Mass settings

[stephraim]

I’m a composer desiring desperately to set the order of mass. I would really like to know how much of the mass may be sung, and how much must be recited. For instance, are the words of consecration allowed to be sung. I compose in a style similar to Arvo Pärt, so it’s very much a plainchant. I would like to set as much of the mass to music as possible. Could anyone help me? Also, where can I find the text of the Mass of Paul VI in Latin? Thanks.

 

[benedictgal]

I’m a composer desiring desperately to set the order of mass. I would really like to know how much of the mass may be sung, and how much must be recited. For instance, are the words of consecration allowed to be sung. I compose in a style similar to Arvo Pärt, so it’s very much a plainchant. I would like to set as much of the mass to music as possible. Could anyone help me? Also, where can I find the text of the Mass of Paul VI in Latin? Thanks.

I would actually start working off the new translations, since whatever you write using the current form will be obsolete in two to three years. You can go to

usccb.org/liturgy/missalformation/index.shtml

to get the new texts that have just received the recogitio from the Holy See. In fact, the Holy See decided to release these texts now so that composers, such as yourself, can get a jump on setting them to music. One thing to remembr, though, paraphrasing of the texts is not allowed.

You might want to get hold of the Daily Roman Missal by Scepter Press. They have the Latin Mass parts on one side of the book and the corresponding English ones on the other.

 

[stephraim]

Thanks. Good info.

 

[LilyM]

I don’t think there’s anything in the Mass - up to and including the words of consecration - that can’t be sung or at least chanted.

 

[FrDavid96]

I’m a composer desiring desperately to set the order of mass. I would really like to know how much of the mass may be sung, and how much must be recited. For instance, are the words of consecration allowed to be sung. I compose in a style similar to Arvo Pärt, so it’s very much a plainchant. I would like to set as much of the mass to music as possible. Could anyone help me? Also, where can I find the text of the Mass of Paul VI in Latin? Thanks.

Here’s a good list of resources:
adoremus.org/Actionsofholysee.html

Musicam Sacram Instruction from the Cong. for Rites
adoremus.org/MusicamSacram.html
addresses exactly the questions you posted here

Hope that helps.

 

[stephraim]

Thank you all for your help.

 

[Aramis]

I’m a composer desiring desperately to set the order of mass. I would really like to know how much of the mass may be sung, and how much must be recited. For instance, are the words of consecration allowed to be sung. I compose in a style similar to Arvo Pärt, so it’s very much a plainchant. I would like to set as much of the mass to music as possible. Could anyone help me? Also, where can I find the text of the Mass of Paul VI in Latin? Thanks.

quite literally, ALL of it may be sung, tho’ most of it should be fairly simple and chant-like, and the priestly parts should be exclusively single voice, and scored such that a Baritone, Tenor 2, or bass 1 can sing it. Use a Tenor (Treble 8vb) clef, and keep it C-C, and mostly E-A, and the range won’t be much issue.

Start with the major corporate elements: The Sanctus, Gloria, Credo, Great Amen, confeitor, a psalmody tone (or several), and build out. Adapt your basic melodic meme to EP I, and then from there, to the other EP’s II-IV.

Keep in mind, the EP should be singable sans accompaniment.

 

[stephraim]

Wow! Thanks to all of you. I’ve only studied scores from the great composers, so I’ve just mostly seen the parts of the Order of Mass. I finally bought a Graduale Romanum and a Gregorian Missal, so this is incredible information. Hopefully, it’ll be amazing. May he Paraclete come and inspire. Thanks. Grace and peace to all of you!

 

[Sarabande]

You’ve got a lot of good advice already, but just wanted to say it’s cool that you are composing in a plainchant style. My husband and I own about 3 or 4 of Arvo Part’s cds. He really loves those “clouds of sound”, which can be very haunting and beautiful. One we have that I’ve listened to more than his other ones is “Litany”.

As benedictgal mentioned, work with the new translations. And as long as the music will be simple for the priest to learn (which I’m guessing it will be since you are doing it in a plainchant style) the words to the consecration can be sung/chanted. I’ve actually attended a mass once where the priest loved to sing and he chanted practically everything - and he was a pretty decent.