Two questions on the Kyrie

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jesusmademe

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I have two questions:
  1. When is Kyrie (Missa Simplex) sung?
  2. If the church doesn’t specify what Kyrie will be sung, eg if it is not a High Mass, how to know which one will be sung?
 
Both of those issues are entirely at the discretion of the individual priest celebrating that particular Mass.

At any Mass, the Kyrie can be either said or sung.

At any Mass, any of the forms of the Penitential Rite may be chosen.

(note: there are some rare exceptions, such as the Easter Vigil, or if the Penitential Rite is replaced by something else, so “any Mass” isn’t to be taken too literally).
 
I have checked with my hymnbook for the Latin ones. There are tunes for the vernacular as well.

Lux et origo is sung during the Easter season.

Cunctipotens genitor Deus is sung during the Mass when the holy oils are blessed on the Maundy Thursday (or a couple of days before if it is needed in the diocese so that the priests have enough time to return to their parishes). It could be sung on Monday-Wednesday before Easter if I remember correctly.

De angelis is very common for large celebrations like Masses with Confirmations, Annunciation, All Saints day, patron saint days or any Sunday apart from the seasons of Advent and Lent when Ordinarium XVII is sung. A lot of people are familiar with De angelis and find it beautiful.

Orbis factor and Missa simplex are common for Ordinary time.

I know a cantor who volunteers to play for some weekday Masses during the Easter season as the person choosing the hymns and Mass part tunes keeps on insisting to use the Advent/Lent tunes which is a big No.

My favourite Kyrie is from Orbis factor
 
That video brings back memories. But there are Mass tunes that are much more joyful, less mournful.

Isn’t there one called Mass of Paul VI? or am I thinking of something else?

When the sisters were still in Irondale at EWTN, they had some very beautiful Mass hymns – some with violins.
 
Why not tell us beforehand which Kyrie will be sung? They always do that on Sundays at High Mass.
Or are we supposed to already know all the Kyries by heart? But then telling it on a Sunday would be strange or unnesessary.
Please explain! I am not that smart when it comes to Liturgy. Yesterday at Mass I tried to follow the Kyrie but it was hard. Sheet music could have helped. I’ve yet to learn all the Kyries by heart. Music is my favourite subject.

And what about Missa Simplex?
 
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Cecilia. It is the only one we use in Sweden and also the Swedish speakers in Finland.

Pages look like this: (Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.) (Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

There are 513 hymns, the Mass liturgy, Kyriale, responsorial psalms, prayers and readings for the Church year, calendar of celebrations, a shortened version of the Liturgy of the Hours, shortened version of Sacraments and funeral. It is actually more than just a hymnbook.

All Latin hymns has a translation either under the text or if it is translated to be sung right next to. All Mass tunes are first in Swedish then Latin in the Kyriale. Some hymns have an alternative tune for the Swedish speakers in Finland.

There is only one thing that I miss, and that is that all the responsorial psalms for weekdays are not included. Sundays and solemnities are included though. I must say that a very good job has been done in filling the 1320 pages in our Cecilia.
 
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I was just as confused as you are when I first started to go to Mass in the Catholic Church. Especially during week day Masses there was no consistency in using the vernacular or Latin or mixing both and also from different Ordinarium. In this parish it was never announced ahead on a board or said but in my local parish we put the numbers on a board or announce it before. i figured out I should learn by heart as I don’t read music.

The text is the same which is very good but it is difficult with the tunes.
 
jesusmademe said:
Why not tell us beforehand which Kyrie will be sung? They always do that on Sundays at High Mass.
Or are we supposed to already know all the Kyries by heart? But then telling it on a Sunday would be strange or unnesessary.
Please explain! I am not that smart when it comes to Liturgy. Yesterday at Mass I tried to follow the Kyrie but it was hard. Sheet music could have helped. I’ve yet to learn all the Kyries by heart. Music is my favourite subject.

And what about Missa Simplex?
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I don’t know why your priest(s) doesn’t somehow (verbally or hymn board, etc) tell you what form.

Maybe there’s some pattern (like melody 1 on Monday, melody 2 on Tuesday, etc.)

How many different versions would you say the parish uses?

Often (not always) a parish will use a particular Mass setting for the entire Mass. (Like Mass #7, or Mass of St Fiacre, etc.) Do they do that at your parish? And if so, do they make that readily available (such as putting it on a hymn board or listing it in a music handout)?

In any case, I think what you really need to do is talk to the priest at your parish. Let him know that you’re confused by the different Kyries and ask if there is any way he can either tell everyone what’s coming.
 
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