When hymns can be used

[JGMendes4049]

I’m kind of in charge of finding music for my choir, which start singing in Advent. I’d really like to sing the Simple English Propers—the Introit, Offertory, and Communion chants—and I’m determined to do so, but another member of the choir is really worried about not being able to sing enough hymns.

What I want to know is where hymns can be used at Mass.

Currently there are hymns at the

Processional
Offertory
Communion
Post–Communion
Recessional

With that setup, five hymns are allowed. If we did the propers, three of those would be not hymns, leaving two places for hymns.

My idea for having more hymns is this:

Prelude(s): Hymn(s)
Processional: Proper
Offertory: Proper
Communion: Proper and then after the proper is done hymn(s)
Post–Communion: Hymn(s)
Recessional: Hymn
Postlude(s): Hymn(s)

What do you all think? Are there any other places where hymns would be appropriate?

This is the Ordinary Form, by the way.

 

[Little_One0307]

Hi,

Why not try having an Advent Music Service or something like that outside of the Mass? We do that for Christmas and Advent. I think using propers are a good idea, and it does seem that you have enough spaces for hymms.

God bless.

 

[MarkThompson]

What I want to know is where hymns can be used at Mass.

Currently there are hymns at the

Processional
Offertory
Communion
Post–Communion
Recessional

With that setup, five hymns are allowed. If we did the propers, three of those would be not hymns, leaving two places for hymns.

My idea for having more hymns is this:

Prelude(s): Hymn(s)
Processional: Proper
Offertory: Proper
Communion: Proper and then after the proper is done hymn(s)
Post–Communion: Hymn(s)
Recessional: Hymn
Postlude(s): Hymn(s)

What do you all think? Are there any other places where hymns would be appropriate?

This is the Ordinary Form, by the way.

That’s the correct list. It is worth pointing out that in most cases doing the respective proper does not eliminate the possibility of singing a hymn also. For instance, a hymn can be sung before the Introit (or, less correctly but not out of the range of reason, after it), and the Offertory antiphon is generally short enough that there will be plenty of time to sing a hymn here too.

On the other hand, my sense is that people usually don’t want to sing two consecutive hymns during Communion (and nobody on earth would stick around to sing a postlude hymn). Regrettably, the GIRM implies that a choir piece, such as an anthem or motet, should be sung during Communion, with a hymn, if desired, sung afterward, but I think most people find that the opposite arrangement works better.

 

[JGMendes4049]

Why not try having an Advent Music Service or something like that outside of the Mass? We do that for Christmas and Advent. I think using propers are a good idea, and it does seem that you have enough spaces for hymms.

That’s a great idea! I’ll suggest that. Thanks!

That’s the correct list. It is worth pointing out that in most cases doing the respective proper does not eliminate the possibility of singing a hymn also. For instance, a hymn can be sung before the Introit (or, less correctly but not out of the range of reason, after it), and the Offertory antiphon is generally short enough that there will be plenty of time to sing a hymn here too.

On the other hand, my sense is that people usually don’t want to sing two consecutive hymns during Communion (and nobody on earth would stick around to sing a postlude hymn). Regrettably, the GIRM implies that a choir piece, such as an anthem or motet, should be sung during Communion, with a hymn, if desired, sung afterward, but I think most people find that the opposite arrangement works better.

During Communion and post–Communion, the hymns are neither announced nor posted, so only when it is a well–known song does the congregation join the cantor/choir.

Also, in my church, Communion and the Offertory are done quite quickly if it’s just the ciborium and wine cruet being brought up. The only time the Offertory song is too short is if there’s something extra, like First Communicants placing flowers around the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or if at a Children’s Mass the children bring up extra gifts (hay, etc., I’m not really sure), or if Communion is offered under both species to everyone and extra chalices must therefore be prepared. My church is not very big, so processions of gifts and at Communion don’t take very long at all. Thanks for the ideas though!

 

[Phemie]

Regrettably, the GIRM implies that a choir piece, such as an anthem or motet, should be sung during Communion, with a hymn, if desired, sung afterward, but I think most people find that the opposite arrangement works better.

I don’t know why you say “regrettably”. It makes more sense not to expect anyone to sing the Communion hymn and then join in the post-Communion one. Congregational Communion hymns only work well when there is a refrain that is well known.

 

[MarkThompson]

I don’t know why you say “regrettably”. It makes more sense not to expect anyone to sing the Communion hymn and then join in the post-Communion one. Congregational Communion hymns only work well when there is a refrain that is well known.

I say regrettably because a hymn is better suited to the processional action and a motet or anthem is better suited to a meditative time after Communion, or so it seems to me at least. Of course you’re right that the hymn works best when it is well-known, or especially something like a congregational refrain with verses sung by the cantor.