The Recovering Choir Director

Below is the list of music that was sung by the choirs in which I participated for Holy Week and Easter. This was the first year that I was able to assist at Holy Week liturgies in the Extraordinary Form. Gregorian chant, as found in the Church’s official books, was employed almost exclusively.

Palm Sunday, St. Anthony of Padua Chapel, West Orange, NJ (Missa Solemnis)

• Antiphon: Hosanna filio David
• Antiphon: Pueri Hebraeorum…portantes (with psalm verses)
• Antiphon: Pueri Hebraeorum…vestimenta (with psalm verses)
• Antiphon: Occurrunt turbae
• Antiphon: Cum angelis et pueris
• Antiphon: Turba multa
• Hymn: Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit
• Responsory: Ingrediente Domino—Schubert/Montani*
• Introit: Domine, ne longe facias
• Kyrie: Mass XVII
• Gradual: Tenuisti**
• Tract: Deus, Deus meus**
• Credo: I
• Offertory: Improperium**
• Offertory Motet: In monte Oliveti
• Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus: Mass XVII
• Communion: Pater, si non potest (with psalm verses)
• Communion Motet: Adoramus te Christe—Dubois/Montani*
• Communion Motet: O Bone Iesu—Palestrina*
• Recessional: O Sacred Head—Hassler/Bach*

* as found in the St. Gregory Hymnal

** Rossini psalm-tone propers

Holy Thursday, St. Anthony of Padua Chapel, West Orange, NJ (Missa Solemnis)

• Procession: Organ improvisation on Nos autem gloriari
• Introit: Nos autem gloriari
• Kyrie: Mass IV
• Gloria: Mass IV
• Gradual: Christus factus est
• Offertory: Dextera Domini
• Antiphon: Ubi caritas
• Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei: Mass IV
• Communion: Dominus Iesus (with psalm verses)
• Communion Hymn: Vexilla Regis prodeunt
• Translation of the Blessed Sacrament: Pange lingua gloriosi/Tantum ergo sacramentum
• Stripping of the Altar: Psalm 21(22), in its entirety

Good Friday Liturgy of the Presanctified, Holy Rosary Church, Jersey City, NJ

• Tract: Domine, audivi
• Tract: Eripe me, Domine
• St. John Passion: authentic tone, choir as crowd
• Invitation to Adoration: authentic tone
• Reproaches: Popule meus (partial)
• Hymn: final verse of Crux fidelis
• Antiphon: Adoramus te, Christe
• Antiphon: Per lignem servi facti sumus
• Antiphon: Salvator mundi, salva nos
• Communion: Psalm 21(22), in its entirety

(For those interested, the Benedictine prayer for the Jews was sung.)

Easter Vigil, St. Anthony of Padua Chapel, West Orange, NJ (Missa Solemnis)

Gregorian chant, as found in the Church’s official books, unless otherwise specified:

• Canticle: Cantemus Domino
• Canticle: Vinea facta est
• Canticle: Attende caelum
• Litany of Saints
• Kyrie: Mass I
• Gloria: Mass I
• Alleluia…Confitemini Domino
• Credo: III
• Tract: Laudate Dominum
• Sanctus/Benedictus: Mass I
• Lauds for Easter: Psalm 150, Canticle of Zachary

Easter Sunday, St. Matthew’s Church, Dix Hills, NY (Missa Cantata)

• Antiphon: Vidi aquam
• Introit: Resurrexi
• Kyrie: Mass I
• Gloria: Mass I
• Gradual: Haec dies
• Alleluia…Pascha nostrum
• Sequence: Victimae Paschali laudes
• Offertory: Terra tremuit
• Sanctus/Benedictus: Mass I
• Agnus Dei: Mass I
• Communion: Pascha nostrum (with psalm verses)
• Marian antiphon: Regina Caeli, simple melody