The Recovering Choir Director

Following up on the Credo I segmented MP3s, I have made available phrase-by-phrase segments of Gloria XI, the melody that the Roman Church proposes for Sundays in Ordinary Time (Ordinary Form) and Post-Pentecost (Extraordinary Form).

When parishes employ a Gregorian chant setting of the Gloria, almost invariably it is the Gloria VIII “de Angelis”.  While they may not institute different settings of the Gloria, like Gloria XI, that shouldn’t serve as a excuse not to learn it.  Learning Gloria XI may be undertaken as a personal act of devotion.  Priests and choir directors who learn it prepare themselves for the the possibility that singing Gloria XI on green Sundays, as suggested by the Church.

One of the obstacles to incorporating the sung Gloria into the Mass, regardless of melody, is that it is the second-longest through-composed text that the faithful are asked to sing — only shorter than the Credo.  To help overcome this hurdle, the singing of the Gloria often alternates between choir and faithful, or cantor and faithful; a segmentation, a shared responsibility, takes place.^[1]  In like manner, the sound files below have been segmented by phrase for gradual assimilation by choirs and faithful alike.  I have not included music notation of any kind, because one doesn’t need notation to learn by ear; however, I have included accented Latin to help people acquire the words.^[2]

There are eighteen segments to Gloria XI; while this is only one fewer than the Credo, these segments incorporate fewer words and consequently are shorter than the segments of the Credo. If starting today you were to take one or two days — no more than 5–10 minutes per day — to learn the melody of each segment, by Pentecost you will have acquired the melody in its entirety, in time for Ordinary Time/Post-Pentecost…and for life.^[3]

If this idea appeals to you, bookmark this page and return to it every day until you have learned Gloria XI in its entirety.  Listen to each segment a couple of times, try to sing along with it softly, either by humming or enunciating the words.  To gauge your retention, sing a passage before checking it against its proper sound file.

1. “Glória in excélsis Déo.”^[4] / Glory to God in the highest.
   [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/21-gloria-xi-gloria-in-excelsis-deo.mp3]
2. “Et in térra pax homínibus bónae voluntátis.” / And on earth, peace to men of good will.
   [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/22-gloria-xi-et-in-terra-voluntatis.mp3]
3. “Laudámus te.” / We praise you.
   [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/23-gloria-xi-laudamus-te.mp3]
4. “Benedícimus te.” / We bless you.
   [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/24-gloria-xi-benedicimus-te.mp3]
5. “Adorámus te.” / We adore you.
   [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/25-gloria-xi-adoramus-te.mp3]
6. “Glorificámus te.” / We glorify you.
   [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/26-gloria-xi-glorificamus-te.mp3]
7. “Grátias ágimus tíbi própter mágnam glóriam túam.” / We give you thanks for your great glory.
   [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/27-gloria-xi-gratias-agimus-gloriam-tuam.mp3]
8. “Dómine Déus, Rex caeléstis, Déus Páter omnípotens.” / O Lord God, heavenly King, O God almighty Father.
   [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/28-gloria-xi-domine-deus-omnipotens.mp3]
9. “Dómine Fíli unigénite, Jésu Chríste.” / O Lord Jesus Christ, only-begotten Son.
   [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/29-gloria-xi-domine-fili-christe.mp3]
10. “Dómine Déus, Agnus Déi, Fílius Pátris.” / Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father.
    [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/210-gloria-xi-domine-deus-patris.mp3]
11. “Qui tóllis peccáta múndi, miserére nóbis.” / Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
    [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/211-gloria-xi-qui-tollis-miserere-nobis.mp3]
12. “Qui tóllis peccáta múndi, súscipe deprecatiónem nóstram.” / Who takes away the sins of the world, hear our prayer.
    [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/212-gloria-xi-qui-tollis-deprecationem-nostram.mp3]
13. “Qui sédes ad déxteram Pátris, miserére nóbis.” / Who sits at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
    [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/213-gloria-xi-qui-sedes-miserere-nobis.mp3]
14. “Quóniam tu sólus sánctus.” / For you alone are holy.
    [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/214-gloria-xi-quoniam-tu-solus-sanctus.mp3]
15. “Tu sólus Dóminus.” / You alone are Lord.
    [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/215-gloria-xi-tu-solus-dominus.mp3]
16. “Tu sólus Altíssimus, Jésu Chríste.” / You alone are Most High, Jesus Christ.
    [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/216-gloria-xi-tu-solus-christe.mp3]
17. “Cum Sáncto Spíritu, in glória Déi Pátris.” / With the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.
    [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/217-gloria-xi-cum-sancto-spiritu-dei-patris.mp3]
18. “Amen.”
    [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/218-gloria-xi-amen.mp3]

Feedback is most welcome.  If you have successfully completed this, please let me (and others) know in the comment box.  Other segmented movements of the Mass XI Ordinary will follow.