Who sang the Exsultet at your Easter Vigil?

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baltobetsy said:
Did the priest or the deacon? Or a cantor? Or the choir?

Iā€™m a cantor and have done it several times. Itā€™s one of the greatest privileges Iā€™ve ever had. I was not ā€œworkingā€ for the Vigil this year, so we went to a different parish for a change. The program listed the tenor cantor as the one to sing it, and I was excited to hear him, as he has a gorgeous voice. I was so disappointed though, because he did not sing the melody that is usually associated with it. He used a very simple psalm tone instead. It didnā€™t have that wonderful, triumphant ascending fifth figure that just ā€œmakesā€ the Exsultet for me.

How was yours?
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I sung it this year. It was the second year Iā€™ve done it and I agree with youā€¦ it totally has been one of the greatest privileges Iā€™ve had as a cantor. The first year I did it, I was so nervous. The chant is not hard, yet it is hard, if you know what I mean. Iā€™ve sung some of the most difficult pieces of classical vocal music, yet I think because that chant is so naked and pure, long and so important, I have to give twice my focus and concentration. Itā€™s also a style of singing which requires as little vibrato, if not any vibrato, as possible. Most peopleā€™s voices have a natural vibrato, so itā€™s something one has to manipulate in the voice, although the music lends itself well to adjusting the voice to that.
 
One of our deacons did. It wasnā€™t very good, but he tried and I can appreciate that. Other years I think it was a choir member.
 
baltobetsy said:
Did the priest or the deacon? Or a cantor? Or the choir?

Iā€™m a cantor and have done it several times. Itā€™s one of the greatest privileges Iā€™ve ever had. I was not ā€œworkingā€ for the Vigil this year, so we went to a different parish for a change. The program listed the tenor cantor as the one to sing it, and I was excited to hear him, as he has a gorgeous voice. I was so disappointed though, because he did not sing the melody that is usually associated with it. He used a very simple psalm tone instead. It didnā€™t have that wonderful, triumphant ascending fifth figure that just ā€œmakesā€ the Exsultet for me.

How was yours?
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Hi Betsy,
I was privileged to sing the Exultet (Everett Freese version) back in 1990. I got to stand on the altar and sing it as the 40 voice choir sang the responses. To this day I hold it as the most profound musical experience of my life. Seeing the sea of candles in the darkened church and hearing the beautiful movements during the work was absolutely incredible.
Peace,
Terry
 
Iā€™ve been in this Parish for nearly 40 years so Iā€™ve seen some changes. We currently have an assistant priest who enjoys singing and he proclaims the Exsultet. In the past, it has been proclaimed by a cantor and by a deacon (actually it was the same person and heā€™s now a Parish Priest elsewhere in the Diocese).

About 15 years ago, we had two assistant priests, both former Anglican priests of the smoke and chanting persuasion. They proclaimed the Exsultet in harmony.
 
Well guys, it changes this year. I have already started learning it, though we now have a deacon that does it. Last year was his first time and he did a simple two note chant. That was probably best since it was a one shot thing. However, now that we have a new one, he wants me to work with him to learn the new translation.
 
Phemie said:
Yes, although I must say that I couldnā€™t understand much of what the woman was singing in English and Iā€™m pretty familiar with the text.
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I had a difficult understanding the woman as well, and this is the version I do every year, but I think it might have more to with the recording quality. Mine sounds a little distorted. I need to ask father for the new translation. I had not even thought about it until Pnewton brought it up.
 
Phemie said:
Yes, although I must say that I couldnā€™t understand much of what the woman was singing in English and Iā€™m pretty familiar with the text.
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Okay thanks.

He makes it sound simple here.
5Loaves said:
Beautifully chanted here by Fr. Tim Hepburn, from the Archdiocese of Atlanta. šŸ‘
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She makes it sound difficult.
TrueLight said:
URL=ā€œ
ā€] The woman that is hard to understand, makes it sound difficult.
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I have to admit, I wasnā€™t that impressed by the music because it sounds very similar to what I always hear at mass. Of course the words are beautiful.

I guess it would make more of an impression if one is not used to hearing Gregorian Chant? :confused:
 
TrueLight said:
Okay thanks.

He makes it sound simple here.

She makes it sound difficult.

I have to admit, I wasnā€™t that impressed by the music because it sounds very similar to what I always hear at mass. Of course the words are beautiful.

I guess it would make more of an impression if one is not used to hearing Gregorian Chant? :confused:
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Iā€™m no expert in music but I think itā€™s whatā€™s known as plainchant and is what is found in the Roman Missal. Itā€™s far removed from what I usually hear at Mass.
 
TrueLight said:
I guess it would make more of an impression if one is not used to hearing Gregorian Chant? :confused:
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I think when you are not used to hearing chant, it would make more of an ā€œimpressionā€ as you rightly observed - sometimes a bad impression and sometimes a good one. We donā€™t do a lot of chant at one of the parishes where I work and the congregation really likes the chanted exultet. It sort of reminds me when we had the Latin mass parts sung in the very simple chants for our wedding. Those of our guests who were not used to it were in awe, but I think if you hear it and sing it all the time (like my husband and I) you almost take it for granted.

The femaleā€™s recording was not good, I think because of the distortion, so you really couldnā€™t tell the true quality and could understand hardly a word. In the maleā€™s recording, his chanting was better than what youā€™d hear at some churches, especially parishes which donā€™t do a lot of chanting AND you can understand the words (which is very important), but Iā€™ve heard it chanted more beautifully and with more legato.
 
**Despite many years of continued efforts to draw attention and to help reveal that a cantor should not sing the entire exultet and should omit that which has been designated to be sung by an ordained minister (deacon or priest) only, (as the written instructions noted on every printed score used for the last several decades " has implied") I am again disappointed to learn that even with the new liturgy and new music the choir will continue to have a cantor sing even that which I understand has been and continues to be reserved for an ordained minister. There has not even been a need for me to reiterate; the cantor acknowledging my historical objection and noting the pastor has said it does not really matter as neither he nor the participating deacon wish to sing. Please suggest the simplest and best conversion tool or resource we might employ to take advantage of this evangelical opportunity. Surely something like this has been noted or even discussed before. . .

Information Please. Suggestions appreciated as well. THX!

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never been able to overpower it.
 
AloysiusBologna said:
**Despite many years of continued efforts to draw attention and to help reveal that a cantor should not sing the entire exultet and should omit that which has been designated to be sung by an ordained minister (deacon or priest) only, (as the written instructions noted on every printed score used for the last several decades " has implied") I am again disappointed to learn that even with the new liturgy and new music the choir will continue to have a cantor sing even that which I understand has been and continues to be reserved for an ordained minister. There has not even been a need for me to reiterate; the cantor acknowledging my historical objection and noting the pastor has said it does not really matter as neither he nor the participating deacon wish to sing. Please suggest the simplest and best conversion tool or resource we might employ to take advantage of this evangelical opportunity. Surely something like this has been noted or even discussed before. . .

Information Please. Suggestions appreciated as well. THX!

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never been able to overpower it.
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Have you discussed this with the pastor, himself? What Iā€™ve usually seen if a priest or deacon does not sing it, the exsultet is cut to only what the cantor can sing. Thatā€™s what we do at the parishes where I work, since the priests and deacon donā€™t want to ā€œsubjectā€ (as they put it) everyone to their singing voices for a long period of time. lol!

If you have personally spoken to him with your concerns and he still disagrees, there really isnā€™t much else you can do, but comply with his wishes. He is ultimately the ā€œbossā€ even if you and others do not agree with him and are in the right on this. In regards to resources you can use, I really donā€™t know where you can go directly. If someone does provide a citation, be aware that may not even sway someone to agree with you, especially if you donā€™t approach the subject carefully. Good luck.
 
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