The Recovering Choir Director

The Divine Mercy Novena begins on Good Friday. More information from EWTN.com.

I have set the following prayers of the Divine Mercy Chaplet to Modes I, IV, and VIII:

• “Eternal Father…” (adaptation of a common Office antiphon melody)
• “For the sake…” (Psalm tones: one for the first repetition of the decade, and one for the 2nd through 10th repetitions of the decade)
• The Trisagion (adaptation of a common Office antiphon melody)

Other prayers of the Chaplet

A simple spoken recitation may be employed for all other prayers of the Chaplet.

If there is a desire to sing the prayers, one may use a simple recto tono formula for the Sign of the Cross, the Snow or Mahrt chanted Lord’s Prayer, and a psalm-tone Hail Mary.  The Apostles’ Creed may be sung to a simple formula as well.

If there is enough interest in having these other prayers set to music, please use the comment thread below to make your request known.

Chaplet of Divine Mercy (PDFs and MP3s)

Mode I

• 8.5″ × 11″ PDF file
• “Eternal Father…”
  [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/r09_0002.mp3]
• “For the sake…” (First time only)
  [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/r09_0003.mp3]
• “For the sake…” (2nd-10th repetitions)
  [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/r09_0004.mp3]
• Trisagion
  [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/r09_0005.mp3]

>Mode IV

• 8.5″ × 11″ PDF file
• “Eternal Father…”
  [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/r09_0006.mp3]
• “For the sake…” (First time only)
  [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/r09_0007.mp3]
• “For the sake…” (2nd-10th repetitions)
  [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/r09_0008.mp3]
• Trisagion
  [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/r09_0009.mp3]

Mode VIII

• 8.5″ × 11″ PDF file
• “Eternal Father…”
  [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/r09_0010.mp3]
• “For the sake…” (First time only)
  [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/r09_0011.mp3]
• “For the sake…” (2nd-10th repetitions)
  [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/r09_0012.mp3]
• Trisagion
  [audio:http://www.cantemusdomino.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/r09_0013.mp3]

A note about the mp3 files

Sometimes, people who do not sing regularly for worship or recreation feel intimidated by the perceived refinement of those who participate in choirs or sing at karaoke bars and the like.  In an effort to encourage these same people, the style of singing used to record these files was chosen for accessibility — that is, it is neither a virtuous or refined style nor is it one that places value on volume.  One need not sing at the top of one’s lungs or with technical brilliance to praise God; in many ways, the volume and refinement can sometimes get in the way.

Gregorian Chant as it is found in the Divine Office is meant for wide participation; that is why it was chosen as the basis for these arrangements.