This is unconventional but I wanted you to know that our stock of Simple English Propers is almost gone, and the reprint is only now being ordered. I feel sure that there will be a period in which it will not be available.
“Mass of Renewal”: An Analysis
This interesting analysis of “Mass of Renewal” by William Gokelman and David Kauffman is extremely provocative. It is by Deacon Pat Cunningham, a friend of the composers of this trendy Mass setting that won the NPM award for New Mass Setting in 2011.
Propers for All Saints and All Souls
Wonderful Article in Priest Magazine
This article is a real surprise in every way: it gets the big picture and the implementation of sacred music. It is fantastic to see something like this in a large circulation mainstream publication. It is by Brian MacMichael & Michael Roesch.
Also worth noting is the increased interest in singing the propers of the Mass — the Introit, Offertory, and Communion chants that are almost universally supplanted by hymns. These proper texts are actually the preferred option in the GIRM, but resources for their singing in English have only been rolling out in the past few years. Their use is beginning to gain traction, often in addition to the hymns Catholics have come to love.
All of these preferences for singing amount to what those closest to the translation have called “singing the Mass” rather than merely “singing at Mass.” The liturgical ideal has always been a sung Mass, and too often in the English-speaking world we have maintained a “Low Mass” mentality from pre-Vatican II days. Singing the prayers of the Mass in a simple tone, or at least on a single pitch, is doable for any priest with a little practice, does not add a significant amount of time to the liturgy, and can greatly enrich our worship. Imagine if, instead of reserving sung dialogues and prefaces for high feast days, singing them was the norm for all Sunday Masses. The Gospel and Eucharistic Prayer could then be chanted when we wished to express added solemnity.
Survey Says
The National Catholic Reporter is publishing about its new survey, but in all the language and writing, it is not entirely clear what is shown by it. This chart, however, is actually very revealing. Now doubt that the partisans against tradition would prefer that these numbers were flipped.
Richard Rice in Service of Catholic Liturgy
Those who are interested in high quality music for Catholic liturgy need to spend some time at RiceScores.com. Richard is the compiler of the now-famous Parish Book of Chant, which can be credited for having sparked the chant revival in the English-speaking world. He also put together Communio, which is used the world over. He is also the composer of the Simple Choral Gradual, which is a complete resource for sung choral propers for the liturgical year.
At his website, you will find vastly more, including:
- A Parody Mass on O Filii for choir and organ (full PDF)
- A full cycle of Responsorial Psalms (Year A Psalms Year B Psalms Year C Psalms Year ABC Psalms)
- Wonderful offertory motets for Advent and Christmas (full PDF)
And that is truly just the beginning. He publishes some music with commercial publishers but vast amounts for liturgical use are freely given away. His work is certainly worthy of your financial support!
Again, for these and more, go to RiceScores.com