Comments on: Singing the Mass versus singing at Mass – the last word? http://www.cantemusdomino.net/2009/04/23/singing-the-mass-versus-singing-at-mass-the-last-word/ “...combines a wide range of information with a certain charming, existential angst.” — Dr. Peter Jeffery, Princeton University Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:22:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: rightwingprof http://www.cantemusdomino.net/2009/04/23/singing-the-mass-versus-singing-at-mass-the-last-word/comment-page-1/#comment-3755 rightwingprof Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:54:33 +0000 http://www.cantemusdomino.net/?p=1659#comment-3755 For a quick run through of Eastern liturgical music (and a rant about what is and is not appropriate for a parish) <a href="http://centralpennsylvaniaorthodox.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/which-music/" rel="nofollow">see here</a>, but yes, all musical traditions revolve around the octoechos, or eight tones; what those tones are differs from tradition to tradition (and that's in addition to "psalm chant," which is more or less the same thing as plainsong, and is what the reader chants the psalms, Old Testament, and Epistle in, as well as what the Deacon chants the Gospel in, and does not change). The tone as well as the text is prescribed, so, say, for the prokeimenon, which is a psalm verse/response chanted before the Epistle, the reader will chant, "The prokeimenon in the seventh tone," then chant the prokeimenon (the psalm response), and the choir will repeat, then the chanter will chant the first verse and the choir responds with the prokeimenon, etc. Most Orthodox parishes in the US these days, or many, are what I call Heinz 57 parishes with a mix of different ethnic groups, so the choir director will work with the chanters and readers to find a mix of musical traditions to best fit the parish, but if the prokeimenon is to be chanted in the seventh tone, the seventh tone it is, no matter what the musical tradition chosen. For a quick run through of Eastern liturgical music (and a rant about what is and is not appropriate for a parish) see here, but yes, all musical traditions revolve around the octoechos, or eight tones; what those tones are differs from tradition to tradition (and that’s in addition to “psalm chant,” which is more or less the same thing as plainsong, and is what the reader chants the psalms, Old Testament, and Epistle in, as well as what the Deacon chants the Gospel in, and does not change). The tone as well as the text is prescribed, so, say, for the prokeimenon, which is a psalm verse/response chanted before the Epistle, the reader will chant, “The prokeimenon in the seventh tone,” then chant the prokeimenon (the psalm response), and the choir will repeat, then the chanter will chant the first verse and the choir responds with the prokeimenon, etc. Most Orthodox parishes in the US these days, or many, are what I call Heinz 57 parishes with a mix of different ethnic groups, so the choir director will work with the chanters and readers to find a mix of musical traditions to best fit the parish, but if the prokeimenon is to be chanted in the seventh tone, the seventh tone it is, no matter what the musical tradition chosen.

]]> By: “In aeternum cantabo” « The Recovering Choir Director - Gregorian Chant & Catholic sacred music http://www.cantemusdomino.net/2009/04/23/singing-the-mass-versus-singing-at-mass-the-last-word/comment-page-1/#comment-3753 “In aeternum cantabo” « The Recovering Choir Director - Gregorian Chant & Catholic sacred music Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:14:17 +0000 http://www.cantemusdomino.net/?p=1659#comment-3753 [...] to the discussion on New Liturgical Movement (and by extension the MusicaSacra Forum and this blog post) surrounding the question “Can Hymns Licitly Replace Propers?” In fact, the [...] [...] to the discussion on New Liturgical Movement (and by extension the MusicaSacra Forum and this blog post) surrounding the question “Can Hymns Licitly Replace Propers?” In fact, the [...]

]]> By: Aristotle A. Esguerra http://www.cantemusdomino.net/2009/04/23/singing-the-mass-versus-singing-at-mass-the-last-word/comment-page-1/#comment-3752 Aristotle A. Esguerra Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:03:36 +0000 http://www.cantemusdomino.net/?p=1659#comment-3752 Many clergy, musicians, and liturgists of the Roman Rite take as a given that hymn selection is a part of "liturgy planning". However, if one takes look at the official songbook of the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms of the Roman Rite — the <em>Graduale Romanum</em> — for all Masses the only hymn prescribed is the <em>Sánctus</em>. For Sundays and holy days outside of Lent the liturgy also prescribes the <em>Glória in excélsis Déo</em>. Both are part of the suite of Ordinary chants of the Mass. Liturgical hymns in the Roman Rite are found in the Divine Office/Liturgy of the Hours. Most of what passes for hymnody in the Roman Rite Mass in current practice is devotional, almost never based on the texts of the Mass that they effectively replace, and too often of questionable theological and musical value. The task in the Roman Church (and for the purposes of this comment, anyway, I include mainline and sectarian Protestantism) is to overcome a sort of liturgical amnesia which has helped give rise to liturgical deformations, musically and otherwise. While the Eastern Rites have many musical traditions, I understand — or operate under the assumption, anyway — that all of them adhere closely to the liturgy. This isn't always the case textually or musically in the Roman Rite. As far as the modes go, the Proper chants as found in the <em>Graduale Romanum</em> are set to one mode alone — no alternative settings. In the chanted Divine Office (at least the one preceding the Second Vatican Council), the psalms may be sung to different modes, but even those are prescribed from hour to hour and day to day. Many clergy, musicians, and liturgists of the Roman Rite take as a given that hymn selection is a part of “liturgy planning”.

However, if one takes look at the official songbook of the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms of the Roman Rite — the Graduale Romanum — for all Masses the only hymn prescribed is the Sánctus. For Sundays and holy days outside of Lent the liturgy also prescribes the Glória in excélsis Déo. Both are part of the suite of Ordinary chants of the Mass. Liturgical hymns in the Roman Rite are found in the Divine Office/Liturgy of the Hours.

Most of what passes for hymnody in the Roman Rite Mass in current practice is devotional, almost never based on the texts of the Mass that they effectively replace, and too often of questionable theological and musical value.

The task in the Roman Church (and for the purposes of this comment, anyway, I include mainline and sectarian Protestantism) is to overcome a sort of liturgical amnesia which has helped give rise to liturgical deformations, musically and otherwise. While the Eastern Rites have many musical traditions, I understand — or operate under the assumption, anyway — that all of them adhere closely to the liturgy. This isn’t always the case textually or musically in the Roman Rite.

As far as the modes go, the Proper chants as found in the Graduale Romanum are set to one mode alone — no alternative settings. In the chanted Divine Office (at least the one preceding the Second Vatican Council), the psalms may be sung to different modes, but even those are prescribed from hour to hour and day to day.

]]> By: rightwingprof http://www.cantemusdomino.net/2009/04/23/singing-the-mass-versus-singing-at-mass-the-last-word/comment-page-1/#comment-3751 rightwingprof Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:58:48 +0000 http://www.cantemusdomino.net/?p=1659#comment-3751 I did not realize that extra-liturgical hymns had replaced parts of the liturgy. For every service on every day, every syllable we sing is prescribed by the church; the only choice we have is which settings to pick. And there, you have a distinct advantage, because we have so many different musical traditions. I must say, I am truly impressed with Mr. Tucker's work in compiling all of these chants. We badly need something like that, since we have to patch together (read: xerox) services from many different sources. However, the tones (modes) are also prescribed for us, and they change from service to service and day to day. Is this not the case for you? Can you choose which mode to sing a particular chant? I did not realize that extra-liturgical hymns had replaced parts of the liturgy. For every service on every day, every syllable we sing is prescribed by the church; the only choice we have is which settings to pick. And there, you have a distinct advantage, because we have so many different musical traditions. I must say, I am truly impressed with Mr. Tucker’s work in compiling all of these chants. We badly need something like that, since we have to patch together (read: xerox) services from many different sources.

However, the tones (modes) are also prescribed for us, and they change from service to service and day to day. Is this not the case for you? Can you choose which mode to sing a particular chant?

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