| Entrance | Jesus Christ is risen today |
| Penitential Rite | Lux et origo (mtgf) |
| Gloria | Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Psalm 117 | This day was made (mtgf) |
| Sequence/Gospel Acclamation | Victimae Paschali (mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | Exsultate Iusti (Viadana) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Lamb of God | Lux et origo (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Christ our passsover (mtgf) |
| Communion | Now we remain (David Haas) |
| Final | Thine be the glory |
| Procession | Missal |
| Exsultet | Missal |
| 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 | Like the deer (mtgf) |
| Gloria | Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Celtic Alleluia (O'Carroll/Walker) |
| Baptismal Liturgy | Springs of water (mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | What wondrous love (Southern Harmony arr. Haugen) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Lamb of God | Lux et origo (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Christ our Passover |
| Communion | As the deer longs (Palestrina/Bridge) |
| Final | This joyful Eastertide |
I quite like the Brechtian effect of our liturgical preparation. This is not a liturgy or a Triduum of surprises but one where the mechanics can be seen.
| Psalm 30 | Father, into your hands (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Lenten (mtgf) |
| Adoration of the Cross | Reproaches (Peter Jones) |
| Calvarie Mass (Tallis arr. Wood) | |
| Communion | O Crux ave (Rihards Dubra) |
| When I survey the wondrous cross |
This year we were 4 singers, our accompanist and 2 violins for the Triduum. Though a number of moments on this liturgy were unaccompanied.
| Entrance | For God so loved the world (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd) |
| Gloria | Mass of Wisdom (Steve Janco) |
| Psalm 15 | The blessing cup (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Lenten (mtgf) |
| Washing of the feet | Faith, hope and love (Christopher Walker) |
| Preparation of Gifts | I give to you a new commandment (Peter Nardone) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd) |
| Lamb of God | Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd) |
| Communion Antiphon | This is my body (mtgf) |
| Communion | Take and eat (Michael Joncas) |
| Procession | Pange lingua (Ricky Manalo) |
| Watching | Tantum ergo (chant) Stay with me (Taizé) |
After singing it through this Lent and previous I wonder whether the congregation has 'caught' the Eucharistic Acclamations from Missa Ubi Caritas. If I were rationalise this - or at least guess - I would suggest that unaccompanied with attempted harmonies may not be that clear. I also have a theory that a congregation latches on to a key voice which when it sings another part diverts the attention. A further issues us about how it starts. Though not in the current published score the Sanctus presumes a sung preface. In its absence how does the congregation know when and where to come in without a played introduction. About the 4th Sunday I start singing an intonation - which then threw the singers and added another Sanctus. What I like about the setting is the contrast of the simplicity of the melody and the interest of the harmony. So maybe something different next year.
| Entrance | Jesus Christ is risen today |
| Penitential Rite | Lux et origo (mtgf) |
| Gloria | Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Psalm 117 | This day was made (mtgf) |
| Sequence | Victimae Paschali (mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | () |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Lamb of God | Lux et origo (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Christ our passsover (mtgf) |
| Communion | I have seen the Lord (Bob Hurd) |
| Final | Thine be the glory |
| Procession | Missal |
| Exsultet | Missal |
| 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) |
| Isaiah 12 | With joy (mtgf) |
| Gloria | Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Celtic Alleluia (O'Carroll/Walker) |
| Baptismal Liturgy | Springs of water (mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | What wondrous love (Southern Harmony arr. Haugen) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Lamb of God | Lux et origo (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Christ our Passover |
| Communion | As the deer longs (Palestrina/Bridge) |
| Final | This joyful Eastertide |
The pared down version did not affect the number of readings and psalms - though the 2 cantors had more to do than usual. It meant again the changing of established pieces. At the Preparation we repeated What wondrous love from the day before. On Good Friday it was the starker original harmonies with voices and violin; at the Vigil Marty Haugen's fuller accompanied arrangement/
For the last few years we have sung Out of Darkness or Holy is God at the end. This has deepened on singing them before Lent a couple of times. This year we had not made such preparations so we opted for This joyful Eastertide. This had the right bounce and length for the end of the Vigil liturgy.
| Psalm 30 | Father, into your hands (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Lenten (mtgf) |
| Adoration of the Cross | What wondrous love (Southern Harmony) |
| Calvarie Mass (Tallis arr. Wood) | |
| Communion | O Crux ave (Rihards Dubra) |
| When I survey the wondrous cross |
The pared down version meant a different version of the psalm - sung unaccompanied. We are lucky that our accompanist is not only willing to sing but also appreciates being unaccompanied (I have known accompanists who have been personally affronted by unaccompanied singing and wanted to accompany anything). For balance I would note that some of singers feel we can venture unaccompanied too quickly before they are confident - i.e. they are singing the right note if it does not clash with the keyboard rather than whether it sounds right against the other parts. The paring down gave a reason to not do some music which have been staples. But the instruments gave the excuse to do my adaptation of Charles Wood's version of Tallis 1st mode melody from Wood's St Mark Passion. For the second verse there is a Bachian accompaniment of intertwining lines which adapt to the violins; in the 3rd version a descant which is marked soprano or flute in the original -and would require an accomplished voice.
| Entrance | For God so loved the world (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd) |
| Gloria | Mass of Wisdom (Steve Janco) |
| Psalm 15 | 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 | Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd) |
| Lamb of God | Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd) |
| Communion Antiphon | This is my body (mtgf) |
| Communion | Take and eat (Michael Joncas) |
| Procession | Pange lingua (Ricky Manalo) |
| Watching | Tantum ergo (chant) Stay with me (Taizé) |
As noted the plan this year was to be stripped down with just 2 singers and acccompanist. In the event we were joined by a singer and 2 violins who offten join us at these time but during term time attend the evening Mass. This was a lovely addition. I therefore occasionally 'stripped up' if that's the best way of expressing it. I had planned to do the chant of Ubi Caritas, partly to make the connection with Eucharistic Acclamations, however I decided that the Hurd version would be a better and more familiar use of resources.
| Entrance | Jesus Christ is risen today |
| Penitential Rite | Lux et origo (mtgf) |
| Gloria | Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Psalm 117 | This day was made by the Lord (mtgf) |
| Sequence | Victimae Paschali Laudes (arr. mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | Rise heart (Easter) (Vaughan Williams) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Lamb of God | Lux et origo (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Christ our passover (mtgf) |
| Communion | I have seen the Lord ()Bob Hurd) |
| Final | Thine be the glory |
I was doing a workshop on limited musical resources which is quite an opaque phrase. I decided in the end it is about musical confidence rather than numbers. This morning there was just three of us - so various thing I had planned were put to one side. In act of musical confidence, which I am not sure the performance wholly bore out, I offered the first of Vaughan Williams 5 Mystical Songs.
| Procession | Missal |
| Exsultet | Missal |
| 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 | Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Celtic Alleluia (O'Carroll/Walker) |
| Baptismal Liturgy | Springs of water (mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | For peace (Antoine Oomen) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Lamb of God | Lux et origo (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Christ our Passover |
| Communion | Sicut cervus (Palestrina) |
| Final | Holy is God (Paul Inwood) |
I always enjoy the staginess of the Vigil. This includes the time beforehand when all the lights are on, ministers are preparing and people are arriving. Shortly we will be go into the night and capture the flame for the Easter Candle.
This probably is our model set of music for recent years with a variation of psalm. The one change was the use of the Missal 'The light of Christ' at the beginning. For many years we have used Taizé "The Lord is my light' and reason for that was a deacon who could not sing. It one advantage is that it does accompany the liturgical action with music and leads to the Exsulte.
| Psalm 30 | Father, into your hands (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Lenten (mtgf) |
| Adoration of the Cross | Reproaches (Peter Jones) |
| O vos omnes (Victoria) | |
| Communion | O Crux ave (Rihards Dubra) |
| When I survey the wondrous cross |
The list above does not always include everything which is sung, for example, the procession with the cross was sung to the simple Missal tone. We also sing a short acclamation during the Passion readings on Sunday and today. I think this a better option than the congregation being the crowd (which seems to me a false-participation). I also think that a short acclamation is better than a hymn for three reasons: it should be short and not stop the narrative, just punctuate it; ideally it should be something people know so that they can participate by heart, thirdly most hymns are general passion rather than specific to the narrative. For a number of years we have used John Bell's Behold the Lamb of God for both Sunday and Friday. I have been aware that John's Passion has a different emphasis and wanted to reflect this in the acclamation. This year we tried my For God so loved the world — a Johannine text.
I commented earlier in Lent about the desirability of a hymn as an authentic mode of participation.
| Entrance | For God so loved the world (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd) |
| Gloria | Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Psalm 115 | The blessing cup (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Lenten (mtgf) |
| Washing of the Feet | Faith, hope & love (Christpher Walker) |
| Preparation of Gifts | I give to you a new commandment (Peter Nardone) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd) |
| Lamb of God | Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd) |
| Communion Antiphon | This is the body (mtgf) |
| Communion | Ave verum corpus (Byrd) |
| Procession | Pange lingua (Ricky Manalo) |
| Watching | Tantum ergo (chant) |
| Stay with me (Taizé) |
I think we (I?) have reconciled ourselves to less music - e.g. at Communion and in the crypt. It definitely flows more easily without that feeling that once we finish this piece the next will start immediately.
We had done the Nardone anthem on Maundy Thursday before. We have used it this term with the University choir and so it was good to place the chant of Ubi Caritas in its proper place. As I have probably said before it is a simple but effective piece - in some ways just the same melody sung three times but with enough variation and satisfaction for the singers.
We tried a different arrangement of singers for the Pange Lingua chant. It always involves a certain logistical planning with some singers heading for the crypt ahead of the procession and some staying with the procession upstairs and then making our way by a different route to regather with the singers in the crypt. What was apparent this year was that the congregation had taken up Ricky Manalos (lush) chant. I am not sure how long we have sung it (since 2010 and I note that in 2011/12 people seem to be picking it up well!)
| Entrance | Jesus Christ is risen today |
| Penitential Rite | Lux et origo (mtgf) |
| Gloria | Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Psalm 117 | This is the day (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation/Sequence | Victimae Paschali (mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | Christo resurgenti (Couperin) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Lamb of God | Lux et origo (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Christ our passover (mtgf) |
| Communion | Sicut cervus (Palestrina) |
| Final | Thine be the glory |
I think the singers could missed the missing hour. It was good to do the Couperin again, this year by the women and a very nice sound they made, it has something of the sprightly joy of Easter. Sicut cervus was a remnant from the previous night when it was replaced by instrumental music.
| Procession | The Lord is my light (Taizé) |
| Exsultet | Missal |
| Psalm 103 | Send forth your spirit (mtgf) |
| Psalm 15 | Preserve me, God (Christopher Walker) |
| Exodus 15 | I will sing to the Lord (mtgf) |
| Psalm 18 | O Lord, you have the message (mtgf) |
| Psalm 41-42 | As the deer longs (Palestrina/Bridge) |
| Gloria | Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Celtic Alleluia (O'Carroll/Walker) |
| Baptismal Liturgy | Litany of the Saints (Missal) |
| Springs of water (mtgf) | |
| Preparation of Gifts | In bread we bring you, Lord (Kevin Nichols) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Lamb of God | Lux et origo (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Christ our Passover |
| Final | Holy is God (Paul Inwood) |
We had a Reception and the candidate requested In bread we bring you. As is often the case with this generation of hymns it is a long time since we have sung them - but we still remember them. Actually Kevin Nichols shows a higher level of craft than many with triple rhymes and theological content.
We had sang Holy is God as our last Alleluia before Lent and it seemed and interesting idea to sing it again tonight. Among its other merits it is short - just long enough to bring the vigil to conclusion.
| Psalm 30 | Father, into your hands (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Lenten (mtgf) |
| Adoration of the Cross | Reproaches (Peter Jones) |
| Christus factus est (Anton Bruckner) | |
| Communion | O Crux ave (Rihards Dubra) |
| When I survey the wondrous cross |
Again quite lean. We have more music on standby for the Adoration including Victoria O dos ones and Jesus, remember me but 2 pieces are currently enough.
| Entrance | For God so loved the world (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd) |
| Gloria | Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| 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 | Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd) |
| Lamb of God | Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd) |
| Communion Antiphon | This is the Body (mtgf) |
| Communion | Ave verum Corpus (Byrd) |
| Procession | Pange lingua (Ricky Manalo) |
| Tantum ergo (chant) | |
| Watching | Stay with me (Taizé) |
Nearly the same as last year - simpler and leaner than in some years past. I notice I commented on layout last year (though confusingly about the Paschal Candle). This year the seats for the foot washing were placed across the front the sanctuary, for the whole liturgy. I think it is arguable whether the foot washing is main symbolic action of the liturgy (there are some who would wish to omit it, and may for pastoral reasons), even if this were so it would be the washing not the seats which became a barrier to be passed for the rest of the liturgy.
| Entrance | Jesus Christ is risen today |
| Penitential Rite | Lux et origo (mtgf) |
| Gloria | Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Psalm 117 | This is the day (Haugen) |
| Gospel Acclamation/Sequence | Victimae Paschali (mtgf) |
| Preparation of Gifts | Christ the glory (Lallouette) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| Lamb of God | Lux et origo (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Christ our passover (mtgf) |
| Communion | I have seen the Lord (Bob Hurd) |
| Final | Thine be the glory |
In contrast to the previous 3 days Easter Sunday morning was packed - such that we ran out of Mass leaflets. I have suggested before, that at least in my local experience, Easter Sunday, as opposed to Good Friday, has become a day when people go to church.
Musically we were were 2 singers and accompaniment - and those present were not in peak condition following the Vigil! This meant a change to what was planned but we mustered some energy and Easter joy. The next task is to make a note of things to remember for next year.
Procession | The Lord is my light (Taizé) |
Exsultet | Missal |
Psalm 103 | Send forth your spirit (mtgf) |
Psalm 15 | Preserve me, God (Christopher Walker) |
Exodus 15 | I will sing to the Lord (mtgf) |
Isaiah 12 | With joy you will draw water (mtgf) |
Psalm 41-42 | As the deer longs (Palestrina/Bridge) |
Gloria | Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
Gospel Acclamation | Celtic Alleluia (O'Carroll/Walker) |
Baptismal Liturgy | Springs of water (mtgf) |
Preparation of Gifts | For peace (Antoine Oomen) |
Eucharistic Acclamations | Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
Lamb of God | Lux et origo (mtgf) |
| Communion Antiphon | Christ our Passover |
Communion | Sicut Cervus (Palestrina) |
Final | Out of Darkness (Christopher Walker) |
For variety one reading was changed and hence the psalm. To my mind, if you are not going to have all 7 readings, 1, 2, 3 and 7 always feel essential and then it is a choice between 4, 5, and 6. I suspect that it is the attraction of three stories and a vision. It may be shaped by a phrase I find inadequate 'Salvation history' partly because it sounds both past and abstract — rather than the story of God's saving relationship with people which, when their are baptisms, continues to this day
Our soprano could not be with us which meant that some pieces did not have their full sparkle, and to whom the psalms were allocated was shifted but in the end it only affected one choice which was to revert to the Celtic Alleluia.
| Psalm 30 | Father, into your hands (mtgf) |
| Gospel Acclamation | Lenten (mtgf) |
| Adoration of the Cross | As Moses lifted up the serpent (Bairstow) |
| Reproaches (Peter Jones) | |
| Christus factus est (Anton Bruckner) | |
| Communion | O Crux ave (Rihards Dubra) |
| When I survey the wondrous cross |
I wanted to repeat the Bairstow piece which leads into the text God so loved the world — bringing some Johannine glory into the music. Actually I think the Bruckner and the Dubra reflect this as well - in different ways.
| Entrance | For God so loved the world (mtgf) |
| Penitential Rite | Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd) |
| Gloria | Mass of Wisdom (Steven Janco) |
| 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 (Duruflé) |
| Eucharistic Acclamations | Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd) |
| Lamb of God | Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd) |
| Communion Antiphon | This is the Body (mtgf) |
| Communion | Ave verum Corpus (Byrd) |
| Procession | Pange lingua (Ricky Manalo) |
| Tantum ergo (chant) | |
| Watching | Stay with me (Taizé) |
Small changes as ever. New things, some changed after a year, some much longer. A new psalm setting, simpler. We reverted back to Faith, hope and love (and noted for the first time discrepancies between printed copies). Duruflé Ubi Caritas, a first for us (or at least for a very long time). I wonder if the congregation registered it as similar or different to the Eucharistic Acclamations. The final change was an omission was not to have a choir piece at the beginning of the Watching. It partly relates to the too many pieces, too little time and could possibly seem an indulgence. Also the practicalities of singing in the crypt, not a resonant acoustic with the choir despite best efforts sometimes strung out.
Two non-musical aspects of this and the following celebrations also struck me. Our numbers were lower than usual - over all the Triduum. There could be many reasons for this, including weather. I suspect there is a discontinuity between Sundays and the Triduum - at its simplest nobody on a Sunday invited/reminded people to take part. Sunday Mass numbers are also changing with seemingly more attending the morning Mass.
The other aspect was theatrical or 'set design'. People often get nervous when you use such words but what I particularly mean is how do you lay out the sanctuary so that the principle elements are in focus at the right time and so that the liturgical action can be carried out with ease and dignity. This becomes most obvious when, to my mind, when elements aren't right. I am not sure if our much vaunted visual culture (and the ability to read it) is switched off when we come to liturgy or the desire to follow the rubrics can mean one loses sight of the whole. To give an example where do you place the Paschal Candle? the Missal says either by the Ambo or in the middle of the Sanctuary. The latter (which is slightly ambiguous) says, I think, the Candle is significant in its own right (part of the ambiguity is in front of or behind the altar) - the light illumines the whole Church. By the Ambo suggests that by the light of Christ we read the scriptures. And for us who don't have full illumination for the readings it can be a real source of light. This year rather than beside we placed it directly in front - this may sound as though it might block the reader or the psalmist but the set designer will know that this will effect hardly anyone.
