ASH WEDNESDAY and I LENT

Now is the accepted time.  Now is the day of salvation.

It is that season where we prepare for the Lord's Passion, Death and Resurrection, where we repent our sins, those very sins for which the Lord's death and resurrection has saved us.  I remember working at one parish where one alto in the choir once said at rehearsal, "I hate Lent music.  It's so depressing."  Well, not all church music is meant to be happy.  It should be known, however, that the only music that she thinks should be sung at Mass are "campfire songs written by some guy with a guitar and a marshmallow stick in his mouth" (Fr. Bucci's famous words, LOL).

Nonetheless, there is a mood change in the music for the season, not only in the hymns/responses themselves, but in the way they are executed.  Traditional rules call for no organ at all during Lent, except on solemnities or feasts or on Laetare Sunday (the Fourth Sunday of Lent).  Of course, liturgical directives have changed a few times around since 1969 and much of tradition is not followed at all.  The compromise these days is to only use the organ to support singing (whether it be by the congregation or by a choir).  That means NO prelude, NO postlude.  For some, unfortunately (and I've seen this), is to substitute the piano for the organ.

For that reason, I have decided that during Lent I will not be playing a prelude or postlude, except for two occasions - March 19 (the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary) and the weekend of March 29/30 (the Fourth Sunday of Lent, that is, Laetare (or "Rejoice") Sunday).  This is a practice for me that I haven't used since my days in Tiverton (2004-2007), and it's high time I used it.  I will also take on my usual practice of taking a little bit off of the organ - not a complete softening of the instrument - but maybe eliminate a reed stop where I usually use one, and/or eliminate a "mixture"  (usually 3-4 bright stops at different pitches serving as one rank) where I might usually use one.

And now, without further ado...

MUSIC AT HOLY MASS

March 5 - Ash Wednesday (9 AM and 7 PM)

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:
Kyrie XVI (or recited)
Sanctus and Agnus Dei XVIII
- Mass XVIII, as I mentioned in a previous post, is the Mass intended for weekdays of Advent and Lent.
Memorial Acclamation: Save us, Savior of the world (Official ICEL chant)
The Amen will be just a single Amen sung on two notes: do do-re (A-men_), a capella.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (in lieu of Alleluia): Praise to you, Lord, Jesus Christ, King of endless glory (Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB)

HYMNS, etc.
Entrance hymn: Lord, who throughout these forty days ("St. Flavian") (Listen)
- Probably the most familiar of all the Lenten seasonal hymns we've ever sung!
Psalm 51: R./ Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned (Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB)
Music during the Imposition of Ashes: Parce, Domine (Chant, Mode I or a setting by Fr. Carlo Rossini, depending on voice availability)
Offertory hymn: Our Father, we have wandered ("Passion Chorale") (Listen)
- Same tune as "O sacred Head surrounded", thus the tune name, "Passion Chorale".
Communion responsory: Attende, Domine (Chant, Mode V) (Listen)
- Rough translation of the refrain: Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against you.
Recessional hymn: O merciful Redeemer (Listen)
- This is the same tune as a patriotic hymn we sometimes use, "I vow to thee, my country".  Eventually, another hymn, "O God, beyond all praising" will be introduced using this tune, probably when we return to "Ordinary Time".

March 9 - First Sunday of Lent

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:
Kyrie XVII (or recited)
Sanctus and Agnus Dei XVII
- Mass XVII, as I mentioned in a previous post, is the Mass intended for Sundays of Advent and Lent.
Memorial Acclamation: Save us, Savior of the world (Official ICEL chant)
The Amen will be just a single Amen sung on two notes: do do-re (A-men_), a capella.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (in lieu of Alleluia): Praise to you, Lord, Jesus Christ, King of endless glory (Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB)

HYMNS, etc.
Entrance hymn: Praise to the Holiest in the height ("Newman") (Listen)
Psalm 91: R./ Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble (response music by C. Alexander Peloquin, versicle music by Pérè Joseph Gelineau, SJ)
Offertory hymn: Shepherd of souls ("St. Agnes") (Listen)
- Special attention to the second verse, "We may not live by bread alone, but by thy word of grace..." and its allusion to the Alleluia verse of the day. This also shows up in the Gospel, as Jesus' response to one of the many temptations made by Satan.
Communion hymn: My song is love unknown ("Love Unknown") (Listen)
Recessional hymn: Lord, who throughout these forty days ("St. Flavian")

Reminder (to all, including myself in case I brain-fade): NO PRELUDE OR POSTLUDE on either day!

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

SUNDAY VIII and "PUTTING THE ALLELUIA AWAY"

So today we enter the Eighth Sunday of the Year, or, the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.  In addition to hymns that may align with the day's Scripture, we also tend to use hymns that include the word "Alleluia" multiple times per verse.  The two hymns this weekend that fit that description are Alleluia! sing to Jesus and Ye watchers and ye holy ones, the former containing two alleluias per verse, the latter containing six to seven alleluias per verse.

On that Sunday, or even on Tuesday (Mardi Gras), some churches have a ritual for "burying" or "putting away" the Alleluia, which often includes a hymn, namely one called Alleluia, song of gladness.  In the case of St. John Cantius Church in Chicago, a church that has a little of everything - Mass in English (Ordinary Form, of course) as well as Mass in Latin in both the Ordinary and Extraordinary Form - the Alleluia (on a plaque) is carried to its "place of repose" (just like the Blessed Sacrament on Holy Thursday), then "buried" under the cloth of the side altar, then incensed.  See for yourself!  

        Alleluia, song of gladness, Voice of joy that cannot die;

        Alleluia is the anthem Ever dear by choirs on high;

        In the house of God abiding Thus they sing eternally.

        Alleluia, thou resoundest, True Jerusalem and free;

        Alleluia, joyful mother, All thy children sing with thee;

        But by Babylon's sad waters Mourning exiles still are we.

        Alleluia cannot always Be our song while here below;

        Alleluia our transgressions Make us for a while forgo;

        For the solemn time is coming When our tears for sin shall flow.

        Therefore in our hymns we pray thee, Grant us, blessèd Trinity,

        At the last to keep glad Easter In our home beyond the sky,

        There to thee for ever singing Alleluia joyfully.

Notice how in that hymn tells us that we must for a time be mournful - mournful of our sins - mournful for the trials of Christ leading from his being tempted in the desert until his Passion and death - until the day of his Resurrection, at which we can sing "Alleluia!" once again.

On a lighter note, when I was music director at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Providence, we used to have a Mass on the day before Ash Wednesday (you know, Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday), followed by a "Bring Your Most Fattening Dessert" coalition in the school hall.  Needless to say, my wife Ann would bring her own brand of Reese's peanut butter cups.  MMMMM!  They were so good, and usually amongst the first items to be devoured by those in attendance!  Many other delicious treats brought in as well!  (By the way, don't forget the "Mardi Gras Meet and Mingle" this Sunday after the 10 AM Mass!)

The next day, of course, was Ash Wednesday, a day of fasting!

And now, without further ado...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Gloria (if sung) and Memorial Acclamation (We proclaim your death...): Holy Angels Mass (BMP)

Sanctus and Agnus Dei from Mass for Christian Unity (Jan Vermulst)

Dresden Amen

ALLELUIA I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

For listen links to all of the above, the list for Sunday II.

Entrance hymn: Alleluia! sing to Jesus ("Hyfrydol") (Listen)

- The listen link is an arrangement by Stephen Buzard, the organist performing it at a dedication recital of a newly-restored Kilgen pipe organ in Brooklyn, New York.

Psalm 92: R./ Lord, it is good to give thanks to you (Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB)

Offertory hymn: At the Name of Jesus ("King's Weston") (Listen)

Communion anthem: Panis Angelicus (Cesar Franck)

Recessional hymn: Ye watchers and ye holy ones ("Lasst uns Erfreuen") (Listen)

- Here the last Alleluias until Easter will be blatantly brought out! ;)

Organ Postlude: Festive Alleluia by Gordon Young

Quod scripsi, scripsi!

BMP

SUNDAY VII

Psalm 103, the Psalm appointed for this Sunday, is well-alluded to by our entrance hymn, Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.

    Verse 1: O my soul, praise him for he is thy health and salvation.
        Psalm 103: Bless the Lord, O my soul...
    Verse 3: Surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
        Psalm 103: Merciful and gracious is the Lord...

Also, combining both those passages is the Introit of the day, excerpted from Psalm 13.

    O Lord, I trust in your merciful love.  My heart will rejoice in your salvation.

Our offertory hymn, Love divine, all loves excelling, combines the salvation and mercy cited in the Introit and Psalm.

    Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heav'n to earth, come down.
    Fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown.
    Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure unbounded love thou art.
    Visit us with thy salvation; enter ev'ry trembling heart.

The Communion responsory, Psalm 9, with its short response, I will sing to your Name, O Most High, comes to us from Adam Bartlett of Lumen Christi Missal and Source and Summit Missal fame.

And now, without further ado...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Gloria (if sung) and Memorial Acclamation (We proclaim your death...): Holy Angels Mass (BMP)

Sanctus and Agnus Dei from Mass for Christian Unity (Jan Vermulst)

Dresden Amen

ALLELUIA I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

For listen links to all of the above, the list for Sunday II.

Entrance hymn: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty ("Lobe den Herren") (Listen)
- Do we really need a listen link for this one?  Probably not, but I left one here anyways.  This one is from Westminster Abbey at the 60th Anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.  The treble boys' descant in the final verse is well worth checking out!
Psalm 103: R. The Lord is kind and merciful (BMP) (PDF)

Offertory hymn: Love divine, all loves excelling ("Hyfrydol") (Listen)

- NOTE: Same tune as the familiar "Alleluia! sing to Jesus!", which will be sung the following week, one of two hymns with Alleluias as we "put the Alleluia away" until Easter.  More on that next week.  In the meantime, check out the above listen link for another stirring descant in the final verse.

Communion responsory: Psalm 9, R. I will sing to your Name, O Most High (Adam Bartlett)

- or anthem: He shall feed his flock (from "Messiah"/George Frederick Handel)

Recessional hymn: Immortal, invisible, God only wise ("St. Denio") (Listen)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!

BMP

SUNDAY VI

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Gloria (if sung) and Memorial Acclamation (We proclaim your death...): Holy Angels Mass (BMP)

Sanctus and Agnus Dei from Mass for Christian Unity (Jan Vermulst)

Dresden Amen

ALLELUIA I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

For listen links to all of the above, the list for Sunday II.

Entrance hymn: Sing to the Lord a joyful song ("Gonfalon Royal") (Listen)

- This is the hymn we rehearsed before Mass back in January and sang it for two weeks in a row.  The listen link is provided as a reminder.

Psalm 1: R./ Blessed are they who hope in the Lord (BMP) (PDF)

Offertory hymn: Blest are the pure in heart ("Franconia") (Listen)

- The Gospel today reveals some of the Beatitudes (the full Beatitudes in is Matthew's Gospel, but Luke included some here).  There are a couple of verses here that allude to the Beatitudes.

Communion responsory: Psalm 9, R./ I will sing to your Name, O Most High. (Adam Bartlett)

- or anthem: Adoro Te, O Panis Caelice (melody from Louvain)

Recessional hymn: Jesus, Name all names above ("St. Theoctistus") (Listen)

- Reviving a Fr. Bucci favorite!

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

SUNDAY V

A "return to normalcy", "for a time."

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Gloria (if sung) and Memorial Acclamation (We proclaim your death...): Holy Angels Mass (BMP)

Sanctus and Agnus Dei from Mass for Christian Unity (Jan Vermulst)

Dresden Amen

ALLELUIA I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

For listen links to all of the above, the list for Sunday II.

Entrance hymn: Holy, holy, holy ("Nicaea")

- Right smack dab in the first reading, we hear, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!"  Perfect excuse to revive a good Trinitarian classic!

Psalm 138: R./ In the signt of the angels, I will sing your praises, Lord. (BMP) (PDF)

Offertory hymn: Fight the good fight ("Mendon")

Communion hymn: Godhead here in hiding ("Adoro Te Devote"/vv. 1-4) (Listen)

Recessional hymn: Lift high the cross ("Crucifer") (Listen)

- Come, Christians, follow where the Master trod, our King victorious, Christ the Son of God.  (In our alleluia verse, and paraphrased in the Gospel, "Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.")

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

SUNDAY IV --- NO, WAIT! PRESENTATION OF THE LORD!

You read that right, folks!  This coming Sunday is NOT the Fourth Sunday of the Year.  This Sunday, February 2, is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, a feast that trumps the usually numbered Sunday of the Year.  This is the feast that is also known by many as Candlemas, as the liturgy starts with the Blessing of Candles.  In the traditional (Extraordinary Form, that is, the Roman Missal of 1962) calendar, this Sunday would be known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, though the liturgical pattern and Sacred Scripture is very similar.

After Mass, there will be the Blessing of Throats, a custom in honor of Saint Blaise, whose feast is the next day (February 3).

In terms of music, the beginning of Mass will depend on the priest.  He may opt to do a blessing of candles and process afterwards, or do a simple entrance.  The hymn during said procession (or entrance hymn if simple entrance) is Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates.  Though it seems to be an Advent hymn (and is grouped in sections marked "Advent" in most hymnals that are arranged by season/category), Lift up your heads... includes passages from Psalm 24:7-10, the Responsorial Psalm of the day.

The offertory hymn, In his temple now behold him, is taken from the Gospel reading of the day and is sung to a very familiar tune, the Tantum Ergo set to the tune "St. Thomas" (named aptly after St. Thomas Aquinas, author of the Tantum Ergo and the larger hymn it is excerpted from, Pange Lingua.)

During Communion, the Canticle of Simeon will be sung, using a tone by the French Jesuit Pérè Joseph Gelineau, SJ.  This proclamation made by Simeon is also presented in the day's Gospel.  While this canticle is not contained in the response (Guard us, O Lord, while we sleep, and keep us in peace), it is contained in the verses.  This is known in Latin as Nunc Dimittis and is chanted in the Office of Compline (or "Night Prayer").

While I originally programmed Praise the Lord, ye heavens, adore him as the recessional hymn,  the celebrants of both Masses (Frs. Unsworth and Lemoi, respectively) agreed to bless the throats after Mass, so Praise the Lord... (two verses) will be the meditation hymn instead.  We will disperse with the recessional hymn and postlude this weekend.

That said...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Gloria (if sung) and Memorial Acclamation (We proclaim your death...): Holy Angels Mass (BMP)

Sanctus and Agnus Dei from Mass for Christian Unity (Jan Vermulst)

Dresden Amen

ALLELUIA I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

For listen links to all of the above, the list for Sunday II.

Entrance antiphon: The Lord will come to us with mighty power... (Mode VIII)
Processional hymn: Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates ("Truro") (Listen)
Psalm 24: Who is this King of glory? It is the Lord! (Jon Laird)
Offertory hymn: In his temple now behold him ("St. Thomas") (Listen)
Communion responsory: Canticle of Simeon, R./ Guard us, O Lord, while we sleep, and keep us in peace (response by Guy Weitz and Dom Anthony Gregory Murray, OSB; versicles by Pérè Joseph Gelineau, SJ)
Meditation hymn: Praise the Lord, ye heav'ns, adore him (Listen)

- Anyone recognize the organist in this listen link? LOL!

NO recessional hymn or postlude.  Blessing of Throats after Mass!

Quod scripsi, scripsi!

BMP

SUNDAY III

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Gloria (if sung) and Memorial Acclamation (We proclaim your death...): Holy Angels Mass (BMP)

Sanctus and Agnus Dei from Mass for Christian Unity (Jan Vermulst)

Dresden Amen

ALLELUIA I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

For listen links to all of the above, see last Sunday's list.

The rest:

Entrance hymn: Hail to the Lord's anointed ("Ellacombe") 

Psalm 19: R./ Your words, Lord, are spirit and life (BMP) (PDF)

Offertory hymn: Sing to the Lord a joyful song ("Gonfalon Royal") (repeated from last week)

Communion responsory: The Spirit of God (Lucien Deiss, C.S.Sp.) (Listen)

- NOTE: Reviving a lost classic from the French Holy Ghost Father who gave us "All the earth proclaim the Lord" and "Keep in mind".  Matches well with the Alleluia verse for the day.  Many of his responsories and hymns were originally written in French.  However, they were translated into English and Spanish as well.

- or anthem: In thee is gladness (Giovanni Giacomo Galstaldi)

Recessional hymn: Rejoice, the Lord is King ("Darwall's 148th")

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

SUNDAY II

Back to the "green season", those "Sundays of the Year" (literally, "Sundays *through* the Year"), or as the modernists call it, "Ordinary Time" (which is not necessarily ordinary).  Father Bucci more than once has referenced the term "Boring Time" which he had heard in his seminary days. ;)

Because the First Week of "Ordinary Time" started on a Monday (Baptism of the Lord was last Sunday, the final day of the Christmas Season in the Ordinary Form), this Sunday is the Second Sunday of the Year (or "OT", or to some maybe, "BT" lol, or simply "Sunday II").  We'll be seeing Sundays II through VIII in this segment of "OT" as Ash Wednesday doesn't fall until March 5 this year (a result of Easter falling on April 20 this year).

For these next seven Sundays we will be using English sung Mass Ordinaries.

The second verse of our entrance hymn, Songs of thankfulness and praise, references the Gospel of the day, which speaks of the wedding feast at Cana.

Manifest at Jordan's stream, Prophet, priest and King supreme;

And at Cana, wedding guest, In thy Godhead manifest.

Manifest in pow'r divine, Changing water into wine.

Anthems be to thee addressed, God in man made manifest.

Our offertory hymn, Sing to the Lord a joyful song, is new and will be taught approximately five minutes before the start of Mass.

The Communion responsory also echoes the Gospel passage, Fill the jars with water, and bring them to the master of the feast, which is also the assigned Communion proper in the Graduale Romanum for this day.

Without further ado...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Gloria (if sung) and Memorial Acclamation (We proclaim your death...): Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (Listen to Gloria)

Sanctus and Agnus Dei from Mass for Christian Unity (Jan Vermulst) (Listen: Sanctus | Agnus Dei)

Dresden Amen

ALLELUIA I for Ordinary Time (BMP) (Listen)

- This Alleluia setting has been sung before here at Sacred Heart, and has also been used at the Church of St. Stephen Martyr in Washington, DC, the origin of this listen link.

Hymns, etc.

Entrance hymn: Songs of thankfulness and praise ("Salzburg")

Psalm 96: R./ Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations. (Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB)

Offertory hymn: Sing to the Lord a joyful song ("Gonfalon Royal") (Listen)

Music at Communion:

- Responsory: Psalm 66, R./ Fill the jars with water, and bring them to the master of the feast (BMP)

- or anthem: Cantate Domino canticum novum (Vincent d'Indy)

Recessional hymn: Hail to the Lord's Anointed ("Ellacombe") (Listen)

- same tune as "The day of Resurrection" and "Go, make of all disciples"

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

The last day of the Christmas Season!  Then the next day we jump into the First Week of the Year (or "Ordinary Time").  Notice that the First Week of the Year begins on Monday, not on Sunday like the weeks that follow.  Next Sunday will be the Second Sunday, not the First Sunday, of the Year, as the liturgical week begins on Sunday.

This is also the last Sunday of "Mass of the Shepherds" till next Christmas season.  Next Sunday, we will revive "Mass for Christian Unity", which is in English, through the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:
Mass of the Shepherds (Pietro A. Yon) (Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei)
Mortem Tuam... (Memorial)
Dresden Amen

Alleluia "Divinum Mysterium" (BMP) (PDF)

- The Alleluia is adapted from the Mode V hymn tune "Divinum Mysterium", most often sung with the hymn "Of the Father's love begotten".

The rest:

Entrance hymn: On Jordan's bank ("Winchester New") (Listen)

Psalm 104: R./ O bless the Lord, my soul (Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB)

Offertory hymn: When John baptized by Jordan's River ("Rendez à Dieu") (Listen)

- NOTE: Same tune as another hymn we've sung before, "Father, we thank thee who hast planted".

Communion hymn: Let all mortal flesh keep silence ("Picardy") (Listen)

- NOTE: We've sung this hymn a number of times as well over the years.  The listen link given is a gorgeous choral arrangement by Gustav Holst.  Holst is also the composer of the hymntune "Thaxted", part of the "Jupiter" movement of his suite, "The Planets".  "Thaxted" is the tune of a patriotic hymn we often sing, "I vow to thee, my country".

Recessional hymn: Songs of thankfulness and praise ("Salzburg") (Listen)

- NOTE: Same tune as an Easter hymn we often sing, "At the Lamb's High Feast we sing".

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP