Songs at Mass

[Matthew_Holford]

I know that in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite of Holy Mass there are a number of options for singing, or not, at various parts of the Mass. I’ve always found the options a little confusing.

What is the full range of options that are available at the following parts of Mass:

1. 
   *]The Entrance Procession;
   *]During the Liturgy of the Word, after the First Reading and before the Second Reading;
   *]During the Liturgy of the Word, after the Second Reading and before the Gospel;
   *]During the Liturgy of the Word, after the First Reading and before the Gospel when there is no Second Reading;
   *]During the Offertory;
   *]During Communion;
   *]After Communion?

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Well, I’m extremely surprised that no one knows the answer to this!

 

[puzzleannie]

what is the question? you seem to have answered it yourself

 

[BcuzISaidSo]

A typical Mass in my parish goes like this:

Gathering song
Gloria
Responsorial
Gospel acclamation
Offeratory song
Sanctus
Memorial acclamation
Great amen
Agnus Dei
Communion song
Sending forth song

In choir terms this means 4 actual songs and 7mass parts sung.

Don’t know if that helps any.

I’ve been to masses where there has been NO music, making me wonder if all of it is optional, though I think I remember reading that the rubrics require certain parts be sung.

 

[Sarabande]

For a typical Sunday mass where everything is sung, I think it would be:

Processional Hymn
Kyrie
Gloria
Psalm
Gospel Acclamation
Offertory
Sanctus
Mortem Tuuam
Amen
Pater Noster
Agnus Dei
Communion (sometimes two pieces of music if a very large congregation receiving)
Recessional

 

[benedictgal]

A typical Mass in my parish goes like this:

Gathering song
Gloria
Responsorial
Gospel acclamation
Offeratory song
Sanctus
Memorial acclamation
Great amen
Agnus Dei
Communion song
Sending forth song

In choir terms this means 4 actual songs and 7mass parts sung.

Don’t know if that helps any.

I’ve been to masses where there has been NO music, making me wonder if all of it is optional, though I think I remember reading that the rubrics require certain parts be sung.

“Gathering song” and “Sending Forth song” are not proper liturgical terms, as these are something stemming from publishing houses. The GIRM refers to what is chanted/sung as the Entrance (processional) and the recessional.

Musicam Sacram denotes the following:

1. The following belong to the first degree:

(a) In the entrance rites: the greeting of the priest together with the reply of the people; the prayer.

(b) In the Liturgy of the Word: the acclamations at the Gospel.

(c) In the Eucharistic Liturgy: the prayer over the offerings; the preface with its dialogue and the Sanctus; the final doxology of the Canon, the Lord’s Prayer with its introduction and embolism; the Pax Domini; the prayer after the Communion; the formulas of dismissal.

1. The following belong to the second degree:

(a) the Kyrie, Gloria and Agnus Dei;

(b) the Creed;

(c) the prayer of the faithful.

1. The following belong to the third degree:

(a) the songs at the Entrance and Communion processions;

(b) the songs after the Lesson or Epistle;

(c) the Alleluia before the Gospel;

(d) the song at the Offertory;

(e) the readings of Sacred Scripture, unless it seems more suitable to proclaim them without singing.

It is interesting that both the GIRM And MS are somewhat silent about the recessional.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

what is the question? you seem to have answered it yourself

My question is posed in Post #1. I believe it is clear. I made Post#2 to see if I could generate a response. I believe it has worked because after some hiatus following Post#1 my second post has been answered.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Thanks to those of you who have given a response to my question. What I am interested in is not so much what happens in a normal Parish Mass. We go to Mass every Sunday so I am aware of what has been described.

It is my belief that there are other options that are not frequently used at most Parish Masses. For example, most places probably have the Responsorial Psalm between the first and second readings. Isn’t there the alternative of the Gradual?

Similarly, most of us will sing the Alleluia before the Gospel but when are sequences and tracts used?

At Masses where there is no second reading, e.g. ferial weekdays, what options are there then. I’m aware of some of them, e.g. Responsorial Psalm no Allelluia; no Responsorial Psalm but the Alleluia; combining the Responsorial Psalm and Alleluia.

I’m not asking what normally happens at most Masses in a parish on Sundays but what are all the full options that may be selected for each of the following parts of the Mass: Entrance Procession, song between the first and second readings, song before the Gospel, song during the offertory, song(s) during Communion, song after Communion. To clarify, I’m not asking about which parts of the Ordinary may be sung (Kyrie, Gloria, Creed, Sursum Corda, Sanctus, Benedictus qui venit, Lord’s Prayer, etc.).

From posts I’ve read on CAF, I know there are quite a few regulars on Liturgy and Sacraments who seem to have a very good knowledge of liturgical music.

 

[MarkThompson]

Thanks to those of you who have given a response to my question. What I am interested in is not so much what happens in a normal Parish Mass. We go to Mass every Sunday so I am aware of what has been described.

It is my belief that there are other options that are not frequently used at most Parish Masses. For example, most places probably have the Responsorial Psalm between the first and second readings. Isn’t there the alternative of the Gradual?

Similarly, most of us will sing the Alleluia before the Gospel but when are sequences and tracts used?

No offense, but these answers are all in the Missal (and the GIRM), the Lectionary (and the GIL), and the Roman Gradual (and the Ordo Cantus Missae). It would be extremely tedious for someone to compile a list for you of every single particularity, such as on which days the tract is substituted for the alleluia. To give an example, the sequences are provided in the Lectionary, and are given only for Easter (and its Octave, inclusive), Pentecost, Corpus Christi, and Our Lady of Sorrows; the GIRM then tells us that these sequences are optional except on Easter Sunday and Pentecost day.

Most of your answers about the range of options on a given day (e.g., your choice of the proper chant, a seasonal antiphon, or another song) are in the relevant sections of the GIRM, and then if you want to know what chant would be proper for that day (e.g., is the gradual replaced by an alleluia?) this is in the Roman Gradual.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

No offense

Lectionary (and the GIL), and the Roman Gradual (and the Ordo Cantus Missae).

I do not possess those.

It would be extremely tedious for someone to compile a list for you …

I’m happy to take my chances and see if someone chooses to answer.

Most of your answers about the range of options on a given day …

That’s being ridculous and not what I’m after. I want to know the broad choices, not the minutiae for every day!

 

[TrueLight]

Anytime someone is asking for information, in other words, they are asking people to take the time to research and post information, it is extremely important to be humble, grateful, and not arrogant.

Even if you get an answer that wasn’t quite what you were looking for, be gracious.

Otherwise, no one will help.

 

[MarkThompson]

I’m happy to take my chances and see if someone chooses to answer.

Clearly you’re not happy to do this, since when you realized that people weren’t falling over themselves to provide the list of minutiae you demanded, you mocked the forum thusly:
Well, I’m extremely surprised that no one knows the answer to this!
This is not the first time you have come around with detailed sets and numbered schedules of presumptuous queries and demands, while providing no explanation of why you are interested, no indication of why anyone else should bother to answer, and no evidence that you have done any research whatsoever before asking the question.

Here’s a tip: if you are just asking questions out of idle curiosity – which you obviously are, since I’m sure the relative precedence of Cardinals and Patriarchs is not a pressing issue in your life – then ask more politely, be more thankful, and be willing to do the work yourself. “No one knows the answer to this”? No, people do know the answer, but evidently no one wants to spend 45 minutes typing out information which you (a) don’t need, and (b) should be able to find yourself. The General Introduction to the Lectionary and Ordo Cantus Missae are online and easily findable (you clearly didn’t bother looking), so stop complaining about being told to look there; and if you don’t have access to the Lectionary itself then that just makes it obvious that you’re not in a position where this actually matters to your life.

indeed.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Clearly you’re not happy to do this, since when you realized that people weren’t falling over themselves to provide the list of minutiae you demanded, you mocked the forum thusly:
Well, I’m extremely surprised that no one knows the answer to this!
This is not the first time you have come around with detailed sets and numbered schedules of presumptuous queries and demands, while providing no explanation of why you are interested, no indication of why anyone else should bother to answer, and no evidence that you have done any research whatsoever before asking the question.

Here’s a tip: if you are just asking questions out of idle curiosity – which you obviously are, since I’m sure the relative precedence of Cardinals and Patriarchs is not a pressing issue in your life – then ask more politely, be more thankful, and be willing to do the work yourself. “No one knows the answer to this”? No, people do know the answer, but evidently no one wants to spend 45 minutes typing out information which you (a) don’t need, and (b) should be able to find yourself. The General Introduction to the Lectionary and Ordo Cantus Missae are online and easily findable (you clearly didn’t bother looking), so stop complaining about being told to look there; and if you don’t have access to the Lectionary itself then that just makes it obvious that you’re not in a position where this actually matters to your life.

indeed.

You do not know me and you know nothing about me. Therefore it is impossible for you to say why I have made the requests I have made. I will not bother to address each point you make because your last post contains nothing but the sin of rash judgement.

As far as I can recall I have never asked you personally to answer any post I’ve made. However, even if I have I cannot remember them. My memory is poor for reasons that are not your concern. You are under no obligation to answer any of my posts. If they upset you so much you would be well advised to ignore them.

I cannot understand why you bother to keep a record, even if only mental, of my posts.

From now on I shall not respond to anything you post; perhaps you ought to do the same in my regard.