Besides the rubrical idea that the GIRM, church documents, and traditions of the church lean strongly towards toward the singing of the propers at Mass, there’s also another important point that is missed in this discussion: important texts of the liturgy are being dropped. When the propers are not sung, it’s almost as if you’re skipping 3 short readings from the Mass (or four, if the tract is to be sung).
For example, take a look at the introit for the Christmas Mass during the Night (ie, midnight Mass).
Ant. The Lord said unto me: You are my Son, today I have begotten you. Vs. Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? They arise, the kings of the earth; princes plot against the LORD and his Anointed. Ask of me and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, and the ends of the earth as your possession.
Translation: Gregorian Missal (ant), Revised Grail Psalter (vs)
Rendered wonderfully by the Westminster Cathedral Choir (this is my favorite chant of all time, by the way):
Now, most parishes this Christmas will probably singing some Christmas carol like O Come All Ye Faithful. There’s nothing bad about that, per se, but it really just covers the whole “Christ is born, let’s all come worship Him” idea. Not that it’s bad, but it’s… a little surface level. Don’t get me wrong: it’s a great carol. But it doesn’t make all of the liturgical connections that we should be making at Christmas.
On the other hand, look at the introit for this Mass. The antiphon is a rarely heard, but reasonably Christmas-themed text: Christ is the son of God, coming to us from heaven in the incarnation. But continue to read on to the verses. We see a clear foretelling and reference of Christ’s passion and resurrection. We’re joyful at Christmas, but at the same time, we must keep things in perspective: this child came here to die a horrendous death for us. It’s certainly not the primary focus of the feast. But at the same time, this is the introit setting the tone for the Mass and the feast. Even in the ancient melody itself, you can hear a reserved joy, but with a touch melancholy hidden there as well.
That’s just one small reason we should be singing the words of God instead of the words of men at Mass.
You are right about the Propers. I would also like to see the recitation of Sunday Vespers (preferably with Exposition) on be honored. This was called for specifically in Sacrosanctum Concilium, a Vatican II constitution, in paragraph 100:
“Pastors of souls should see to it that the chief hours, especially Vespers, are celebrated in common in church on Sundays and the more solemn feasts.”
I though it was interesting that this video (being so formal) had women servers. It isn’t something you usually see in (what I’m assuming is) a tridentine mass.
00:57
It is not a Tridentine Mass.
1. Rome has already cleared up any confusion: female servers are forbidden in the TLM (Universae Ecclesiae nn. 24 and 28).
2. Concelebration is almost never allowed in the TLM, and certainly not at a Mass of the Nativity (assisting priests would have to be vested in cassock and surplice, or their proper choir dress if they are Canons).
3. Use of the maniple is strictly required in the 1962 rubrics, and none of these men are wearing one.
4. The celebrant(s) NEVER walk right up to the altar and kiss it as part of the procession in the Usus antiquior. They always must first pray the Confiteor and usually Psalm 42, and the corresponding Antiphon and Versicles.
5. This is a Midnight Mass being celebrated on the High Altar of a major archdiocesan cathedral. It would be lovely if an archbishop were saying at TLM at the Throne for the Midnight Mass, but realistically I just don’t see it happening anytime soon.
Amazing how when we see a liturgy that actually looks Roman Catholic, we tend to first assume it’s a TLM though….
Yes…?
Translation: it’s the new Mass (Ordinary Form), it’s just done right.
Yea, I sorta got it. (Acting ignorant is funnier though.)
Perhaps hymns and/or motets should be used in the same way for the OF as for an EF Sung Mass: only at the Offertory, Communion and Ablutions (after the Communion antiphon has been chanted), and Recessional. In other words, hymns and motets may be added, but they may not replace part of the sacred liturgical texts.
There’s no reason why we can’t have Byrd’s “Ave verum Corpus” during Communion, or “Holy God we praise Thy name” at the end of Mass, or an organ motet at the Offertory. But I agree, it’s far more important that the choir is singing the Propers.
I feel the same way. Sing your motets and hymns. But even if you have to psalm tone or even recto-tono the propers, just do it (unless, of course, your motet is the text of the proper, which is nice, when you can find them). The propers are important parts of the Mass, and shouldn’t be replaced lightly.
As you may have seen in another post, I’m putting together some music for a youth rally. We’ll be singing solid hymns, but before each hymn, we’ll be singing the propers from the graduale simplex (the accompaniment for one is posted). Anyone can do it. We’ll be doing it with a random collection of attendees that will gather and rehearse for an hour or two the day before Mass.
The graduale simplex is one of the least taken advantage of books in the ordinary form, but is so useful. Like I mentioned above, it’s great for beginning choirs, or choirs without much rehearsal time. Heck, with a little practice, you could practically sight-read them.
There is virtually no choir out there that can’t sing at least one of the short antiphons from the simplex (or it’s english adaptation, By Flowing Waters). There’s really no reason not to. What congregation will revolt over 10-30 seconds of music being added by the cantor before the hymn is sung? Anyways, if they do, that’s their problem, not the cantor/MD’s…
Indeed, you are thinking the same as the Holy See. The Sacred Congregation of Rites specifically instructed at one point (1958′s “Instructio de musica sacra et sancta liturgia”, still the primary legislation governing music at the EF) that if there is no one available who can sing the Propers according to the Liber Gradualis for a Missa in cantu, then they should be sung recto-tono or on a psalm-tone, with organ backing if necessary. They could never be skipped. I don’t get why the sacred texts of the Missal of Paul VI should be considered less essential than the texts of the earlier Missals. And now that there is a Graduale Simplex in addition to the full Graduale, so very little reason the Propers should not be sung from an approved setting.
I can’t imagine anyone actually being upset about having to listen to Gregorian chant for a minute or two during Mass. If they are, perhaps they should reconsider their whole Roman Rite affiliation. I just don’t understand the whole concept of wanting to be Roman Catholic but despising everything that is, well, Roman: “Si fueris Romae, Romano vivito more.”