Cues for Music in E.F. Low-Mass

[NPC]

A few months ago I was roped-in to sing at an occasional E.F. Mass in my area. Given my own experience as a choir-director and organist, others in the group (which is very small - 3-5 people) now automatically assume that I am their director and in charge of the music!

Generally the music is quite good - chant mostly. However, one thing we never seem to get right is the “cut-off” points for the music - i.e. knowing when to stop! We seem to stop too early for the offertory - I can’t remember what we sang last time at the offertory, but we realised when we had stopped singing that we could have done another verse or two! Obviously the recessional hymn is not a problem, but I would be grateful if someone with more experience than I could give some ideas of cues from the altar as to when we should begin to finish up the entrance, offertory and Communion hymns. (I’m aware that we don’t need to fill every moment of silence with music, but I certainly would not like the music to go on longer than it should)

Thanks.

 

[greenmoira]

One of the best sources for liturgical music rubrics is: www.sanctamissa.org/en/music/

You will find everything you want to know about appropriate choir function during Mass. In answer to your question - the choir should conclude any Offertory hymns as the priest starts saying the “Secret”. If you’re not sure when that is, ask the priest for assistance.
God bless you in your musical ministry.

 

[corsair]

Our choir tried a couple of hymns at our Dominican low Mass, but it was nothing but a distraction so they asked us after Mass at coffee hour what everyone thought and we said, almost in unison, thank you but its better without music.

If a choir is going to sing the Mass, then put out the extra effort and do a Missa Cantata.
You can use the same website at Sancta Missa.org/en to find out how. But coordinate with the priest.

 

[NPC]

Our choir tried a couple of hymns at our Dominican low Mass, but it was nothing but a distraction so they asked us after Mass at coffee hour what everyone thought and we said, almost in unison, thank you but its better without music.

If a choir is going to sing the Mass, then put out the extra effort and do a Missa Cantata.
You can use the same website at Sancta Missa.org/en to find out how. But coordinate with the priest.

Thank you & thanks to Greenmoira too. I am a frequent visitor to SanctaMissa, but I don’t think it gives the info I’m looking for, but I’ll check soon.

I would love to do a Missa Cantata - as a professional church musician, it’s not something which would be beyond me musically. However, the problem is the frequency and unpredictability of the Mass - most Irish dioceses have been very slow to comply with Summorum Pontificum, and my diocese is one of them! The Latin Mass Society organises a Mass in my diocese every two months or so - the celebrant has always been from outside the diocese (usually FSSP or ICRSS). So because of these factors, it is not easy to plan for a Missa Cantata…The church isn’t particularly suited to the E.F. (though it suffices) - I imagine the organisers would even have to bring their own candles for the altar, if any more than the usual two were required!

The music which we have provided at the Low-Masses (I’ve been involved in the past three) has been well received: the priests have been very appreciative, as have the people I spoke to afterwards…It’s always very tasteful music - chant mostly & in keeping with the liturgical season. The church is rather small, so our usual group of 3-4 people is plenty to ensure that the music isn’t too intrusive while serving the function that sacred music is supposed to serve. Perhaps in time to come, if we got a regular E.F. Holy Mass we could focus on a Missa Cantata and leave the Low-Masses without music, but that will be some way off, I suspect.

 

[IntegraCatholic]

For the offertory, after the priest washes his hands and returns to the center of the altar, after a prayer he will turn around to say the Orate fratres, making a full circle to turn back to the altar, when the server will say the Suscipiat. From the time the priest turns towards you, you have about 15 seconds before he will finish the secret, depending upon how well he knows Latin and how long the secret for the day is.

You can also sing after the priest says the Sanctus until the Consecration. That is easy because there is the bell at the Hanc igitur.

You can also sing after the consecration until the Pater. This is more difficult to judge, unless they ring a bell at the minor elevation, especially because certain priests say the canon much faster or much slower than others. On average, it should take about 75 - 90 seconds, though most priests will probably take longer. The best cue is that the priest will genuflect just before he says the Per ipsum, which takes about 10 seconds. He will genuflect again, and then he is ready for the Pater, so you should be finished by then.

Once the priest says the Agnus Dei you can sing, but when holy Communion is distributed during Mass, you’re probably better off just waiting till after the Ecce Agnus Dei. Once the last Domine, non sum signus has been said for the Communion of the Faithful, you can sing until the priest reads the Communion antiphon. You can keep singing until the priest has completely built the chalice after the purifications, transfer of the missal, etc. You will probably see one of the servers handing him the chalice veil, which is a good point to wrap up.

 

[corsair]

Our group bought a few items; an Altar crucifix and a set of candlessticks (knockoffs of a nice design) and a few other items. This is for our Dominican low Mass. The Altar crucifix and the Sanctus candle holders don’t match but from a distance you can’t tell.

Just tried to up load a picture. Yep, it worked.

 

[corsair]

A couple of our men folk built the short (8foot) communion rail. You’ll notice that we have the “free standing” Altar. We moved it back under the mensa once for a Requiem Mass. The local NO priest about flipped but didn’t say anything until after the Mass. And then he was pretty gracious abou it. He made us promise not to move it again. Which we did. So we are still in business two years later. But we have a new priest coming in. We all hope and pray he is as Trad friendly as this past priest.

 

[NPC]

Our group bought a few items; an Altar crucifix and a set of candlessticks (knockoffs of a nice design) and a few other items. This is for our Dominican low Mass. The Altar crucifix and the Sanctus candle holders don’t match but from a distance you can’t tell.

Just tried to up load a picture. Yep, it worked.

It looks very nice - well done to all involved!

I know of one diocese in Ireland where the bishop was reprimanded by the Holy See for not heeding the requests for a regular E.F. Mass - so, acting in accordance with Summorum Pontificum, the people involved brought the matter to Rome and Rome was not happy! They now have a regular E.F. Mass in a set location - which is what my diocese needs, so maybe Rome will be the next step…

 

[NPC]

For the offertory, after the priest washes his hands and returns to the center of the altar, after a prayer he will turn around to say the Orate fratres, making a full circle to turn back to the altar, when the server will say the Suscipiat. From the time the priest turns towards you, you have about 15 seconds before he will finish the secret, depending upon how well he knows Latin and how long the secret for the day is.

You can also sing after the priest says the Sanctus until the Consecration. That is easy because there is the bell at the Hanc igitur.

You can also sing after the consecration until the Pater. This is more difficult to judge, unless they ring a bell at the minor elevation, especially because certain priests say the canon much faster or much slower than others. On average, it should take about 75 - 90 seconds, though most priests will probably take longer. The best cue is that the priest will genuflect just before he says the Per ipsum, which takes about 10 seconds. He will genuflect again, and then he is ready for the Pater, so you should be finished by then.

Once the priest says the Agnus Dei you can sing, but when holy Communion is distributed during Mass, you’re probably better off just waiting till after the Ecce Agnus Dei. Once the last Domine, non sum signus has been said for the Communion of the Faithful, you can sing until the priest reads the Communion antiphon. You can keep singing until the priest has completely built the chalice after the purifications, transfer of the missal, etc. You will probably see one of the servers handing him the chalice veil, which is a good point to wrap up.

Thanks for that information; it will be very useful.