Preparing For Liturgy What a musician ought to consider

What is Liturgical Music? ... an art placed at the service of communal prayer, liturgical music is part of the liturgical action.  Fosters a sense of common faith and shared love within The Body of Christ gathered  It expresses the heart (Whose heart?)  Accentuates the solemnity of the celebration

Why is Liturgical Music significant? The treasure of liturgical music is considered integral to worship because it is so closely bound to the liturgical texts.

What are some guideposts for making choices? In all the arts, the church has admitted styles from every period according to  The talents and circumstances of the peoples  The requirements of the liturgy The liturgical music of our day, from every culture and region should serve the gathered assembly and its worship with due reverence an honor.

What are some guideposts for making choices?  Is it musically worthy?  Is it known..... Or accessible? Is it, or will it become part of a stable repertoire for this community?  Is it consonant with the feast and season being celebrated? (both in text and in “tone”)  Is it appropriate for the ritual action it accompanies?

What are some guideposts for making choices? Priority is given to singing constitutive parts of the Mass in preference to hymns.  Responsorial Psalm  Gospel Acclamation  Acclamations of the Eucharistic Prayer  Lamb of God  Dialogues and responses between priest and people.  Penitential Rite  Glory to God

What are some guideposts for making choices? Secondary Priority is given to singing of “processional” chants (hymns/refrains)  Entrance  Communion  Preparation of Altar and Gifts

What does this have to do with the art of making good choices?? Some choices are already made, namely the priorities.  “Every Mass will be celebrated with these sung elements... “ Other choices require deliberate “musical, pastoral and liturgical judgment”

What does this have to do with the art of making good choices?? Every parish should have a stable (but growing) and eclectic base of repertoire for every liturgical season and celebration  Stable = a certain predictability from year to year concerning the “feel” of a feast or season  Growing = new repertoire is added to help the assembly celebrate this feast, season, or rite...and possibly other feasts, seasons, or rites more beautifully or effectively  Eclectic = respecting both diversity (style, ethnicity, language, ecclesiology, and gender) and history

Comprehensive Planning Begin with a broad outline of the entire liturgical Cycle  What Eucharistic Acclamations will be used for each season?  How will Ordinary time be apportioned?  Is there a need to learn any new settings?  When and how will this be accomplished?

Comprehensive Planning Begin to fill in more detail  Will the psalms be particular to each Sunday, or will we use seasonal psalms?  What pattern will we establish for the Gathering Rite? (Gathering Song/ Penitential Rite - Sprinkling/ Gloria) What settings for these elements?

Comprehensive Planning Consider specific “pinnacle” celebrations of the year What repertoire is needed for the Triduum ( Lent, Advent, Christmas ) Celebrations?  What needs to be learned?  When should it be learned?  What from Triduum ( Lent, Advent, Christmas ) may appropriately be used at other times in the year?

Comprehensive Planning Consider specific “pinnacle” celebrations of the year What other celebrations require repertoire consideration?  Confirmation  Baptism  Funerals  Weddings  Dedication of Church Can the repertoire for these be included in the “routine” repertoire for learning?

Comprehensive Planning  How Many Mass Settings?  How much repetition is needed for effective learning?