Final Song Joy to the World
Each year the Advent Carol Service tries to reflect something in the life of the College. The fixtures are that is Advent, not Christmas, it is an opportunity to present the cheques for monies raised for local and national children's charities and musical forces are brought together.
This year we took the Papal Visit as a key theme and used extracts from when Pope Benedict spoke to young people as a way of structuring the liturgy. What he said fitted in well with the themes of Advent. The Farrell response harked back to the Prayer with the Religious in the College Chapel. Otherwise the music did not reflect the visit. Mary proved, appropriately, an underlying - someone for whom God had a definite purpose.

3rd Sunday of Advent

2010-12-12T22:23:00.001Z

12 December 2010
Entrance Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite Orbis Factor
Psalm 145 Come, Lord, and save us (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Song of God among us (Huijbers)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Advent (mtgf)
Communion Be patient, Beloved (Collegeville Composers Group)
Final Tell out my soul
Rejoice for the Lord is near began the verse of the opening song, marking Gaudete Sunday. Tell out my soul at the end was also chosen because it is 'upbeat'. I think it also picked up in 'the hungry fed, the humble lifted high' the words of Jesus in the Gospel to the followers of John the Baptist - tell, John, what you have seen. And that is the fulfilment of Isaiah (particularly in the Gospel Acclamation verse).
A long time ago I remember someone suggesting that singing 'Wait for the Lord' at Communion was abit for short-sighted as Christ was present. You might suggest the same about 'Be patient, Beloved' but in someways it is an expression of that special Advent time of present but not yet, long expected but God with us.

Immaculate Conception

2010-12-10T19:33:00.001Z

8 December 2010
Entrance The Angel Gabriel
Gloria St Gabriels (mtgf)
Psalm 97 The Lord has shown (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Gospel Greeting (Bernadette Farrell)
Preparation of Gifts Ave Maris Stella (Elgar)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion No Wind at the Window (Irish melody/Bell)
Final Long ago prophets knew
The College's patronal feast and coming together of our musical forces. These include the College Choir who contributed to the liturgy for the first time. They sang Elgar's Ave Maris Stella, the text from which the College's motto is drawn: Monstra t'esse matrem. I presume that Elgar's setting was written for his parish choir and has melodies and singable parts. I appreciate his dabbling in modality and his skilful use of musical material which makes it a tightly written work. I am pleased to say the College Choir sang it with a pleasant tone and good line - well done.
The psalm setting is an adaptation of one I have written for Christmas day and to my mind this is a good example where the use of the same setting - with different responses - can be effective, making a connection between the two feasts.
For gatherings such as this it is always hard to guess what hymns that people would know and are also appropriate. The final hymn is sung to Theodoric (or God is love; his the care) and so was a tune that most people seem to know. I am not sure about the words. Though they suitably joyful for a patronal feast, were of Advent and capture Mary's role I found some of the rhymes a bit harsh and the refrain with its 'sings' and 'rings' a little twee.

2nd Sunday of Advent

2010-12-05T17:43:00.001Z

5 December 2010
Entrance Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite Orbis Factor
Psalm 71 In his days (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts O comfort my people (arr. mtgf)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Advent (mtgf)
Communion Rorate caeli
Final Benedictus (Alstott/Farrell)
Advent is a time of preparation.This morning reminded that preparation has a number of layers. There is what you prepare to sing and what becomes impossible when circumstances change — so no accompaniment and fewer singers. Then there is the preparation that is longer term. This is analogous to those recipes beloved of cookery writers - the store cupboard standby.
Being unaccompanied means that you can hear the congregation sing. So whatever my worries about the Kyrie last week there was no confusion evident this week. In a similar way I was not sure how well the final hymn would work - though we have sung it in Advent for the last few years, but the congregation sang out. A reminder once again that pieces can be remembered from year to year.

1st Sunday of Advent

2010-11-28T17:48:00.002Z

28 November 2010

Entrance Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite Orbis Factor
Psalm 121 I rejoiced when I heard them say (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts In the day of the Lord (M D Ridge)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Advent (mtgf)
Communion Bread of Life (Bernadette Farrell)
Final Hark a herald voice is calling
Back to the beginning of the Lectionary and Year A. The psalm provides a bridge from one year to the next but now in response to the first reading its focus is eschatological. The song by M D Ridge is a paraphrase of Isaiah reading and is a reminder that we wait in joyful hope for the day of the Lord.
Last year we sang the Orbis Factor Kyrie and just repeated the third Kyrie; this year the congregation were invited to sing the final Kyrie as given. One of the assumptions we may have fallen into is that congregations are only capable of repeating what is sung to them rather respond with an answering phrase. I did consider what I think of as the 'Ainslie' solution which is for the congregation to repeat the cantor's Kyrie and then for the choir to sing the last Kyrie as a coda. As we usually have the 3rd form of Penitential Rite my guess is that would seem an intrusion before the absolution.
A new 'Advent Lamb of God' — as we look towards the new translation of the Missal it seems an opportunity to review what we sing. So a recognition that John Bell's charming Behold the Lamb of God is not a Lamb of God however nicely it bridges the seasons until the beginning of Ordinary Time in the new year. The new setting may not be perfect either. It echoes (read 'copies') Rorate caeli and O come, O come Emmanuel and alternative invocations are offered taken from the O Antiphons.

Christ the King

2010-11-21T21:20:00.001Z

21 November 2010
Entrance Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriel (mtgf)
Psalm 121 I rejoiced when I heard them say (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Beati (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Christ the Glory (J F Lalouette)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Lamb of God 6 (mtgf)
Communion Call us to your table (Christopher Walker)
Final Hail Redeemer
Th end of liturgical year is a time of culminations. David is crowned king and we rejoice; Jesus is raised up. We have reached Jerusalem. A journey we began in the Summer when Jesus took the road to Jerusalem - Let us go to God's house. But I realised listening to the Gospel today that the psalm response is also that of the repentant thief. This eschatological dimension reminds us that this ending is also a beginning. We shall sing the same response at next week's Mass and so the response is ours to God's invitation to eternal life.
Lord Jesus Christ was chosen for its reference to Calvary — something shared with the final hymn. The verses of Call us to your table based on Ephesians are similar to the letter to the Colossians — Christ the first born of creation.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Remembrance

2010-11-17T14:50:00.001Z

14 November 2010
Entrance Eternal Rest (mtgf)
Roll of Honour
Gloria St Gabriel (mtgf)
Psalm 97 The Lord has come (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Beati (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Gaudent in caelis (Dering)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Lamb of God 6 (mtgf)
Communion Christ our Peace (Marty Haugen)
Final At the name of Jesus
Our roll of honour this morning commemorated those students who had died in the First World War. I was struck by the familiarity of the names which we recall each year and that we do not remember those who survived. This year we began with the 2 minutes silence and then the Entrance Procession followed by the reading of names.
The readings were of the Sunday and were fitting. At the name of Jesus was chosen for its strong eschatological verses - Christ shall return again.
Gaudent in caelis was probably sung for primarily musical reasons over liturgical ones. We had intended to sing it for All Saints but were unable so there was an opportunity here. It wasn't wholly inappropriate and if there was a fear that we were canonising the departed we had sought God's mercy in the opening chant.

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-11-07T17:20:00.001Z

7 November 2010
Entrance Christ is alive with joy we sing
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriel (mtgf)
Psalm 16 I shall be filled (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Beati (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts I know my Redeemer (Stephen Dean)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion Centre of my life (Paul Inwood)
Final Love divine
In previous years this Sunday has been Remembrance Sunday and this has, in the past, led to the question about the suitability of the Gospel. I wonder if sometimes, that like the Saducees, our contemporary preoccupations can lead us to miss the point. It is not about marriage, or diet come to that, but eternal life. I hope the opening hymn set this scene and was a reminder that every Sunday is Easter.
I know my Redeemer was a further reflection on this as well as being good 'November fare'. I like the uncomplicated harmony of the refrain and way it expresses an uncomplicated belief in the resurrection. The verse comes in rather quickly after the refrain, too quickly perhaps — a extra 2 beats seems necessary. Otherwise to continue the above it as though the cantor bursts in on simplicity of the assembly with their personal sentiments rather than being seen as extension of the same text.
Centre of my life was a late choice for communion. That God would not leave our souls among the dead seemed to fit in with whole. I did consider a setting of the Emmaus story, based on the Communion antiphon The disciples recognised the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread. But this seems to me to be at too many removes. I suspect that this is part of my ongoing reflection on the antiphons, what they offer and how they 'work'. I can understand the antiphon at this point: as a reflection on Communion, that we are as the disciples recognising Jesus, even that the context of this Sunday pushes that further that this Jesus is the Christ, risen and living, who speaks of the Lord God of Abraham, of Isaac and Jacob and all the scriptures. It is about this phrase which has a context (Emmaus) speaking at this moment (Communion) in this context (32nd Sunday) which I'm not sure is the same as adding a further story to the mix.

All Saints

2010-10-31T16:46:00.001Z

31 October 2010
Entrance For all the saints
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriel (mtgf)
Psalm 23 Blessed are they (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Beati (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Eye has not seen (Marty Haugen)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Lamb of God 6 (mtgf)
Communion What does the Lord require? (mtgf)
Final Holy God, we praise thy name
This was a Sunday of last minute changes. Our accompanist could not be with so we discovered before Mass so out went Gaudent in Caelis by Dering and in came Marty Haugen. At the beginning of Mass the visiting supply priest announced he would be changing the gospel to the one of the Sunday as it was more appropriate to All Saints. We were luckily reassured that Mass would be valid but it did make we wonder about the validity of the musical choices. (I do recognise the validity of the Mass is a different order of things.) I would say that music is chosen to assist people participate in the mystery being celebrated. That is greater than providing a musical commentary or illustration of the readings, indeed I would say most of the choices today were from the idea of the celebration rather than individual texts — as is often the case with particular feasts. The communion song does combine Micah 6 with the Beatitudes - so the Gospel text was sung at least. In truth, if I had been told before hand I am not sure I would have changed anything.

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-10-26T18:34:00.001+01:00

24 October 2010
Entrance Dear Lord and Father of mankind
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriel (mtgf)
Psalm 33 This poor man called (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Beati (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts A touching place (John Bell)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Lamb of God 6 (mtgf)
Communion Seek the Lord (John Bell)
Final Praise my soul
I am not sure the popularity of Dear Lord and Father this Sunday was because it expressed well the themes of the Liturgy of the Word or because the lack of something better. I did wonder about a setting of the 'Jesus Prayer' - Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, which echoes the words of the tax collector, but nothing suitable came to mind. A touching place is a song about tax collectors and their kind. It is not an easy text to sing and always feels awkward but perhaps that is part of the point.
The Lamb of God changed form this week. From beginning as a responsorial setting it has become more like a litany.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-10-17T16:05:00.001+01:00

17 October 2010
Entrance All my hope on God is founded
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriel (mtgf)
Psalm 120 Our help is in the name of the Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Beati (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Listen, Lord (John Bell)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Lamb of God 6 (mtgf)
Communion I lift up my eyes (Huijbers)
Final Tell out my soul
Psalm 120 is a favourite psalm and as it only occurs on this Sunday I thought it would be nice to repeat the text at another point in the liturgy. We looked Mary Haugen's 'Pilgrim Song' but found it bland. On paper Huijbers' setting may look blander — it is all in unison — but the modal language, the rhythmic movement and the form give it character. I was worried that the form might throw us. To give an idea it begins A, B1, B2, C1, B2, C2, B1, B2, C1 etc. but written so that your eyes are darting back and forth on the paper. Not only does this hark back to Gregorian responsories it textually makes sense. Ideally it needs a larger body of singers so that you get a greater contrast between cantor and all — more a sense of the music been tossed from one to the other. The responsorial psalm setting uses the verse melody of 'Longing, trusting'. I can't remember which came first.
Listen, Lord was a second outing. It is often good musically to consolidate a piece by doing it again and this week the widow's pleas in the gospel gave us the opportunity.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-10-10T17:26:00.001+01:00

10 October 2010
Entrance All people that on earth do dwell
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriel (mtgf)
Psalm 97 The Lord has shown his salvation (All the ends) (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Beati (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Now we remain (David Haas)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God Lamb of God 6 (mtgf)
Communion Lord, your love has drawn us near (Stephen Dean)
Final God is love, his the care
After careful practice before Mass our psalmist suddenly sang the other response given in the setting, the more familiar Christmas text of 'All the ends of the earth'. The congregation looked momentarily confused which at least shows they expect to sing the response and having the text on Mass sheet helps. In the event the two response are two sides of the same coin. In the given the Lord has shown his salvation to the nations; in the alternative all nations have seen God's salvation. What makes the psalm response interesting is that provides a particular focus for the first reading and gospel. The psalm could just be one of praise and thanksgiving for what God has done. The response draws attention that parallels between the two stories is not just healing but salvation being offered beyond Israel.
The opening hymn this morning reflected this with its invitation to all people. I was struck that we should bring out Vaughan Williams' arrangement again at some point and also remembered his comment about keeping the tune moving at the end of phrases.
Now we remain picked up on part of the text of the 2nd reading - though we never got to that verse (the last) today. The last two items wee chosen to reflect the praise and thanksgiving of the gospel. Apologies to the composer but I realised that one reason that we rarely do Lord, your love is that the choir parts which take the form of a 'four-part' descant demand larger resources than we can muster and it is not possible to 'salvage' something. A further heretical thought — I am not sure I am convinced of Holst's arrangement of the last hymn. This maybe because one often gets the Introduction (guess where to come in, isn't the Dorian mode fun!) and an adaptation of the rest. As far as I can tell text and arrangement have been together since the beginning in Songs of Praise though Holst's arrangement was first published with the original text from Piae Cantiones in the Oxford Book of Carols. Checking through various hymn books it is surprising which ones the text does not appear in.

Academic Mass

2010-10-10T16:23:00.001+01:00

Wednesday 6 October 2010
Entrance All are welcome (Marty Haugen)
Psalm 138 O God, you search me (Bernadette Farrell)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Beati (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Servant Song (Richard Gillard)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion Love one another (mtgf)
Final God is love
Mass to begin the academic year. The readings were chosen especially by the presider — the Gospel was love your enemies. The singers were anyone who showed up beforehand — it was a good celebration

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-10-03T17:59:00.001+01:00

3 October 2010
Entrance We walk by faith
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriel (mtgf)
Psalm 94 O that today (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Beati (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Listen Lord (John Bell)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion Lead me, Lord (SS Wesley)
Final Be thou my vision
Listen, Lord was new to us and we enjoyed the typically rich harmony which develops from the singable vocal parts. We left the verses as solo but we may look at the harmony of these at a later date. In these Sundays at the beginning of the academic year there is an element of setting out one's stall, saying this is what we do and trying to represent that. I am not sure we get it right or whether it is even something to be aware of.
I have never been sure of Marty Haugen's tune for We walk by faith as one that accessible by congregations. I am quite sure many do manage it; I am not sure we ever have. We sang the text to Belmont, which seemed to fit the words well. I also like Barbara Bridge's use of Jesu dulcis memoria for this text. At the end of Mass I reflected that I might have had the same nervousness if I had to introduce Be thou my vision when Lord of all hopefulness was already known — or vice versa. A confession we were going to Lord of all hopefulness this morning but I gave the wrong number for the hymnboard…

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-09-26T21:55:00.001+01:00

26 September 2010
Entrance Longing for Light (Bernadette Farrell)
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriel (mtgf)
Psalm 145 My soul give praise to the Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Beati (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Where your treasure is (Marty Haugen)
Eucharistic Acclamations Mass of Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion The cry of the poor (John Foley)
Final The Voice of God
Sometimes one has an idea of the various pieces one might do but not necessarily the order. We considered The
cry of the poor as an entrance psalm but one constraint today was the beginning of term and so we thought it would be good to begin that would be widely known.
Where your treasure is might be seen as a reflection on the rich man, whereas The Cry of the Poor reflected Lazarus. The final hymn picked up the more general sentiments of the psalm. Today's psalm is a good example of where the psalm and its response is not a simple reflection of the first reading. In some ways it is literally a reflection of the image providing the mirror image — the poor give praise because the 'sprawler's revelry is over' and the psalmist lists the world turned upside down something, ironically, Lazarus does not experience in this world.

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-09-19T20:55:00.001+01:00

19 September 2010
Entrance Praise to the holiest (Bl. John Henry Newman/Terry)
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriel (mtgf)
Psalm 112 Praise the Lord who raises the poor (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Beati (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations CreationI (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion I am your Saviour (Collegeville Composers Group)
Final Now thank we all our God

What connections do we make between the liturgy we celebrate and those we may watch. It would have been odd not to have sung something by Newman this morning and we had Mass at 9am so that people could watch the Mass of Beatification. I wonder how many had watched the Vigil in Hyde Park and recognised Alleluia Beati.
Some of the connections were memory and objects today. Remembering that two days ago the Holy Father came here gave a poignancy returning the space and on display was the mosaic of the Virgin and Child presented by the Pope to the College.
Ubi Caritas took up the theme of care for the poor.

Papal Visit - Prayer with Religious

2010-09-18T19:26:00.001+01:00

Friday 17 September
Morning Prayer
Hymn Word of God (Quinn/Bach)
Psalm 50 (Bévenot)
Tobit 13 (James Walsh)
Psalm 148 (Bévenot)
Reading Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
Response Your words are spirit and life (Bernadette Farrell)
Motet May the mind of Christ our Saviour (mtgf)
Benedictus (Rees)
Lord's Prayer (Rimsky Korsakov)
Instrumental Liebster Jesu (Bach)
Papal Prayer
Entrance Veni Sancte Spiritus (Christopher Walker
Reading Wisdom 7:7-10. 15-16
Response Your words are spirit and life (Bernadette Farrell)
Address
Prayer & Blessing
Final Hymn Lord, you give the great commission (Jeffrey Rowthorn/CV Taylor)
It is an astonishing honour to be invited to participate in a papal liturgy. Even more so if he comes to church and you are involved in the preparation of the liturgy and provision of music. This was the Prayer with the religious, the first of three events at Strawberry Hill and the first event in England.
The Holy See provides an excellent document giving guidelines for papal liturgy and so the format of the prayer was given. There was a subtitle to the prayer with religious — with a charism in education. The reading, from Wisdom, was taken from first reading for St Robert Bellarmine and gave a focus to the liturgy. It was followed by just the response of Bernadette Farrell's Your words are spirit and life which is based on the psalm chosen in response to the reading in the Lectionary. It began with a playthrough on a solo violin — though the liturgy was short there were moments of repose and prayer.
Veni Sancte Spiritus was chosen for a number of reasons: the link between wisdom and calling on the Holy Spirit; the hymn text was written by an English man — Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury; it needed to be flexible in length (there was quite a bit of pressure to keep the prayer as short as possible); it could begin before the Holy Father arrived sothat he would join us in prayer; it was a connection with the previous Papal Visit being written for the Mass on Pentecost Sunday at Coventry in 1982. In the event the Pope was delayed by about 30 mins so it had to be flexible and so was sung for about 35 minutes.
As the religious were asked to be in the chapel at least 90 mins before 10am it was thought appropriate to celebrate Morning Prayer. One aspect of it musically was to represent the contribution of English, Welsh and Scottish religious to the liturgy of the Church through psalm tones and hymn texts. The hymn tune used for the hymn tune was the basis of the instrumental at the end of the morning prayer arranged for 2 violins and organ. After the reading there was a reflection from 3 religious on the contribution of religious to education: in formal eduction, parish settings and with the marginalised. After each reflection the response was sung and so made a link with the papal prayer.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-09-12T21:53:00.001+01:00

12 September 2010
Entrance There's wideness in God's mercy (FW Faber)
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriel (mtgf)
Psalm 50 I will leave this place (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Beati (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts Out of the depths (Scott Soper)
Eucharistic Acclamations Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion Word of God (Quinn/Bach)
Final Praise my soul the King of heaven
The psalm response is a quotation from the Gospel — the words of the prodigal son. Though both first reading and gospel are about God's mercy the protagonists are different. Moses is seeking mercy for the people of Israel: Have mercy on them perhaps. I am not sure what other examples there are in the Sunday lectionary where the psalm is more (directly) linked to the gospel.
God's mercy permeated the other choices. A penitential psalm at the Preparation of the Gifts — Psalm 129. I decided to choose the first response: Out of the depths rather God of compassion partly because we rarely cry from the depths preferring softer images and seems to me to be occasionally appropriate to give people these words. A second reason was that the second response is not in the hymn book.
I am always struck by the directness of the language of There's a wideness in God's mercy. It is a skill to convey meaning succinctly within one line of a verse. It was also nice to sing some Faber this week as I am sure we shall sing some Newman next week. Word of God was also partly chosen in preparation for later this week. We began with the chorale prelude before singing the hymn. Putting the two side by side it was possible to hear the link between the two of them.

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-09-05T21:02:00.001+01:00

5 September 2010
Entrance All that is hidden (Bernadette Farrell)
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria St Gabriel (mtgf)
Psalm 90 O Lord, you have been our refuge (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts The love of the Lord (Michael Joncas)
Eucharistic Acclamations Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion Restless is the heart (Bernadette Farrell)
Final Be thou my vision
When All that is hidden was new it seemed to me at least a piece that excited me but doubted that congregations would 'get'. One of choir speaks about trying to introduce it at the time and the group wishing to resolve the final chord — one of the strengths of the piece. The melody of the refrain requires a level of commitment from the congregation for it actually to work. I know that when I have introduced I have said that it may not seem immediately attractive but give it time. Well we have and it seems to have taken root. I think I recall Bernadette saying at the time of composition she thought it too American for here.
We have a regular group who come to Mass from the nearby Roy Kinnear Home which provides care for people with severe learning and physical disabilities. Today we prayed for a member who died a year ago. As often is the case we learnt this late in the day and in some ways I am not sure what we might have done differently as what we sang offered its own consolation I hope — Restless is the heart until it comes to rest in you.
We began our change to our Autumn music today. It is odd to think that this may be the last year in which we sing this translation. I know there are versions fitted to the new translations for these current settings but I think some more thought is needed for how we will move forward. I need to factor this into the forward planning.

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-08-29T18:22:00.002+01:00

29 August 2010

Entrance Gather us in (Marty Haugen)
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria Jeanne Jugan Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 67 In your goodness, O Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts What does the Lord require (mtgf)
Eucharistic Acclamations No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion Those who eat my flesh (Bob Hurd)
Final For the healing of the nations
Many years ago when Gather us in was new I remember someone I know saying to me how much they like the song because they felt included in it and quoted the line 'we are the old who yearn for your face'. Though there is always a danger of too many we/me centred texts this sense of affirmation and inclusion — inclusion in the Body of Christ is important. What I now see as intriguing about that comment is realising the person was probably in their mid-50s at the time.
What does the Lord require? uses the familiar text from Micah 6 for the refrain and the verses are a simple chant setting of the Beatitudes. Originally conceived as a piece for a Saint's day — saints as embodying the beatitudes, saints as people who walk humbly with God. Today it picked up the strain of humbleness in both the first reading and the gospel.

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-08-23T14:26:00.001+01:00

22 August 2010
Entrance All are welcome (Marty Haugen)
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria Jeanne Jugan Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 116 Go out to the whole world (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts Travelling the road to freedom (John Bell)
Eucharistic Acclamations No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion Those who eat my flesh (Bob Hurd)
Final Tell out my soul
Size matters and sometimes small is more flexible than large. This often strikes me as we move through the summer. I am a firm believer that one reason that our congregation sings is that we sing every Sunday — it's what we do at Mass. We have an attitude of 'we never close'. I also realise that our smallness makes this easier. At any time one of might not be able to be there but we carry on, adapting if necessary. The two other factors are related and are about recognising the essentials. Firstly Mass repertoire is used consistently over a number of weeks so that, I hope, the congregation can sing it with confidence; secondly the key element of forward planning is the psalm which is always sung. Only occasionally is the Lectionary psalm replaced by another text and then it usually a common psalm.
Enough trumpeting. We sang once more Travelling the Road to freedom picking up the reference at the beginning of the Gospel to the road to Jerusalem which we began to follow a number of weeks back. Bob Hurd's song at communion reflected the antiphon and was written in part, so the composer's notes tell us, in reaction to those who are over precious/zealous about the use of Christ's words and forget the rich tradition of the Church. Amen.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2010-08-15T21:49:00.002+01:00

15 August 2010

Entrance Sing we of the blessed Mother
Penitential Rite Mass for 3 voices (Byrd)
Gloria Jeanne Jugan Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 44 On your right stands the Queen (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts Ave Maris Stella (Monteverdi)
Eucharistic Acclamations No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion O holy Mary (Owen Alstott)
Final Hail Queen of heaven
I continue to be surprised by what hymn tunes our congregation knows or doesn't as the case may be. We sang the opening hymn to Abbot's Leigh (very pedantic footnote: the hymn tune has an apostrophe, the village doesn't), which I am sure we did not use last year and when we have used for other texts I am sure the response has been lukewarm. So we took a risk singing it unaccompanied but being unaccompanied we could hear people singing it. If there was any factor that might have changed the congregation's knowledge it may have been that the presider could be heard singing it. And it is a good tune. The text which in some ways is based on the mysteries of the rosary gives a good context to the feast and suits our building with its windows based on the rosary.
The arrangement of the Monteverdi Ave Maris Stella begins and ends with the chant melody on which it is based and so you can hear the skill with which Monteverdi transform this melody into one of rhythmic vitality. The psalm response and verse are also based on the same chant. Ave Maris Stella is the college hymn from which the motto is drawn: Monstra t'esse matrem. The chant is a much more interesting melody than the usual hymn tune.
Today is this blog's first anniversary. For those who wish to wind back the clock you will see there is a great deal of consistency between last year's celebration and this. I hope this is consistency rather than lack of imagination! Though I think that music for the liturgy works well when there is stability — so don't expect many changes this time next year!

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-08-08T17:12:00.001+01:00

8 August 2010
Entrance Lord, you have come to the seashore
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria Jeanne Jugan Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 32 Happy the people (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts Let nothing trouble you (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion I'll love the Lord (John Bell)
Final Love divine
I am not sure that today's choices did justice to the texts we heard. As is often in the case hearing the readings proclaimed is a different experience to looking at them on paper. After the event the people that God has chosen as his own seems to ring out. It might even be a week when it was justifiable to sing about 'us' or least the people God has called us to be.
Let nothing trouble you by Bernadette Farrell has the refrain based on a text of St Teresa of Avile whereas the verses offer a rich mosaic of scriptural and liturgical texts. I'll love the Lord from John Bell has a simple responsorial patten with a cantor singing the first line which is varied in the repeat by all; the second phrase follows the same pattern and is followed by a repeat of the first phrase. The text suggest that it might have been written for a parish mission or the Church of Scotland equivalent, at least some sort of recommitment.
For various reasons I did not produce a Mass sheet for the last two weeks - apologies. Apart from the references to the readings it mostly serves as an aide-memoire for the Mass parts. The one exception is the psalm response so that has required extra enunciation these weeks. As the whole congregation is invited sing the complete text of the Gloria I have animated that more than I usually would. My impression is that the Mass parts are generally known and people weren't deterred by the lack of a piece of A5 paper. This does reinforce my apprehension about adapting current setting to the new translation. It seems to me laudable to aim for people to know Mass setting by heart. Though I think possible to change my guess is that we recognise that this not a case of reading and singing a new text (which maybe what the musicians will do) but of alerting the heart.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-08-01T18:55:00.001+01:00

1 August 2010
Entrance Dear Lord and Father
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria Jeanne Jugan Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 89 O Lord, you have been our refuge (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts In the land (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion Where your treasure is (Marty Haugen)
Final All my hope is founded ( )
Like a number of Sundays in Year C there is an alternative psalm today. I am not sure if the alternative, Psalm 94, was an addition with the 2nd edition and so was meant to clarify the text or is offered as a more familiar alternative to Psalm 89. We went with Psalm 89. So, to crudely paraphrase not - now is the time to listen to God's word - but - now is very short make the most of it.
In the land was when Bernadette Farrell worked for the Eastern pastoral area of Westminster diocese and the diocese was celebrating a Year of the Eucharist. It shows, I think, the influence of the 'Dutch school': Huijbers and Oosterhuis, particularly in the verses. To the strong text and melody Bernadette brings a propulsive harmony.

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-07-28T10:47:00.001+01:00

25 July 2010
Entrance Praise to the Lord
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria Jeanne Jugan Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 137 On the day I called (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts —
Eucharistic Acclamations No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion The cry of the poor (John Foley)
Final Now thank we all our God

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-07-18T21:05:00.001+01:00

18 July 2010
Entrance All are welcome (Marty Haugen)
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria Jeanne Jugan Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 14 The just will live (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts There is a longing (Anne Quigley)
Eucharistic Acclamations No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion Here I stand (John Bell)
Final Lord of all hopefulness
The welcome guest: known or unknown finds welcome. All are welcome seems to find its way on lists of US bloggers' least favourite hymns. Its main fault is that is vision is primarily horizontal yet a major theme is that this is a place where God is at work. My guess is that if there is genuine musical dislike it stems from overuse rather than the melody itself which is well constructed. It is actually quite a while since we have sung it and though it took some time before it was sung with confidence it seemed to be sung well this morning. I am more intrigued by a list of ten pieces of recent liturgical music that a chant aficionado does not mind.
One of today's Communion antiphon reads:
I stand at the door and knock, says the Lord. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and sit down to supper with him, and he with me.
Not only did connect with the readings it also gave a chance to sing John Bell's chant Here I stand. It's one of those pieces which, to my mind, that John Bell enjoys the construction of pieces and the singability of each part. We sang it with Psalm 22 using a 2-part tone based on the Bell.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-07-11T21:53:00.001+01:00

11 July 2010
Entrance Your words are spirit and life (Bernadette Farrell)
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria Jeanne Jugan Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 68 Seek the Lord, you who are poor (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion If we are living (Mexican arr. Haugen)
Final God is love, his the care (Dearmer/Piae Cantiones)
Law, word, love of neighbour, care for the poor. Four very rich ideas all linked together this Sunday. The richness meant there was much we could have done so that the deciding factor was for the most part practical. To give one example if we had been accompanied we might have sung Lowenthal's 'These Words' as it picks up the first reading and sees the word/law as something which abides in the heart.
I always have a wonder whether singing Ubi Caritas outside of Maundy Thursday weakens or strengthens the piece. If we only sung it once a year would it be more effective or does it grow through the web of connections when sung on Sundays such as this — two different proclamations of the command to love.
I have a soft spot for If we are living; it is a tender piece but it also reminds us 'we live not for ourselves'. I have known others prefer the John Bell translation and arrangement but I think the Haugen has a simplicity and a slight awkwardness which is preferable to too much sophistication here.
This Sundays offer a choice of psalms which happens a number of times in the coming weeks. The second option, Psalm 18, was added with the 2nd edition of the Lectionary. It shifts the focus from care for the poor to love of the law. I went with Psalm 68 partly because of its rarity — and discovered I had setting I seemed not have used before. As is sometimes the case with Lectionary I suspect there might be a better psalm choice which relates the law to care for the poor. We used Psalm 18 for our Entrance Song.

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-07-04T22:24:00.001+01:00

4 July 2010
Entrance The kingdom of God
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria Jeanne Jugan Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 65 (Cry out with joy (mtgf))
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts God has chosen me (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion We adore you, O Christ (mtgf)
Final Forth in the peace (Quinn)
Over the summer, well and at other times of the year, we have a number of visiting supply priests. For each one it is a case of learning their idiosyncrasies — and their learning ours. The conversation before Mass for the first time goes something like: 'Here is the Mass sheet', 'We sing everything except the Creed and the Our Father', 'Will you sing the doxology?', 'What form of Penitential Rite were you thinking of using?'. Most usually come more than once so that we are mutually aware of the other's 'ways'. My impression is that most appreciate what we are doing musically.
We also over the summer have visiting groups using the college facilities. This can vary in size between a number of Catholic individuals who are part of a larger group and whole conference groups. In previous years I have suggested that it might be good to know in advance but large institutions might not be good at this. I am not sure about inviting individuals from outside groups to minister. It is not just a question of local idiosyncrasies. In part it is theological — I think there is an aspect of (lay) liturgical ministry which is local. It is also practical — can you assume that your normal expectations of good practice are shared? And what skills are needed to communicate them? This is a convoluted way of explaining why the psalm is on brackets. A reader from a visiting group was invited read and was not aware that we normally sang the psalm and so carried on reading after the first reading. Irritating but may be not life-threatening. As the psalm is invariably sung what I noticed is that it does change the texture of the Liturgy of the Word — a succession of read texts is flatter and maybe therefore less engaging.

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-06-27T16:49:00.001+01:00

27 June 2010
Entrance Brother, sister let me serve you (Gilliard)
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria Jeanne Jugan Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 15 O Lord, you are my portion (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts Travelling the road to freedom (John Bell)
Eucharistic Acclamations No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion Centre of my life (Paul Inwood)
Final He who would valiant (Dearmer after Bunyan)
When we first used Brother, sister let me serve you, apart from the first line being different, it was a choir piece. Now it is sung by all and proved a fitting hymn to begin this morning. In a similar way I am sure that 3 years ago we used Centre of my life for the responsorial psalm. This year I provided a setting and so we used Inwood's setting at Communion. I do find the response slightly opaque. Is the Lord all that I need or my future? The immediate though I am afraid is fish and chips. Partly because of this I included the rest of the line in the psalm and the next line as well.
Travelling the road to freedom picked up the gospel — Jesus resolutely taking the road for Jerusalem. It is often understood as the turning point in the narrative of synoptic gospels — Jesus moves towards his passion and death. In Luke others want to follow but do not have the courage. The song by John Bell picks up the motif of travelling the road, of the coming passion and the challenge of the invitation to follow. I was surprised that the strong harmony with its succession of dissonances would work with a reduction to our usual 3 parts but I think it did.

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-06-20T17:02:00.002+01:00

20 June 2010

Entrance Lord Jesus Christ (Appleford)
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria Jeanne Jugan Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 62 For you my soul is thirsting (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts Ours were the griefs (Stephen Dean)
Eucharistic Acclamations No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion Christ our peace (Marty Haugen)
Final At the name of Jesus (Noel/Brierley)
A little hommage to the 20th Century Light Music Group this morning. Their 'manifesto' was:

These hymn tunes have been written for congregational worship by 20th century congregations. The styles vary, but they all seek to express in the musical idion of light music - music which is common to almost everyone - the common worship of the People of God. They offered in the belief that not only the great and lasting music of the past but also the ordinary and transient music of today - which is the background to the lives of so many - has a rightful place in our worship.
I appreciate that they recognised that much Church music is transient, and of its time. Like any such collection, and like much today, a few things have lasted. The opening and closing hymns were chosen not just for their appropriateness but also because they have strong melodies which would work unaccompanied and I would expect visitors to know. Both hymns make the connection between recognising Jesus as Christ, the Son of God and that he is destined to suffer. Lord Jesus Christ occasioned a primary school memory — we always omitted verse 3 something I never understood. Hymns were written out in best primary school teacher calligraphy on flip chart sheets. As a 3rd verse would have gone onto a second sheet it cannot have been a question of space.
As noted there are two aspects to today's Gospel - Peter's acclamation of faith and the prophecy of the passion. The first reading emphasised the latter — and so at the Preparation of Gifts we sang Stephen Dean's setting of the canticle from 1 Peter — I am not wholly sure how the psalm was supposed to be understood in this context.
Christ our peace is one of Marty Haugen's 'simpler' songs and I suspect better for it. It was chosen to pick up the idea of equality in Christ as found in Galatians.

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2010-06-13T21:06:00.003+01:00

13 June 2010
Entrance There's wideness in God's mercy (Faber/Blaenwern)
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria Jeanne Jugan Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 31 Forgive, Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts Remember not the things of the past (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of God St Gabriel (mtgf)
Communion All your sins have been for given (Collegeville Composers Group)
Final Praise we our God with joy
After so long we are back in the pastures of (real) Ordinary Time. What I particularly mean is since the beginning of Lent I have known what the readings will be, or at least a good guess, without having to check. I have been on a clear path now, though there is a shape in the readings from Luke's Gospel, it is needs some orientation.
There's a richness in the opening hymn; I think it is a successful lyrical expression of theology one might almost say Wesleyian - though the author may not have been grateful for the comparison. This begs the question what other Catholic hymns manage this? In recent years there have been many scripturally based hymns. The variety of versions of the text led me to check - it was originally 13 4-line stanzas.
Remember, not things of the past is a favourite from Bob Hurd's collection A Lenten Journey. Even if scripture scholars caution against equating the woman caught in adultery with the woman who anointed the feet of Jesus I think the text, though written for the former, fitted today's celebration. The Communion refrain from Psallite showed the insight of the authors. There is a clear theme of sinfulness and forgiveness in the readings and the refrain both reflected this but also allowed redemption/communion:

All your sins have been forgiven;
love has swept your guilt away.
Go in peace: your faith has saved you;
love has come to you today.

I am less sure whether Psalm 84 was the best choice of accompanying psalm.

The Body and Blood of the Lord

2010-06-06T20:50:00.001+01:00

6 June 2010
Entrance Of the glorious body telling
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria Jeanne Jugan Gloria (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 109 You are a priest for ever (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia (A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts You have fed your people (mtgf)
Eucharistic Acclamations No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of God O Lamb of God (Berthier)
Communion Pange Lingua (Ricky Manalo CSP)
Final My God, and is thy table spread (Dodderidge)
Like last week there are 3 distinct sources for choosing music: the Lectionary; the Missal and the concept of the feast. Part of the concept is a connection with Maundy Thursday - something borne out by the 2nd reading. We used again, therefore, the chant Pange Lingua at Communion and at the beginning of Mass sang the text as a hymn. The final hymn I chose for its echos of O Sacrum Convivium (Magnificat Antiphon at Evening Prayer). I doubt this was something the author was conscious of as an 18th century Nonconformist minister. Both hymns speak of Body and Blood - if I remember correctly many years ago someone asked at a Conference I attended whether when St Thomas Aquinas wrote his texts for then new feast of Corpus Christi people were still receiving under both kinds, when they did receive - it was thought that they did.
At the Preparation of the Gifts we sang a setting of the Offertory Antiphon from the Simple Gradual
You have fed your people with the food of angels,
you have given them bread from heaven, alleluia.

One reason for singing this text was to get beyond the error of particularity — can you sing about partaking in the Body and Blood of Christ at the Preparation of Gifts? Yes, as this antiphon suggests because when we celebrate it is not a unique occasions but stretches back to the Last Supper and forward to the pledge of future glory.

Trinity Sunday

2010-05-30T22:35:00.001+01:00

30 May 2010
Entrance Holy, Holy, Holy (Heber/Dykes)
Penitential Rite St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria Jeanne Jugan (Christopher Walker)
Psalm 8 How great is your name (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation (A Gregory Murray)
Preparation of Gifts Hymn of the Cherubim (Anonymous Russian?)
Eucharistic Acclamations No Greater Love (Michael Joncas)
Lamb of God O Lamb of God (Berthier)
Communion God beyond all names (Bernadette Farrell)
Final Holy God, we praise thy name
This is an 'all change' Sunday where we out aside settings for the Easter Season and move into Summer Ordinary Time. These settings will last us until September. It is one way of differentiating this succession of Solemnities we now have from Ascension to Corpus Christi. It is always heartening to see the assembly remember and sing Mass parts. The Jeanne Jugan Gloria is sung by the whole congregation throughout — I have a view that the congregation should have the opportunity to sing the whole text of the Gloria in at least one setting. For one week only the cantor sings the refrain first repeated by all.
The last time I sang the opening hymn was in Finland a few weeks ago, Pyhä, Pyhä, Pyhä, it is always interesting to see what hymns have travelled. I did wonder this morning if the text was originally written for hymn singing as the line lengths are not consistent from verse to verse - but apparently it was. It is based on Revelation 4. The final hymn is based on the Te Deum and there are versions which paraphrase the whole text. I am not sure whether it is unfamiliarity of these verses or the nature of the text of the Te Deum but I never feel I miss these missing verses.
Hymn of the Cherubim uses the Orthodox text for the preparation is a hymn to the Trinity. I inherited the piece from my time in Chichester and never found a composer. It has always been a choir favourite and produces a rich sonorous sound from simple resources.

Entrance	Eternal Rest (mtgf)
Gloria	Mass of the Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 127	o blessed are those (Paul Inwood)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Funeral Ikos (John Tavener)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Agnus Dei XVIII (Chant)
Communion	God remembers (Marty Huagen)
	Good and faithful Servant (Andrew Everson)
Final	Lord of all hopefulness

Entrance	Awake, awake fling off the night
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	Mass of the Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 62	For you my soul (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	How far is the night? (Huijbers)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Lamb of God 6 (mtgf)
Communion	As the deer longs (Bob Hurd)
Final	Love divine

Entrance	Dear Lord and Father of mankind
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Psalm 130	Keep me safe (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	There is a longing (Anne Quigley)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Lamb of God 6 (mtgf)
Communion	Many are the light beams (Widestrand)
Final	Guide me, O thou great Redeemer

Entrance	Your love is finer than life (Marty Haugen)
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Psalm 17	I love you, Lord, my strength (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Not for tongues (Dudley Smith/Joncas)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Lamb of God 6 (mtgf)
Communion	Love one another (mtgf)
Final	Now thank we all our God ( )

Entrance	All are welcome (Marty Haugen)
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Psalm 22	I shall dwell in the Lord's house (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Shepherd me, O God (Marty Haugen)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion	One in body, heart and mind (Christopher Walker)
Final	Praise we our God with joy

Entrance	Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us ()
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel's (mtgf)
Gloria	St Gabriel's (mtgf)
Psalm 24	Remember your mercy, O Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	May we have the mind of Christ (Marty Haugen)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	St Gabriel's (mtgf)
Communion	Jesus, Saviour (mtgf)
Final	At the name of Jesus

Entrance	Praise to the holiest ()
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Psalm 144	The Lord is close (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	God beyond all names (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion	I am your Saviour (Collegeville Composers Group)
Final	Tell out my soul ( )

Entrance	Love is his word
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Psalm 102	The Lord is compassion (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Not for tongues (Michael Joncas)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion	Now we remain (David Haas)
Final	Sing of the Lord's Goodness

Entrance	Brother, sister let me serve you
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Psalm 94	O that today (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	(A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	Ubi caritas (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion	Where two or three (Collegeville Composers Group)
Final	God is love

Entrance	All that is hidden (Bernadette Farrell)
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 62	For you my soul (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	(A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	Ours were the griefs (Stephen Dean)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal (ICEL)
Lamb of God	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion	O God, you search me (Bernadette Farrell)
Final	He who would valiant be

Entrance	Christ is made the sure foundation
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 137	Your love, O Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	(A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	He became poor (John Bell)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal (ICEL)
Lamb of God	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion	All things are from the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Final	All my hope on God is founded

Entrance	Hail Queen of heaven
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 44	On your right stands the Queen (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	(A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	Magnificat (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal (ICEL)
Lamb of God	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion	O holy Mary (Owen Alstott)
Final	Tell out my soul

Entrance	We come as guests invited
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 144	You open wide your hands (trad/mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	(A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	Neither death, nor life (mtgf)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal (ICEL)
Lamb of God	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion	Taste and see (Stephen Dean)
Final	God is love, his the care

Entrance	Your words are spirit and life (Bernadette Farrell)
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 118	Lord, how I love your law (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	(A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	The love of the Lord (Michael Joncas)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal (ICEL)
Lamb of God	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion	Where your treasure is (Marty Haugen)
Final	Be thou my vision

Entrance	Christ is alive
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 85	O Lord, you are good and forgiving (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	(A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	There is a longing (Anne Quigley)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal (ICEL)
Lamb of God	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion	As seed for the sowing (Collegeville Composers Group)
Final	The kingdom of God

Entrance	Unless a grain (Bernadette Farrell)
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 64	Some seed fell on rich soil (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	(A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	Parable (M D Ridge)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal (ICEL)
Lamb of God	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion	As seed for the sowing (Collegeville Composers Group)
Final	God, whose almighty word

Entrance	I heard the voice of Jesus say
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 144	I will bless your name (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	(A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	Like a child rests (Christopher Walker)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal (ICEL)
Lamb of God	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion	Come to me (mtgf)
Final	Sing of the Lord's goodness (Ernest Sands)

Entrance	Of the glorious Body telling ()
Gloria	Glory to God (Berthier)
Psalm 147	O praise the Lord, Jerusalem (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	(A G Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	Our blessing cup (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Communion	Take and Eat (Michael Joncas)
Final	My God, and they table spread ( )

Entrance	For God so loved the world (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	St Gabriels (mtgf)
Gloria	Glory to God (Berthier)
Canticle - Daniel 3	To you glory and praise (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	Hymn of the Cherubim (Russian)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God	(Berthier)
Communion	God beyond all names (Bernadette Farrell)
Final	Holy God, we praise thy name

Entrance	Veni Sancte Spiritus (Christopher Walker)
Penitential Rite	Lux et Origo (mtgf)
Gloria	Glory to God (Berthier)
Psalm 103	Send forth your spirit (mtgf)
Sequence	Veni Sancte Spiritus (chant arr. mtgf)
Rite of Baptism	Litany of the Saints (chant)
	Celtic Alleluia (O'Carroll)
Rite of Confirmation	Veni Sancte Spiritus (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Come Holy Ghost (Schubert)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God	(Berthier)
Communion	Christ has no hands (mtgf)
Final	Christ be our light (Bernadette Farrell)

Entrance	Spirit of truth and grace
Gloria	Glory to God (Berthier)
Psalm 65	Ring out your joy (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Ubi caritas (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God	(Berthier)
Communion	Live on in my love (Collegeville Composers' Group)
Final	Christ is alive

Entrance	We have been told (David Haas)
Penitential Rite	Penitential Act - Lux et origo (mtgf)
Gloria	Glory to God (Berthier)
Psalm 32	May your love be upon us (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Let nothing trouble you (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God	(Berthier)
Communion	Take and eat (Michael Joncas)
Final	Christ is made the sure foundation

Entrance	Crown him with many crowns
Gloria	Glory to God (Berthier)
Psalm 22	The Lord is my Shepherd (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	A listening heart (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God	(Berthier)
Communion	Shepherd me, O God (Marty Haugen)
Final	Hail Redeemer

Entrance	Sing of one who walks
Gloria	Glory to God (Berthier)
Psalm	Show us, Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	No longer I (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God	(Berthier)
Communion	Easter Evening (John Bell)
Final	O praise ye the Lord

Entrance	O Sons and daughters
Gloria	Glory to God (Berthier)
Psalm 118	Give thanks to the Lord, alleluia (Collegeville)
Gospel Acclamation	Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Put your hand here, Thomas (Collegeville)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God	(Berthier)
Communion	One in body, heart and mind (Christopher Walker)
Final	O sons and daughters

Entrance	Jesus Christ is risen today
Gloria	Glory to God (Berthier)
Psalm 117	This is the day (Marty Haugen)
Sequence	Praise to the Paschal Victim (mtgf)
Baptismal Promises & Sprinkling	Amen, amen (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	Christ the Glory (Lalouette)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God	(Berthier)
Communion	I have seen the Lord (Bob Hurd)
Final	Thine be the glory

Procession	The Lord is my light (Taizé)
Exsultet	simple (mtgf)
Psalm 103	Send forth your spirit (mtgf)
Psalm 15	Preserve me, God (Christopher Walker)
Exodus 15	I will sing to the Lord (mtgf)
Psalm 29	I will praise you, Lord (Paul Inwood)
Psalm 41-42	As the deer longs (Palestrina/Bridge)
Gloria	Coventry (Peter Jones)
Gospel Acclamation	Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Profession of Faith & Sprinkling	Amen, Amen (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	For peace (Antoine Oomen)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Gathering Mass (Paul Inwood)
Lamb of God	(Berthier)
Communion	One in Body (Christopher Walker)
Final	Christ be our light (Bernadette Farrell)

Psalm 31	Father, into your hands (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Lenten (mtgf)
Passion Acclamation	Behold the Lamb of God (John Bell)
Intercessions	response (Marty Haugen)
Veneration of the Cross	Invitation (A Gregory Murray)
	Reproaches (Peter Jones)
	O vos omnes (Victoria)
	Jesus, remember me (Taizé)
	O Crux ave (Rihards Dubra)
Communion	Calvarie Mount (Tallis arr. Charles Wood)
	When I survey the wondrous cross

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)

Entrance	Hosanna — Gathering (Paul Inwood)
Psalm 21	My God, my God (Christopher Walker)
Gospel Acclamation	Lenten (mtgf)
Passion Acclamation	Behold the Lamb of God (John Bell)
Preparation of Gifts	Calvarie Mount (Tallis)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Lamb of God	Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion	Ours were the griefs (Stephen Dean)
Final	My song is love unknown