ASH WEDNESDAY and I LENT

During Lent, with the exception of the Fourth Sunday (Laetare Sunday, March 15) and St. Joseph Day (Thursday, March 19), the following two rules are observed:

    1. I take a little bit off the organ.  It may not sound like much, but some brighter stops are put

        to less use (e.g., using only the swell mixture where normally the great mixture would be used

        or taking off a brighter principal stop).

    2. There will be no prelude or postlude (that is, the instrumental music before and after Mass).
        So if you don't hear any music before the entrance hymn, rest assured of two things: 1. I did
        show up to Mass, ready to do my work, and 2. I did not fall asleep. ;)

The liturgical norm during Lent, except for the Fourth Sunday and Solemnities, is that the organ should only be used to support singing.

With that, I present to you...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ash Wednesday (February 18, 9 AM and 7 PM)

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Mass XVIII (Sanctus and Agnus Dei)
Save us, Savior of the world (Memorial Acclamation/ICEL chant)
Single Amen (do do-re)

PROPER OF THE MASS:

Readings are on page 98 in the Pew Missal.

Psalm 51: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned (C. Alexander Peloquin)

Gospel Acclamation: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory (Fr. Samuel F. Weber, OSB)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance hymn: Maroon hymnal, #59 Lord, who throughout these forty days ("St. Flavian")

Responsory during the Imposition of Ashes: Parce, Domine (Mode I/BMP)

Offertory hymn: Worship hymnal, #755 Our Father, we have wandered ("Passion Chorale")

- Same tune as the Passiontide staple, "O Sacred Head Surrounded"

Responsory during Communion: Worship hymnal, #414 Attende, Domine (Mode V)

Recessional hymn: Maroon hymnal, #55 Forty days and forty nights ("Heinlein")

Sunday I of Lent (February 22)

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Mass XVII (Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus Dei)
Save us, Savior of the world (Memorial Acclamation/ICEL chant)
Single Amen (do do-re)

PROPER OF THE MASS:

Readings are on page 103 in the Pew Missal.

Psalm 51: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned (C. Alexander Peloquin)

Gospel Acclamation: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory (Fr. Samuel F. Weber, OSB)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance hymn: Maroon hymnal, #343 Praise to the Holiest in the height ("Newman"/first tune)
- This hymn alludes to the original sin of Adam (and Eve, too - it takes two to tango), which is cited in both the first and second readings of the day.

Offertory hymn: Maroon hymnal, #213 Shepherd of souls ("St. Agnes")

- That allusion to not living by bread alone explains my use of this hymn on I Lent.

Responsory during Communion: Parce, Domine (Mode I/BMP OR Fr. Carlo Rossini)

Recessional hymn: Maroon hymnal, #59 Lord, who throughout these forty days ("St. Flavian")

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

THE REMAINDER OF WINTER "GREEN SEASON" and "PUTTING THE ALLELUIA AWAY" REVISITED

Sorry I've been a bit lax on posting the music for Mass the last couple of weeks.  Two weeks ago, I just totally forgot.  Last week, I was waiting to see what the weather was going to give us.  I think many of us can agree that this is the worst winter in this area since 2015.  If you remember that year, for six weeks solid in February and even March, we got one snow storm after another.  One storm gets plowed out, the next one would come in almost immediately after, and each of these storms gave us six inches or more of snow.  This year, it seems like the snow likes to hit us on weekends, Sundays especially.

Before I print the lists for the past two weeks and this coming week, here is a blurb from last year (adapted for this year) about "putting the Alleluia away".

Today we enter the Sixth 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 recessional hymn for this weekend fits that description well.  That hymn is Ye watchers and ye holy ones, which contains six to seven alleluias per verse.  The postlude following the hymn, albeit organ only, is Festive Alleluia by Gordon Young, in which the primary theme is "Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, amen!"

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!

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 and Memorial Acclamation: Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (Gloria may be recited or sung, according to the celebrant's discretion)

Sanctus and Agnus Dei: People's Mass (Jan Vermulst) (Listen)
Amen: Dresden Amen

Sunday IV - February 1

PROPER OF THE MASS:

Readings: Pew Missal, page 91

Psalm 146: R./ Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs. (Richard Rice)

Alleluia I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance hymn: Pew Missal, #113 Come, thou almighty King ("Italian Hymn")
Offertory hymn: Maroon hymnal, #344 O love, how deep, how broad, how high ("Deus Tuorum Militum")

Communion hymn: Worship hymnal, #581 God is my great desire ("Leoni")

Recessional hymn omitted.  The blessing of throats took place instead.

Sunday V - February 8

PROPER OF THE MASS:

Readings: Pew Missal, page 94

Psalm 112: R./ The just man is a light in darkness to the upright. (BMP) (Listen)

- The listen link is from a Mass that took place this past Sunday at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.  I am happy to say that most of the Psalm settings sung there come from the pen of yours truly.  Fast forward to about the 14-minute mark and you'll hear this Sunday's Psalm setting in action with their excellent choir.

Alleluia I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance hymn: Pew Missal, #128 Faith of our fathers ("St. Catherine")

Offertory hymn: Maroon hymnal, #570 O Jesus, I have promised (second tune/"Day of Rest")

Communion anthem: Panis Angelicus (Cesar Franck)
Recessional hymn: Maroon hymnal, #288 O worship the King ("Hanover")

Sunday VI - February 15

PROPER OF THE MASS:

Readings: Pew Missal, page 96

Psalm 119: R./ Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord. (Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB)

Alleluia I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance hymn: Maroon hymnal, #340 We sing the praise of him who died ("Breslau") (Listen)

Offertory hymn: Maroon hymnal, #405 I sought the Lord ("Artavia") (Listen)

Communion hymn: Pew Missal, #226 Pange lingua (Mode III) (Listen)

- This listen link contains the text in Latin, Polish and English.

Recessional hymn: Pew Missal, #287 Ye watchers and ye holy ones ("Lasst uns Erfreuen") (Listen)

Postlude (organ): Festive Alleluia (Gordon Young)

Now THAT'S putting the Alleluia away with a bang!

Quod scripsi, scripsi!

BMP

SUNDAY III

"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men!" The base of this Sunday's recessional hymn, Go, make of all disciples.

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Gloria and Memorial Acclamation: Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (Gloria may be recited or sung, according to the celebrant's discretion)

Sanctus and Agnus Dei: People's Mass (Jan Vermulst) (Listen)
Amen: Dresden Amen

PROPER OF THE MASS:

Readings: Pew Missal, page 89

Psalm 27: R./ The Lord is my light and my salvation. (Richard Proulx/Joseph Gelienau, SJ)

Alleluia I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance hymn: Maroon hymnal, #326 To the Name of our salvation ("Oriel") (Listen)

Offertory hymn: Pew Missal, #92 At the Name of Jesus ("King's Weston") (Listen)

Music during Communion:

- Responsory: Psalm 34, R./ Look toward the Lord and be radiant... (Adam Bartlett)

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

Recessional hymn: Pew Missal, #137 Go, make of all disciples ("Ellacombe") (Listen)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

BACK TO "GREEN SEASON" - SUNDAY II

Most people hear the word "green" these days in an ecological sense.  "Going green" as in "saving the planet" and related causes.

"Going green" takes a different meaning when it comes to gaming. My wife Ann for a long time played an online computer game called "Toontown" (yes, adults play this game too), though after her longtime "Toontown" partner died, she hasn't played as much.  But anyhoo, "Going green" in "Toontown" has a negative spin to it.  It means that your character ran out of energy and died.

To help demonstrate my age, "Sesame Street" was in its premiere season when I was in kindergarten (or as we called it then, "junior first"), and occasionally the teacher would wheel the TV into the classroom.  Kermit the Frog used to sing this song during that season called It Ain't Easy Being Green.

It really ain't easy being green (and contrary to popular opinion and proper grammar, "ain't" is a word in my dictionary).  Unless you've been experienced with the liturgical calendar (most likely as a priest, catechist or even a musician in a Catholic church), you may not know what to expect as to the "theme" of a given day's Mass, that is, what Scripture gives us for the day during what is often known as the "green season", that is, Ordinary Time, or, in fidelity to what the Roman Missal calls it in Latin, "Time through the Year" (literal translation).

What gives Ordinary Time the "green season" nickname is not "going green" in an ecological sense or even in a gaming sense.  It's not being that famous "Sesame Street" frog who went on to host "The Muppet Show".  In the liturgical sense, green is the vestment color worn by the priest celebrating Mass during Ordinary Time.  And considering Advent only has four Sundays, Lent five Sundays, Easter eight Sundays (including Easter Sunday itself and Pentecost), and Ordinary Time has 32 Sundays (numbered 2-33, Week 1 begins on the day after the Baptism of the Lord, which is a Monday or Tuesday, and Sunday 34 is Christ the King, in which the priest wears white), The priest wears a green vestment for Mass for more than half the Sundays throughout the liturgical year.

Two "seasonal hymns" in "green season"???

In last week's Gospel reading (Baptism of the Lord), we heard Matthew's account of John the Baptist's announcment that Jesus is coming to be baptized.  In this week's Gospel reading (Sunday II through the Year), we hear John's account of the same.  We begin today's Mass with the hymn On Jordan's bank, which begins "On Jordan's bank the baptist's cry announces that the Lord is nigh."  Though On Jordan's bank is often considered an Advent hymn (the second verse definitely has Advent themes), it is really fitting for the Baptism of the Lord and even this Sunday.

Another hymn that may appear to be off-season also fits well, Songs of thankfulness and praise (normally fitting for Epiphany and Baptism of the Lord), with its second verse which begins, "Manifest at Jordan's stream, Prophet, Priest and King supreme."  

That said...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS:

Gloria and Memorial Acclamation: Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (Gloria may be recited or sung, according to the celebrant's discretion)

Sanctus and Agnus Dei: People's Mass (Jan Vermulst) (Listen)
Amen: Dresden Amen

PROPER OF THE MASS:

Readings: Pew Missal, page 87

Psalm 40: R./ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will. (Richard Proulx/Joseph Gelienau, SJ)

Alleluia I for Ordinary Time (BMP)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance hymn: Maroon hymnal, #10 On Jordan's bank ("Winchester New") (Listen)

Offertory hymn: Maroon hymnal, #213 Shepherd of Souls ("St. Agnes") (Listen)

Music during Communion:

- Responsory: Psalm 20, R./ We shall rejoice in your salvation (BMP)

- or Anthem: In thee is gladness (Giovanni Giacomo Gastoldi)

Recessional hymn: Pew Missal, #246 Songs of thankfulness and praise ("Salzburg") (Listen)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

THE EPIPHANY AND BAPTISM OF THE LORD

OOPS!  I dropped the ball as to blogging last weekend's music selections for the Epiphany of the Lord (a solemnity).  So I am including them here along with this weekend's music selections for the Baptism of the Lord a feast).

So, without further ado...

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

ORDINARY OF THE MASS (both weekends):

Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei: Mass of the Shepherds (Pietro Yon)

- NOTE: For most Masses, the key will be adapted to be congregation-friendly.

Memorial Acclamation: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine... (Jubilate Deo chant)

Amen: Dresden

January 4 - The Epiphany of the Lord

PROPER OF THE MASS:
Readings begin on page 82 in the Pew Missal.
Psalm 72: R./ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you (BMP)
Alleluia "Divinum Mysterium" (Mode V, adapted by BMP)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance hymn: Pew Missal, #259 The first Nowell (Trad. English)

Offertory hymn: Pew Missal, #278 We three kings of Orient are ("Kings of Orient")
Responsory during Communion: Psalm 72, R./ We have seen his star in the east... (Adam Bartlett)

Recessional hymn: Maroon hymnal, #52 As with gladness men of old ("Dix") (Listen)

- The tune name, "Dix" is named after the author of "As with gladness...", William Chatteron Dix.  Another well-known hymn, "For the beauty of the earth", is often sung to this tune.

January 11 - The Baptism of the Lord

PROPER OF THE MASS:
Readings begin on page 85 in the Pew Missal.
Psalm 29: R./ The Lord will bless his people with peace (Gregory Evans)
Alleluia "Divinum Mysterium" (Mode V, adapted by BMP)

Hymns, etc.:

Entrance hymn: Maroon hymnal, #10 On Jordan's bank ("Winchester New") (Listen)

Offertory hymn: Pew Missal, #181 Let all mortal flesh keep silence ("Picardy") (Listen)

- This gorgeous arrangement in the listen link given comes from Gustav Holst, who also gave us "The Planets", from which his "Jupiter" movement includes the tune used for such hymns as "O God, beyond all praising" and "I vow to thee, my country".

Hymn during Communion: Worship hymnal, #6 Blest be the God of Israel ("Forest Green") (Listen)
- The words in the listen link is a different translation from what's in the hymnal (both the link's translation and the hymnal's translation are from the "Benedictus", aka the Canticle of Zechariah), but the tune is the same.
Recessional hymn: Pew Missal, #246 Songs of thankfulness and praise ("Salzburg") (Listen)

This Monday begins the First Week of the Year (aka "Ordinary Time" or "Green Season", or to some, "Boring Time" lol).

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP