"Know your musical directives!" Vol. I, No. 1


(Wherein, among other things, I see how many people really do read this weblog…)

Based on official Church teaching regarding liturgical music for the 1970 Missal, rank the following musical pieces in terms of how the Church would currently classify them, from most to least appropriate for the liturgy. For the sake of this exercise (and all future exercises), let us assume that talent is not an issue and that the faithful gathered can sing all of the selections.

Christmas: Mass During the Day

I. Entrance Song

A) “For unto us a child is born”, G.F. Handel
B) “A child is born”, Gregory Norbet
C) “Puer natus est nobis”, Gregorian chant from Roman Gradual
D) “O come, all ye faithful/Adeste fideles”, traditional carol
E) “Dominus dixit ad me”, chant from Simple Gradual

II. Offertory/Presentation of the Gifts

A) “The Virgin Mary had a baby boy”, West Indian carol
B) “O magnum mysterium”, Tomas Luis de Victoria
C) “It came upon the midnight clear”, Edmund Sears/Richard Willis
D) “Laetentur caeli”, chant from Simple Gradual
E) “Tui sunt caeli”, William Byrd

III. Communion Song

A) “Viderunt omnes fines terrae”, Gregorian chant from Roman Gradual
B) “Silent night”, Franz X. Gruber
C) “All the ends of the earth”, David Haas/Marty Haugen
D) “Lo, how a rose e’er blooming”, German carol
E) “Viderunt omnes termini terrae”, chant from Simple Gradual

When ranking these pieces, use “1″ for “most appropriate”, “5″ for “least appropriate”, etc. So an example of a response would be:

I. A) 3. B) 2. C) 5. D) 1. E) 4.
II. A) 4. B) 2. C) 1. D) 4. E) 5.
III. A) 5. B) 4. C) 3. D) 1. E) 2.

You may leave your answers in the comment box, or keep them to yourself. On Saturday, my answers and explanations will be provided, and this comment thread will close. Since I anticipate a fair amount of discussion when that list is posted, please reserve comments on taste, aesthetics, etc. for that future comment thread and use this comment thread for answers only. Thank you.

Update 2005.12.08: Choice I.B. has been edited to cite the correct composer.

Update 2005.12.10: Answers have been posted; this comment thread is now closed.

9 Comments

Not being real familiar with the Novus Ordo, I’ll guess based on Traditional norms.

I. A)4 B)999 C)1 D)3 E)2
II. A)4 B)2 C)5 D)1 E)3
III. A)1 B)3 C)Oh God No! D)4 E)2

I. A) 4. B) 5. C) 1. D) 3. E) 2.
II. A) Never. B) 3. C) 4. D) 2. E) 1.
III. A) 1. B) 4. C) Never. D) 3. E) 2.

I: A)4 B)5 C)1 D)3 E)2
II: A)5 B)3 C)4 D)1 E)2
III: A)1 B)4 C)5 D)3 E)2

Introit:
A)4 B)5 C)1 D)2 E)3

Offertory:
A)5-plus B)2 C)3 D)1 E)4

Communion:
A)1 B)4 C)maybe in a bad dream D)3 E)2

BMP

My selections:

I. A)3 B)4 C)1 D)5 E)2

II. A)4 B)3 C)5 D)1 E)2

III. A)1 B)4 C)3 D)5 E)2

I. A) 4 B) 5 C) 1 D) 3 E) 2
II. A) 4 B) 3 C) 5 D) 1 E) 2
III. A) 1 B) 4 C) 5 D) 3 E) 2

I. A)4 B)5 C)1 D)3 E)2
II. A)5 B)3 C)4 D)1 E)2
III. A)1 B)4 C)5 D)3 E)2

I. A) 4. B) 3. C) 1. D) 5. E) 2.
II. A) 5. B) 3. C) 4. D) 1. E) 2.
III. A) 5. B) 4. C) 2. D) 3. E) 1.

Whew! Looking forward to the answers.

Laudetur Iesus Christus.

I. Entrance Song
A) 1 B) 5 C) 2 D) 4 E) 3

II. Offertory/Presentation of the Gifts
(abstain, will explain in discussion)

III. Communion Song
A) 2 B) 5 C) 3 D) 4 E) 1

A Musical Journey through GIRM