Incidental Music for Mass

Well it does to the people who post here... dispassionate and reasoned debate, with a good deal of humour thrown in for good measure.

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docmattc
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Post by docmattc »

presbyter wrote:Who's the other famous Belgian then?

In the rules I understand, Hercule Poirot doesn't count on the grounds of being fictional.
See Famousbelgians.net for the list :lol:
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Nick Baty
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Post by Nick Baty »

According to http://www.famousbelgians.net there's also Jeanne Deckers, better known as The Singing Nun, so we're still on a musical theme.
JW
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Post by JW »

Thanks for posing the question whether incidental music has relavance and please excuse the length of this reply. Silence indeed has its place in every Mass and the GIRM details times when there should be a "sacred silence." Everybody should naturally observe these.

Music can also greatly enhance the atmosphere in the church. Here are the times when I will usually play:
1) For about 20 minutes before Mass as the church is filling up. If I am not there, the clergy will play a CD instead during that time. The idea is to encourage prayerful preparation rather than conversation. GIRM recommends that there should be silence in the church before Mass but this seems to be observed less and less.
2) If the Rite of Sprinkling replaces the Penitential Rite.
3) If there is incensing of Gifts, Ministers and People at the Offertory.
4) At the beginning of Communion - to allow some people to get back to their pews for the Communion Hymn (N.B. "Celebrating the Mass" says "The communion song begins immediately after the common
recital of Lord, I am not worthy and normally should
continue until all the assembly have received Communion... When it is clear that the communion procession is going
to take a long time, thought should be given to extending
the duration of the communion song by way of musical
improvisation, rather than adding additional songs or
allowing part of the communion procession to take
place in silence. However, when necessary a second
communion song or a motet may be sung or instrumental
music played." (N.B. There should be a "sacred silence" after Communion).
5) After the final hymn - though "Celebrating the Mass" suggests that it is more appropriate to replace the final hymn with an Organ Voluntary.
6) I also believe it may be appropriate at times to replace hymns with organ music at Entry, Procession of the Gifts and Communion, but I don't do this myself.

Composers of sacred music have left us the gift of a very wide repertoire of sacred incidental music and I believe we are the poorer if we reject the gift. We also need to encourage the very few ministers that we still have left to continue to minister to us. Where people minister to us (whether clergy or lay), I believe they are a gift from God to the church; so any suggestion I make to them should always be constructive and affirming of the gifts they have.

For those who prefer a quiet Sunday celebration, we do have one Sunday Mass without music. Many parishes have this - often they have no choice - even though the GIRM suggests that music is as central to the celebration as are the church building and the artwork.

By the way, why are we making generalisations stereotyping Belgians? Presumably we wouldn't do it to those of other nationalities? Belgium / Low Countries gave us great pioneers of sacred music in the 15th and 16th Centuries (Dufay, Ockeghem, des Pres, Lassus etc. etc.) and Cesar Franck was born in Liege.
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Gwyn
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Post by Gwyn »

Some good points there from J.W.

1. “. . . GIRM recommends that there should be silence in the church before Mass but this seems to be observed less and less.”

Indeedy. I usually play for about 15-20 minutes as people gather, pausing between pieces. I stop altogether two to three minutes before mass begins, the silence that follows is deepened as a result.

5) After the final hymn - though "Celebrating the Mass" suggests that it is more appropriate to replace the final hymn with an Organ Voluntary.

Only my opinion, but I’m never completely at ease with organ voluntaries. They’re often obstructive of private devotion and can so easily become s vehicle for the Maestro to show off how loud he can be. Would a viable alternative be to have a planned organ recital before Benediction or other regular devotional service?
lesley wright
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Incidental Music for Mass

Post by lesley wright »

Gwyn wrote: I usually play for about 15-20 minutes as people gather, pausing between pieces. I stop altogether two to three minutes before mass begins, the silence that follows is deepened as a result.

I’m never completely at ease with organ voluntaries. They’re often obstructive of private devotion and can so easily become s vehicle for the Maestro to show off how loud he can be. Would a viable alternative be to have a planned organ recital before Benediction or other regular devotional service?


From my console I can see the priest vesting, so I stop just as he takes his vestment off its hanger; it does deepen the silence.
But in our parish, the moment the last hymn has ended people immediately jump up and start promoting the latest charitable appeal or sell tickets for the forthcoming pantomime - if I start playing immediately and fairly forthrightly it encourages them to take their trade into the Parish Breakfast instead, which seems to me a better alternative.
Some pieces of music actually encourage them to sit and listen - play something really spiky and you can clear the church in seconds!
asb
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Post by asb »

Perhaps we take the term "silence" too literally. I would interpret "silence before mass" to mean "no talking". Surely, carefully chosen music can enhance a mood and set the scene for what is to follow - as well as to round off a mass/service appropriately.
alan29
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Post by alan29 »

A fellow musician who also has problems with getting his head around the concept of silence. There's a surprise.
:twisted:
Alan
asb
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Post by asb »

NO!!! But I DO have a very strong feeling of atmosphere and occasion.
In my parish there are at least 5 "silent" masses each week - I see no problem with "adorning" 3 weekend ones.

I sincerely hope that that comment was tongue-in-cheek Alan29! :(
alan29
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Post by alan29 »

Of course it was.
Actually I am one who thinks that the community coming together with enquiries about health etc is a good thing, and helps us to worship as a body rather than as disparate individuals.
Alan
JW
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Christmas Week suggestions

Post by JW »

Christmas Masses - I usually play carols not being used during the service - verses on different registration, soloing out the tune, etc. Alternatively, there is something for everyone in "40 Christmas Preludes" from the Mayhew stable.

Holy Family: As we are still in the Christmas Octave, carols are still very appropriate. Alternatively:

Start: Noel, Vous qui Desirez sans Fin, by Michel Corrette, in Anne Marsden Thomas Graded Anthology Book 3 (p.28)

Communion: Vieux Noel, by Frank, in the same book (p.37)
Listen here: http://www.virtuallybaroque.com/trak1269.htm

End: In Dulci Jubilo, JS Bach BWV 729. This is quite a difficult piece and needs study.
Listen here: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5aSLuCQLPpU
Last edited by JW on Sun Nov 30, 2008 6:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Gwyn
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Post by Gwyn »

I've tried to paste a link to a recording - let me know if it doesn't work!
Got the option to save it.
JW
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Post by JW »

Yes, I think you have to save before you can listen. :?
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Gwyn
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Post by Gwyn »

Gottcha.
JW
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January Music

Post by JW »

I know we're all busy getting ready for Christmas, but here is my Ephiphany post - it's either post now or leave it till after Christmas which is a bit late. This is all Christmas stuff anyway.

January 6th - Epiphany
Start: (1) Tambourin sur un Noel Provencal by M Corrette (p.2 in 'Easy Graded Organ Music' Ed. Trevor) (2) Zu Bethlehem Geboren by H Walcha (p.48 in Graded Anthology 2, Anne Marsden Thomas). Hear it at http://www.davidgarner.org.uk/pipeorgan.htm
Communion: Trio on Von Himmel Hoch, by J Pachalbel, (p. 2 in 'Progressive Organist Book 2, Ed Trevor and free here - but play the middle stave at pitch, not an octave down - http://icking-music-archive.org/ByComposer/Pachelbel.php and you can hear it here: http://www.virtuallybaroque.com/track583.htm - it's the first version)
End: Ou S'en Vont Ses Gays Bergers by N Le Begue (p.6 in Graded Anthology 3, Anne Marsden Thomas - hear it at http://www.davidgarner.org.uk/pipeorgan.htm

Have an excellent Christmas.
Last edited by JW on Sat Dec 27, 2008 12:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
JW
JW
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From Baptism of Our Lord to 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Post by JW »

Baptism of Our Lord:
Start: Voluntary 12th, S Wesley (p.23 in "Samuel Wesley, Six Voluntaries and Fugues for Organ, ed. R. Langley, OUP)
Communion: Ach Gott und Herr, J.G. Walthar (p.20 in Anne Mardsen Thomas, Graded Anthology, Book 3. This was once ascribed to Bach and is in Bach collections under BWV 692.) Hear it here, though this interpretation is far too quick for my liking and for the meaning of the chorale. http://www.virtuallybaroque.com/trak1951.htm
End: Fugue in D. S. Wesley (p. 20 in Six Volutaries & Fugues). Hear it here, http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N06560

Sunday 2 (Peace Day & Education Day!?)
Start: Priere, N Rawsthorne (p.72 in Mayhew, Short & Easy, Pedals)
Communion: A Prayer of Peace, M Higgins (p. 92 in Mayhew, Short & Easy, Pedals)
End: A Peaceful Reflection, C Tambling (p. 78 in Mayhew, Short & Easy, Pedals)

Sunday 3 (all music from Vol 32 (William Walond set 2) of the Tallis to Wesley Series Peters/Hinrichsen)
Start: Voluntary No.4 in D minor & major (p.6). Hear it here http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N08741
Communion: Diapason movement from Voluntary No. 2 in G (p.2)
End: Fugue from Voluntary No. 6 in D minor (p.14)

Sunday 4
Start: Gott der Vater wohn uns bei, G Telemann, (p.8 in Organ Music for Manuals, Book 2 ed. C H Trevor, OUP)
Listen here: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=537715
Communion: Andante Religioso from F Mendelssohn, Organ Sonata No.4, downloadable from here. http://www.icking-music-archive.org/ByComposer/Fe.Mendelssohn.php Listen here: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=D8SRZsZVVN4
End: Toccata, J.P. Sweelinck, (p.2 in Organ Music for Manuals, Book 2 ed. C H Trevor, OUP) and downloadable from here
http://www.icking-music-archive.org/ByComposer/Sweelinck.php
Last edited by JW on Sat Jan 31, 2009 4:44 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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