Sunday, February 1, 2009

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time - 10 AM - February 1, 2009
St. Mary's Church, Seekonk, MA


This is a program that (IMO) is an exception in my area - that is - it actually has more ups than downs! The church is a somewhat small colonial-style ediface. The organ is in the loft - an old Allen (with the infamous "diapasons become strings" stops, etc.). Unfortunately, on the most part, it sounded more like a Hammond than even an Allen of that time (the registration was rather tiercey in much of the music - I almost NEVER use mutation stops in chorus). The up-side is that most of the selections made were quality selections. There was NO Massive Cremation or St. Louis Jesuits at all - thank God! The church uses WLP's Seasonal Missalette, which, to me, is an upgrade from the Music Issue they had a couple of years ago. The WLP missalette does have its share of garbage, too, but in a lesser quantity.

Anyhoo, here's the list...

LOBE DEN HERREN...Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
- (nice hymn, but it was rather rushed, and only ONE verse)
Honore...If today you hear his voice
- (wasn't a fan of this one --- didn't like the repeats in the text. Verses were said, not sung.)
Alstott...Alleluia (the one in 2/4 time, key of D / fine)
NEW BRITAIN...Amazing grace! how sweet the sound
- (she played the first verse in C, then went to F - don't know why!)
Vermulst...Sanctus from People's Mass (good - and played rather well)
Deiss...Keep in mind
- (nice piece, but not as a memorial acclamation)
Danish Amen
Olawski...that thing that passes for an Agnus Dei
- (I often wonder where the hell this thing comes from. In many parishes, sadly, it's all they know. Yet it's not in any hymnal or missalette published in this country. I found it once on a piece of sheet music - probably illegally copied like in almost any typical parish - when I was organist at Sacred Heart in West Warwick, RI. Thankfully, things have gotten much better at Sacred Heart since Fr. Bucci became pastor and my good friend Dave Sylvester became organist.)
LOURDES HYMN...Immaculate Mary
- (Nice hymn, but why would we go with a Marian hymn here?)

Peace,
BMP

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Ok, since I always see you "complaining" about it, what is so bad about the "Olawski...that thing that passes for an Agnus Dei"

I have never encountered it in my life as far as I can say, so I have no opinion on it, though if you say it is bad, then I trust your opinion as a Sacred Musician.

By the way, this is "Shamusrocks", just under a new name since I got to CUA now.

Unknown said...

One more thing, which version of Immaculate, since a few different hymnals have different verses

Brian Michael Page said...

Hey there Shamusrocks - glad to see you're in the CUA now!

Anyhoo...
the Olawski thingie goes like this:

Key of G - 3/4 time

DG G DDA A D B A G A D
C B A G F# E D (twice)
DG G DDA A D B A G A D
C B A G F# A G

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, Lamb of God (twice)
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, grant us peace.

Pax,
BMP

Unknown said...

YUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Was that enough emphasis)

Brian Michael Page said...

In the words of Waldorf and Statler (of Muppets fame):

Waldorf: That sure made us LOL.
Statler: Laugh out loud?
Waldorf: No. Lose our lunch!
Both: HA HA HA HA HA...

(Typical real organist's reaction to the Olawski thingie that passes for an Agnus these days.)

BMP (who thanks God for the fast before receiving Holy Communion, as he'd lose what ever he ate just before enduring that goofy music!)

Unknown said...

I must say though, that I am tired of the same service music-its the same each week even at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

The Kyrie is chanted in Greek if the Confietor is used, or read by the deacon if its not.

The Gloria s the chant cantor/Congregation response one-not Responsorial, in Engilsh (I can't think of the composer right now)

The Sanctus is Proulx's Community Mass, and the Agnus is either community mass or chanted.

the only time it changes is for the Choral Mass