Mass parts EWTN

[clem456]

I am grateful for EWTN but there is something that drives me a little nuts.

The Kyrie and Agnus Dei are almost impossible to follow musically. The musical line meanders about so much that it is difficult to listen to and/or sing.
I wonder where these variations come from. It seems that simplicity would go a long way towards keeping a listener engaged with the Mass.

 

[porthos11]

I am grateful for EWTN but there is something that drives me a little nuts.

The Kyrie and Agnus Dei are almost impossible to follow musically. The musical line meanders about so much that it is difficult to listen to and/or sing.
I wonder where these variations come from. It seems that simplicity would go a long way towards keeping a listener engaged with the Mass.

It depends. EWTN’s chants can range from the extremely simple (e.g. the Jubilate Deo composite) to the elaborate, usually in celebrations with increased solemnity. Not knowing which Mass you saw or have in mind, we can’t really comment.

But generally speaking, the various chant settings are from an official book called the Kyriale, and they range from simple such as Mass XVI Feriale to moderate (e.g. Mass XI Orbis Factor) to elaborate (e.g. Missa II Kyrie fons bonitatis). All in all, there are 18 Kyriale Mass settings, plus some “ad libitum” chants.

A link is here media.musicasacra.com/pdf/kyriale-solesmes.pdf. The Kyriale didn’t change with the reforms after the Second Vatican Council, excepting the way the Kyrie is sung (six-fold vs. the older nine-fold).

I haven’t found the chants on EWTN especially difficult, although they probably make exceptions depending on the celebration. My main complaint with their male cantor is that he sings with a vibrato, which isn’t really supposed to be used in chant.

 

[Memaw]

I am grateful for EWTN but there is something that drives me a little nuts.

The Kyrie and Agnus Dei are almost impossible to follow musically. The musical line meanders about so much that it is difficult to listen to and/or sing.
I wonder where these variations come from. It seems that simplicity would go a long way towards keeping a listener engaged with the Mass.

I agree, I never watch the Mass except to listen to Fr. Pacwa’s Homily. God Bless, Memaw

 

[fan312]

I am grateful for EWTN but there is something that drives me a little nuts.

The Kyrie and Agnus Dei are almost impossible to follow musically. The musical line meanders about so much that it is difficult to listen to and/or sing.
I wonder where these variations come from. It seems that simplicity would go a long way towards keeping a listener engaged with the Mass.

After watching EWTN’s Mass for a couple years now, I’ve certainly gotten used to it.

 

[victrolatim]

I can certainly see how this can be bothersome if one is not used to more florid chants. The different Mass settings in the Kyriale correspond to different seasons or types of feasts, which is why they will periodically change. I assume EWTN does this. I’ve sung chant for some years now, but coming from a background where music is more melodic/metrical instead of based on figures and ornaments it takes some getting used to.