• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“If we do not love those whom we see, how can we love God, Whom we do not see?” Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

  • Our Team
    • Views from the Choir Loft • “Our Team”
    • Our Editorial Policy
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Saint Antoine Daniel KYRIALE
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Guillaume Couture Gregorian Chant
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Mass in Honor of Saint Noël Chabanel
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Preparing for an EF Sung Mass

Veronica Brandt · November 8, 2014

My desk N THE ONE HAND, preparing for a Missa Cantata according to the 1962 Missal is easy, because you can follow the rules. On the other hand, it can be daunting because you have to follow the rules.

Does that sound strange?

Don’t worry, here is your step by step guide to finding music for a simple Sung Mass according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

I make up folders with music in the order in which we will sing it. This can be tedious to prepare, but saves a lot of hassle in rehearsal and during Mass. Sometimes I also prepare CDs for singers without internet access. Today I found this handy page for making CD pockets with track listings.

Prayer before choir practice: from my own choir page repleatur.net. Not strictly necessary, but a nice way to start. This isn’t just any old rehearsal, this is Prayer.

Asperges or Vidi aquam for the Rite of Sprinkling: I prefer the version from the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest as it includes the prayers following the chant: find them here.

Introit: either the proper music from Rene Goupil propers here on ccwatershed or use the The Propers Tool to set the text to psalm tones.

Kyrie: This is from the Kyriale. Antoine Daniel Kyriale is a good source. There are 18 Gregorian chant settings, plus extra ad libitum versions, with links to certain feasts and seasons, but you are not strictly bound to adhere to those recommendations.

Gloria: Also from the Kyriale (see above)

Gradual and Alleluia: I find these the trickiest and tend to go for the psalm tones here. They come under the Propers, see Introit.

Credo: This is from the Kyriale, but is not part of the 18 Gregorian Mass settings. There are 6 Credo settings, usually listed after the 18 Masses. Credo 3 is good with Mass 8. Credo 1 is the default setting.

Offertory: This comes from the Propers, see Introit.

(you might like to fit a hymn or motet in here, depending on time)

Sanctus: This comes from the Kyriale.

Agnus Dei: Another one from the Kyriale.

Communion: Another one from the Propers, see Introit.

(another chance for an extra hymn or motet)

Ite Missa Est: The Institute of Christ the King includes this in their Mass settings. Some Kyriales leave them out as they are quite short and usually much the same as the tune for the Kyrie, but good to have a copy on hand to cover all bases. The priest may expect you to give the first few notes. It is very good to check exactly who will be doing what before Mass.

Then there is often a Recessional Hymn.

A great resource is Psallite Sapienter: A Musician’s Guide to the 1962 Missal, available to download from Musica Sacra Book PDFs or in print. There is some variation in applying these guidelines, this book tends to take the safer road wherever there is any possibility of other interpretations.

For a handy source of extra music you might like to browse A New Book of Old Hymns, especially set up for singers who like to see an English translation. It includes music for all seasons, focussing on Gregorian hymns.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: July 19, 2023

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

About Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Seven (7) Hymn Verses for November!
    In the month of November, we remember in a special way the souls in purgatory. The BRÉBEUF HYMNAL often includes text alone versions for its hymns; why is that? The short answer is: flexibility. The “text only” version allows each choirmaster to employ a myriad of melodies. For example, I recently set the English translation of “De Profúndis” with the DAVOST MELODY (PDF). We are singing this before November ends. Indeed, you can hear our volunteer singing this (in real life) if you click here.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Worst Hymn Pairing Of All Time?
    For hymns in the Brébeuf Portal not yet recorded by human voices, I’ve been attempting to create recordings on the pipe organ. My latest attempt (Mp3) is a hymn called “DAVOST.” It’s a nice tune, but it must be paired with just the right lyrics. Do sickening examples of hymn pairings exist? Oh, most certainly! To download the most ghastly pairing I know, try this one—if your stomach is strong enough. If such things interest you, check out: “Six Pernicious Hymn Pairings.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Jeff’s Attempt at Pipe Organ “Stops”
    I've been attempting to record some Brébeuf hymns on the pipe organ, but I know very little about registration (“stops”). You can listen to this morning's attempt, a recording of a tune called TRINITY COLLEGE. Do you know this tune? It's quite nice. Feel free to email me vis-à-vis the registration I chose. To quickly locate all instances of the TRINITY COLLEGE melody in the Brébeuf Hymnal, search the magic portal for “Trinity College.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

It was thought important that the song should actually accompany the distribution of Communion. A Carolingian explanation of the Mass remarks that during the Communion “soft melody should touch the ear [of the faithful] so that hearing this sound they would busy themselves less with distracting thoughts and … their hearts would be moved to humble love for that which they receive.”

— Father Josef Andreas Jungmann

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • “Eight Gregorian Psalm Tones” (Harmonies by Jeff Ostrowski)
  • Four (4) Excellent Hymns for Catholic Funerals
  • “An Initiation to Gregorian Chant” (Msgr. Turco)
  • Seven (7) Hymn Verses for November!
  • Accent and Gregorian Melody

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2023 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.