Christmas - Day Mass

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.