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Views from the Choir Loft

On Singing the Passion Gospel for Palm Sunday

Guest Author · February 7, 2014

DLT-sample REPARATIONS FOR the liturgies of Holy Week have already begun in many places. In some parishes extra lay lectors are assigned parts for a dramatic reading of the Passion Gospel on Palm Sunday. But why not sing the Gospel?

The Second Vatican Council did indeed encourage the sung form of the mass as the “more noble.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 113; see also Musicam Sacram, 5) And since the Passion Gospel is the most important portion of the Gospel read all year, to sing it would be an effective way of realizing the solemnity of the occasion.

In fact, there is a long tradition in sacred music of composing special settings for the Passion Gospel, both on Palm Sunday and on Good Friday. The beautiful settings by Victoria and Byrd are simple enough to be used even by parishes with small choirs.

My “St. Matthew Passion” seeks to answer the need for a musical setting in English of the Lectionary text currently used on Palm Sunday in Year A.

Following the tradition of sung Passions, it provides three solo parts for most of the narrative and choral sections for the voice of the crowd. The choral passages (in SAB) are well within the ability of a modest parish choir. The solo parts of tenor, bass (Christus) and baritone (Evangelist) employ simple reciting formulas, each set at its own pitch level within a Mode 3 (Phrygian) modality.


We hope you enjoyed this guest article by Royce Nickel.

CLICK BELOW for the FREE DOWNLOAD from Musica Sacra:

      * *  The Passion according to St. Matthew

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Last Updated: January 13, 2020

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Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “For General Use Until Advent”
    If you conduct a volunteer choir, you might consider using this Simple Piece #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) which can be used during the rest of the liturgical season until Advent. It's based on the well known hymn tune: OLD HUNDREDTH. Rehearsal videos are available at #40691. A live recording of #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) by a volunteer choir is here (#40065).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • (This Coming Sunday)
    Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”
    My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The ratio of voices in modern choirs is usually wrong. Basses should be numerically greatest, then altos, then tenors, then sopranos. One good soprano can carry a high “A” against 30 lower voices.

— Roger Wagner

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