Friday, December 28, 2018

Four-Day Weekend, followed by Three-Day Weekend

Music lists for Holy Family (this weekend), Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (January 1, a Holy Day of Obligation), and the Epiphany (next weekend)

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
Sat. XII-29-18 at 5 PM; Sun. XII-30-18 at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM

Ordinary of the Mass:
- Mass of the Shepherds (Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus) (11:15)
- Mass VIII (Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus) (all others)
- Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine (Memorial Acclamation) (Worship, #349)
- Dresden Amen

The rest:
Entrance hymn: Once in royal David's city (Worship hymnal, #402)
Psalm 84: R./ Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord (BMP) (PDF)
Alleluia "Divinum Mysterium" (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: While shepherds watched their flocks by night (Worship hymnal, #382)
Communion music:
- Psalm 27: R./ Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business? (BMP) (PDF)
- (11:15): Gaudete! Christus est natus (Piae Cantiones, 1582, arr. BMP)
Meditation hymn: What Child is this (Worship hymnal, #411)
Recessional hymn: Angels we have heard on high (Worship hymnal, #376)

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
(A Holy Day of Obligation)
Mon. XII-31-18 at 5 PM; Tues. I-1-19 at 10:30 AM

Ordinary of the Mass:
- Mass VIII (Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus)
- Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine (Memorial Acclamation)
- Dresden Amen

The rest:
Entrance hymn: While shepherds watched their flocks by night (Maroon hymnal, #13)
Psalm 67: R./ May God bless us in his mercy (music in missalette, page 42)
Alleluia "Divinum Mysterium" (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: The First Nowell (Maroon hymnal, #30)
Communion (Psalm 34): R./ Exult, O daughter of Sion (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: In the bleak midwinter (Maroon hymnal, #44)
Recessional hymn: Angels we have heard on high (Maroon hymnal, #42)

First Friday (Sacred Heart Community Mass)
Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Fri. I-4-19 at 6 PM

Ordinary of the Mass:
- Mass VIII (Sanctus, Agnus)
- Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine (Memorial Acclamation)
- Dresden Amen

The rest:
Entrance hymn: Hark! the herald angels sing (Worship hymnal, #387)
Psalm 98: R./ All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God (BMP) (PDF)
Alleluia "Divinum Mysterium" (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: What Child is this (Worship hymnal, #411)
Communion (Psalm 8): R./ How great is your Name, O Lord our God, through all the earth (Worship hymnal, #27)
Recessional: Joy to the world (Worship hymnal, #399, verses 1, 2, 4)

The Epiphany of the Lord
Sat. I-5-19 at 5 PM; Sun. I-6-19 at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM

Brass will be on hand for all Masses except 7:30.

Ordinary of the Mass:
- Mass VIII (Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus) (7:30)
- Mass of the Shepherds (Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus) (all others)
- Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine (Memorial Acclamation)
- Dresden Amen

The rest:
Entrance hymn: O come, all ye faithful (Maroon hymnal, #12, verses 1, 2, 3, 6)
Psalm 72: R./ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you (BMP) (PDF)
Alleluia "Divinum Mysterium" (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: We three Kings of Orient are (Maroon hymnal, #51)
Communion music:
Break forth, O beauteous heav'nly light ("Emuntre Dich")
- (7:30): Psalm 72: R./ We have seen his star in the East, and have come with gifts to adore the Lord (Bartlett)
Meditation hymn: As with gladness men of old (Maroon hymnal, #52)
Recessional hymn: What star is this with beams so bright (Maroon hymnal, #47)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Friday, December 21, 2018

The Music of Christmas at Sacred Heart

Masses Christmas Eve (Monday) at 5 and 10 PM and Christmas Day (Tuesday) at 9 and 11:15 AM.  There will be a prelude of music by singers and brass approximately 15-20 minutes before each Mass.

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Prelude:
1. Tu scendi dalle stelle (traditional Italian)
2. Break forth, O beauteous heav'nly light (Johann Schop, arr. Johann Sebastian Bach)
3. Gaudete, Christus est natus (Piae Cantationes, 1582, arr. BMP)
4. selected carols performed by brass
5. if time permits, organ improvisations on Christmas themes

Holy Mass:
Mass Ordinary: Mass of the Shepherds (Pietro Yon) (Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei)
- - Pietro Yon, longtime organist/choirmaster of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis (in St. Louis, MO, of course), is well known for his Gesu Bambino, but he also gave us this gem, which we will be using for this, my eighth Christmas at Sacred Heart.
- Memorial Acclamation: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine
- Amen: Dresden

Entrance hymn: O come, all ye faithful (Worship hymnal, #392, arr. David Willcocks)
- Verse 1 in Latin, followed by verses 1-4 in English)
Psalm 96: Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord (Richard Proulx/Père Joseph Gelineau, SJ)
Alleluia "Divinum Mysterium" (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Hark! the herald angels sing (Worship hymnal, #387, arr. David Willcocks)
Communion anthem: Hallelujah! (George Frederick Handel, from his most famous work, Messiah)
Meditation hymn: Silent night (Worship hymnal, #379)
Recessional hymn: Joy to the world (Worship hymnal, #399, verses 1, 2, 4)
Postlude: Angels we have heard on high (organ/brass)
- Organ improvisation: based on Louis-Claude Daquin's Noel Suisse

Merry Christmas and a Blessed MMXIX to all who read this!

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

The Rest of Advent (including Immaculate Conception)

This week's musing, "Decoding a Hymn Revisited", another rendition of my explanation of hymn credits, including text, tune, and meter.  Click here to read it.

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION!!!  Friday XII-7 (6 PM) and Saturday XII-8 (9 AM, 5 PM)

Ordinary of the Mass:
- Mass XVIII (Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei)
- Mass VIII (Gloria) (or recited)
- Memorial Acclamation: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine
- Amen adapted from Sanctus VIII

The rest:
Entrance hymn: Immaculate Mary (Worship hymnal, #708)
Psalm 96: R./ Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds (Worship hymnal, #1060)
Alleluia "Conditor Alme" (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came (Worship hymnal, #695)
Communion responsory: R./ Glorious things of thee are spoken, O Mary (BMP, adapted from Austria) (PDF)
- The tune "Austria" is the tune most familiarly associated with the hymn "Glorious things of thee are spoken", which we sang about three months or so ago.
Meditation hymn: Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming (Worship hymnal, #374)
Recessional hymn: Tell out, my soul (Worship hymnal, #534)

Sunday II of Advent
Sunday, XII-9 (7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM)

Ordinary of the Mass:
- Mass XVII (Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei)
- Memorial Acclamation: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine
- Amen adapted from Sanctus VIII

The rest:
Entrance hymn: On Jordan's Bank (Maroon hymnal, #10)
Psalm 126: R./ The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy (Alfred Calabrese) (PDF)
Alleluia "Conditor Alme" (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Hark! a Thrilling Voice Is Sounding (Maroon hymnal, #9)
Music during Communion:
- Psalm 147: R./ Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high, and behold the joy that shall come to you from your God (BMP) (PDF)
- (11:15) Comfort, Comfort, O my people (Worship hymnal, #370)
Meditation hymn: The King Shall Come when Morning Dawns (Maroon hymnal, #11)
Recessional hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Maroon hymnal, #2)

Sunday III of Advent
Saturday, XII-15 (5 PM); Sunday, XII-16 (7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM)

Ordinary of the Mass:
- Mass XVII (Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei)
- Memorial Acclamation: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine
- Amen adapted from Sanctus VIII

The rest:
Entrance hymn: On Jordan's Bank (Maroon hymnal, #10)
Responsorial Psalm (Isaiah 12: 2-6): R./ Cry out with joy and gladness, for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel (Alstott)
Alleluia "Conditor Alme" (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: The King Shall Come when Morning Dawns (Maroon hymnal, #11)
Music during Communion:
- Psalm 147: R./ Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high, and behold the joy that shall come to you from your God (BMP) (PDF)
- (11:15) Magnificat (Tone 8g/Ciro Grassi, alternating)
- - In this "Magnificat" setting, the versicles alternate between the Gregorian Psalm Tone 8g and a choral tone written by Ciro Grassi.  This tone was published in the Pius X Hymnal right around the time of Grassi's death in the early 1950's.  Alternating tones is a practice used in some churches even today, and I try to continue that practice when possible.
Meditation hymn: Hark! a Thrilling Voice Is Sounding (Maroon hymnal, #9)
Recessional hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Maroon hymnal, #2)

Sunday IV of Advent
Saturday, XII-22 (5 PM); Sunday, XII-23 (7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM)

Ordinary of the Mass:
- Mass XVII (Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei)
- Memorial Acclamation: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine
- Amen adapted from Sanctus VIII

The rest:
Entrance hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Worship hymnal, #357)
Psalm 80: R./ Lord, make us turn to you, let us see your face and we shall be saved (Evans) (PDF)
Alleluia "Conditor Alme" (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Tell out, my soul (Worship hymnal, #534)
Music during Communion:
- Psalm 19: R./ Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son; and his name shall be callèd Emmanuel (BMP, based on O Heiland Reiss) (PDF)
- (11:15) Alma Redemptoris Mater (Webbe, alt.)
Meditation hymn: Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming (Worship hymnal, #374)
Recessional hymn: O Come, Divine Messiah (Worship hymnal, #367)
- When I was at Precious Blood Church in Woonsocket through a good chunk of the 1990's, we sometimes sang this hymn in the original French, "Venez, Divin Messie".

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Decoding a Hymn Revisited

When you look at a hymn in a hymnal, do you ever wonder what some of the items on that page mean?  What is "CM", "LM", or "87 87"?  What is "St. Stephen" or "Winchester New"?  I'm going to revisit that right now.

First thing to know that in modern music, there are "lyrics" and "music".  In hymnody, the "lyrics" and "music" are referred to as "text" and "tune", respectively.  Also, in hymnody, in most cases, the author or source of the text is different from the composer or source of the tune.  "Source" is defined as a book or other collection of music that a particular text or tune was first known to be published in.

Some hymnals are more detailed than others in hymn credits.  A good reason for that is as hymnals are updated, more information may be found about certain hymns.  In some cases, information may even be corrected in future editions.

Let's take a look at our two hymnals that are in use at Sacred Heart, the red hymnal, Worship, and the maroon hymnal, The Hymnal.  The edition of Worship we use was published in 1986, while The Hymnal, although formally titled The Hymnal 1940, was published around 1943 and has addenda as recent as 1981.  Here you will see two contrasting presentation of hymn credits.  Let's look at an Advent hymn that I can safely say almost everyone is familiar with: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.

In Worship (red), the number and title are on top, and all the credits are on the bottom.  Very user-friendly to the average congregant.  In O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, #357, you will find this at the bottom of the hymn:
Text: Veni, veni, Emmanuel, Latin, 9th c.; Tr. by John M. Neale, 1818-1866, alt.
Tune: VENI, VENI, EMMANUEL, LM with refrain; Mode I; Adapt. by Thomas     Helmore, 1811-1890; Acc. by Richard Proulx, b. 1937, © 1975 GIA Publications, Inc.
In the text line, you first see "Veni, Veni, Emmanuel".  That is the original Latin from which "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is translated.  It's known source is that it was originally in Latin (duh!) and dates back to the 9th century.  John M. Neale (full name John Mason Neale), was the translator (thus the "Tr."), and the years following his name is his life span.  The abbreviation "alt." indicates that this is an altered form of Neale's translation.  Usually the alterations are made by the hymnal's editor(s).  In this case, sadly, the words "thee", "thou", and "thy" have been removed.  This is a dumbing-down of a really good hymn, and such will be discussed in a future post.

In the tune line, the words "VENI, VENI, EMMANUEL" in all capital letters (some hymnals use italics in place of capitals, the italics being my personal preference when presenting manuscript) is the actual title of the tune.  "LM with refrain" is the poetic meter (I will discuss this further down in this post).  This tune, being chant, is set to "Mode I", one of eight modes given to chant melodies (in most cases Gregorian chant).  Thomas Helmore (again, the dates following indicate his life span) adapted the chant tune to a more metrical form that appears in some hymnals, but not in this one.  Nonetheless, he was still credited here.  Richard Proulx, many of his works published by GIA Publications in Chicago, Illinois, wrote the organ accompaniment provided in the organ edition of this hymnal (the edition in the pew contains only melody and text).  Proulx's accompaniment is copyrighted by GIA.  In terms of lifespan, as of the printing of the Worship hymnal, Proulx was born in 1937 ("b. 1937").  He has since died, and his lifespan is reflected in future hymnals (1937-2010).

Now, let's look at the same hymn (#2) in our maroon hymnal, The Hymnal.  Keeping in mind that the maroon hymnal is 43 years older than the Worship hymnal, you will see what I mean by a difference not only in the presentation of the credits, but the actual credits themselves.

First, let's look at the top of the page.  The Hymnal does not use hymn titles.  Underneath the heading "Advent" is the numbers "88.88.88".  That's the poetic meter, and (as I'll explain further down) is just as accurate as the "LM with refrain" presented in Worship.  At top left, you see "VENI EMMANUEL", again in all caps.  OK, they shortened the tune name by one "Veni".  At top right is the tune source.  Again, you see that Thomas Helmore adapted the tune ("Melody adapted from plainsong, Mode I by Thomas Helmore, 1854") ("plainsong", "chant", same thing, pretty much).  Notice that instead of the composer's lifespan, you see the actual year Helmore made the adaptation.

Now, let's look at the bottom of the second page, after the hymn is finished.  Here is the text sources.  Though the text translation is that of John Mason Neale (in its unaltered form), that's not what it says here.  You have "Hymnal Version, based on Latin, c. 9th cent.; St. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, pub. Cologne, 1710".  Hymnal Version is used for a number of hymn texts in the maroon hymnal, meaning that it was the version hand picked for the hymnal by its editors.  Note that it states here that the text was "based on" the Latin, and not "translated from" the Latin.  Also, according to this, five stanzas (1, 3, 4, 5, and 6) were first published in Cologne, Germany, in 1710.

So, you can see the big difference in how the facts of a hymn are presented, as well as what facts are presented, from hymnal to hymnal.  But there is one more thing I would like to discuss, and I promised this twice in preceding paragraphs: meter - poetic meter, to be exact.

"88.88.88", as presented in the maroon hymnal, is the number of syllables in each line of verse, in this case, including the refrain.  Each of the six lines has eight syllables, and, as you see by the periods after each "88", the lines are grouped in pairs, as the poetry here dictates.  Some hymnals use a space instead of a period to separate the grouped lines.

In the Worship hymnal, you see "LM with refrain".  There are six types of meters that are not often given by number, but by abbreviations: SM, SMD, CM, CMD, LM, and LMD.  "LM" indicates that each verse has eight syllables per line and that it has a refrain, without giving the meter of the refrain.  Here's a primer on those abbreviations.

"SM" stands for "Short Meter", and it seems to be exactly that - short.  Presented in numbers, that would be "66 86", meaning the first pair lines are six syllables each, followed by a pair of lines that are eight syllables and six syllables, respectively.  A familiar example of such meter is Blest Are the Pure in Heart (#418 in the maroon hymnal).  "SMD" is "Short Meter Double" (a "D" added to any meter means "double").  In numbers, that would be "66 86 66 86" or "66 86 D".  It's like having two short meter verses in one.  Familiar example: Crown Him with Many Crowns (#352 in the maroon hymnal or #496 in Worship).

"CM" stands for "Common Meter".  In numbers, that's "86 86", two pairs of lines of eight and six syllables, respectively.  Familiar example: Lord, Who throughout these Forty Days (#59 in the maroon hymnal or #417 in Worship).  "CMD" is "Common Meter Double".  Again, it's like having two common meter verses in one.  Familiar example: Your Hands, O Lord, in Days of Old (#750 in Worship).

"LM" stands for "Long Meter", or in numbers, "88 88" - two pairs of eight-syllable lines.  A perfect example is the Advent hymn, On Jordan's Bank (#10 in the maroon hymnal or #356 in Worship), which we will be singing for the Second and Third Sundays of Advent.  The "LMD" ("Long Meter Double") is rarely used, but definitely does exist.  The Lorica (or "Breastplate") of St. Patrick, I Bind unto Myself This Day" (#268 in the maroon hymnal) uses such meter.

Some hymn meters include the words "with Refrain" (like O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, as presented in Worship).  Some include the words "with Alleluias" (like Jesus Christ Is Ris'n Today and Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones).  On occasion, you will also find the word "Irregular".  Irregular meters are those in which no two verses have the same set number of syllables.  Our National Anthem (#142 in the maroon hymnal or #761 in Worship) is one such example.  Christmas carols, well-known ones, have irregular meters: O Come, All Ye Faithful, The First Noel, and Silent Night being the most popular examples.  The first two are actually "Irregular with Refrain".

One of the most popular reasons for having the poetic meter listed for each hymn is that many tunes are interchangeable.  You could sing Lord, Who throughout these Forty Days to the same tune as Shepherd of Souls, Refresh and Bless, and vice versa, not that I'd want to.  You could sing Alleluia! Sing to Jesus to the same tune as Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.  The "Metrical Index" in the back of both hymnals categorize each tune name by meter, giving the musician options if he/she ever wanted to change the tune to a hymn.  Some hymns, as you may know, appear in the hymnal to more than one tune already (in both hynmals).

Finally, I want to mention one more item of note: the difference in many tune names between our two hymnals.  I'm not talking different tunes, but the same tune, just under different names.  Many tunes, not all, known by their German titles appeared under alternate names (usually in English or in Latin, or maybe the name of a German or Austrian city) in the maroon hymnal.  Remember, that particular hymnal was conceived in 1940 and published in 1943, during World War II.  So, for Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, you'll see the tune listed as Lobe den Herren in the Worship hymnal (#547), and simply Praise to the Lord in the maroon hymnal (#279).  Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones is given the tune name Lasst uns Erfreuen (German) in Worship (#707), while the maroon hymnal (#599) uses the name Vigiles et Sancti (Latin) for that same tune.

Have I satisfied some curiosities yet? ;)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

PS: "Quod scripsi, scripsi!" is the Latin for "What I have written, I have written".  In St. John's rendition of Our Lord's Passion and Death, Pilate wrote on the Cross of Christ, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" (INRI - "Iesus Nazorenus, Rex Iudeorum", not "In Rhode Island").  Anyways, the chief priests and scribes told Pilate to write instead, "He said 'I am the King of the Jews'".  Pilate's response, "Quod scripsi, scripsi!"  ("What I have written, I have written!")

Thursday, November 29, 2018

First Sunday of Advent

The first of my new regular series of musings is on the use, or should I say, "misuse", or perhaps "abuse" of microphones by those responsible for leading sacred song in many churches today.  Click here to read it!  Also, click here to read my Christ the King follow-up from last week, the connection between Christus Vincit and a very familiar hymn we sang last weekend.

Also, our choir, three voices strong including myself, is underway.  More voices needed and welcome in all ranges (soprano, alto, tenor, bass).  Rehearsals are Sundays at 10:00 AM (shortly after the 9:00 Mass).  We'll be singing the 11:15 AM Mass on Sundays, as well as major feasts.  Interested?  Come upstairs and see me after any weekend Mass, or just come to one of our rehearsals.  Don't be shy!  We train on premises!

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary of the Mass:
- Mass XVII (Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei)
- Memorial Acclamation: Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine (see Worship hymnal, #349)
- Amen adapted from Sanctus VIII (see Worship hymnal, #330)

Alleluia Conditor Alme Siderum (BMP) (PDF)
- The response is based on "Conditor Alme Siderum", or (translated), "Creator of the Stars of Night", a Gregorian chant tune in the fourth mode.

The rest:
Entrance hymn: Lo! he comes with clouds descending (Maroon hymnal, #5, second tune)
Psalm 25: R./ To you, O Lord, I lift my soul (Robert Twynham) (see Worship hymnal, #768)
Offertory hymn: Rejoice, rejoice, believers (Maroon hymnal, #4)
Communion:
- Psalm 85: R./ The Lord will bestow his bounty, and our earth shall yield its increase (Adam Bartlett)
- (11:15) To you I lift my soul (tune: "Love Unknown")
- - The text here, based on Psalm 25, was written by John Dunn, who succeeded Theodore Marier (who I've mentioned often in posts to this blog) as music director of St. Paul's Church in Cambridge, Massacusetts, home of the famed Boston Boy Choir and the St. Paul Choir School (this country's only all-boys Catholic choir school), which was founded by Dr. Marier.  The tune "Love Unknown" was written by John Ireland, and is most commonly used with the hymn "My song is love unknown".
Meditation hymn: Hark! the glad sound, the Savior comes (Maroon hymnal, #7)
Recessional hymn: Thy kingdom come, on bended knee (Maroon hymnal, #391)
- This tune is most commonly used with the Lenten staple, "Lord, who throughout these forty days".

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Christus Vincit! Christus Regnat! Christus Imperat!

I took the liberty of adding a little filler for this weekend's bulletin, in honor of Christ the King (or formally, "Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe"), a very regal Christ-like crown, with the Latin antiphon: Christus Vincit! Christus Regnat! Christus Imperat!  This translates: Christ conquers! Christ reigns! Christ commands!

I'm sure many are familiar with the hymn To Jesus Christ, Our Sov'reign King, our recessional hymn for this weekend, and probably the most popular of Catholic hymns to Christ the King.  In writing the hymn text, Msgr. Martin Hellreigel loosely translated the Christus Vincit antiphon for a refrain to fit a tune called Ich Glaub an Gott (the tune we sing), which originated in Mainz, Germany, in 1870.  While we have sung over the years, Christ Jesus Victor, Christ Jesus Ruler, Christ Jesus Lord and Redeemer, what many don't know is that Msgr. Hellreigel originally used the word Commander instead of RedeemerCommander conforms more closesly to the phrase Christus Imperat! or Christ commands!  

The last hymnal I remember seeing the word Commander in the hymn (in any hymnal or missalette) was the 1976 edition of the We Celebrate hymnal (it was changed to Redeemer in the 1979 and subsequent edition).  St. John Cantius Church in Chicago, Illinois, to this day still sings Commander.

CHRIST JESUS VICTOR! CHRIST JESUS RULER!
CHRIST JESUS LORD AND COMMANDER!

CHRISTUS VINCIT! CHRISTUS REGNAT! CHRISTUS IMPERAT!

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Saturday, November 17, 2018

MICROPHONES: Do We REALLY Need Them to Sing?

I'm sure many have gone into another church from time to time, whether out of town on vacation, or visiting family, friends, etc., and find that the person "leading the singing" is standing up front, blaring into a microphone, waving arms when it's "your turn to sing" (even when there is an able choir present).  I've seen it live.  I've seen it on TV.  I've seen it on YouTube.  And every time I see and hear these things, I utter one word: WHY?

At 11 years old, I sang tenor in a choir of boys and men at (the now closed and demolished) Holy Trinity Church in Central Falls.  We had a wonderful organist/choirmaster, Mr. Reuel Gifford.  The church, though not huge, was larger than Sacred Heart, but still a bit smaller than, let's say, SS. John and James in beautiful downtown Arctic.  The acoustics were no better nor worse than those of Sacred Heart.  We were accompanied by a 26-rank pipe organ (this organ most likely had around 1,400-1,500 pipes).  There was not one microphone in the choir loft, yet we were well-heard, even over a generously registered organ.  There was no one up front to lead the hymns into a microphone (the lector/commentator announced the hymns from the lectern, but that was all).  Many of the Responsorial Psalms were sung a capella (no instrumental accompaniment whatsoever).

I had the pleasure of singing in the chorus at Cumberland High School under the venerable Mrs. Nectar Lennox.  Again, not one microphone was in use.  Why is that?  Mrs. Lennox taught us that to get the sound to carry, we need to project our voices to the audience.  This was effective not only to our 100+ voice full chorus, but to the 20+ voice Clef Singers, which I also was a part of.

I was also lucky enough to work as organist/music director at Precious Blood Church in Woonsocket, a church a bit larger than SS. John and James, with a pipe organ about the size of that of SS. John and James (only difference: the pipe organ at Precious Blood still works and is well-maintained).  In the eight years I was there (1989-1997), there were, once again, no microphones in the choir loft.  Didn't need one, even with that strong organ.  Didn't want one.

The ability to project creates a natural amplification when needed.  I refuse to sing into the microphone I have at the organ console.  I use that contraption to announce the hymns only.  When singing, I shut it off and push it aside.  Otherwise, you'd all be fleeing town in fright.  When the singing is really good from the congregation, and I DO hear it, especially at the 5:00 and 11:15 Masses, I tend to shut up for a line or two just to listen and just let the organ lead.  The singers (who will still sing with us on major feasts, like the forthcoming Solemnity of Christ the King), though mic'd, are far enough away from the mic not to "blare".  (Yes, I'm still trying to form a parish choir!)

Addendum to above paragraph, XI-29-18: Last Monday (XI-26-18), I played and sang for my uncle's funeral at his home parish.  When the incumbent organist (who was very pleasant and welcoming, in the true sense, not that agenda-driven sense you hear in the mainstream) offered me the cantor's microphone to place near the console, I simply (but bluntly) said, "I don't sing into that thing, but thank you."  "You don't use a mic?" she said, surprised, "Why not?"  "I'd run everyone out of town," I replied.  Needless to say, the acoustics were strong enough that my voice carried plenty over a generously registered 88-year-old three-manual Austin pipe organ of about 28 ranks (read: about 1,500+ pipes).

The other problem with having someone in front "leading song" is that these "song leaders" or "cantors" in conventional churches have quality voices but still use the mic.  Couple that with the hand gestures they use to cue you in, it is merely drawing attention to themselves.  And again, they're still up front, bellowing and waving (I hope they use deodorant), even when there is an able choir present.

I met an organist - a really good organist - in fact, he was a predecessor from Precious Blood three organists before me, George Beaudet.  When he would work alone at the console, he would sing the first couple of words of a hymn, then stop singing, and let the organ lead, especially in his later years.  It worked for many, many years.

Finally, in another Woonsocket church (Our Lady of Victories, which folded around the year 2000-ish), the liturgy committee chair (brother of the pastor of Precious Blood who hired me there) once told me that if your singing is strong enough, people tend to "start listening and stop singing" (this, of course, pertaining to when the congregation should be singing).

Does the music leadership (organist, singers, etc.) really need to blare into a mic up front and flap their arms like a cuckoo bird?  The short answer is NO.  The long answer is, NO, especially if there is an able choir present.  I will consider in very large churches or cathedrals, but 1) only for Psalm verses, not while the congregation and/or choir is singing, and 2) not up front where attention is attracted visually.

Unmic'd, I remain,
BMP

PS: Quod scripsi, scripsi!  (What I have written, I have written!)

Friday, November 16, 2018

The Next Couple of Weeks

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Common to all dates below:
Ordinary of the Mass: Messa Populare "Laus Tibi Christe" (Federico Caudana)
Alleluia: from Gelobt sei Gott (Melchior Vulpius)

The rest:

Sunday XXXIII of the Year
Saturday, XI-17, at 5 PM; Sunday, XI-18, at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM

Entrance hymn: When morning gilds the skies (Maroon hymnal, #367)
Psalm 16: R./ You are my inheritance, O Lord (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Lo! he comes with clouds descending (Maroon hymnal, #5, second tune)
Psalm 61 (Communion): R./ Whatever you ask in your prayers, believe that you shall receive it, and it shall be granted unto you (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: Thine for ever! God of love (Maroon hymnal, #427) (Listen)
Recessional hymn: Soon may the last glad song arise (Maroon hymnal, #539, second tune)

Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, XI-22, at 9 AM

Entrance hymn: We gather together (Maroon hymnal, #315)
Psalm 113: R./ Blessed be the Name of the Lord for ever (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Come, ye thankful people, come (Maroon hymnal, #137)
Psalm 96 (Communion): R./ Bring your offering and enter his courts; adore the Lord in his holy temple (BMP) (PDF)
Recessional hymn: Now thank we all our God (Maroon hymnal, #276)

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Saturday, XI-24, at 5 PM; Sunday, XI-25, at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM

Singers and brass trio at all Masses except 7:30.

Entrance hymn: Rejoice! the Lord is King (Worship hymnal, #493)
Psalm 93: R./ The Lord is King; he is robed in majesty (Sam Schmitt) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Christ is the King (Worship hymnal, #500)
Music during Communion:
- (except 7:30): Laudate Dominum (Giuseppe Pitoni)
- (7:30): Psalm 29: R./ The Lord will bless his people with peace (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: We praise thee, King of kings (on sheets provided) (Listen)
Recessional hymn: To Jesus Christ, our sov'reign King (Worship hymnal, #497)

A SIDE NOTE:

Beginning with the First Sunday of Advent (December 2), I will try to offer regular musings on music and liturgy, pertaining mostly to the Ordinary Form of the Mass (which we celebrate), and on occasion incorporating tidbits pertaining to the Extraordinary Form of the Mass (according to the Roman Missal of 1962).

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Sunday XXXII

Looking for a few good singers to form a choir for the 11:15 Mass on Sundays. So far, got one. Need more! Feel free to come upstairs and see me (Brian Page, organist) after any weekend Mass!

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary of the Mass: Messa Populare "Laus Tibi Christe" (Federico Caudana)
Alleluia: from Gelobt sei Gott (Melchior Vulpius)
- (aka the tune used for the hymn Christ is the King)

The rest:
Entrance hymn: God of our fathers (Maroon hymnal, #143)
Psalm 146: R./ Praise the Lord, my soul (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Almighty Father, strong to save (Maroon hymnal, #513) (Listen)
- (This is familiarly known as The Navy Hymn.)
Psalm 23 (Communion): R./ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: I vow to thee, my country (on sheets provided) (Listen)
- (The hymn itself is popular in the UK, but has good relevance here in the USA in the first verse.  The second verse, which sings of "another country", refers to heaven.  The music is part of the movement "Jupiter" in Gustav Holst's The Planets.)
Recessional hymn: My country, 'tis of thee (Maroon hymnal, #141)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Thursday, November 1, 2018

The FOUR-Day Weekend

Two announcements:
1) Looking for a few good singers to form a choir for the 11:15 Mass on Sundays.  So far, got one.  Need more!  Feel free to come upstairs and see me (Brian Page, organist) after any weekend Mass!
2) Don't forget the BAZAAR: Friday from noon to 7 PM, Saturday from 10 AM to 7 PM!

All Saints, All Souls, and Sunday XXXI, all in one little bundle!

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary of the Mass:
- (except All Souls): Messa Populare "Laus Tibi Christe" (Federico Caudana)
- (All Souls only): Mass XVIII pro defunctis

Alleluia:
- (except All Souls): from Gelobt sei Gott (Melchior Vulpius)
- - These are the alleluias sung at the end of each stanza of the hymn "Christ is the King"
- (All Souls only): Theodore Marier

The rest:

All Saints (Holy Day of Obligation)
Thursday XI-1 at 9 AM and 7 PM

Entrance hymn: For all the saints (Worship hymnal, #705)
Psalm 24: R./ Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face (Carroll/Gelineau)
Offertory hymn: By all your saints still striving (Worship hymnal, #706)
Communion responsory: R./ Remember, Lord, thy servants, when thou dost take thy throne (BMP) (PDF)
Recessional hymn: Ye watchers and ye holy ones (Worship hymnal, #707)

Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
Friday XI-2 at 9 AM and 6:30 PM

Entrance antiphon: Requiem aeternam (Mode VI)
Psalm 23: R./ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Jesus, Son of Mary (Maroon hymnal, #223)
Communion responsory: R./ May light eternal shine upon them, O Lord... (BMP, adapted from Lux Aeterna) (PDF)
Recessional hymn: In Paradisum (Worship hymnal, #178, in Latin)

Sunday XXXI of the Year
Saturday XI-3 at 5 PM; Sunday XI-4 at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM

Entrance hymn: Immortal, invisible, God only wise (Worship hymnal, #512)
Psalm 18: I love you, Lord, my strength (Schmitt) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Sing praise to God who reigns above (Worship hymnal, #528)
Communion responsory: R./ Lord, you will show us the path of life (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: To Christ, the Prince of Peace (Worship hymnal, #491)
Recessional hymn: From all that dwell below the skies (Worship hymnal, #521)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

"Singers Wanted" and Sunday XXX

Looking for a few good singers to form a choir for the 11:15 Mass on Sundays.  So far, got one.  Need more!  Feel free to come upstairs and see me (Brian Page, organist) after any weekend Mass!

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary of the Mass:
Gloria from Holy Angels Mass (BMP) or recited
A Community Mass (Richard Proulx) (Sanctus through Agnus Dei)

Alleluia: Dom Anthony Gregory Murray, OSB

The rest:
Entrance hymn: Hail to the Lord's Anointed (Maroon hymnal, #545)
- We will use the tune "Ellacombe", which is the tune we sing with "The Day of Resurrection" and "Go, make of all disciples".
Psalm 126: R./ The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy (Alfred Calabrese) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Your hands, O Lord, in days of old (Worship hymnal, #750)
Psalm 20 (Communion): R./ We shall rejoice in your salvation (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew (Worship hymnal, #593)
Recessional hymn: Rejoice! the Lord is King (Worship hymnal, #493)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

"Glorify the Lord with Me", and Sunday XXIX

GLORIFY THE LORD WITH ME (Psalm 34: 4)

I must say that I have been hearing some really good singing at Mass, especially as of late. It's high time we have some of those really good voices upstairs in the choir. YES, we are looking to re-form a parish choir! For the starting weeks, we will be rehearsing at roughly 10 AM on Sundays (shortly after the end of the 9 AM Mass) so we can sing the 11:15 AM Mass. As we grow (and hopefully we will), I may consider adding a weeknight. Let us sing to the Lord, for glorious is his triumph! (Exodus 15: 1) 
Please see me, Brian Page, after Mass.

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary of the Mass:
Gloria from Holy Angels Mass (BMP) or recited
A Community Mass (Richard Proulx) (Sanctus through Agnus Dei)

Alleluia: Dom Anthony Gregory Murray, OSB

The rest:
Entrance hymn: We sing the praise of him who died (Maroon hymnal, #340)
Psalm 33: R./ Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you (response: Richard Proulx; versicles: Pére Joseph Gelineau, SJ)
- You may find this in the Worship hymnal at #950.
Offertory hymn: At the Name of Jesus (Maroon hymnal, #356, first tune)
Psalm 8 (Communion): R./ How great is your Name, O Lord our God, through all the earth (Pére Joseph Gelineau, SJ)
- You may find this in the Worship hymnal at #27.
Meditation hymn: Hark! my soul, it is the Lord (Maroon hymnal, #459)
Recessional hymn: God, the omnipotent (Maroon hymnal, #523) (Listen)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Thursday, October 11, 2018

"Glorify the Lord with Me" and Sunday XXVIII

GLORIFY THE LORD WITH ME (Psalm 34: 4)

I must say that I have been hearing some really good singing at Mass, especially as of late. It's high time we have some of those really good voices upstairs in the choir. YES, we are looking to re-form a parish choir! For the starting weeks, we will be rehearsing at roughly 10 AM on Sundays (shortly after the end of the 9 AM Mass) so we can sing the 11:15 AM Mass. As we grow (and hopefully we will), I may consider adding a weeknight. Let us sing to the Lord, for glorious is his triumph! (Exodus 15: 1) 
Please see me, Brian Page, after Mass.


MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary of the Mass:
Gloria from Holy Angels Mass (BMP) or recited
A Community Mass (Richard Proulx) (Sanctus through Agnus Dei)

Alleluia: Dom Anthony Gregory Murray, OSB

The rest:
Entrance hymn: Fight the good fight (Maroon hymnal, #560)
- Alternate tune, different from the two given in the hymnal
Psalm 90: R./ Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Jesus, Name all names above (Maroon hymnal, #342)
Psalm 119 (Communion): R./ Your law is my meditation (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: Blest are the pure in heart (Maroon hymnal, #418)
Recessional hymn: Rejoice, ye pure in heart (Maroon hymnal, #579, second tune) (Listen)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Thursday, October 4, 2018

"Glorify the Lord with Me" and Sunday XXVII

GLORIFY THE LORD WITH ME (Psalm 34: 4)

I must say that I have been hearing some really good singing at Mass, especially as of late. It's high time we have some of those really good voices upstairs in the choir. YES, we are looking to re-form a parish choir! For the starting weeks, we will be rehearsing at roughly 10 AM on Sundays (shortly after the end of the 9 AM Mass) so we can sing the 11:15 AM Mass. As we grow (and hopefully we will), I may consider adding a weeknight. Let us sing to the Lord, for glorious is his triumph! (Exodus 15: 1) 
Please see me, Brian Page, after Mass.

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary of the Mass:
Gloria from Holy Angels Mass (BMP) or recited
A Community Mass (Richard Proulx) (Sanctus through Agnus Dei)

Alleluia: Dom Anthony Gregory Murray, OSB

The rest:

First Friday (Sacred Heart Community Mass)
Friday, X-5, at 6 PM

Entrance hymn: O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine (on sheets provided)
Psalm 139: R./ Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way (Tone 8G)
Offertory hymn: Cor dulce, Cor amabile
Psalm 119 (Communion): R./ Remember your word to your servant, O Lord (Adam Bartlett)
Recessional hymn: To Jesus' Heart, all-burning ("Cor Amoris") (on sheets provided)

Sunday XXVII of the Year
Saturday, X-6, at 5 PM; Sunday, X-7, at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM

Entrance hymn: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (Worship hymnal, #547)
Psalm 128: R./ May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives (Richard Rice)
Offertory hymn: Praise the Lord, ye heav'ns, adore him (Worship hymnal, #529)
Psalm 119 (Communion): R./ My soul has longed for your salvation, I hope in his word (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: Our Father, by whose Name (Worship hymnal, #570)
Recessional hymn: Sing praise to the Lord (Worship hymnal, #539)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

"Glorify the Lord with Me", and Sunday XXVI

GLORIFY THE LORD WITH ME (Psalm 34: 4)

I must say that I have been hearing some really good singing at Mass, especially as of late. It's high time we have some of those really good voices upstairs in the choir. YES, we are looking to re-form a parish choir! For the starting weeks, we will be rehearsing at roughly 10 AM on Sundays (shortly after the end of the 9 AM Mass) so we can sing the 11:15 AM Mass. As we grow (and hopefully we will), I may consider adding a weeknight. Let us sing to the Lord, for glorious is his triumph! (Exodus 15: 1) 
Please see me, Brian Page, after Mass.

The above announcement will appear in this weekend's bulletin!

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary of the Mass:
Gloria from Holy Angels Mass (BMP) or recited
A Community Mass (Richard Proulx) (Sanctus through Agnus Dei)

Alleluia: Dom Anthony Gregory Murray, OSB

The rest:
God of our fathers (Worship hymnal, #764)
Psalm 19 (Responsorial Psalm): R./ The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart (BMP) (PDF)
Love divine, all loves excelling (Worship hymnal, #588)
Psalm 119 (Communion): R./ Remember your word to your servant, O Lord (Adam Bartlett)
How good the Name of Jesus sounds (Worship hymnal, #610)
Jesus shall reign (Worship hymnal, #492)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Sunday XXV

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary of the Mass:
Gloria from Holy Angels Mass (BMP) or recited
A Community Mass (Richard Proulx) (Sanctus through Agnus Dei)

Alleluia: Dom Anthony Gregory Murray, OSB

The rest:
Christ is made the sure foundation (Worship hymnal, #617)
Psalm 54: The Lord upholds my life (Royce Nickel) (PDF)
Take up your cross (Worship hymnal, #634)
May my ways be firm in keeping your statutes (Adam Bartlett)
When I survey the wondrous cross (Worship hymnal, #433)
Lift high the cross (Worship hymnal, #704)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Friday, September 14, 2018

Sunday XXIV and the Italian Heritage Feast

This Saturday's 5:00 Mass is our annual Italian Heritage Mass in which we honor two patrons of Fornelli, Italy (birthplace of much of the parish ancestry): San Pietro Martire e San Domenico Abate.  We will be joined by our brass trio.
MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary of the Mass:
Saturday: Messa Populare Laus Tibi Christe (Federico Caudana)
- Memorial Acclamation in Italian
Sunday: Community Mass (Richard Proulx)
- Gloria: recited or Holy Angels Mass (BMP)

Alleluia: Murray

The rest:
Entrance hymn: For all the saints (Worship hymnal, #705)
Psalm 116: I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living (Sam Schmitt) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: By all your saints still striving (Worship hymnal, #706)
Communion music:
- Saturday: Lodate Maria (Italian)
- Sunday: Take up your cross and follow me (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All (Worship hymnal, #488)
Recessional hymn: Holy God, we praise thy Name (Worship hymnal, #524)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

The Three-Day Weekend

First Friday (Sacred Heart Community Mass) and Sunday XXIII of the Year

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Common for the entire three-day weekend:

Ordinary of the Mass:
- Gloria: Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (PDF) or recited
- Sanctus through Agnus Dei: Community Mass (Proulx)

Alleluia: Murray

Sacred Heart Community Mass
Friday IX-7 at 6 PM

Hail, holy Queen enthroned above (Worship hymnal, #702)
Psalm 13: R./ With delight I rejoice in the Lord (Tone 8G) (missalette, page 169(=)
Sing of Mary, pure and lowly (Worship hymnal, #404)
All generations shall call me blessed (BMP) (PDF)
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord (Worship hymnal, #534)

Sunday XXIII of the Year
Saturday IX-8 at 5 PM; Sunday IX-9 at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM

Your hands, O Lord, in days of old (Worship hymnal, #750)
Psalm 146: R./ Praise the Lord, my soul (BMP) (PDF)
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven (Worship hymnal, #530)
Make your vows unto the Lord, and accomplish them (BMP) (PDF)
I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew (Worship hymnal, #593)
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord (Worship hymnal, #534)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Sunday XXII

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Mass Ordinary:
- Gloria: Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (PDF) or recited
- Sanctus through Agnus Dei: Community Mass (Richard Proulx)

Alleluia: Dom Anthony Gregory Murray, OSB
- Side note: Dom Murray, a Benedictine, wrote a number of antiphons for many of the Gelineau Psalms in their original conception (late 1950's/early 1960's).

The rest:
Entrance hymn: To the Name of our salvation (Maroon hymnal, #326)
Psalm 15: R./ He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: At the Name of Jesus (Maroon hymnal, #356, first tune)
Communion responsory: R./ O Lord, I will be mindful of your justice alone (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: Soul of my Savior (Back section of missalette, #22)
Recessional hymn: When morning gilds the skies (Maroon hymnal, #367)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Sunday XXI

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary:
- Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (Gloria if sung, Memorial A) (PDF's)
- Heritage Mass (Owen Alstott) (Sanctus, Agnus)

Alleluia: Owen Alstott

The rest:
Entrance hymn: God himself is with us (Maroon hymnal, #477, vv. 1, 3, 4)
Psalm 34: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: O Jesus, I have promised (Maroon hymnal, #570, second tune)
Communion responsory: The earth will be satisfied... (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: Shepherd of souls (Maroon hymnal, #213)
Recessional hymn: Fight the good fight (Maroon hymnal, #560)
- using the alternate tune that we have sung before!

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Sunday XX

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary:
- Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (Gloria if sung, Memorial A) (PDF's)
- Heritage Mass (Owen Alstott) (Sanctus, Agnus)

Alleluia: Owen Alstott

The rest:
Entrance hymn: Hail, holy Queen enthroned above (Worship hymnal, #702)
Psalm 34: R./ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Let all mortal flesh keep silence (Worship hymnal, #523)
Communion responsory: He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood... (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: O Salutaris Hostia (Worship hymnal, #757)
Recessional hymn: Tell out, my soul (Worship hymnal, #534)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Sunday XIX and Assumption

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary:
- Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (Gloria if sung, Memorial A) (PDF's)
- Heritage Mass (Owen Alstott) (Sanctus, Agnus)

Alleluia: Alstott

The rest:

Sunday XIX of Ordered Time
Saturday VIII-11 at 5 PM; Sunday VIII-12 at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM

Entrance hymn: God the Omnipotent (Maroon hymnal, #523) (Listen)
Psalm 34: R./ Taste and see the goodness of the Lord (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: My God, thy table now is spread (Maroon hymnal, #203)
- The tune is the same as that of "When I survey the wondrous Cross", which we often sing during Lent.
Communion responsory: The bread that I will give... (BMP) (PDF)
Post-Communion hymn: O God, unseen, yet ever near (Maroon hymnal, #198, first tune)
- The tune is the same as that of "Lord, who throughout these forty days", probably the most familiar of Lenten hymns
Recessional hymn: Glorious things of thee are spoken (Maroon hymnal, #385) (Listen)

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Wednesday VIII-15 at 9 AM and 7 PM

Entrance hymn: Hail, holy Queen enthroned above (Worship hymnal, #702)
Psalm 45: R./ The Queen stands at your right hand... (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: O Sanctissima (Worship hymnal, #712)
Communion responsory: All generations shall call me blessed (BMP) (PDF)
Post-Communion hymn: Salve, Regina (Worship hymnal, #703)
Recessional hymn: Immaculate Mary (Worship hymnal, #708)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

The Three-Day Weekend

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (Gloria if sung, Memorial A) (PDF's)
Note: Gloria omitted on Friday
Heritage Mass (Owen Alstott) (Sanctus, Agnus)

Sacred Heart Community Mass (First Friday)
Friday, VIII-3, at 6 PM

Entrance hymn: O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine (on sheets provided)
Psalm 69: R./ Lord, in your great love, answer me (BMP, but with versicles in missalette) (PDF)
Alleluia: Owen Alstott
Offertory hymn: Panis Angelicus (Louis Lambillotte, SJ)
Communion responsory: Bless the Lord, O my soul... (Adam Bartlett)
Recessional hymn: To Jesus' Heart, all-burning (on sheets provided)

Sunday XVIII of the Year
Saturday, VIII-4, at 5 PM; Sunday, VIII-5, at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM

Entrance hymn: Alleluia! sing to Jesus (Worship hymnal, #737 / vv. 1, 3, 4)
Psalm 78: R./ The Lord gave them bread from heaven (Rice) (PDF)
Alleluia: Alstott
Offertory hymn: Father, we thank thee who hast planted (Worship hymnal, #558)
Communion responsory: You gave us bread from heaven, O Lord (PDF)
Meditation hymn: Tantum ergo (Worship hymnal, #758, in Latin)
Recessional hymn: Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord (Worship hymnal, #534)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Friday, July 27, 2018

Sunday XVII

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary:
Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (Gloria if sung, Memorial A) (PDF's)
Heritage Mass (Owen Alstott) (Sanctus, Agnus)

The rest:
Entrance hymn: Father, we thank thee who hast planted (Worship hymnal, #558)
Psalm 145: R./ The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs (V./ by Fr. Columba Kelly, OSB, who died just a couple of months ago; R./ by Pére Joseph Gelineau, SJ).  Music in the Worship hymnal, #914
Alleluia: Owen Alstott
Offertory hymn: At that first Eucharist (Worship hymnal, #733)
Communion responsory: Bless the Lord, O my soul... (Adam Bartlett)
Meditation hymn: Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All (Worship hymnal, #488)
Recessional hymn: Holy God, we praise thy Name (Worship hymnal, #524)

DID YOU KNOW:
When I'm singing with the congregation, I tend to back off at times to listen to the singing from the congregation.  Keep singing.  You're doing great (especially at the 5:00 and 11:15 Masses).  This is part of the reason I do not use a microphone to sing from (another part being that I might scare you all out of town, let alone out of church). ;)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Friday, July 13, 2018

Sundays XV and XVI

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary of the Mass:
Gloria: recited or Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (PDF) (Omitted on Friday)
Sanctus, Amen, and Agnus Dei: Heritage Mass (Owen Alstott)
Memorial: Holy Angels Mass (BMP)

The rest:
July 15: Sunday XV
Entrance hymn: All glory be to God on high (Worship hymnal, #527)
Psalm 85: Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation (BMP) (PDF)
Alleluia: Alstott (A-flat chant-like version - so so so la do...)
Offertory hymn: Go, make of all disciples (Worship hymnal, #628)
Communion responsory: He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood... (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: How good the Name of Jesus sounds (Worship hymnal, #610)
Recessional hymn: All creatures of our God and King (Worship hymnal, #520)

July 22: Sunday XVI
Entrance hymn: At the Lamb's high feast we sing (Worship hymnal, #459)
Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want (Alstott)
Alleluia: Alstott (A-flat chant-like version - so so so la do...)
Offertory hymn: At the Name of Jesus (Worship hymnal, #499)
Communion responsory: Accept a sacrifice of justice...  (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: Shepherd of souls (Worship hymnal, #728)
Recessional hymn: Rejoice, the Lord is King (Worship hymnal, #493)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Saturday, June 30, 2018

Sunday XIII and XIV, plus First Friday

This weekend marks the beginning of "summer mode", in which the sung Ordinary of the Mass is in English for the next four months (with the exception of one date in September).

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Today we have two weekends, plus First Friday, all in one post: Sunday XIII (July 1) and Sunday XIV (July 8).

Ordinary of the Mass:
Gloria: recited or Holy Angels Mass (BMP) (PDF) (Omitted on Friday)
Sanctus, Amen, and Agnus Dei: Heritage Mass (Owen Alstott)
Memorial: Holy Angels Mass (BMP)

The rest:
July 1: Sunday XIII
Entrance hymn: Christ for the world, we sing (Maroon hymnal, #537)
Psalm 30: I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me (Sam Schmitt) (PDF)
Alleluia: Alstott (A-flat chant-like version - so so so la do...)
Offertory hymn: Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old (Maroon hymnal, #517)
- NOTE: The tune we will use is the one we usually sing from Worship, but with the text in the Maroon.)
Communion responsory: Bless the Lord, O my soul (Adam Bartlett)
Meditation hymn: When Jesus left his Father's throne (Maroon hymnal, #331)
Recessional hymn: Our National Anthem (Maroon hymnal, #142)

July 6: Sacred Heart Community Mass 6 PM (First Friday)
Optional Memorial: St. Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr
Entrance hymn: O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine (on sheets provided)
Psalm 31: Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit (Tone 2)
Alleluia: Alstott (A-flat chant-like version - so so so la do...)
Offertory hymn: Ave Maria (Arcadelt) or Panis Angelicus (Lambillotte)
Communion responsory: Any man who serves me must follow me... (BMP) (PDF)
Recessional hymn: To Jesus' Heart, all-burning (on sheets provided)

July 8: Sunday XIV
Entrance hymn: God of our fathers (Maroon hymnal, #143)
Psalm 123: Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy (Marier)
Alleluia: Alstott (A-flat chant-like version - so so so la do...)
Offertory hymn: Fight the good fight (Maroon hymnal, #560)
- Tune different from what's in the hymnal, but is more familiar
Communion responsory: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: Hark, my soul! it is the Lord (Maroon hymnal, #459)
Recessional hymn: Hail to the Lord's Anointed (Maroon hymnal, #545)
- Tune different from what's in the hymnal.  It is the tune we usually sing with "Go, make of all disciples" and "The Day of Resurrection".

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Nativity of St. John the Baptist (this Sunday!)

This Sunday, June 24, is the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist.  Because it is a Solemnity in "Ordinary Time", it will trump the normally numbered Sunday of the Year (in this case, the 12th Sunday, or "Sunday XII").  In two of our hymns this weekend we will recall John the Baptist proclaiming the forthcoming Christ.

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Sunday XI

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary of the Mass: Laus Tibi Christe (Federico Caudana)

Entrance hymn: O worship the King (Maroon hymnal, #288)
Psalm 92: Lord, it is good to give thanks to you (Sam Schmitt) (PDF)
Alleluia Pange Lingua (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: We plow the fields and scatter (Maroon hymnal, #138) (Listen) NEW!!
Communion music:
(w/singers) Soul of my Savior ("Anima Christi"/Maher)
(w/o singers) One thing I ask of the Lord, this I seek... (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: I worship thee, Lord Jesus (Maroon hymnal, #252) vv. 1-4
Recessional hymn: Ye holy angels bright (Maroon hymnal, #600)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Saturday, June 9, 2018

Sunday X, and of Alleluia settings

For a story on some of our sung Alleluia settings, click here!

We leave the land of Solemnities for a time and take you to the land of Ordinary Time, or Ordered Time, or as the Roman Missal calls it in Latin, the "Time of the Year".  The Latin version of the Missal (in the Ordinary Form, that is, the most current Missal) calls this Sunday (translated) the Tenth Sunday of the Year, while the English and French versions call it the Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time.

But anyhoo, we're in the "green season" now, but two weeks from now, there will be another Sunday solemnity, that of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist.

But for now, let's go to this weekend's music, that is, for the Tenth Sunday of the Year, or "Sunday X".

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary of the Mass: Laus Tibi Christe (Caudana)

Entrance hymn: Praise, my soul, the King of heaven (Worship hymnal, #530)
Psalm 130: With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption (Sam Schmitt) (PDF)
Alleluia Pange Lingua (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Your hands, O Lord, in days of old (Worship hymnal, #750)
Communion music:
- (with singers): Dear Lord, and Father of mankind ("Repton", C.H.H. Parry)
- (w/o singers): Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven (BMP) (PDF)
Meditation hymn: To Christ, the Prince of Peace (Worship hymnal, #491)
Recessional hymn: Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord (Worship hymnal, #534)

WHERE DID YOU GET THAT ALLELUIA?

A couple of weeks ago, I got a question that is not a surprising one, as most people mainstream parishes with the "greatest hits" repertoire (read: not necessarily music with good taste, but merely music that tastes good) will visit and not hear certain things.

Well, this question came from a regular mass-going parishioner, and was a very good question: "Where did the Alleluia that we sang come from?"  The short answer, it's partially original.  The long answer, which explains the short answer, is that just over a month ago, I finished creating a comprehensive project called Psalm 151, which consists of original settings of the Proper of the Mass, not just your typical Responsorial Psalm and Alleluia verses, but Introits, Offertories, and Communions as well, and then some.  Most of the Alleluias in the projects are based on various chants sung during the church year and are also included in a subset I devised, called Alleluias and Gospel Acclamations.  While four of those melodies are completely original, a few were based on, or adapted from, different chants.  Those are as follows:
- Alleluia "Conditor Alme" (which we've used here at Sacred Heart), from Conditor Alme Siderum, or Creator of the stars of night, an Advent hymn.
- Alleluia "Divinum Mysterium" (which we've also used), from the tune Divinum Mysterium, the tune most commonly used with the Christmas chant hymn, Of the Father's love begotten.
- Gospel Acclamation "Vexilla Regis" (Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ) (which we've also used), is based on the Passion hymn Vexilla Regis Prodeunt, or The royal banners forward go.
- Alleluia "O Filii et Filiae", probably the most obvious.  Several composers have come up with some kind of arrangement of this Alleluia, and I too decided to jump on the bandwagon.  This alleluia is from the Easter hymn O filii et filiae, or O sons and daughters.
- Alleluia "Pange Lingua" (the Alleluia of which I received the question, which we introduced on Trinity Sunday) is a setting I wrote with verses for the "June Solemnities" (Trinity included, albeit that fell in May this year) and the 10th-12th Sundays of the Year.  I wrote it with Corpus Christi in mind, using the Eucharistic hymn Pange lingua gloriosi, or Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory, as its base.
Of the ones we have not used yet:
- Alleluia "Adoremus in Aeternum" is based on the Benediction chant, Adoremus in aeternum Sanctissimum Sacramentum, or We adore for ever the Most Holy Sacrament.  You may have heard me chant the Adoremus in aeternum during Tuesday night Marian Devotions, when the Blessed Sacrament is being returned to the Tabernacle.
- Alleluia "O Clemens", based on the last lines of the Salve Regina, contains verses for the Assumption and the Sundays surrounding it.
- Alleluia "Lux Aeterna", based on the Communion chant of the same name, used for Masses of the Dead (including All Souls and Funeral Masses), contains verses for All Saints, All Souls, and Sundays leading up to it.

By the way, putting my compositional skills to work, I'm building on the Psalm 151 project too, this one dubbed The Christus Vincit Gradual.

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

The Next Two Action-Packed Weeks

Following are the music lists for the Most Holy Trinity (Solemnity, weekend of May 27), First Friday (Sacred Heart Community Mass/Memorial of St. Justin, Martyr, June 1), the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus et Sanguis Christi, Solemnity, weekend of June 3, with First Holy Communion at the 11:15 Mass), and the Most Sacred Heart (Solemnity and Patronal Feast, June 8).

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary of the Mass (all dates listed below): Messa Populare "Laus Tibi Christe" (Federico Caudana)

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Saturday, V-26, at 5 PM; Sunday, V-27, at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM

Entrance hymn: Come now, almighty King (Worship hymnal, #487)
Psalm 33: R./ Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own (R./ by Fr. Columba Kelly, OSB; V./ by Père Joseph Gelineau, SJ)
Alleluia "Pange Lingua" (BMP) (PDF)
- Yes, this is based on the familiar Mode III Pange Lingua chant.
Offertory hymn: Holy, holy, holy (Worship hymnal, #485)
Communion music:
- Responsory (7:30): Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, alleluia (BMP) (PDF)
- Anthem (all others): Psalm 150 (Charles Villiers Stanford)
Hymn after Communion: Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All (Worship hymnal, #488)
Recessional hymn: O God, almighty Father (Worship hymnal, #484)

First Friday (Sacred Heart Community Mass)
Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr
Friday, VI-1, at 6 PM

Entrance hymn: O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine (on sheets provided)

Psalm 96: R./ The Lord comes to judge the earth (Tone 8)
Alleluia "Pange Lingua" (BMP) (PDF as in Most Holy Trinity, above, but with the versicle of the day in the missalette chanted to Psalm Tone 8G)
Offertory anthem: Panis Angelicus (Hungarian tune)
Communion responsory: What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light, says the Lord (BMP) (PDF)
Recessional hymn: To Jesus' Heart, all-burning (on sheets provided)

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
(Corpus et Sanguis Christi)
Saturday, VI-2, at 5 PM; Sunday, VI-3, at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM
Brass trio at all Masses except 7:30.
First Holy Communion at 11:15 Mass.

Entrance hymn: Lift up your heads, O mighty gates (Worship hymnal, #363)
Psalm 116: R./ I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord (Sam Schmitt) (PDF)
Alleluia "Pange Lingua" (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Alleluia! sing to Jesus (Worship hymnal, #737)
Communion music:
- Responsory (7:30): He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood... (BMP) (PDF)
- Motet (all others): Ave Verum (Camille Saint-Saëns or Lorenzo Perosi, depending on availability of singers)
Hymn after Communion: Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All (Worship hymnal, #488)
Recessional hymn: Holy God, we praise thy Name (Worship hymnal, #524)

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
(Parish Patronal Feast)
Friday, VI-8, at 6:30 PM, with brass trio

Entrance hymn: O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine (on sheets provided)
Psalm (Isaiah 12: 2-6): R./ You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation (BMP) (PDF)
Alleluia "Pange Lingua" (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory anthem: Cor Jesu Trinitatis ("Gott Soll Gepriesen", alt.)
Communion motet: I cieli immensi (Marcello)
Benediction music: O Salutaris Hostia (Anthony Werner) and Tantum Ergo (Oreste Ravanello)
- Those who attend Marian devotions on Tuesdays in May and October will be very familiar with these two settings.
Recessional hymn: To Jesus' Heart, all-burning (on sheets provided)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Ascension, VII Easter, and Pentecost

Yes, we are fortunate to live in a diocese where the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ is still celebrated on the Thursday that is 40 days after Easter and is still a holy day of obligation.  Masses this Thursday are at 9 AM and 7 PM, both in the Church.
MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Ordinary of the Mass (all dates in this post): Cristo Risusciti (Picchi)

Ascension of the Lord
Thursday V-10 at 9 AM and 7 PM

Entrance hymn: Hail the day that sees him rise (Worship hymnal, #471)
Psalm 47: R./ God mounts his throne to shouts of joy, a blare of trumpets for the Lord (Kreutz/Gelineau)
Alleluia O Filii et Filiae (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Crown him with many crowns (Worship hymnal, #496)
Communion responsory: R./ They shall lay their hands upon the sick... (BMP) (PDF)
Post-Communion antiphon: Regina Caeli (Worship hymnal, #443, English/Latin)
Recessional hymn: Go, make of all disciples (Worship hymnal, #628)

Seventh Sunday of Easter
Saturday V-12 at 5 PM; Sunday V-13 at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM

Note: At the 7:30 Mass, as part of the entrance procession, the Blessed Virgin Mary will be crowned by our First Communion class.

Entrance hymn:
(7:30 only) Hail, holy Queen enthroned above (Worship hymnal, #702)
(all others) Hail the day that sees him rise (Worship hymnal, #471)
Psalm 103: R./ The Lord has set his throne in heaven (BMP; response adapted from "Lauda Anima") (PDF)
Alleluia O Filii et Filiae (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: A hymn of glory let us sing (Worship hymnal, #469)
- NOTE: Same tune as "Ye watchers and ye holy ones", which we sang last weekend.
Communion music:
(7:30 only) responsory: R./ Father, now I come to you, alleluia, alleluia (BMP) (PDF)
(all others) The above responsory, or a setting of Ave Maria, depending on singers' availability.
Post-Communion antiphon: Regina Caeli (Worship hymnal, #443, English/Latin)
Recessional hymn:
(7:30 only) Hail the day that sees him rise (Worship hymnal, #471)
(all others) Hail, holy Queen enthroned above (Worship hymnal, #702)
Pentecost (Whitsunday)
Saturday V-19 at 5 PM; Sunday V-20 at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM
Note: The brass trio (this time, two trumpets and a trombone) will be on hand for all Masses except 7:30.

Entrance hymn: Come, holy Ghost (Worship hymnal, #482)
Psalm 104: R./ Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth (music in missalette, page 102)
Sequence: Come, O Holy Spirit, come (music in missalette, page 104, in English)
Alleluia O Filii et Filiae (BMP) (PDF)
Offertory hymn: Fire of God, undying flame (Worship hymnal, #474)
Communion music:
(7:30 only) responsory: R./ All were filled with the Holy Spirit, alleluia, alleluia (BMP) (PDF)
(all others) hymn/motet: Veni, Creator Spiritus (Mode VIII/Ravanello)
- Feel free to join in the even-numbered verses, which are in the Worship hymnal at #479.
Post-Communion antiphon: Regina Caeli (Worship hymnal, #443, English/Latin)
Recessional hymn: Now thank we all our God (Worship hymnal, #560)

Quod scripsi, scripsi!
BMP