The Recovering Choir Director

Want to experience a Novus Ordo Mass that pays homage to the spirit and letter of Vatican II, the heritage of Gregorian chant, and the guidelines of our bishops to maximize assembly participation? Go to the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass at the University of Chicago’s Bond Chapel. Fr. Jeffrey Keyes (himself a published composer of contemporary liturgical music) leads a Gregorian chant choir and has posted the music for the Masses of the five Sundays of Lent on his website.

Let’s see how the music selection at U. of Chicago is faithful to what the Church asks (not merely allows) and to what the U.S. Bishops advise. Relevant quotations from primary sources follow, with my commentary in brackets and selected emphasis added in boldface.

Sacrosanctum Concilium (SC) § 36:

36. 1. Particular law remaining in force, the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites.

2. But since the use of the mother tongue, whether in the Mass, the administration of the sacraments, or other parts of the liturgy, frequently may be of great advantage to the people, the limits of its employment may be extended. This will apply in the first place to the readings and directives, and to some of the prayers and chants, according to the regulations on this matter to be laid down separately in subsequent chapters. [Please note: some, not all of the prayers and chants. More anon.]

3. These norms being observed, it is for the competent territorial ecclesiastical authority mentioned in Art. 22, 2, to decide whether, and to what extent, the vernacular language is to be used; their decrees are to be approved, that is, confirmed, by the Apostolic See. And, whenever it seems to be called for, this authority is to consult with bishops of neighboring regions which have the same language.

4. Translations from the Latin text into the mother tongue intended for use in the liturgy must be approved by the competent territorial ecclesiastical authority mentioned above.

Sacrosanctum Concilium (SC) § 116-117:

116. The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services. [This is commonly understood to be the Ordinary of the Mass—Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus/Benedictus, Anamnesis, Agnus Dei. The USCCB's 1972 guideline, Music in Catholic Worship § 69 recommended that the Credo be normally spoken instead of sung. Apparently this recommendation is still in force.]

But other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are by no means excluded from liturgical celebrations, so long as they accord with the spirit of the liturgical action, as laid down in Art. 30.

117. The typical edition of the books of Gregorian chant is to be completed; and a more critical edition is to be prepared of those books already published since the restoration by St. Pius X.

It is desirable also that an edition be prepared containing simpler melodies, for use in small churches. [This clause opened the door for the publication of a new book of chant, the Graduale Simplex, which is being used at the University of Chicago's Calvert House. By Flowing Waters is the NRSV adaptation of the Graduale Simplex, faithful to SC § 36.4 above.]

From “The Worshiping Assembly at Mass“, a USCCB bulletin insert on the new General Instruction on the Roman Missal:

…These songs and acclamations are normally to be sung, in whole or in part, by all the participants:

• Opening liturgical song (#48);
• Kyrie (#52);
• Gloria (#53);
• Responsorial psalm (#61);
• Gospel acclamation (#62);
• Song at the preparation of the gifts (#74);
• Sanctus, memorial acclamation, and Amen (#79, 151);
• The Lord’s Prayer (#81);
• Lamb of God (#83);

the optional psalm, canticle of praise, or hymn after Communion (#88).

Here’s what’s being done at the University of Chicago throughout Lent:

Opening liturgical song: “When you call to the Lord, God will listen” BFW 61 (Isaiah 58:9ab paired with Ps 91)
Kyrie XVI
Responsorial psalm: “Lord, listen to my voice” BFW 84 (Psalm 130:2a paired with Ps. 130 or the psalm of the day)
Gospel acclamation: “Keep the Word of God” BFW 85 (cf. Luke 8:15 paired with Gospel verse of the day)
Song at the preparation of the gifts: “Frange esurient panem tuum” GS p. 100 or “Miserere mei, Deus” GS p. 82
Sanctus XVIII
Memorial acclamation: Mysterium Fidei
Amen
Lord’s Prayer: not specified whether it is sung.
Lamb of God: Agnus Dei XVIII
Communion: “Attende Domine” Liber Cantualis and “Lord, listen to my cry” BFW 69 (Psalm 5:1b paired with Psalm 5:1-8,11-12)
Recessional Hymn (no provision is made for it, but is common practice in the U.S. Novus Ordo): These Forty Days of Lent (ST. FLAVIAN)

Could this get repetitive? Well it’s not a question of “could” because it is repetitive. But given Dr. Paul Ford’s assertion that “Modal music in free rhythm wears well” (a statement I am in complete agreement with), “repetitive” doesn’t necessarily equal “tiresome” in this case.

So, in the Propers of this Mass, we have music that is adapted from the old Divine Office. (The melodies of GS/BFW are closely related to those in the old Liber Usualis, if not directly lifted from the LU itself, and are more suitable for assembly participation.) Latin is preserved in the Ordinary (and the preparation song), and assembly participation increases with familiarity. Just ask Fr. Keyes.