Agnus Dei

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A friend wrote me about this action during Mass: the music director said the Agnus Dei, rather than singing it. My friend feels strongly that if the Agnus Dei is not being sung, that it should be intoned by the priest.

I’ve researched and am all around it, but can’t put my finger on “yes” or “no.” Any help will be appreciated.
 
My guess, as a person involved in music ministry for many, many years, is that the music director had originally planned for the Agnus Dei to be sung, had a change of plans at the last minute, and was unable to get this information to the priest before Mass. The priest would have been expecting the Agnus Dei to be begun (singing) by the musician, so the musician began by speaking it instead. Purely a practical matter. Probably you’re reading more into it than there was at the time.

Betsy
 
Betsy,

Absolutely no slight to the music or music director. I don’t think I would have given it a second thought, but my friend is pretty convinced that it may be an error on the priest’s part. He did e-mail the priest and the priest replied that he didn’t know for sure and wanted my friend to research it and let him know. He’s not very internet savvy, so asked me for help. I can’t find anywhere that it specifically says the priest must intone the Agnus Dei if it is not sung.

Thanks for your information.

Samm
 
The priest should be the one to lead it. It isn’t required that he sing it.
 
The GIRM simply says:
The supplication Agnus Dei, is, as a rule, sung by the choir or cantor with the congregation responding; or it is, at least, recited aloud. (n. 83)

Meanwhile the Agnus Dei is sung or said by the choir and congregation. (n. 155)
The only use of the word “intone” is in n. 53: “The Gloria is intoned by the priest or, if appropriate, by a cantor or by the choir; but it is sung either by everyone together, or by the people alternately with the choir, or by the choir alone.”

So it doesn’t seem required that the priest intone the Agnus Dei (although in my parish, our pastor does intone it on weekdays).
 
Japhy,

I also found that in the GIRM. Thank you for confirming.

Samm
 
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