Are preludes and postludes part of the mass?

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Is a prelude part of the mass? Is a postlude part of the mass?

And whatever the answer, could you please include the “authority”?

Thanks to you all.
 
mcmitton said:
Is a prelude part of the mass? Is a postlude part of the mass?

And whatever the answer, could you please include the “authority”?

Thanks to you all.
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The Mass begins when the Entrance Chant begins. It ends after Deo gratias. in the Concluding Rites.
 
That is my understanding as well. Thanks for the confirmation.

mc
 
Mind you, if there’s a closing hymn for the clergy to process out to, it seems only manners to wait until it is finished. Yes, Mass is technically over, but in my opinion, it is rude to leave the church while the last hymn is being sung.
 
mcmitton said:
That is my understanding as well. Thanks for the confirmation.

mc
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Okay, but you asked about preludes and postludes. My understanding is that preludes are played several minutes before Mass time and opening hymn and that postludes follow the Mass and/or closing hymn. At least they’re listed that way on some Mass programs.
 
JGMendes4049 said:
The Mass begins when the Entrance Chant begins. It ends after Deo gratias. in the Concluding Rites.
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I thought it technically begins when the priest makes the sign of the cross, as the prayers at the foot of the altar and the Asperges Me are not part of the Mass.
 
mcmitton said:
Is a prelude part of the mass? Is a postlude part of the mass?

And whatever the answer, could you please include the “authority”?

Thanks to you all.
Click to expand...
I hope you don’t mind if I ask why you are inquiring about this.

I play piano, and I’m trying (with little success) to learn to play the pipe organ. I usually play a prelude and postlude (on piano) when I play for a Mass. I do not play these pieces during Advent or Lent, because they are not supposed to be played during these times.

That’s why I’m interested in why you are asking–this question directly affects me personally. 🙂

Thanks.

BTW, my understanding is the same as Deo Gratias42–Mass begins when the priest gives the Sign of the Cross, and it ends when the priest says, “Mass is ended.” So my understanding is that both my prelude and postlude are NOT part of Mass.

Is this correct? (It’s what I’ve been told by our priests and other teachers.)

What I try to do is play a quiet prelude that encourages the congregation to prepare themselves to worship the Lord by quieting their hearts, praying, examining themselves to see if they are in a state of grace, etc.

As for my postlude, I usually play something that is more joyful, something that will encourage the people to leave the Mass and live out their faith in their own circle.

I always try to choose pieces that are appropriate for the day of the Church calendar. E.g., on the Feast of Christ the King, I will choose a song like 'O Worship the King" for a prelude, and a song like “Praise Ye The Lord The Almighty” for a postlude.

The only music I have is “Protestant” music, arrangements of various traditional hymns. I would not choose a Protestant hymn that was contrary to Catholic teaching, although from what I can see, most of the traditional Protestant hymns are very “Catholic,” and many of them were Catholic before they were Protestant. But I’m careful about playing some of the “Gospel” traditional hymns. I will play Fanny Crosby hymns occasionally. Also, I absolutely love the song, “My Jesus I Love Thee,” which was written by a teenager, and which sounds like a very Catholic hymn IMHO! But most Catholics don’t know it. Here is a link to the words if you are interested: angelfire.com/wa/RussellWorld/Jesus.html

I have played a piece on the organ for Prelude, but I’m still so shaky on this instrument (after six months of lessons) that I think it could be distracting for the congregation if I make some dreadful mistake in the piece. I have several beautiful Catholic hymns (ancient pieces, like Te Deum) that I have tried to learn on the organ, but again, I’m really bad at it and don’t want to inflict my lack of skill on an innocent congregation! Hopefully soon I can get to a place where I can play the organ in front of people.
 
I too am a pianist by heart, and struggling to play organ well enough to play at mass. We have a Roland stage piano for instrumentation at my home church and a venerable Conn organ at our sister church that also has a Clavinova…

My question more fully should have been phrased:

“May one play a prelude and/or a postlude during Lent?”

I understand that during the mass, instrumentation may only be used to support singing. It’s the before and after the Mass that concern me.

I would intend to play appropriate themes for the season, very quietly and simply, meditative in nature - no ruffles nor flourishes, if on the organ - no bells, whistles, brass, etc.
 
mcmitton said:
I too am a pianist by heart, and struggling to play organ well enough to play at mass. We have a Roland stage piano for instrumentation at my home church and a venerable Conn organ at our sister church that also has a Clavinova…

My question more fully should have been phrased:

“May one play a prelude and/or a postlude during Lent?”

I understand that during the mass, instrumentation may only be used to support singing. It’s the before and after the Mass that concern me.

I would intend to play appropriate themes for the season, very quietly and simply, meditative in nature - no ruffles nor flourishes, if on the organ - no bells, whistles, brass, etc.
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My understanding is that outside of Laetare Sunday, the organ is not to be played (or at least limited) during Mass in Lent. As a closing hymn or nonvocal postlude, it’s acceptable.

A possible exception too is Palm Sunday where the organ can be played during the long procession. Such as accompaniment to “All Glory, Praise, and Honor,” for example.
 
Deo_Gratias42 said:
I thought it technically begins when the priest makes the sign of the cross, as the prayers at the foot of the altar and the Asperges Me are not part of the Mass.
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It is interesting that sometimes the choir will sing the Introit during the procession at a Sung Mass before the prayers at the foot of the altar. I’m not sure if technically that counts as part of the Mass.
 
mcmitton said:
I too am a pianist by heart, and struggling to play organ well enough to play at mass. We have a Roland stage piano for instrumentation at my home church and a venerable Conn organ at our sister church that also has a Clavinova…

My question more fully should have been phrased:

“May one play a prelude and/or a postlude during Lent?”

I understand that during the mass, instrumentation may only be used to support singing. It’s the before and after the Mass that concern me.

I would intend to play appropriate themes for the season, very quietly and simply, meditative in nature - no ruffles nor flourishes, if on the organ - no bells, whistles, brass, etc.
Click to expand...
I seem to remember being told by the liturgical director at my parish that a prelude or postlude is NOT to be played during Lent.

I hope this answer is helpful. The best thing to do is ask your parish music director or litugical director.
 
The ordinary form of the Mass begins with the introit, but the trickey thing is that that only applies if the actual introit is sung from the Graduale Romanum (or the Simplex). Otherwise, it begins at the sign of the cross. There’s a simple reason behind this: the propers are prayers of the Mass. The priest has the missal, the lector has the lectionary, and the choir has the graduale. All of them contain the texts of the Mass. But when hymns are sung, they are simply filler music (for lack of better words), and they are not really a part of the Mass.

Sing the Mass, don’t sing at Mass (except maybe after communion if your parish exercises GIRM 86 :p)
 
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