Christmas - Day

25 December 2013

Entrance	Once in royal David's city
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Christmas (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 97	All the ends of the earth (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	()
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Christmas (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	All the ends of the earth (mtgf)
Communion	Away in a manger ()
Final	O little town

The lack of comment for some of the last Masses is because I have been away with friends in SE Asia. This was planned over a year ago - it is good to be in a position where you can leave the music in the hands of sensible and competent musicians. So the list represents what was planned but may not been what has been delivered.

The English Mass in the Cathedral this morning was full. Midnight Mass was in Thai with an English language booklet (and the opening hymn was 'O holy night' - perhaps the remains of the French influence). There was a choir, psalmist and keyboard who all did a good job. There was a commentator to tell us where to stand and sit (I quite like standing for the processions of gifts, including candles and flowers, it made a connection between the gifts and ourselves. I was less sure about standing for the Doxology.) The hymn book was Gather Combined 2004 together with a booklet. You can set aside Credo III and Pater Noster in the English-speaking world and replace them with Haugen and Schutte. Some of the compositions were no doubt home grown: the Lord's Prayer - I was reminded about the old argument of not singing the Lord's Prayer where it may exclude rather than include. On the whole I was struck by how well they catered for what must a sizeably different polyglot congregation week-in, week-out.

Christmas - Mass during the Night

25 December 2013

Carol	Once in royal David's city
Carol	O child of promise
Carol	While shepherds watched
Carol	No wind at the window
Carol	O little town of Bethlehem
—	—
Entrance	O Come all ye faithful
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Christmas (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 95	Today a Saviour has been born (Bernadette Farrell)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	What shall we give (arr. Dean)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Christmas (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	The word became flesh (mtgf)
Communion	Night of Silence/ Silent Night (Damile Kantor)
Final	Hark the herald angels sing

4th Sunday of Advent

22 December 2013

Entrance	Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Kyrie 'Orbis factor'
Psalm 23	Let the Lord enter (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	O child of promise (Andrew Maries)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Advent (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Behold, a virgin shall conceive (mtgf)
Communion	O holy Mary (Owen Alstott)
Final	O come, O come Emmanuel

3rd Sunday of Advent

15 December 2013

Entrance	Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Kyrie 'Orbis factor'
Psalm 145	Come, Lord, and save us (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Song of God among us (Huijbers)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Advent (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Say to the faint of heart (mtgf)
Communion	God has chosen me (Bernadette Farrell)
Final	Blest be the Lord the God of Israel

Immaculate Conception of BVM

9 December 2013

Entrance	The Angel Gabriel
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Mass of Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 97	Sing a new song (John Bell)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	O radiant dawn (James MacMillan)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Mass of Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	(mtgf)
Communion	I sing a maid (Micahel Joncas)
Final	Tell out my soul

Carol Service

3 December 2013

Part 1 - Prepare a way for the Lord

Entrance	Yonder come day (Georgia Sea Islands Spiritual)
Opening Responses
Reading	Isaiah 40:1–5 The prophet Isaiah tells the people of Israel to prepare a way for the Lord
Song	O radiant dawn (James MacMillan)
Hymn	O come, O come Emmanuel

Part 2 - Behold the virgin will conceive

Reading	Luke 1: 26-38 St Luke tells of the Incarnation of Jesus
Carol	No wind at the window (Irish/Bell/Haugen)
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	I sing a maid (Irish arr. Joncas)
Carol	Silent Night

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

Reading	1 John 1:1–4 St John reflects on the Incarnation
Motet	Adam lay ybounden (Ord)
Intercessions
Lord's Prayer & Blessing
Carol	O come all ye faithful

A shorter carol service this year. We sang a few more secular Christmas favourites afterwards. I am still ambivalent about the Carol Service and how much it should balance Advent–Christmas. Over the years it has never attracted great numbers and I note that for many years though the content was Advent it was advertised as a 'Christmas Carol Service' and nobody complained. I see one of the choir members has been asking similar questions: Advent for today.

Our focus in Advent is always the Feast day Mass for the Immaculate Conception and the Carol service is the poor relation. Another factor is that the end of term is marked by exams for students and so it gets pushed to the beginning of December.

I think the main question is 'who is it for? Probably for three groups who may have different needs which may not be all the same. There are those who will journey with the Church's liturgy through Advent and Christmas and would probably like a reflection on where we are now — Advent. I think it offers a celebration for those for whom the Feast Day Mass is not a focus and indeed this year this was articulated by one of the committed Christians on campus who feels less at home at Mass. My other hope would be that it is for those who will otherwise participate in the Advent-Christmas journey so that they will hear the proclamation of the good news.

I think I commented last year that I am interested that members of the College choir who have a range of beliefs are excited by the prospect of singing Christmas carols. I would also note that a number of them had never sung 'O come, O come Emmanuel' before.

2nd Sunday of Advent

8 December 2013

Entrance	Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Kyrie 'Orbis factor'
Psalm 71	In his days justice will flourish (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	O comfort my people (Irish arr. mtgf)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Advent (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Jerusalem, arise (mtgf)
Communion	On Jordan's bank (Monteverdi)
Final	Lo, he comes on clouds descending

I had meant to do the last hymn last week but I was not sure how well known it was and wanted at lest the choir to be confident. As there was not time last week it got delayed a week - it is such a good tune and Wesley does write good texts - well expressed imagery (though we did omit 'deeply wailing'.

1st Sunday of Advent

1 December 2013

Entrance	Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Kyrie 'Orbis factor'
Psalm 121	I rejoiced (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	In God's good time (Stephen Dean)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Advent (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	The Lord will bestow his bounty (mtgf)
Communion	Long is our winter (German)
Final	Hark, a herald voice

And so we begin again. It always charms me that the compilers of the Lectionary repeated the psalm from the end of year to year A. The Jerusalem of the Lectionary is both where Christ is king upon the cross and where he will come again.

We had planned to do In God's good time a couple of weeks ago but were unable - so it fitted well here — it could have been another link across the years.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King

24 November 2013

Entrance	Rejoice the Lord is king
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 121	I rejoiced when I heard them say (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Chreist the glory (Lalouette)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	The Lord sits as king (mtgf)
Communion	Calvarie Mount (Thomas Tallis)
Final	Hail Redeemer, king divine

I was in two minds about the two choir pieces. The factors were both musical and theological in the liturgical context. Should it be bright-gentle, major-minor, loud-quiet, praise-petition. That is the order we went but it could have been the other way.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

17 November 2013

Entrance	At the name of Jesus
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 97	The Lord comes to rule (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Turn my heart (Marty Haugen)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	Amen, I say to you (mtgf)
Communion	There is a longing (Anne Quigley)
Final	The voice of God ( )

I was away this Sunday.

32nd Sunday on Ordinary Time

Remembrance Sunday

10 November 2013

Entrance	Eternal rest
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 16	I shall be filled (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	I am the Resurrection (Croft)
	I know that my Redeemer liveth (Croft)
	Thou knowest, Lord (Purcell)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	The Lord is my shepherd (mtgf)
Communion	Lux aeterna (Mozart)
Final	Thine be the glory

This morning we were joined by members of the College Choir and we sang part of Mozart's Requiem - which we are preparing for the Church Colleges Choirs festival. At the Preparation of Gifts we sang a short sequence of piece. The first two parts of William Croft's Burial service which led in to Purcell's setting from his Funeral Music for Queen Mary. Croft does not set these words but indicated that Purcell's version should be sung. The readings of the day fitted well with Remembrance — or at least, to be slightly controversial, a Christian response to remembrance which is faith in the resurrection. That inspired the choice of the settings by Croft and the final hymn. Someone suggested to me afterwards that in the protestant settings there is no prayer for the dead but thinking about it proclamation of the resurrection maybe comes first. That is not deny the need for prayer for the dead as we did, musically, at both the beginning and at Communion

From last week we have been singing the third Memorial Acclamation - Save, us, Saviour. I may have mentioned this before but one of my bugbears is publishers (etc.) who don't know the difference between 6/4 and 3/2 — the first sung bar has the accents on 1st, 3rd and 5th notes and there is in 3/2. I also suspect it would flow better if the next bar was 4/4 not 3/4.

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

3 November 2013

Entrance	I heard the voice of Jesus say
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 144	I will bless your name forever (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Lord, for thy tender mercies sake (Farrant)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	You will show me the path of life (mtgf)
Communion	O God you search me (Bernadette Farrell)
Final	The kingdom of God

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

27 October 2013

Entrance	Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 33	This poor man called (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Remember, remember (Paul Inwood)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	We will ring out our joy (mtgf)
Communion	The cry of the poor (John Foley)
Final	Praise we our God with joy

It is always a slight worry when the celebrant announces at the beginning of Mass that the focus of the readings is 'prayer' and the quick mental thought does what we are singing reflect this. Yes, for the most part. I had planned some other music which did need a full group but as there was not possible this morning other things were sung in place. We turned to the psalms: Psalm 24 and 33 respectively. The Cry of the Poor repeated the responsorial psalm but it is also the 'classic' Communion psalm.

We had a brief discussion before Mass about how some pieces we might once have been enthusiastic about do not gain 'classic' status. I am aware that this is a minefield and there is a connection between classic and personal preference. One definition of a classic is something which can be re-interpreted. I would suggest: open to a number uses in the liturgy and capable of being sung/performed in a variety of ways. (I can already think of all the exceptions.) For example, The Cry of the Poor works well unaccompanied or with a single guitar or etc.

29th Sunday on Ordinary Time

20 October 2013

Entrance	All my hope on God is founded
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 121	Our help is in the name of the Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Listen, Lord (John Bell)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	Behold, the eyes of the Lord (mtgf)
Communion	There is a longing (Ann Quigley)
Final	Be thou my vision

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

13 October 2013

Entrance	Praise my soul
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 96	The Lord has shown his salvation (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Exsultate Deo (Johann Cruger)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	The rich suffer want (mtgf)
Communion	Unless a grain (Bernadette Farrell)
Final	God is love, his the care

Today is one of the best examples of parallelism in the Lectionary where the events of the First Reading are echoed in the Gospel — a foreigner is healed of Leprosy and there is a question of how to respond to this gift. I was struck that today's psalm response, which as ever helps to make the link, is The Lord has shown his salvation not All the ends of the earth have seen which is sung with this psalm at Christmas and I think picks up the question of response. In the gift of healing the salvation that the Lord offers is revealed but that offer has to be responded to.

The motet by Cruger was intended as a moment of thanksgiving. It is in 3 parts - SAM. I had originally thought it as quite easy with simple imitation between the voices and would build up contrapuntal confidence. It is surprising when you find what you thought was easy causes difficulties… I think for two reasons: the Alto part often sung above the Soprano which can be disconcerting to both; also there were changes in triple time where I had decided that crotchet equals minim to keep up the momentum but it meant that suddenly the music went twice as fast in a different metre.

Unless a Grain of Wheat was chosen as uses some of the text from the 2nd reading which was quoted in the sermon. One of the reasons for doing it that I was aware that the SATB parts needed some polishing. In some ways I am not sure the refrain parts are that necessary - but they are there. We used the alternate SATB harmonisation for the final refrain — I had not realised before that it is a descant on the tune.

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

6 October 2013

Entrance	We walk by faith
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 94	O that today (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Listen, Lord (John Bell)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	The Lord is good (mtgf)
Communion	Lord, you have come to the seashore (Gabarain)
Final	Holy God, we praise thy name

Something that hasn't happened for a while this morning - just cantor and congregation. A combination of possibly cats, colds, Canvey and airport cars led to this. As ever it good opportunity to get an idea of how the congregation is singing - to which the answer would seem to be well if invited. So they will be verbally invited to sing first and last hymns and be animated for Gloria, Psalm and Acclamation. My desire is to not be an additional focus in the liturgy and so I don't usually animate Holy, Holy etc. but this would suggest that people still need some visual clue, something which is sometimes supplied more effectively) by the Presider.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

29 September 2013

Entrance	Gather us in
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 145	My soul give praise to the Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	A touching place (John Bell)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	By this we came to know the love of God (mtgf)
Communion	What does the Lord require (mtgf)
Final	The kingdom of God

Almost 30 years ago when Gather us in was new I remember a member of the congregation saying how much she liked it because of the line 'we are the old who long for your face' and that it was good to feel included. What I find surprising looking back is realising the person would probably have been in their 50s. It easy to knock what some would see as a sentimental, emotional response to liturgy but that need to see oneself as potentially redeemed is important. Today Gather us in was intended to gather in both rich and poor — Dives and Lazarus.

It stuck me that if one of the purposes of music is to make connections we could have sung In Paradisum today — et cum Lazaro but the music has a subject: 'you' and so would not make out of context.

I did briefly wonder about a hymn text that could be sung to Kingsfold or as it is know in ENglish folk song circles Dives and Lazarus. I suspect more people may have wondered why we were singing The Star of County Down.

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

22 September 2013

Entrance	Christ be our light (Bernadette Farrell
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 112	(mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	I am the good Shepherd (mtgf)
Communion	In perfect charity (Randall DeBruyn)
Final	Tell out my soul

A number of years ago, when we were in Year C, it was noted that series of Sundays about sin, forgiveness and God's mercy can if reflected to strongly in the music choices create a dour impression to the newcomer. A example would be last week's Opening Hymn Our Father, we have wandered which speaks of the 'evil that we do'. (As a footnote it was, I think, one the hymns commissioned by ICEL at the time of the translation of the Rite of Penance to provide a hymnody which better reflected the theology of the rite.)

This week beginning and end were hopefully in the well-known category so newcomers could recognise the familiar. I was a meeting in the week where Christ be our light was new to a school teacher.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

15 September 2013

Entrance	Our Father, we have wandered
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 50	I will leave this place (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Out of the Depths (Scott Soper)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	How precious is your mercy (mtgf)
Communion	Lord, for thy tender mercies sake (Farrant)
Final	There's a wideness in God's mercy

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

8 September 2013

Entrance	Dear Lord and Father of mankind
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Angels & Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 90	O Lord, you have been our refuge (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Restless is the heart (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Angels & Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	I am the light of the world (mtgf)
Communion	The love of the Lord (Michael Joncas)
Final	Will you come and follow me

We don't often note special Sundays. I suspect that this is in part a matter of administration as much a general view that they are effectively a distraction rather than an a helpful addition. When I came to the college this was Sunday after the last night of the Proms and we would sing Jerusalem — at least the festivities didn't extend to Land of hope and glory.

This Sunday the first hymn reflected the calling of the disciples but also had passing reference to Syria and peace. At Communion the Love of the Lord reflected giving up everything for the treasure which is Christ. Restless is the heart was written for an Irish Church Music Association Summer School and I presume the refrain, which is based on St Augustine, was inspired by a wall hanging which used to hang at the Irish Liturgy Centre in Carlow (and now does in Maynooth - or did at least the last time I was there).

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 September 2013

Entrance	We come as guests invited
Penitential Rite	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 67	In your goodness, O God (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	What does the Lord require, only this (mtgf)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Luton (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	How great is the goodness (mtgf)
Communion	O sacrum convivium (Croce)
Final	My soul proclaims (Bernadette Farrell)

September brings the next change of Mass settings which, unlike the previous ones in the year, are staggered over a couple of weeks. So this week it was back to the Mass of Creation which will see us through to Christmas.

Banquets and humility were the two strands in the music choices. Banquets in Luke are often seen as eucharistic this led to the Entrance Song and to the motet at Communion — O Sacred Banquet. The Magnificat also seems to be echoed in the Gospel: the first shall be last and the humble shall be raised up. Bernadette FArrell's setting also spoke to the situation in the Middle East/

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

25 August 2013

Entrance	All are welcome
Penitential Rite	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 116	Go out to the whole world (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	Travelling the Road to freedom (John Bell)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal
Lamb of God	Luton (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Whoever eats my flesh (mtgf)
Communion	I have loved you
Final	Tell out my soul

A hard Gospel - which somehow inspired the homilist to ask 'Would you look good on wood?' Even the First reading and the Psalm try to give the best impression. I think Travelling the road may have caught some of that difficulty, the other choices mollified it.

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

18 August 2013

Entrance	All that is hidden
Penitential Rite	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 39	Lord, Lord, come to my aid. (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	I lift up my eyes (Huijbers)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal
Lamb of God	Luton (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	I am the living bread (mtgf)
Communion	Shepherd me, O God (Marty Haugen)
Final	Guide me, O thou great redeemer

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

11 August 2013

Entrance	Gather us in
Penitential Rite	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 32	HAppy the people (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	Let nothing trouble you (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal
Lamb of God	Luton (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	The bread that I will give (mtgf)
Communion	Lord, you have come (Gabarain)
Final	Love divine ( )

I was away in Würzburg - but normal service continued.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

4 August 2013

Entrance	Dear Lord and Father
Penitential Rite	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 89	O Lord, you have been our refuge (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	In the land (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal
Lamb of God	Luton (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	I am the bread of life (mtgf)
Communion	Where your treasure is (Marty Haugen)
Final	Now thank we all our God

Two brief comments. We had a different supply priest this morning who used the first form of the Penitential Act and so the F#m of the Kyrie was immediately followed by the C major of the Gloria. We also used the 3rd Memorial Acclamation, 'Save us, Saviour' and will continue to use it in August - so that we will have used all three.

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

28 July 2013

Entrance	Forgive our sins
Penitential Rite	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 137	On the day I called (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	The gift of the Holy Spirit ()
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal
Lamb of God	Luton (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Bless the Lord, my soul (mtgf)
Communion	I received the living God (Anon)
Final	All my hope on God is founded

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

21 July 2013

Entrance	Lord, for tomorrow
Penitential Rite	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 14	The just will live (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	As the bridegroom (John Rutter)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal
Lamb of God	Luton (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Behold, I stand at the door (mtgf)
Communion	Come, Christ's beloved (mtgf)
Final	Lord of all hopefulness

I think the chosen pieces speak of relationship to God/Jesus, hospitality and letting go of cares. The psalm turns the question around - it is not and some may even be visited by angels but who is worthy to receive them.

We have sung 'As the bridegroom\ for a wedding before though it is an example of a piece where the first line is true of the context of a wedding and the rest less so. This can also be true of hymns which have 'love' in the first line.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

14 July 2013

Entrance	Brother, sister, let me serve you (Richard Gilliard)
Penitential Rite	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 18	The precepts of the law (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal
Lamb of God	Luton (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Whoever eats my flesh (mtgf)
Communion	What does the Lord ask (mtgf)
Final	God is love, his the care

Just as last week was not just about the sending but but what is the kingdom; this week is not just the Good Samaritan but the nature and purpose of the law.

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

7 July 2013

Entrance	All that is hidden (Bernadette Farrell)
Penitential Rite	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 65	Cry out with joy (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	God has chosen me (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal
Lamb of God	Luton (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	(mtgf)
Communion	Christ our peace (Marty Haugen)
Final	Forth in the peace of Christ

St Peter & St Paul

30 June 2013

Entrance	Into a world
Penitential Rite	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 33	From all my terrors (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Alleluia (Murray)
Profession of Faith	Credo III
Preparation of Gifts	The love of the Lord (Michael Joncas)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal
Lamb of God	Luton (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Peter said to Jesus (mtgf)
Communion	Now we remain (David Haas)
Final	Thy hand, O God, has guided

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

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

23 June 2013

Entrance	Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us
Penitential Rite	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 62	For you my soul (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Alleluia (Murray)
Preparation of Gifts	Ours were the griefs (Stephen Dean)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal
Lamb of God	Luton (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	I am the good shepherd (mtgf)
Communion	Christ our peace (Marty Haugen)
Final	At the name of Jesus

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

16 June 2013

Entrance	There's a wideness in God's mercy
Penitential Rite	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 31	Forgive, Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Alleluia (Murray)
Profession of Faith	Credo III
Preparation of Gifts	Thy mercy, O Lord God (Benedetto Marcello)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal
Lamb of God	Luton (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	There is one thing (mtgf)
Communion	No longer I (Bob Hurd)
Final	Sing of the Lord's goodness (Ernest Sands)

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

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

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

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time

9 June 2013

Entrance	O changeless Christ
Penitential Rite	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 29	I will praise you, Lord (Paul Inwood)
Gospel Acclamation	Alleluia (Murray)
Profession of Faith	Credo III
Preparation of Gifts	Healer of our every ill (Marty Haugen)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal
Lamb of God	Luton (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	The Lord is my rock (mtgf)
Communion	Eye has not seen (Marty Haugen)
Final	Praise we our God with joy

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

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

The Body & Blood of the Lord

2 June 2013

Entrance	My God, and is thy table spread
Penitential Rite	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 109	You are a priest for ever (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Alleluia (Murray)
Profession of Faith	Credo III
Preparation of Gifts	O sacrum convivium (Croce)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal
Lamb of God	Luton (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Whoever eats my flesh (mtgf)
Communion	Take and eat (Michael Joncas)
Final	Alleluia, sing to Jesus

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

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

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

Trinity Sunday

26 May 2013

Entrance	Holy, Holy, Holy
Penitential Rite	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Gloria	At the Table of the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group)
Psalm 8	How great is your name (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Alleluia (Murray)
Profession of Faith	Credo III
Preparation of Gifts	Hymn of the Cherubim (Anon. Russian?)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missal
Lamb of God	Luton (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Since you are children of God (mtgf)
Communion	God beyond all names (Bernadette Farrell)
Final	Holy God, we praise thy name

It i strange how in the autumn from Ordinary Time through Advent and Christmas the Mass parts have a commonality and fluidity. Lent, Easter and then Ordinary Time now the changes are much more distinct and 'instant'. There was a time when the settings for the Easter season 'bled' into Trinity and beyond but now I like to give a distinct flavour to the Easter season. Th settings we began using today will see us through to the end of August. It is interesting to realise that this now the third years we have been sing ing the new translation.

The innovation and the exception to this is Credo III. I was struck when we used it at Christmas that it was not that well know, We are going to be singing it for the next 6 Sundays - from Trinity to Ss Peter & Paul. It is partly a way of marking the Year of Faith. One member of the congregation came up afterwards and described it as 'Catholic Karaoke' for a certain age group.

Pentecost Sunday

19 May 2013

Entrance	Come down, O love divine
Penitential Rite	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Gloria	Mass of Wisdom (Stephen Janco)
Psalm 103	Send forth your Spirit (mtgf)
Sequence	Holy Spirit, Lord divine (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	Come Holy Ghost (Schubert)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Mass of Wisdom (Stephen Janco)
Lamb of God	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	They were all filled (mtgf)
Communion	The Spirit of the Lord (Elgar)
Final	We have a gospel

Though the words of Come down, O love divine are fine and poetic I suspect it is the quality of the tune which prompts its use - it says - or sings - Pentecost.

A disadvantage of our rehearsal time (before and after Mass) is that I tend to assign cantor roles in the Penitential Act etc. to myself as it saves time - but as all the singers are capable and had manage without me in the preceding weeks others were cantors throughout this morning - I ought to remember this more often.

Chant was a running thread this morning. Veni Creator is quoted in the psalm accompaniment. (The Vigil verses also include Veni Sancte Spiritus as a counter melody to one verse. The sequence setting is an arrangement of chant in triple time. Finally the Penitential Act and Lamb of God are both based on the chant Mass Lux et Origo which is indicated for the Easter season.

The Ascension of the Lord

12 May 2013

Entrance	At the name of Jesus
Penitential Rite	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Gloria	Mass of Wisdom (Stephen Janco)
Psalm 46	Our God goes up (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Christ the glory (Lalouette)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Mass of Wisdom (Stephen Janco)
Lamb of God	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Behold, I am with you always (mtgf)
Communion	Call us to your table (Christopher Walker)
Final	Lord, you give the great commission

It was ladies only this Sunday - well for musicians at least. We had used for Lord, you give the great commission earlier in the week for the leavers' Mass - but then sung to Ode to Joy on the assumption that it's a familiar tune to the unfamiliar - this morning It was sung to Abbot's Leigh (I presume) - dare I say it a better hymn tune.

6th Sunday of Easter

5 May 2013

Entrance	Unless a grain
Penitential Rite	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Gloria	Mass of Wisdom (Stephen Janco)
Psalm 66	Let the peoples praise you (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Regina Caeli (Soriano)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Mass of Wisdom (Stephen Janco)
Lamb of God	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	If you love me (mtgf)
Communion	Live on in my love (Collegeville)
Final	Christ is alive

5th Sunday of Easter

28 April 2013

Entrance	Love is his word
Penitential Rite	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Gloria	Mass of Wisdom (Stephen Janco)
Psalm 144	I will bless your name (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Love one another (mtgf)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Mass of Wisdom (Stephen Janco)
Lamb of God	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	I am the true vine (mtgf)
Communion	We have been told (David Haas)
Final	God is love

I was away in Switzerland at a meeting but the troops rallied round and carried on.

4th Sunday of Easter

21 April 2013

Entrance	Worthy are you, O Lord (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Gloria	Mass of Wisdom (Stephen Janco)
Psalm 99	We are your people (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	My shepherd will supply (arr. Virgil Thomson)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Mass of Wisdom (Stephen Janco)
Lamb of God	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	The Good Shepherd is risen (mtgf)
Communion	Shepherd me, O God (Marty Haugen)
Final	Hail Redeemer

I try to remember the Entrance Song at some point in Easter Year C as it is a setting of Canticle from the Apocalypse.

We were originally planning to do the Virgil Thomson arrangement of the Southern Hymn tune on the 1st Sunday of Lent but that was not possible. It was a setting where we had to amend Jehovah to 'the Lord God'.

3rd Sunday of Easter

14 April 2013

Entrance	At the Lamb's high feast
Penitential Rite	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Gloria	Mass of Wisdom (Stephen Janco)
Psalm 29	I will praise you, Lord (Paul Inwood)
Gospel Acclamation	Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	I have seen the Lord (Bob Hurd)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Mass of Wisdom (Stephen Janco)
Lamb of God	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Jesus said to his disciples (mtgf)
Communion	I received the living God (Anonymous arr. Proulx)
Final	Forth in the peace of Christ

I have been meaning to use At the Lamb's high feast for a number of years as it is a good strong hymn, text and music. which people should know. So this morning we did. Not that many knew it and as is then often the case the people were tentative in their responses up to the Liturgy of the Word.

I found it surprising that this Gospel has not inspired more settings (whereas Emmaus in another year…).

The Lamb of God (and Penitential Act) is based on the chant Mass Lux et origo. As an experiment for the first invocation I sang the chant. We talked about beforehand whether it should come first or in between. In between might have thrown the congregation (and we had already done that once). In some ways it acted as an introduction which gave time for the priest to get to the altar for the breaking of bread. I suspect that in many places there is a mismatch between the length of the music (however short) and the action it is meant to cover.

2nd Sunday of Easter

7 April 2013

Entrance	O sons and daughters
Penitential Rite	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Gloria	Mass of Wisdom (Stephen Janco)
Psalm 117	Give thanks to the Lord (Collegeville Composers Group )
Gospel Acclamation	Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	We walk by faith (Marty Haugen)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Mass of Wisdom (Stephen Janco)
Lamb of God	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Bring your hand (mtgf)
Communion	Now we remain (David Haas)
Final	This joyful Eastertide

While planning the Easter Season I did look over what we have done in previous years. Sometimes you can forget local ideas and solutions. As I suspect I have mentioned in previous years I find Easter not an easy season to prepare music for. I think it is because I find the horizontal and vertical aspects of the Lectionary more opaque than other seasons. By this I mean how the passages relate together on one Sunday coupled with how the semi-continuous Sunday by Sunday passages work. You could suggest that there is a further dimensions which is how the Sundays in each cycle relate - for example this Gospel is common to all three years. On other Sundays there some correlation between the Gospels in each cycle.

It is a very rich Gospel. We went more to towards Thomas rather than 'Peace be with you' and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Easter Sunday

31 March 2013

Entrance	Jesus Christ is risen today
Penitential Rite	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Gloria	Mass of Wisdom (Stephen Janco)
Psalm 117	This is the day (Marty Haugen)
Gospel Acclamation	Sequence (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	Christo resurgenti (Couperin)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Mass of Wisdom (Stephen Janco)
Lamb of God	Lux et origo (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Christ our passover (mtgf)
Communion	Exsultate iusti (Viadana)
Final	Thine be the glory
Voluntary	Victimae Paschali Laudes (Ropek)

Easter Sunday morning always attracts a number of people - but it was good to see many of the regulars from both morning and evening Masses ready to sing their parts.

This year I have resurrected my adaptation of or settings based on Lux et Origo Mass chants for the Penitential Act and Lamb of God instead of using the Mass of Wisdom all the way through. This is less a reflection of the quality of those parts of the Wisdom settings (which is fine) rather there is a unity of smooth sameness that to me needs a little more grit - or at last a difference of texture.

Easter Vigil

30 March 2013

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 29	I will praise you, Lord (Paul Inwood)
Psalm 41-42	As the deer longs (Palestrina/Bridge)
Gloria	Wisdom (Steven Janco)
Gospel Acclamation	Celtic (O'Carroll/Walker)
Baptismal Liturgy	Sprinkling: Amen, Amen (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	For peace (Antoine Oomen)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Wisdom (Steven Janco)
Lamb of God	Wisdom (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon	Christ our Passover
Communion	Sicut Cervus (Palestrina)
Final	Christ be our light (Bernadette Farrell)
Voluntary	Acclamations sur Christus Vincit (Suite Medievale) (Langlais)

Once again little change. In addition to the congregation being familiar to the music it also means that the regular singers are also confident and are not only familiar with the music but also the pattern of the liturgy. I have been in parishes where the Vigil is seen as immensely complicated - a self-fulfilling prophecy. It is definitely long and requires quite a lot of music but there is a pattern. One of the advantages of singers' familiarity is that you can bring in new people - a couple of College Choir joined us. I promised that it would be good or their sight-reading. In preparing it meant we could focus on their contribution and familiarity.

I reflected in the Vigil as drama. In part is the way that we celebrate it in some ways a compensation for the lack of baptisms. (This is about candles and movement rather than production numbers.) I think this compensation is also implicit in the revision/restoration of the Vigil - what might you do if you are not going to baptise people. There is also a Brechtian alienation effect as well. People always gather in the chapel - last night you would not have hung around outside for too long - and the lights are on. This place which will in a short while glow in candlelight is plain for all to see. The effect it seems to me is not we are pretending but this is real because it acknowledges both states.

Good Friday

6 April 2013

Psalm 31	Father, into your hands (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Lenten (mtgf)
Adoration of the Cross	Reproaches (Peter Jones)
	Vexilla Regis (Anton Bruckner)
	O vos omnes (Victoria)
Communion	Christus factus est (Anton Bruckner)
	O Crux ave (Rihards Dubra)
	When I survey the wondrous cross

Again the principle 'change little' applied. The only significant difference was a second Bruckner motet - Christus factus est. A small masterpiece, not easy but we are a good first impression. We may be small in number but individual members are very conscientious about learning new pieces and rising to new challenges.
Following on from last night much of the liturgy was unaccompanied - a possible change for the future would be to be completely unaccompanied. The only setting which would be less effective would be the Reproaches - but there are other settings… The question with music for the Good Friday liturgy does it achieve a balance between lament and glory?

Maundy Thursday

28 March 2013

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	Remembrance (Marty Haugen)
Communion Antiphon	This is the Body (mtgf)
Communion	Ave verum Corpus (Byrd)
Procession	Pange lingua (Ricky Manalo)
	Tantum ergo (chant)
Watching	Lay down your head (John Bell)
	Stay with me (Taizé)

One of Baumstarck's rules of Comparative Liturgy was roughly - the older and more solemn the liturgy the less that is changed over time - hence the retention of the Solemn Intercessions on Good Friday when, until they were restored Post Council, they were not otherwise part of the ordinary liturgy. I am aware that it is possible to see a version of this law in action when it comes to choosing music for the Triduum. Tonight there are only two changes from last year - the Communion Antiphon follows our recent practice and in the crypt we reverted to John Bell's Easter Carol. There is, I believe, another aspect of the rule which is that there is a link between solemnity and memorability. The congregation really sang tonight and for some of them who may not have been regulars at either Sunday Masses they would not have sung these settings since last year. The uniqueness of the occasion may be better description than solemnity - in terms of what it is that engages people.
Look at my comments last year I see by some Freudian slip - or more likely over enthusiastic autocorrect:

singing the crypt is an awkward space - not that resonant and packed with people making it hard for the singers to find a palace where it is possible to make a cohort. (Note to self - try opposite piano by other door next year.)

Well this year we did try another place - as suggested. Actually we were also unaccompanied which was satisfying. We just two verses of Lay down your head - I always have a concern that we might have too much music and be overindulgent.

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

24 March

Entrance	Hosanna (Paul Inwood)
Psalm 21	My God, my God (Christopher Walker)
Gospel Acclamation	Lenten (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	Ours were the griefs (Stephen Dean)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Lamb of God	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Communion Antiphon	Father, if this chalice (mtgf)
Communion	Christus factus est (Anerio)
Final	My song is love unknown

I think this was much the same as last year - obviously too lazy to check. People were new though so there benefit in the familiarity of items to the core so that there could fit in. We don't process - we just have the Solemn Entrance. We actually have an ideal place to begin the procession from - the Chapel in the Woods, which is part of the Walpole architectural legacy and these does just has a few trees around it. However this morning the weather meant that being in doors was preferable - it was cold enough that for once all the main doors were not opened - though it was still cold in the Chapel.

The Communion Antiphon was new - whatever the merits as translation 'chalice' is a very clunky word to sing - I will probably have the same thought on Thursday evening.

5th Sunday of Lent

17 March 2-13

Entrance	For God so loved the world (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Lenten (Bob Hurd)
Psalm 125	What marvels the Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Lenten (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	Verleih uns frieden (Mendelssohn)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Lamb of God	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Communion Antiphon	Has no one condemned you (mtgf)
Communion	One in Body, Heart and Mind (Christopher Walker)
Final	There's a wideness in God's mercy

In the evening Masses we have been using one of the Common Psalms (90) - this has been our practice through the year. Tonight using it it struck me more forcibly that don't fully understand the Lenten choices of psalms. I was struck because I thought that the psalm response (the 'I') could be sing by the woman caught in adultery - 'Be with me, Lord' whereas it is less easy to apply "What marvels the Lord worked'. I suspect that the Lenten Psalm choices are more paired with the first reading rather than being a bridge with the Gospel - or more because all the readings are a piece they are expected to be heard sequentially - stage by stage, text by text. An implication of this is that we are hearing the gospel for the first time - i.e. we do not know the ending. In general I think the Lectionary is based on knowing the gospel in some way - not just the individual story but whole story - how it is understood in the light of the Paschal Mystery.

One in Body was chosen as something Celtic in inspiration for those who might have been expecting St Patrick today.

What is a good tune for There's a wideness? We used Hyfrydol - but that was for familiarity

4th Sunday of Lent

10 March 2013

Entrance	For God so loved the world (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Lenten (Bob Hurd)
Psalm 33	Taste and see (Stephen Dean)
Gospel Acclamation	Lenten (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Lamb of God	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Communion Antiphon	You must rejoice my Son (mtgf)
Final	Be thou my vision

This Sunday the choir were away in Birmingham with the College Choir at the 5th Church Colleges' Choirs Festival. On Sunday morning we had the privilege and pleasure singing St Chad's Cathedral with some of the other choirs and the Cathedral Choir.

Back at St Mary's our organist became cantor for the morning and ably led the congregation in a slightly simplified version of our Lenten fare.

3rd Sunday of Lent

3 March 2013

Entrance	For God so loved the world (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Lenten (Bob Hurd)
Psalm 102	The Lord is compassion (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Lenten (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	Lord, for thy tender mercies' sake (Farrant)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Lamb of God	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Communion Antiphon	The sparrow finds a home (mtgf)
Communion	Holy Ground (mtgf)
Final	Praise my soul the king of heaven

Broad themes of repentance and forgiveness and the image of the burning bush meant an opportunity to repeat that was written for this Sunday three year's ago - Holy Ground. In a similar way to the other couple of times we have used since then we sang the verses consecutively with the refrain at beginning and end

A novelty today was that we sang the Entrance Antiphon before Mass - it was from the same project as the Communion Antiphons

At the evening Mass one thing I have done both as aid to planning but also to add to their repertoire is use a different psalm each week at Communion. This week it was Psalm 129 - Out of the Depths by Scott Soper, in previous weeks it has been 41, 26 and in the coming weeks 33 and 62.

2nd Sunday of Lent

24 February 2013

Entrance	For God so loved the world (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Lenten (Bob Hurd)
Psalm 26	The Lord is my light (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Lenten (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	O nata lux (Tallis)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Lamb of God	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Communion Antiphon	This is my beloved Son (mtgf)
Communion	Transfigure us, O Lord (Bob Hurd)
Final	Be thou my vision

At the Evening Mass - where we did Nick Baty's Attende Domine as the seasonal entrance song, Be still for the presence, There is one thing by Chris O'Hara as the Communion Psalm and Christ be our light - the preacher wondered why we had the Transfiguration in Lent - perhaps to cheer us up. He may not have considered the Collect and Preface in his reflections as he may have found they helped.

I suspect that we have not yet fully taken on board the idea that Lent is about Baptism and Reconciliation rather than it is a Penitential season. At the simplest it is a season leading somewhere not just penitential for the sake of it. To be fair I am not sure how this is accommodated musically except by marking it as a season and paying attention to the word rather than just choosing penitential music. In Year C reconciliation is one of the strands of the Lectionary and so, hopefully, you will see that reflected in the coming weeks.

1st Sunday of Lent

17 February 2013

Entrance	For God so loved the world (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Lenten (Bob Hurd)
Psalm 90	Be with me, Lord (Marty Haugen)
Gospel Acclamation	Lenten (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	Thy mercy, O Lord God (Marcello)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Lamb of God	Missa Ubi Caritas (Bob Hurd)
Communion Antiphon	One does not live (mtgf)
Communion	Out into the wilderness (Bob Hurd)
Final	Guide me, O thou great Redeemer

Sometimes from season to season our change is gradual, with Lent it is abrupt with everything changing. This does relay on the idea that the congregation (as wells the singers) remember these things from year to year. The opening song, which will be used over the Sundays of Lent, was amend last year. Instead of a set of Sunday specific verses I wrote a different setting using verses from a psalm. For Year C and the theme of Reconciliation we are using Psalm 85 - and so a couple of verses are sung each week. As well as simplifying things it is I think a stronger melody.

This morning we had a textual change I am not sure we have had to do before: 'Jehovah' to 'O Lord God'. This following the notification of the Holy See a number of years ago about the use of Jehovah YHWH. In some translations this might have also affected the final hymn but it was the piece by Marcello. The English text was originally added soon after the composer's death. We were men only this morning but oddly the piece I had considered if the women had been present also included the name Jehovah.

Ash Wednesday

13 February 2013

Entrance	Return to God (Marty Haugen)
Psalm 50	Have mercy on us (Dean/Gelineau)
Gospel Acclamation	Lenten (mtgf)
Blessing and Distribution of Ashes	Return to God (Marty Haugen)
	[Listen, Lord (Nick Baty)]
	[Be with me, Lord (Marty Haugen)]
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Communion Antiphon	He who ponders the law (mtgf)
Final	Guide me, O thou great Redeemer

A lunchtime Mass in which I tried to sow some of the seeds for Lenten Sunday Masses especially Sunday evening. We are using Nick Baty's Listen,Lord as an entrance song on the Sundays of Lent and Be with me, Lord will be our common psalm. In the event with 3 ministers Return to God by itself fitted perfectly and no more was needed.

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

10 february 2013

Entrance	Holy, holy, holy
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Newman (James MacMillan)
Psalm 137	Before the angels (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Beati (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Lord, you have come to the seashore (Gabarain)
Eucharistic Acclamations	St Annes (James MacMillan)
Lamb of God	Newman (James MacMillan)
Communion Antiphon	Let them thank the Lord (mtgf)
Communion	Awake, thou wintry earth (J S Bach)
Final	Will you come and follow me

As the last Sunday before Lent this was the last Sunday, this year, we will be using the MacMillan setting. My impression is that the congregation is engaging with them - i.e. showing an a willingness to participate I am not sure they are singing with confidence yet. That may sound faint but I think it's a good start.

Awake, thou wintry earth was chosen as pre-Lent fanfare - though the wintry earth was still very present.

An added note of the explanation for the Congregation - if they noticed - the choir were a little tired today due to having been part of the College Choir sing at 6 Graduations in the Chapel on Saturday!

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

3 February 2013

Entrance	O the word of my Lord
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Newman (James MacMillan)
Psalm 70	My lips will tell (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Beati (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Faith, hope and love (Christopher Walker)
Eucharistic Acclamations	St Annes (James MacMillan)
Lamb of God	Newman (James MacMillan)
Communion Antiphon	Let your face shine on your servant (mtgf)
Communion	The Word of God (mtgf)
Final	He who would valiant be

The Lectionary is interesting this week. I think it is the only week where the first line is a repeat of the last line of the week before. Also the psalm is an interpretation of the first reading which shapes the reading of the Gospel - rather than being directly related to it.

I think there is a temptation this week to focus on the reading from 1 Corinthians - because it is a well known passage and there are a number of pieces that are related to it. A consequence of singing the Missal Communion Antiphons is that we have not used Psallite recently - and the setting of 1 Corinthins is I think a lovely piece.

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

27 January 2013

Entrance	God has spoken through his prophets
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Newman (James MacMillan)
Psalm 18	Your words are spirit (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Beati (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	God has chosen me (Bernadette Farrell)
Eucharistic Acclamations	St Annes (James MacMillan)
Lamb of God	Newman (James MacMillan)
Communion Antiphon	I am the light of the world (mtgf)
Communion	The spirit of the Lord (Elgar)
Final	The kingdom of God

In the past the ideal time for writing this blog has been Sunday afternoon, while thoughts from the experience have been fresh in my mind. As I have also been helping with music at our Sunday evening Mass as well this writing up time has been lost. Part of the purpose of this blog is to suggest that a strength of the our liturgy is that there is not one 'perfect' choice to be made but different response which are affected by a number of things including the resources available. A theme over the last few weeks has been the lack of good hymnody that seems to speak of what the Lectionary provides. But available resources demand different approaches: in the morning we can at least singGod has spoken to another hymn tune (Austria) than the one given in the hymnbook (Heil'ger Joseph) - a system of some flexibility; in the evening I am aware of, or suspect, a more limited repertoire (I have been surprised that older members of the music group have not know Spirit of the living God or Lord, make me a means of your peace) - I have to admit we do pieces that I would not consider in the morning (unless I was in 'retro' mood, for example, the last hymn in the evening was God's spirit is in my heart. We have been learning new hymns/songs in the evening but I have been concentrating on developing the Mass parts (i.e. a second setting of the new translation).

Using Elgar's The spirit of the Lord had been at the back of my mind for a number of weeks when thinking about this Sunday but I had dismissed it as too difficult. I was surpassed to see when I actually looked at the music that it was predominantly in unison - the hard graft is in the accompaniment. There was a time when I knew what all the various leitmotifs were and I wonder (a little bit) if it truly stands on its own or whether the passing incidence of motifs which will be played out in a whole evening's work make it a little incidental or bitty. It is a good sing and did pick up the gospel of course.

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

20 January 2012

Entrance	We come as guests invited
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Newman (James MacMillan)
Psalm 95	Proclaim the wonders (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Beati (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	Cantate Domino (Pitoni)
Eucharistic Acclamations	St Annes (James MacMillan)
Lamb of God	Newman (James MacMillan)
Communion Antiphon	You have prepared (mtgf)
Communion	Jesus, you are the bread (Bernadette Farrell)
Final	Lord you give the great commission

The weight of the musical choices felt as though it went towards the second reading - many the gifts. There are hymns about Cana but they focus on marriage rather than sign - and sign seems to be why it's in the Lectionary. The opening hymn was perhaps at a slight tangent - guests invited to a feast - but part of the understanding of the story is eucharistic. Cantate Domino relates to the psalm and the new song of Jesus' first sign.

Baptism of the Lord

13 January 2013

Entrance	We shall draw water (Paul Inwood)
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Newman (James MacMillan)
Psalm 103	Bless the Lord (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	There is one Lord (Owen Alstott)
Eucharistic Acclamations	St Annes (James MacMillan)
Lamb of God	Christmas (Ebeling/mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Behold the one (mtgf)
Communion	Sicut cervus (Palestrina)
Final	O praise ye the Lord

This morning we introduced what I am least at the moment expecting to be our last two new Mass settings for a while. We have used the St Anne's Mass before so I am hoping it has lodged somewhere in some the congregation's grey matter. I see both settings, and particularly the Gloria, as ones which need at least a 3-year commitment. The main reason we are using the St Anne's Mass is that it has been chosen as a diocesan setting - with the idea that it will be used at the Cathedral for diocesan occasions. This seems to me to be a 'good thing' which outweigh my reservations about the setting and whether it would be what I would choose as a diocesan setting (this does depend on your criteria). I do have reservations about how the new translation has been applied to the melody - but we shall see if the experience of using modifies my views.

Since hearing it at the time of the Papal Visit I have liked the Gloria from MacMillan's Blessed John Henry Newman Mass. At training events people have enjoyed it as a good sing. In introducing it I suggested to the congregation that they may wish to listen for the next couple of weeks and, though I think it will take a while for them to get familiar, and even a couple of years before they enjoy it as a good sing, it is well constructed from just a couple of motifs which will make learning easier.

What I suspect will be a recurrent theme over the next few weeks is the lack of good hymns (and other pieces) on key gospel narratives. What I wanted here was a good final hymn that picked Jesus' baptism, the beginning of his public ministry and our baptismal calling. I would note that some of the obvious 'Baptism' hymns seem to just to deal with the first and use tunes (metres) which I suspect would be unfamiliar to many. I could have used 'Forth in the peace of Christ' but I am not sure people would have got the baptismal imagery...

The Epiphany of the Lord

6 January 2013

Entrance	We three kings
Penitential Rite	St Gabriel (mtgf)
Gloria	Christmas (Paul Gibson)
Psalm 71	O Lord, all the earth (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Salisbury (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of Gifts	In the bleak midwinter (Darke)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Creation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of God	Christmas Lamb of God (Ebeling/mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	We have seen his star (mtgf)
Communion	Bethlehem Down (Warlock)
Final	The First Nowell

The Christmas Gloria is a rewritten setting - it is based on the melody of Angels we have heard with Gloria in excelsis Deo as a congregational refrain. It has always use the correct text - so is not a paraphrase. To solve the longer new translation the composer inserts an extra 4 bar phrase into each verse - a surprise the first time as it is not what you are expecting but you get accustomed. I highlight the setting because first of all it shouts (or perhaps sings) that we are still in the Christmas season. It is one of a number attempts to use this melody and is on the good side of 'naff' - an indigence perhaps but it works. (A side effects is that we never therefore use Angels we have heard or Ding, dong merrily on high). The other reason for mentioning it - and I haven't done a detailed analysis - but it does manage to set the text as a regular 6 phrases/3 verses. I wonder if there is a model or inspiration for looking to write a popular, family Gloria (you know what I mean). I confess that I am not on the lookout for one but I suspect many parishes are - and it seems to me this is a lacunae which composers have not yet filled.