Music leaders, show us your song list - NEW!!

[pnewton]

I do feel passionately about this issue, and sometimes things do not come across in print the way I would have a dialogue with someone in person.

Then hopefully we will get to discuss this elsewhere at another time. It never costs anything to start a new thread. You can also search through and find several already on the subject, some even mentioning composters by name.

My current project is similar to yours, and as such it is why I am not going to begin to try antiphons yet. My priest wants to incorporate more Latin in our bilingual services, including an all Latin Mass on Holy Thursday. My project between now and then, if I am able is to learn and teach the Latin responses for the whole Mass. Two years ago we started using Pater Noster, so I know what a challenge this is.

 

[agp2176]

This week at Jolly Old St Nicks:

Entrance: Sing a New Song
Offertory: Christ be Our Light
Communion: See Us Lord About Your Altar
Dismissal: Sent forth by God’s Blessing

We will also sing the Croatian Marian hymn"Ljepa Si" which translated means “Beautiful Lady”.

As our congregation is mostly middle aged and up, it is a challenge to get them to participate musically. Therefore I have to stick by the book and make it simple. In doing so, I see more participation. Under our previous administrator, who had a ‘professional’ musician choosing the hymns. the people sat like lumps because he didn’t use hymns in our missalette and and tended to make it a bit showy. While I don’t get 100% participation either (what leader does), I see more people joining in, and in turn they are more open to learning hymns in our missalette that we haven’t done before, particularly if the melodies are simpler.

BTW – we use Word and Song. Its not the greatest, but it suffices

God bless

Tony

 

[pnewton]

As our congregation is mostly middle aged and up, it is a challenge to get them to participate musically. Therefore I have to stick by the book and make it simple. In doing so, I see more participation. Under our previous administrator, who had a ‘professional’ musician choosing the hymns. the people sat like lumps because he didn’t use hymns in our missalette and and tended to make it a bit showy.

I faced a lot of the same issues when I started a while back. Your priorities reflect my own in the selection of music. It is one of the reason I only very slowly add new pieces and limit my rotation to between one hundred and one hundred and fifty hymns. It sounds like a lot, but when you consider how many are seasonal, most of the songs are known by most of the people.

Now here is the hold on to your hat part. I have been working this last year trying to find a Latin Mass setting and a way to implement it. Our priest said this Holy Thursday that he was going to go to a Latin Mass on all the bilinugual Masses. He said that we didn’t have to have all the response in Latin, but neither did he object. So my project for the year, especially during Lent, will be to phase in a Latin Mass setting. Since we haven’t added a new setting in eight years, I am not exactly being radical. At this point, I have it all down but the Gloria. Now to sell it.

 

[benedictgal]

I faced a lot of the same issues when I started a while back. Your priorities reflect my own in the selection of music. It is one of the reason I only very slowly add new pieces and limit my rotation to between one hundred and one hundred and fifty hymns. It sounds like a lot, but when you consider how many are seasonal, most of the songs are known by most of the people.

Now here is the hold on to your hat part. I have been working this last year trying to find a Latin Mass setting and a way to implement it. Our priest said this Holy Thursday that he was going to go to a Latin Mass on all the bilinugual Masses. He said that we didn’t have to have all the response in Latin, but neither did he object. So my project for the year, especially during Lent, will be to phase in a Latin Mass setting. Since we haven’t added a new setting in eight years, I am not exactly being radical. At this point, I have it all down but the Gloria. Now to sell it.

Actually, the recommendation for the use of Latin comes from no less than Pope Benedict XVI. He made this recommendation in Sacramentum Caritatis:

The Latin language

1. None of the above observations should cast doubt upon the importance of such large-scale liturgies. I am thinking here particularly of celebrations at international gatherings, which nowadays are held with greater frequency. The most should be made of these occasions. In order to express more clearly the unity and universality of the Church, I wish to endorse the proposal made by the Synod of Bishops, in harmony with the directives of the Second Vatican Council, (182) that, with the exception of the readings, the homily and the prayer of the faithful, it is fitting that such liturgies be celebrated in Latin. Similarly, the better-known prayers (183) of the Church’s tradition should be recited in Latin and, if possible, selections of Gregorian chant should be sung. Speaking more generally, I ask that future priests, from their time in the seminary, receive the preparation needed to understand and to celebrate Mass in Latin, and also to use Latin texts and execute Gregorian chant; nor should we forget that the faithful can be taught to recite the more common prayers in Latin, and also to sing parts of the liturgy to Gregorian chant. (184)

A priest I know decided that in bilingual Masses that he celebrates, he would be having the faithful do simple chants in Latin.

 

[agp2176]

For those like me, trying to achieve maximum participation, I thought it might be interesting to post a follow up as to how things went. So, here’s how it went at St Nick’s.

Entrance: Sing a New Song
–almost everyone joined in

Responsorial Psalm: Your words Lord are spirit and Life (Haugen)
This one was a little more difficult than some, but it looked like better than half of the people joined in. I was surprised

Gospel Alleluia: 100% participation near as I could tell

I should note that we always use the responsorial and alleluia as found in Word and Song so everyone has it in front of them

Offertory: Christ be Our Light
–a bit disappointing here. The congregation knows this one, and should have all joined in, but it looked like very few did. I always have a problem with the offertory hymn because unless its just right people seem to treat it almost as if it was an intermission or scene change in a play. You know – here’s a bit of background music to amuse you – we’ll be back in a minute.

Communion: See Us Lord About Your Altar
–maybe a mistake here as it was not a really familiar tune, so people couldn’t sing along as they were going forth for communion. I find that if I do chose something very familiar people do sing along without there missalettes in hand as they go forward to receive.

Dismissal: Sent forth by God’s Blessing
–good choice here. Everyone joined in

The Croatian hymn that I sang, Ljepa Si almost always gets everyone who knows it to join in. Good part there is that they generally don’t have the words in front of them!

How’d it go for everyone else?

God bless

Tony

 

[CatholicZ09]

These are the songs my organist picked out for Mass today:

Sunday, January 24, 2010 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Processional Hymn: #201 Praise to the Lord
Preparation of the Gifts: #586 Your Words are Spirit and Life
Communion Hymn: #534 Age to Age
Recessional Hymn: #592 They’ll Know We are Christians

Liked the songs today. I like “Praise to the Lord” because of it’s simple, yet beautiful melody. I was always sort of in the middle about “Your Words are Spirit and Life” because it’s one of those newer songs that make you feel like: “Eh, this is okay.” But, I kind of like it now. I like “Age to Age” because of its beautiful melody. The verses can be a little difficult if you can’t read music, though. I never really thought too much about “They’ll Know We are Christians” because I haven’t really heard it played/sung at Mass, so I kind of ignored it. After hearing it today, I like it. I saw mentioned on here before that not a lot of you like “They’ll Know We are Christians”, but it’s a nice hymn in my opinion. On another note with “Praise to the Lord”, is when used for a processional, I like the “Come all who hear, now to his altar draw near…” little phrase because we’re drawing near to the altar of the Lord at the processional. I just like that for some reason.

As in assembly participation, I was disappointed on some. I thought most people would know “Praise to the Lord”, and surely, I know my music director would know that, but not a lot joined in. “Your Words Are Spirit and Life”, I wasn’t surprised. The verses are kind of difficult if you can’t read music, and it’s realtively new. “Age to Age” I wasn’t that surprised either. Most people don’t sing going up for Communion, and if it’s something they don’t know, they won’t. The verses are difficult for non-music readers. “They’ll Know We Are Christians”, I was surprised. My director hasn’t used this song in 3 years, but most joined in.

What I have planned for next week:

Sunday, January 31, 2010 - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

Processional Hymn: #303 What Is This Place
Preparation of the Gifts: #680 Where Love Is Found
Communion Hymn: #311 Gather Us Together
Recessional Hymn: #600 Lord Whose Love In Humble Service

 

[hosea]

This week at Jolly Old St Nicks:

Entrance: Sing a New Song
Offertory: Christ be Our Light
Communion: See Us Lord About Your Altar
Dismissal: Sent forth by God’s Blessing

We will also sing the Croatian Marian hymn"Ljepa Si" which translated means “Beautiful Lady”.

As our congregation is mostly middle aged and up, it is a challenge to get them to participate musically. Therefore I have to stick by the book and make it simple. In doing so, I see more participation. Under our previous administrator, who had a ‘professional’ musician choosing the hymns. the people sat like lumps because he didn’t use hymns in our missalette and and tended to make it a bit showy. While I don’t get 100% participation either (what leader does), I see more people joining in, and in turn they are more open to learning hymns in our missalette that we haven’t done before, particularly if the melodies are simpler.

BTW – we use Word and Song. Its not the greatest, but it suffices

God bless

Tony

Very nice reply. I think it is critical for song leaders to use the music in the hymnals/missalettes provided by their parishes. It shows a continuity between the leaders who authorize the purchase of the books and those who lead the music written in them. It bothers me to see thousands of dollars of hard-backed books sitting in the pews while the people struggle with words-only song sheets. Thank you for bringing that up.
This thread is still pretty wonderful.
peace,
h

 

[iblessem]

I direct the youth group music at the Sunday evening youth mass. We use Spirit & Song from OCP. We have a freshman piano player, two guitars[sometimes more] an electric bass player, a mandolin player, oboe[sometimes] percussion [sometimes] and several high school and college vocalists. I have fun being around the young people, they are talented and I have seen some really grow in spiritual awareness of the sacredness of the Holy Mass, but it can be edgy sometimes. Most of them are much more mature than I was in high school or college so I don’t judge, just set an example, lead and mostly pray!

The Third Millennium Youth Group Singers

3rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 1/24/2010…CPC #611

Prelude: PRACTICE MASS PARTS/HE HAS ANOINTED ME-[JESUITS]

Gathering: SS #73 COME, WORSHIP THE LORD

Gloria: SS #20 GLORY TO GOD

Resp.Psalm: SS #56 YOUR WORDS ARE SPIRIT AND LIFE [PS.19]

Preparation: SS #197 OUR GOD REIGNS

Mass of Joyful Heart

Lord’s Prayer: George’s*

Communion: SS#153 I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE & SS 196 OPEN MY EYES

Recessional: SS #143 WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD*

 

[benedictgal]

Regarding my previous post concerning the Responsorial Psalm, here are the resources from the GIRM and the General Introduction to the Lectionary.

This is what the GIRM states:

1. After the first reading comes the responsorial Psalm, which is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word and holds great liturgical and pastoral importance, because it fosters meditation on the word of God.

The responsorial Psalm should correspond to each reading and should, as a rule, be taken from the Lectionary.

It is preferable that the responsorial Psalm be sung, at least as far as the people’s response is concerned. Hence, the psalmist, or the cantor of the Psalm, sings the verses of the Psalm from the ambo or another suitable place. The entire congregation remains seated and listens but, as a rule, takes part by singing the response, except when the Psalm is sung straight through without a response. In order, however, that the people may be able to sing the Psalm response more readily, texts of some responses and Psalms have been chosen for the various seasons of the year or for the various categories of Saints. These may be used in place of the text corresponding to the reading whenever the Psalm is sung. If the Psalm cannot be sung, then it should be recited in such a way that it is particularly suited to fostering meditation on the word of God.

In the dioceses of the United States of America, the following may also be sung in place of the Psalm assigned in the Lectionary for Mass: either the proper or seasonal antiphon and Psalm from the Lectionary, as found either in the Roman Gradual or Simple Gradual or in another musical setting; or an antiphon and Psalm from another collection of the psalms and antiphons, including psalms arranged in metrical form, providing that they have been approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop. Songs or hymns may not be used in place of the responsorial Psalm.

Thus, there are parameters regarding the kinds of setting that may be used for the psalm. Furthermore, the text has to match what it is in the Lectionary.

Now, here is what the General Introduction to the Lectionary says:

b) The Responsorial Psalm

1. The responsorial psalm, also called the gradual, has great liturgical and pastoral significance because it is an "integral part of the liturgy of the word."36 Accordingly, the faithful must be continually instructed on the way to perceive the word of God speaking in the psalms and to turn these psalms into the prayer of the Church. This, of course, "will be achieved more readily if a deeper understanding of the psalms, according to the meaning with which they are sung in the sacred Liturgy, is more diligently promoted among the clergy and communicated to all the faithful by means of appropriate catechesis."37

Brief remarks about the choice of the psalm and response as well as their correspondence to the readings may be helpful.

1. As a rule the responsorial psalm should be sung. There are two established ways of singing the psalm after the first reading: responsorially and directly. In responsorial singing, which, as far as possible, is to be given preference, the psalmist, or cantor of the psalm, sings the psalm verse and the whole congregation joins in by singing the response. In direct singing of the psalm there is no intervening response by the community; either the psalmist, or cantor of the psalm, sings the psalm alone as the community listens or else all sing it together.

1. The singing of the psalm, or even of the response alone, is a great help toward understanding and meditating on the psalm’s spiritual meaning.

To foster the congregation’s singing, every means available in each individual culture is to be employed. In particular, use is to be made of all the relevant options provided in the Order of Readings for Mass38 regarding responses corresponding to the different liturgical seasons.

1. When not sung, the psalm after the reading is to be recited in a manner conducive to meditation on the word of God.39 The responsorial psalm is sung or recited by the psalmist or cantor at the ambo.40

I hope this helps.

 

[benedictgal]

Very nice reply. I think it is critical for song leaders to use the music in the hymnals/missalettes provided by their parishes. It shows a continuity between the leaders who authorize the purchase of the books and those who lead the music written in them. It bothers me to see thousands of dollars of hard-backed books sitting in the pews while the people struggle with words-only song sheets. Thank you for bringing that up.
This thread is still pretty wonderful.
peace,
h

But, there are many occasions when one finds a song that is quite suitable and a lot better than what the parish has. In our case, we are looking for a version of the Gloria that is not responsorial and can be sung straight through (with the official texts, of course). OCP does not have one that is suitable. GIA, on the other hand, has two: A New Mass for a Congregation and A Community Mass.

What we are going to have to do is order the organ accompanyment and sheet music for the choir so that they can learn. Luckily, these were Glorias that the parish used to sing before we got stuck with OCP.

In this case, ordering sheet music for both the organ and the choir is cost-effective, given the fact that in December, everything is going to change, thanks to the new translations!

I suspect, hosea, that since you are using the hard-bound copy of Journeysongs (I think it only comes in a hard-bound edition), you will probably have to buy new hymnals since these will have the new translations of the parts of the Mass.

 

[pnewton]

Our hymnal has some blank pages in the back. I have seen in other Churches, and maintain the option for my own parish, to add hymns or Mass parts that we will be using more than once or twice. It is one of the options I am considering for Jubilate Deo.

 

[iblessem]

JUST FINISHED FOR THOSE USING OCP SPIRIT & SONG

The Third Millennium Youth Group Singers

4th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 1/31/2010…READINGS CPC #614

Prelude: PRACTICE MASS PARTS/HE HAS ANOINTED ME-[JESUITS]

Gathering: SS #103 CELEBRATE YOUTH

Gloria: SS #20 GLORY TO GOD

Resp.Psalm: RESP. & ACCLAIM PP 36-37

Preparation: SS #204 STRENGHT FOR THE JOURNEY

Mass of Joyful Heart

Lord’s Prayer: George’s

Communion: SS #196 OPEN MY EYES & SS #119 I WILL CHOOSE CHRIST

Recessional: SS #143 WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

 

[agp2176]

This week at jolly old St Nicks

Entrance: Open Wide the Doors to Christ
Offertory: How Can I Keep from Singing
Communion: The Summons
Dismissal:Go to the World

My choices are based upon a general them in today’s readings of the loving call to being a disciple which in turn shows forth that love to all.

God bless

Tony

 

[CatholicZ09]

This is what I have for next week:

Sunday, February 7, 2010 - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

Processional Hymn: #214 Holy, Holy, Holy
Preparation of the Gifts: #377 The Summons
Communion Hymn: #519 Lord, You Have Come
Recessional Hymn: #199 Holy God, We Praise Thy Name

 

[benedictgal]

I am dreading going to Mass next week because “Lord, You have Come/Pescador de Hombres” will rear its ugly head again. Maybe, I can talk our music director into not using that song.

This has got to be one of the worst songs. Unfortunately, it is also the most used down here. People use it every day for daily Mass, for weddings, for funerals and everything else. It got to the point that my parochial vicar finally put a stop to it and had us reciting the antiphons for communion.

“Lord, you have come” is not a Communion hymn. It is centerd on “me” and “my” reaction. If one were to use it, either move it to the entrance, the offertory or the recessional. Instead, I would use “Draw Us In the Spirit’s Tether”, “Shepherd of Souls”, “O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts”, “At That First Eucharist” or find the setting to the Communion antiphon. Furthermore, not all of the Apostles were fishermen, just the first four. One was a tax collector and another was a zealot. Of course, there aren’t any hymns extolling the virtues of tax collectors, though (at least, not this time of year). .

I do not mean to sound negative, but, after having heard this song on a daily basis, it is time for it to go.

This is what I have chosen in the past:

Entrance: God, We Praise You (includes the Apostles)
Offertory: Father, We Thank Thee Who Hs Planted
Communion: Shepherd of Souls (ultimately, the Apostles are shepherds; read the prefaces to their feasts)
Recessional: Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service or Go Make of All Disciples

Only two and a half weeks to go for Lent! Yeehaw! I cannot wait to listen to Attenede Domine!

 

[CatholicZ09]

I am dreading going to Mass next week because “Lord, You have Come/Pescador de Hombres” will rear its ugly head again. Maybe, I can talk our music director into not using that song.

This has got to be one of the worst songs. Unfortunately, it is also the most used down here. People use it every day for daily Mass, for weddings, for funerals and everything else. It got to the point that my parochial vicar finally put a stop to it and had us reciting the antiphons for communion.

“Lord, you have come” is not a Communion hymn. It is centerd on “me” and “my” reaction. If one were to use it, either move it to the entrance, the offertory or the recessional. Instead, I would use “Draw Us In the Spirit’s Tether”, “Shepherd of Souls”, “O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts”, “At That First Eucharist” or find the setting to the Communion antiphon. Furthermore, not all of the Apostles were fishermen, just the first four. One was a tax collector and another was a zealot. Of course, there aren’t any hymns extolling the virtues of tax collectors, though (at least, not this time of year). .

I do not mean to sound negative, but, after having heard this song on a daily basis, it is time for it to go.

This is what I have chosen in the past:

Entrance: God, We Praise You (includes the Apostles)
Offertory: Father, We Thank Thee Who Hs Planted
Communion: Shepherd of Souls (ultimately, the Apostles are shepherds; read the prefaces to their feasts)
Recessional: Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service or Go Make of All Disciples

Only two and a half weeks to go for Lent! Yeehaw! I cannot wait to listen to Attenede Domine!

I can understand that. Oh, and your side note on Lent, the Sunday before at my church (which would be February 14 this year), we usually sing the Alleluia-oriented hymns. It’s a good time for many traditional hymns to show their faces around here.

 

[pnewton]

Only two and a half weeks to go for Lent! Yeehaw! I cannot wait to listen to Attenede Domine!

I would too, but I gave up Attende Domine for Lent.

 

[CatholicZ09]

This is what my music director picked for today:

Sunday, January 31, 2010 - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Processional Hymn: #201 Praise to the Lord
Preparation of the Gifts: #680 Where Love is Found
Communion Hymn: #483 Our Hope is in the Lord
Recessional Hymn: #410 Sing a New Church

 

[moreorless]

Plan for next week, the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Opening Antiphon: “Come, let us worship the Lord,” from the Roman Missal, setting by Richard Rice

Kyrie: Mass XI(B), Orbis Factor, Latin plainsong, mode i

Gloria: People’s Mass

Responsorial Psalm: “In the sight of the angles I will sing your praises, Lord,” English plainsong, mode v, setting by Aristotle Esguerra

Gospel Acclamation: “Alleluia,” plainsong mode vi, Paschal Office, verse: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men,” set to psalm tone

Offertory Chant: “My footsteps hold fast to the ways of your law, O God,” English plainsong, mode iv, from The American Gradual, setting by Bruce Ford

Offertory Chant: “Cry out to God with joy,” English plainsong, mode vii, adapted from Graduale Simplex by Paul Ford (BFW #226)

Sanctus: Community Mass

Mysterium Fidei: Community Mass

Per ipsum/Amen: Community Mass

Agnus Dei: Mass XI, Orbis Factor, Latin plainsong, mode i

Communion Chant: “Introibo Ad,” Latin plainsong, mode viii from Graduale Romanum, with psalm tone verses adapted by Richard Rice

Marian Antiphon after the Communion: Alma Redemptoris Mater, Latin plainsong, mode v (BFW #658)

Hymn at the Recessional: Lift High the Cross (CRUCIFER), #733

Postlude: Improvisation on CRUCIFER

 

[agp2176]

I am dreading going to Mass next week because “Lord, You have Come/Pescador de Hombres” will rear its ugly head again. Maybe, I can talk our music director into not using that song.

I don’t mind that one, but I think that’s because its one of the few that I can sing in Croatian (seeing as I’m at an ethnic Croatian parish). So here it is known as Krist na Žalu.

Odd you should nmention it though. Last fall I was at St Patrick’s in St Catharines Ontario and herad a different version of this hymn. Essentially the same words, paraphrased a bit, and a different melody – a simpler one if I recall. The title was something like ‘Lord at the Seashore’ as opposed to Lord When You Came to the Seashore.

Does anyone know what that one might be?

God bless

Tony