Category: Sacred Music

Posted on

Recording: O Quam Gloriosum, Victoria

Recorded at St Brigid’s Toryglen on the feast of All Saints 2020 Sung as a solo with the other parts supplied by the organ due to the covid restrictions on choirs.

O quam gloriosum est regnum, in quo cum Christo gaudent omnes Sancti! Amicti stolis albis, sequuntur Agnum, quocumque ierit.

O how glorious is the kingdom in which all the saints rejoice with Christ, clad in robes of white they follow the Lamb wherever he goes.

Posted on

Recording: Not the Fauré you may think…

Here is the tail end of the communion antiphon and  J. Faure’s O Salutaris Hostia during Mass at St Brigid’s, Toryglen yesterday. Experimenting with solo motets duiring covid restrictions on choirs. Excuse the couple of blips- I put the tv monitor in a different place and a glance turned into a search!

Posting the odd mistake is good for efforts to get over one’s self. I’ll get there one day.

 

Posted on

Musical Options for Liturgical Lockdown

As we return to public Mass and we labour under continued restrictions, music directors are trying to figure out what is possible when it comes to liturgical music. Here are a few possibilities.

  1. A Sung Mass with one Cantor. In Scotland, the guidance from the bishops allows for a cantor to be used ‘at a distance.’ I am not a scientist but as a singer, I know that for possibly centuries, we have been using a breath control exercise which involves singing without extinguishing a candle at mouth level. If the candle does not go out, I wonder how much singing really propels droplets. Anyway, due to the inability to have servers and therefore incense etc, a Low Mass with the ordinary and propers sung by one cantor/organist is possible. The congregation are not allowed to sing and should not join in with the ordinary of the Mass- under the guidelines.
  2. An Organ Mass.  This is not the alternatim practice of baroque France but rather an instrumental version of what would have been the most common practice in preconcilliar Scotland, a Low Mass with Hymns. Where once hymns would have been sung, up to the Introit, during the Offertory, Communion and at the end of Mass, organ music is played (Fortescue, pg 177). This is a long standing tradition in Catholic music which the French call it a ‘Messe Basse’ and there are pieces of music written for the purpose. I have even read that the French symphonic repertoire, with its four movements or parts in each opus were written to fit the Procession, Offertory, Communion and Sortie of the Mass.  Organ music can also be played between the elevation and the Pater Noster and adapting music written for an alternatim Mass such as Couperin’s Messe pour les couvents can be effective as can the elevation toccatas of Italian composers like Frescobaldi and Zipoli. An accomplished organist may also improvise these pieces of music as is done every Sunday at the weekly Organ Mass at St Jame’s, Spanish Place, London. It should be pointed out that while my default is the Traditional Latin Mass, it is possible to achieve a similar effect in the Novus Ordo although with some alterations because all of the prayers except the offertory, if you are lucky, are read aloud. The ‘Introit’ piece/improvisation would have to end when the priest reaches the altar and the offertory would not be as long but communion and ‘sortie’ music should work without issue.

Some may ask, why bother, why not just have a Low Mass. Well, the Church has been the primary patron of the arts for most of Her history. Why? Because God is worth the maximum beauty that we can offer and because sacred music lifts the heart and mind to God- the chant most fully as is clothes the sacred silence and provides an exposition of the text in sound, and other music after that. Sunday is different. We can steep ourselves in the silence of the Low Mass during the week but Sunday is the Lord’s day and deserves the most solemnity that we can achieve.

So, there are my thoughts on Sacred Music in Lockdown Liturgy.

I will be playing an Organ Mass tomorrow, with the following music.

Introit- (Up to the Introit)- ‘Duo’, Suite du Premier Ton, Louis Nicolas Clérambault

Offertory- ‘Récit de Nazard’ Suite du Deuxieme Ton, Louis Nicolas Clérambault

Communion- ‘Récits de Cromorne et de Cornet séparé en Dialogue’, Suite du Premier Ton, Louis Nicolas Clérambault

Sortie- ‘Grand plein jeu’, Suite du Premier Ton, Louis Nicolas Clérambault

Clérambault was organist of the Church of St Sulpice, Paris. He died in 1749.

Posted on

Exaudi Domine, V Sunday after Pentecost

A great prayer exercise for those involved in sacred music is to meditate on the texts of the propers (the changing prayers of the Mass) using the chant.

The western chant repertoire of the Church is an amalgamation of chants belonging to the different western rites, the final corpus being delineated by Pope Gregory the Great in the late 9th Century- giving it the nickname ‘Gregorian Chant.’ It would be a mistake to think that this is the beginning of the chant repertoire- the same mistake as thinking that the Tridentine Mass originates from the Council of Trent which simply codified and standardised the Latin Rite which can be traced back to the Apostles. Continue reading “Exaudi Domine, V Sunday after Pentecost”

Posted on

How to sing and accompany Gregorian Chant

Where to start when wishing to learn to sing or accompany Gregorian Chant?

I would love to get back to helping in person once lockdown ends but in the meantime here is a one-stop-shop to get you started!

How to read and sing chant– an introduction given by the great Jeff Ostrowski at Corpus Christi Watershed.

If unsure about how to sing Solfa- get the basics here and with the subsequent videos.

Chant Accompaniment

1. Although every organist should aim to accompany chant directly from the neuems, the following link contains full Nova Organi Harmonia harmonisations of the Gregorian Ordinaries and Propers and more!

2. Chant Talk– Patrick Torsell, is Director of Music at Mater Dei FSSP Parish, Harrisburg, PA. He has some useful video tutorials on effective chant accompaniment in different modes.

3. I suggest that they immerse themselves in listening to excellent chant accompaniment. I recommend Fontgombault and Westminster Cathedral.

In terms of chant books and resources, see my post about top tools for TLM musicians!

Posted on

Home Liturgy- Easter Sunday

For Easter Sunday, follow the ideas for a dry Mass as described in my Palm Sunday Post.

Holy water can be sprinkled during the Vidi Aquam.

Find the text here by selecting the correct date and the rubrics from before 1955.

Here is a playlist of all of the chant I have included organ music for before and after as well as the I filli et filliae as an opening hymn and motets for the Offertory and Communion. For the ordinary- Kyrie etc- I have included both the chant Mass for paschaltide and a more festive choral setting so that you can choose which one to use.

The home altar should be decorated in white and gold, candles lit and incense burned if you have some.

 

Posted on

Home Liturgy- Holy Saturday

Following my series on how to celebrate the pre-1955 Holy Week liturgy at home, here are some ideas for Holy Thursday.

Booklet

Playlist

Chant

The ceremonies of Holy Saturday are performed on Holy Saturday Morning. Because these are long and because many baptisms were performed after the blessing of the font, I suggest splitting the liturgy in two

  1. In the morning- The Easter Fire-The prayers of the blessing of the font ending with inserting a renewal of baptismal promises and sprinkling of holy water.
  2. After dinner-The Litany of Saints to the end, in the manner of a Dry Mass as explained in previous posts. The prayers of the Mass begin to talk about ‘this sacred night’ and so it makes sense to delay this half until evening- as well as pacing things for your family.

We plan to spend the time in the afternoon making Easter decorations.

Some pointers for adapting the liturgy in the booklet.

Part 1- Morning

  • The liturgical colour is violet
  • We plan to light a fire in a small barbecue that we have in the garden. While we cannot command a blessing in the way a priest can, in the manner I explained for the blessing of palms, we can still ask God to bless things so the Father of the house can pray these prayers without making the sign of the cross etc, simply asking God to bless the fire.
  • For the triple candle I intend to use three blessed dinner candles that we had blessed at Candlemas and will place them in a candelabra that we have on the dining room table, leaving the additional candle holders empty.
  • My wife has made a paschal candle from a pillar candle (also blessed at Candlemas) and we already have incense that has been blessed so that I can insert grains into the Paschal Candle. (Tip- use a pointed tool to make the little holes beforehand!)
  • All chants are in the play list or can be sung using the cant linked above. The exultet is difficult so just listen to it. If you are keen to do it, miss out the bit about being in the order of levites- this is for priests.
  • For the 12 prophesies, you could decide which ones to include. We have a two year old so we will read a few and then finish reading them in our own prayer time later. If you have older children, you can adapt to what you think is best.
  • For the blessing of the font, you could read the prayers and catechise the family on this or simply give an explanation of what would be performed, reminding the family of their baptism and the significance of that sacrament. A simple renewal of baptismal promises can be found here as a way to finish this portion of the liturgy. The liturgy so far is not considered to be in Paschaltide so if you wanted to sing an antiphon, it would be best to stick with Asperges Me for now. Or, you could listen to Palestrina’s setting of the baptism antiphon Sicut Cervus in the playlist.

Part 2- Evening

  • The home altar is dressed in white and the candles are lit
  • Begin at the litany of the saints. This takes the place of the Introit and Kyrie.
  • The Gloria is sung with the ringing of bells. During the Gloria, the purple veils are removed from the sacred images. The character of this liturgy is still one of anticipation as shown by the alleluia mixed with the lenten-style tract.
  • Continue the dry Mass as described before, with a spiritual Communion made.
  • After the spiritual Communion, the shortened form of vespers is prayed as in the booklet.
  • If singing the Ite Missa Est Alleluia, sing Benedicamus Domino Alleluia instead.
  • The last gospel is read as usual.

Once the children are in bed, it is time to decorate the house, prepare the Easter lunch and hide the eggs for the Easter egg hunt!

Posted on

Home Liturgy-Good Friday

The next in my series on how to observe the pre-1955 Holy Week liturgies at home is the Good Friday ceremonies.

Resources

  • A booklet can be downloaded here
  • I have put together another playlist of the sacred music that can be found here (after the liturgical music of the day, I have included some other pieces that might be used for the stations of the cross or just in the home to aid recollection throughout the day.)

Ideas for celebrating the liturgy at home

The traditional Good Friday Liturgy is celebrated in the morning.

  • If you followed the instructions in my Maundy Thursday post, you will have stripped your prayer space of any altar frontals/linens/cloths. The candles are not lit. No incense is used. A single crucifix (used for veneration later) is placed standing upright on the altar or table and is covered with a purple or black veil. 
  • The father of the house leads the family in the opening reading, in English or Latin and the accompanying tract can be listened to using the playlist. Then the prayer is said.
  • The mother of the family could then read the next reading and the accompanying tract can be listened to and followed in the booklet.
  • The Passion is then read. C- Mother, S- All, + – Father
  • The Great intercessions are prayed by the father. The mother may wish to say the “Flectamus genua, Levate”as these instructions are usually said by the deacon and subdeacon. 

The Adoration of the Cross

  • The father takes the veiled crucifix and holds it facing the family. He removes the top of the veil to reveal the top of the crucifix. He says or sings the Ecce lignum Crucis and the family respond with the Venite Adoremus. This could be done in English. All kneel.
  • He then reveals the right arm and repeats the chant, beginning on a higher note. 
  • The process is repeated a third time, now revealing the whole crucifix.
  • The crucifix is placed on a cushion covered with a purple or other dark cloth, on the ground in front of the altar/table 
  • The father imitates what the priest would do at this time by removing his shoes, kneeling several times in approaching the cross before venerating it with a kiss. The family follow as the playlist resumes at the Reproaches- Popule Meus. When not venerating the cross, the family meditate on the translation of the chants being sung. These are some of the most moving in the whole liturgical year.
  • The candles are lit towards the end of the Crux Fidelis

The Mass of the Presanctified 

  • The Vexilla Regis is listened to or sung. The priest would usually be retrieving the Blessed Sacrament from the altar of repose in procession at this time and so the family at home begin to prepare to make a fervent spiritual communion. 
  • In the absence of the Blessed Sacrament and given the liturgical character of the day, it might be best not to use incense at home at this point, although the Blessed Sacrament would usually be reverenced thus in the church.
  • The Pater Noster is said with the other prayer in the booklet and the family make an act of spiritual communion. 

The liturgy ends abruptly after the prayer “Quod ore sumpsimus”

It would be good if the house could remain in silence (or close to it depending on the age of the children) until Stations of the Cross are prayed at 3pm.

Remember my perpetual disclaimer, it is better to do less and do it well than to push small children beyond what they can handle. All or part of this can be used to enable the family to worthily observe the Passion of the Lord while we are not able to attend church.

Tenebrae

Once the children are in bed, the adults could pray the office of Tenebrae (Matins and Lauds of Holy Saturday anticipated).

Live-streamed from the Birmingham Oratory at 7.30pm here

 

Posted on

The story behind Allegri’s ‘Miserere’

One of the most iconic pieces of sacred music, the following short film tell the story of how Allegri’s Miserere went from being a top secret jewel of the Vatican’s celebration of Tenebrae to being one of the most well known liturgical compositions in the world.

And for the musicians among out there…

Posted on

Home Liturgy – Maundy Thursday

Following on from my post on how to celebrate the pre-1955 Palm Sunday liturgy during lockdown, see below some ideas on how the Maundy Thursday liturgies might be kept at home – in the form of a Missa Sicca or ‘Dry Mass.’

The Mass of Holy Thursday in the traditional pre-55 form is held in the morning. (How child friendly is that?!)

Resources

  • The family gather in the prayer space/home chapel with white cloths instead of violet. The images etc remain covered.
  • Today’s playlist can be found here
  • Pages from the Fr Lassance Missal can be printed here, page 447+ or use this booklet
  • The chant can be viewed or printed here

The Missa Sicca 

  • The father of the house leads the family in the confiteor (The Judica Me is omitted in Passiontide) and reads the translation of the Introit before listening to it.
  • The Kyrie is listened to or prayed out loud with the father leading and family responding.
  • At the Gloria, bells should be rung. This is the last time that bells are heard in the liturgy until the first Gloria of Easter.
  • After the Gloria, the Bishop would ordinarily bless and consecrate the holy oils. This is an opportunity to catechise the family on what this entails. We have exorcised oil at home which I use instead of holy water for blessing the family when necessary so this will be used as a focal point. Details can be found here.
  • The father leads the collect.
  • Listen to the gradual using the playlist or read it aloud. An older child could help with this.
  • The mother of the family might read the epistle in the place of the subdeacon.
  • An older child might read the Gradual before it is listened to on the playlist.
  • The Father reads the Gospel and gives some words of explanation according to the age of the children. 
  • Sing the Credo
  • Sing the offertory
  • After the offertory, select some prayers from offertory of the Mass to prepare for a spiritual communion. (Suggestion- Suscipe Sancta Trinitas, asking God to receive all the Masses throughout the world. The preface could be read and the Sanctus sung (See same video as the Kyrie in the playlist). Pater Noster, Agnus Dei, Act of Spiritual Communion, silence.) I have included two beautiful Eucharistic Motets to aid a time of silent prayer. 
  • Finish the prayers of the Mass. End with “Benedicamus Domino” in place of “Ite Missa Est”

After Mass

  • During the Mass,  the priest would usually consecrate an additional host which he would receive on Good Friday. After Mass on Holy Thursday, the priest would process to the altar of repose with the Blessed Sacrament while Pange Lingua Gloriosi is sung. Options in the home could include singing or reading the Pange Lingua, asking your guardian angels to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in your parish church or making a Blessed Sacrament Banner and singing the Pange Lingua in procession around the house and garden and back to the home chapel/prayer space. 
  • Optional – Vespers follows and is said, not sung. Perhaps the children could be excused now and the adults could pray Vespers.  You could skip this step and go to the stripping of the altars. 
  • After vespers, the altars are stripped of any cloths as psalm 21 is chanted (See pg 14-16 here).
  • Usually, there would be adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Perhaps we could have one image of Our Lord exposed so that we can revisit the prayer space through the day for ‘adoration’ of Our Lord as we usually would the Blessed Sacrament. Another option would be to set up a device and livestream adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

The Mandatum

The Mandatum or foot washing is optional and was performed separately at a different time. I have included the chants on the playlist. Some families may wish to have the father wash the feet of the family to represent the servant leadership of Jesus. Some may feel that this ceremony is too sacerdotal to be recreated in the home. 

As I said last time, this is the maximum that can be done to celebrate the liturgy to the best of our ability at home but, we must be prudent and adapt to what we can achieve in our own setting. To do less and do it well with a prayerful atmosphere is better than forcing your kids to sit through too much and end up causing resentment and or tantrums!

In the evening, Tenebrae (Matins and Lauds of Good Friday) can be prayed. I will put up a separate post on this.