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Views from the Choir Loft

Are You to Wash My Feet?

Andrew R. Motyka · February 20, 2013

IFFERENT COMPOSERS write music for different reasons. The most common reason I find myself composing is because I have a need for music for a particular occasion or part of the Mass.

Several years ago, I was directing music at a small parish in Pennsylvania, and I was searching for a good piece of choral music for use at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. I needed a choir piece during the washing of feet and, since we adopted the practice of using no organ until the Gloria on Easter Vigil, it had to be a cappella and simple enough for a small amateur choir.

To that end, I composed Mandatum novum, a piece based on the Gregorian antiphon of the same name. It is for cantor, choir, and congregation, featuring a “call and response” antiphon for the main portion, and a second antiphon for choir only which follows two of the verses. The antiphon and verses themselves are taken directly from the text provided for us in the Roman Missal, so this is a great opportunity to sing the Mass instead of singing at Mass.

I hope that others are able to make use of this piece and that it furthers the solemnity of the most sacred season of the year.

DOWNLOAD Mandatum novum, a free piece for choir.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Andrew R. Motyka

Andrew Motyka is the Archdiocesan Director of Liturgical Music and Cathedral Music for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?

This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that sounds like harmonized plainsong.

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • Gorgeous Book

If there is a more beautiful book than Abbat Pothier’s 1888 Processionale Monasticum, I don’t know what it might be. This gorgeous tome was today added to the Saint John Lalande Online Library. I wish I owned a physical copy.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

There is a lack of that kind of organization which favors mature judgment. Move on, move on, get it out. Schemata are multiplied without ever arriving at a considered form. The system of discussion is bad … Often the schemata arrive just before the discussions. Sometimes, and in important matters, such as the new anaphoras, the schema was distributed the evening before the discussion was to take place … Father Bugnini has only one interest: press ahead and finish.

— Cardinal Antonelli (Peritus during the Second Vatican Council)

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