Sing/Recite Gloria at Mass?

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Dlee

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Is it required that we sing/recite the Gloria at Mass, particularly the Saturday Vigil Mass? (During Ordinary Time)
Thanks all -
 
It could be either. Usually, at my Parish, it is sung. But it can be recited.
 
Dlee said:
Is it required that we sing/recite the Gloria at Mass, particularly the Saturday Vigil Mass? (During Ordinary Time)
Thanks all -
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Yes it is required at the Sunday mass (which Saturday evening is). It may be sung or said.

The Gloria in Excelsis
53. The Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God in the highest) is a most ancient and venerable hymn by which the Church, gathered in the Holy Spirit, glorifies and entreats God the Father and the Lamb. The text of this hymn may not be replaced by any other. It is intoned by the Priest or, if appropriate, by a cantor or by the choir; but it is sung either by everyone together, or by the people alternately with the choir, or by the choir alone. If not sung, it is to be recited either by everybody together or by two choirs responding one to the other.

It is sung or said on Sundays outside Advent and Lent, and also on Solemnities and Feasts, and at particular celebrations of a more solemn character.
 
The Gloria is a Hymn of Praise. I believe if a music ministry is capable and present, it should always be sung regardless at the anticipated (vigil) Sunday Mass or not when required during any season of the liturgical year. It is a hymn. It would be like reciting the Opening Song otherwise. But, since it is required, if there is no music, like others have said, the church requires that it be recited.

Since the Saturday Mass is really the Sunday Mass in all aspects, there should be no exceptions made.
Curious though…why do you say "particularly at the Saturday Vigil Mass?
 
Vivaldi’s Gloria is nice but not mass material since it is quite long.
 
Well, seems like we didn’t sing it Saturday night at Mass. We have a new music director and she has said she will be making changes. Maybe it was left out by mistake (I,hope)
 
Since the 2011 changes I find it easier to sing it than recite it. It’s easier to remember the words.

Kind of like it was easier to remember French verb conjugations if I sang them than if I just said them. 🙂
 
but it seems there is a variation of the music for the Gloria. if it is to be sung, i wish there was one version of it. i do not like the music they use for the Gloria at our parish. i don’t want to make anyone mad, but when those of the charismatic background start twirling their outstretched arms and hands during the Gloria it is a bit much for me.
 
There are multiple versions of the Gloria. Look up “Mass Settings” on YouTube.

I like ours, but don’t like the one at the Cathedral. It’s hard to sing.

And I feel guilty for not liking it.
 
I wonder this when i have a frog in my throat or am especially helpless in the face of a new melody.
 
7_Sorrows said:
but it seems there is a variation of the music for the Gloria. if it is to be sung, i wish there was one version of it. i do not like the music they use for the Gloria at our parish. i don’t want to make anyone mad, but when those of the charismatic background start twirling their outstretched arms and hands during the Gloria it is a bit much for me.
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No one is going to get mad; even though I am one for always singing the Gloria. There are many variables here. Almost every composer in the major publishers has created a new Gloria per the RM3. Every parish is at the disposal of the likes and dislikes of the music director. In choosing a Mass Setting, I look at its singability, ease of learning it and put myself in the shoes of the people. And yes, there are variations in all compositions of the Gloria as to what the composer is trying to accomplish. I started out with the most popular OCP Gloria, “Mass of Christ The Savior.” I changed a couple years ago to the second most popular OCP one, “Mass of Renewal.” Some told me that they liked the change, others said, "why, I don’t like this new one; I like the repeat of the “refrain.” What I am saying is that some will like what the music director chooses, others will not; and no one ever agrees on song selections.

As for those who use hand motions during it: Even if it was recited, I betcha the hand motions would still be happening. I see it and think of it as their way of praising. May I respectfully suggest that you concentrate on your prayer and ignore what others are doing? Since “it is a bit much for me,” you are letting others take away your full singing of the Gloria, missing out the concentration of the words, etc., thus making you judge, and I know you really don’t want to do that. Try to let it go. Look at it this way too: they might just be trying to figure out why others are not doing what they do, fully immersed in praising God in the Gloria. Don’t let others disrupt your prayer.
 
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Pup7 said:
And I feel guilty for not liking it.
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And, you should not feel guilty; why? We, as music directors have our own likes and dislikes. I have to believe that you, like me, consider the congregation when choosing a singable Gloria, others don’t because it might just show off their ability to play a complicated piece of music. I’ve been around the block so many times, you can sense that.
 
I’m rather fond of the tune we sing. It gets very sombre and slow in the middle, and then suddenly very jolly and cheerful at ‘For you alone are the holy one…’
I can’t help but smile at it.
 
I don’t like the way the Gloria is sung at my parish either. And to complicate things, we are now under construction. The organist is now up in the loft with the choir and cannot hear the congregation very well, so often we are scrambling trying to keep pace with him. :confused:

We do this version but with organ and significant sped up. It’s loses its beauty.

 
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While I find it easier to sing than say, our parish has been using the same setting at every Sunday Mass since the first Sunday of Advent 2011 and I am getting rather tired of it. Chant would be nice.
 
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Dlee said:
Well, seems like we didn’t sing it Saturday night at Mass. We have a new music director and she has said she will be making changes. Maybe it was left out by mistake (I,hope)
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She said that she will be making changes? Well, if you are used to singing the Gloria, her change to eliminate singing it will not go too far if your pastor says, “no, we sing it.” Maybe, she is preparing a new Gloria. However, if your pastor finds this as a way out of singing it now, he’s using her as the scapegoat. Time will tell. If not sung this weekend, ask her. I get questioned all the the time. Example: About 2 months ago a regular parishioner had her grown daughter from out-of-town with her. They approached me and asked why we do not sing “The Lord’s Prayer.” Though the conversation, it was obvious that the visiting daughter’s church sings a popular Protestant version which goes directly from the word, “evil,” right into the doxology! That aside, my kind and well thought out explanation was not good enough for them, still insisted that I should sing it, and received dirty looks as they walked away.

Keep us informed. Thanks.
 
JoyToTheWhirled said:
I’m rather fond of the tune we sing. It gets very sombre and slow in the middle, and then suddenly very jolly and cheerful at ‘For you alone are the holy one…’
I can’t help but smile at it.
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Get the name of the composer from the music director. Curious. The “Mass of Renewal” version we do sounds the same as you describe or it could be your directors interpretation. I take liberties with dynamics.
 
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