Sunday, October 27, 2013

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

27 October 2013

EntranceDear Lord and Father of Mankind
Penitential RiteSt Gabriel (mtgf)
GloriaAngels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 33This poor man called (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationSalisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of GiftsRemember, remember (Paul Inwood)
Eucharistic AcclamationsCreation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of GodAngels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion AntiphonWe will ring out our joy (mtgf)
CommunionThe cry of the poor (John Foley)
FinalPraise 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.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

29th Sunday on Ordinary Time

20 October 2013

EntranceAll my hope on God is founded
Penitential RiteSt Gabriel (mtgf)
GloriaAngels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 121Our help is in the name of the Lord (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationSalisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of GiftsListen, Lord (John Bell)
Eucharistic AcclamationsCreation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of GodAngels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion Antiphon Behold, the eyes of the Lord (mtgf)
CommunionThere is a longing (Ann Quigley)
FinalBe thou my vision

Sunday, October 13, 2013

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

13 October 2013

EntrancePraise my soul
Penitential RiteSt Gabriel (mtgf)
GloriaAngels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 96The Lord has shown his salvation (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationSalisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of GiftsExsultate Deo (Johann Cruger)
Eucharistic AcclamationsCreation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of GodAngels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion AntiphonThe rich suffer want (mtgf)
CommunionUnless a grain (Bernadette Farrell)
FinalGod 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.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

6 October 2013

EntranceWe walk by faith
Penitential RiteSt Gabriel (mtgf)
GloriaAngels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Psalm 94O that today (mtgf)
Gospel AcclamationSalisbury Alleluia (Christopher Walker)
Preparation of GiftsListen, Lord (John Bell)
Eucharistic AcclamationsCreation (Marty Haugen)
Lamb of GodAngels and Saints (Steven Janco)
Communion AntiphonThe Lord is good (mtgf)
CommunionLord, you have come to the seashore (Gabarain)
FinalHoly 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.