Singing the Mass

[MadHatter]

In the current business of writing Gregorian chants and a mass setting, I was wondering, how much of the OF form of mass can be possibly sung, are there any parts which can’t be intoned, chanted or sang?

Many thanks,
Hatter

 

[phil19034]

In the current business of writing Gregorian chants and a mass setting, I was wondering, how much of the OF form of mass can be possibly sung, are there any parts which can’t be intoned, chanted or sang?

Many thanks,
Hatter

The entire Mass could be chanted.

 

[MadHatter]

Everything in it’s written entirety? Wonderful! Thank you!

 

[OraLabora]

Everything in it’s written entirety? Wonderful! Thank you!

Yes. One exception: the homily.

The Benedictine abbey where I attend Mass sings everything except the homily (and on weekdays the intercessions are not sung but they are on Sundays and solemnities).

The Propers (Introit, gradual, alleluia, offertory and communion) are in Latin Gregorian chant, and the Ordinary (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Angus Dei) are in Latin/Greek Gregorian chant.

The rest including the entire Eucharistic Prayer and the readings, are chanted in French plainchant. The same could be done in Latin, English, etc.

The current Graduale Romanum (1974) has notation for all the sung parts of the Mass except the EP. That’s available in the altar missal used by the celebrant.

It’s the way it’s supposed to be, although there are simpler settings (Graduale Simplex) for less skilled choirs.

And this is entirely for the OF Mass.

 

[ProVobis]

The Propers (Introit, gradual, alleluia, offertory and communion) are in Latin Gregorian chant, and the Ordinary (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Angus Dei) are in Latin/Greek Gregorian chant.

Yes, I discovered only recently these prayers, generally very short, are still in the Missal. However, they are options and almost always replaced by a (vernacular) hymn.

 

[twf]

Yes, I discovered only recently these prayers, generally very short, are still in the Missal. However, they are options and almost always replaced by a (vernacular) hymn.

Yep. I would love to see the proper antiphons used more regularly. My wife is Dominican, and when I’m in the Dominican Republic and the congregation is singing a lively Spanish hymn that I don’t know (they never ever provide hymnals), I just read the antiphon to myself… a hymn can rarely surpass the beauty of a chanted antiphon proper to the mass.

 

[GangGreen]

My wedding Mass was in the OF and in English (the music was 90% in Latin-Propers were sung in Latin as well except Gradual/Responsorial and Alleluia). The priest chanted a large portion of the Mass in English (I think the Rite of Marriage, the Preface, and Canon were not chanted). It works well. English is a bit more awkward sounding than Latin when sung, but it still sounds quite nice.

Personally, I would never want to hear the Canon or Eucharistic prayers sung.

 

[OraLabora]

Yes, I discovered only recently these prayers, generally very short, are still in the Missal. However, they are options and almost always replaced by a (vernacular) hymn.

The offertory though is one of the more melismatic chants in the repertory and hence can be quite long even if the text isn’t that long.

Usually at the abbey the schola sings the offertory, and then plays the organ during the preparation of the gifts. But sometimes the offertory is so long that there’s no time for the organ.

It used to be longer, in pre-concililar times verses were sung and the antiphon or part of the antiphon repeated, often more than once. Except for a few offertories now, that has been eliminated.

 

[johnmann]

Can the homily be chanted? Is there precedent? That would be interesting. Better yet, the announcements. “Pleeeease joooin us for coffee after Mass in the baaaasemennnnnt.”

 

[Psalitte]

Johnmann, LOL, I was actually about to add this interesting tidbit, that I heard, though I haven’t been able to verify, but at one point far into ancient times, the sermon/homily was also chanted, though it was usually a Patristic, written previously by a Church Father or Saint.

 

[OraLabora]

Johnmann, LOL, I was actually about to add this interesting tidbit, that I heard, though I haven’t been able to verify, but at one point far into ancient times, the sermon/homily was also chanted, though it was usually a Patristic, written previously by a Church Father or Saint.

The patristic readings at Vigils can definitely be chanted! They’re chanted recto-tono at the abbey, but also on more ornate tones at big solemnities.

 

[bobballen_18]

Yes, I discovered only recently these prayers, generally very short, are still in the Missal. However, they are options and almost always replaced by a (vernacular) hymn.

The Introit/Entrance Chant is not optional…this is what the GIRM says:

1. When the people are gathered, and as the Priest enters with the Deacon and ministers, the Entrance Chant begins. Its purpose is to open the celebration, foster the unity of those who have been gathered, introduce their thoughts to the mystery of the liturgical time or festivity, and accompany the procession of the Priest and ministers.

1. This chant is sung alternately by the choir and the people or similarly by a cantor and the people, or entirely by the people, or by the choir alone. In the Dioceses of the United States of America, there are four options for the Entrance Chant: (1) the antiphon from the Missal or the antiphon with its Psalm from the Graduale Romanum, as set to music there or in another setting; (2) the antiphon and Psalm of the Graduale Simplex for the liturgical time; (3) a chant from another collection of Psalms and antiphons, approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop, including Psalms arranged in responsorial or metrical forms; (4) another liturgical chant that is suited to the sacred action, the day, or the time of year, similarly approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop.

I guess you can read into this what you like, but ever since the 2011 version of the GIRM came out, they replaced the word “song” with “chant” in (3) and (4), so it seems clear to me that the GIRM is now instructing the text proper to the day to be used. True, there are some Introit/Entrance Chant texts which have been set to hymns, so in that case, hymns could still be done when those certain texts are proper to the day, but as far as I know/have observed, many parishes are either unaware that there is a specific text which should be said/sung each day, or they are just ignoring that and doing “random” hymns anyway.

 

[ProVobis]

The Introit/Entrance Chant is not optional…this is what the GIRM says:

I guess you can read into this what you like, but ever since the 2011 version of the GIRM came out, they replaced the word “song” with “chant” in (3) and (4), so it seems clear to me that the GIRM is now instructing the text proper to the day to be used. True, there are some Introit/Entrance Chant texts which have been set to hymns, so in that case, hymns could still be done when those certain texts are proper to the day, but as far as I know/have observed, many parishes are either unaware that there is a specific text which should be said/sung each day, or they are just ignoring that and doing “random” hymns anyway.

Thanks for that.

BTW, the Latin word in IGMR is “cantus” so it could be song, chant, or melody. But it shouldn’t make any big difference as to the action.

 

[johnmann]

The Introit/Entrance Chant is not optional…this is what the GIRM says:

I guess you can read into this what you like, but ever since the 2011 version of the GIRM came out, they replaced the word “song” with “chant” in (3) and (4), so it seems clear to me that the GIRM is now instructing the text proper to the day to be used. True, there are some Introit/Entrance Chant texts which have been set to hymns, so in that case, hymns could still be done when those certain texts are proper to the day, but as far as I know/have observed, many parishes are either unaware that there is a specific text which should be said/sung each day, or they are just ignoring that and doing “random” hymns anyway.

ProVobis didn’t say it was optional. He said they’re options. Why do you have exceptions for hymns set to propers but not hymns not set to the propers? What’s absolutely clear is that the propers aren’t required. Your reading would render options 3 and 4 superfluous.

 

[bobballen_18]

ProVobis didn’t say it was optional. He said they’re options. Why do you have exceptions for hymns set to propers but not hymns not set to the propers? What’s absolutely clear is that the propers aren’t required. Your reading would render options 3 and 4 superfluous.

Well, with all due respect to ProVobis, his words were the following: “…they (meaning the propers) are options…” So I guess technically, he did say “they’re options” as you claim, but “propers are options” seems to me to clearly mean “propers are optional.” Perhaps ProVobis would like to clarify what he meant. ProVobis, did you mean that propers themselves are options (as in, you have the option whether or not to do a proper), or did you mean that for each of the different propers, there are options?

I can’t really respond to the latter part of your post, johnmann. However, I would like your opinion: what do you think they mean by “chant”? Hymns aren’t chant. The GIRM clearly says “chant”, even in 3 and 4.

BTW, the Latin word in IGMR is “cantus” so it could be song, chant, or melody. But it shouldn’t make any big difference as to the action.

ProVobis, I clicked on that link you gave and right at the top it says 2002. Someone may correct me if I am wrong, but we go by the most current GIRM version, which I think is 2011. And as I mentioned before, the translation was changed from “song” to “chant”.

As I really am not too familiar with what interpretations of this have been thrown around, I may be unaware of an interpretation which says that hymns are chant. That is, hymns as are common today; there are Gregorian chant hymns, but those are rarely sung today. Anyway, that was all a long way of saying, if you or anyone knows of an authoritative document after the new 2011 GIRM came out that supports the idea that the modern hymn is a chant, then I would be happy to acquaint myself with that document.

 

[ProVobis]

Well, with all due respect to ProVobis, his words were the following: “…they (meaning the propers) are options…” So I guess technically, he did say “they’re options” as you claim, but “propers are options” seems to me to clearly mean “propers are optional.” Perhaps ProVobis would like to clarify what he meant. ProVobis, did you mean that propers themselves are options (as in, you have the option whether or not to do a proper), or did you mean that for each of the different propers, there are options?

It was my recollection of what I read in one of the pew missalettes. OraLabora actually brought it to my attention. I might go back to reread it tonight if it’s a big concern.

ProVobis, I clicked on that link you gave and right at the top it says 2002. Someone may correct me if I am wrong, but we go by the most current GIRM version, which I think is 2011.

I understand the current Latin version (IGMR) is 2002, produced by JPII.

The current English translation (GIRM) was produced under the English-speaking bishops from the IGMR and approved by the Vatican in 2011. Other countries obviously have different translations of the IGMR.

As for hymns and chants, I suppose if the Vatican were strict about it, they would have used the word “hymnus,” but I don’t have the Latin prior to 2002.

.

 

[ProVobis]

Yes, I discovered only recently these prayers, generally very short, are still in the Missal. However, they are options and almost always replaced by a (vernacular) hymn.

Clarification from a pew missalette.

“The entrance chant reflects the liturgical spirit of the day or season. Another psalm of hymn of similar spirit may be used in its place.” Entrance chants are then listed.

“Communion chant - during communion we sing psalms and other songs that express our praise of the Father, our spiritual union in Christ, and our fellowship in the Holy Spirit.” Communion chants are then listed. (This is not to be confused with the post-communion prayer.)

And FWIW, in the Spanish Mass (which shares the same missalette) no such entrance chant or communion chant is listed.

 

[johnmann]

However, I would like your opinion: what do you think they mean by “chant”? Hymns aren’t chant. The GIRM clearly says “chant”, even in 3 and 4.

As ProVobis mentioned, the Latin is “cantus” which means “song.”