YOUR LITURGY OF THE WORD IS PREPARED

for the Easter Vigil!

Psalms for ALL SEVEN readings, PLUS the three-verse Alleluia, are now available for free download at:


Reading 1 (two options): Lord, send out your Spirit... - OR - The earth is full of the goodness...
(Note: The Roman Missal does not specify any preference as to which of the two Psalms may be used, only that Lord, send out your Spirit... is listed first.)

Reading 2: You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Reading 3: Let us sing to the Lord; He has covered himself in glory.

Reading 4: I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

Reading 5: You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Reading 6: Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

Reading 7 (three options): (If there are baptisms) Like a deer that longs... - OR - (If there are no baptisms) Create a clean heart... - OR - You will draw water joyfully...

Alleluia (after the Epistle), a festive adaptation of O Filii et Filiae with two trumpets and timpani (instrumental parts included).

Available with New American Bible OR Revised Grail Psalter translation. Your choice!

Happy rehearsing!
Peace,
BMP

THE NEXT THREE PSALMS

You'll find them at


They are:

Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time (2/27/11)


Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time (3/6/11)


Ash Wednesday (3/9/11) and First Sunday of Lent (3/13/11)


Click each antiphon above for its description and links to the actual PDF's, print, sing, and enjoy!
Peace,
BMP

NOW THIS IS WHAT A SUNG MASS IN ENGLISH SOUNDS LIKE!

This morning, I made an almost split decision (is the other night "split decision" enough?) to take my wife and my daughter to the church that sets the standard and then some when it comes to liturgy and music:

ST. PAUL CHURCH, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
home of the
BOSTON ARCHDIOCESAN CHOIR SCHOOL

The only disappointment is that the boy choir was on vacation (as the Choir School is on vacation this week). However, the Men's Schola did not disappoint my ANY means. Impressive is an understatement when it comes to the music that happens at St. Paul's. It's too bad I never got to attend Mass there when John Dunn was Music Director, or even better, the late Theodore Marier. But the new director, John Robinson, is just as good!

At the time of the 1984 edition of the parish's hymnal, Hymns, Psalms, and Spritual Canticles, Ted Marier was the director, and John Dunn was his assistant. The hymnal was Marier's brainchild. Better musicians may be familiar with his contributions to the Pius X Hymnal of the mid 1950's. Dunn contributed a sizable amount of hymn texts to the current hymnal. The hymnal is out of print. Perhaps a new edition with the new Roman Missal translation? Would be nice!

Let's just say for the first time, my wife and daughter got to experience a FULL sung Mass! Here is the music list:

Introit: Domine, in tua misericordia speravi (Graduale Romanum)
Entrance Procession: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (Lobe den Herren)
Kyrie and Gloria from Missa a Simplicitate by Jean Langlais - in English
Psalm 103: Marier chant setting with Psalm Tone 7a from the parish hymnal
Alleluia for Sundays of the Year I by Theodore Marier
Credo II in English
Offertory: Intende voci (Graduale Romanum)
Hymn: Praise, my soul, the King of heaven (Lauda Anima)
Sanctus: Minor Mode by Theodore Marier - in English
Memorial: Christ Has Died (Marier)
Amen: Eucharistic Prayer Conclusion I (Major Mode) (Dresden, slightly altered)
Lord's Prayer: Marier chant
Agnus Dei from Missa a Simplicitate by Jean Langlais - in English
Communion: Narrabo omnia mirabilia tua (Graduale Romanum, with verses)
Recessional: We give immortal praise (Love Unknown/John Ireland)

One would be hard-pressed to find a music program THIS GOOD in southern new England. Probably St. John the Evangelist in Stamford, CT.

If this isn't the ideal when it comes to the Mass in English, it's DAMN CLOSE! Heavenly!
Peace,
BMP

THE PSALMS OF HOLY WEEK

Now showing on:

as part of the Psalm 151 project:

Four Psalm settings by yours truly, three of which were tried, tested, and gone over well in every parish I've worked at but one since the day I wrote these (that one oddball being the "Roundhouse" - those who know me personally know where that is):

PALM SUNDAY: My God, My God - originally conceived in 1995
HOLY THURSDAY: Our Blessing Cup - originally conceived in 1992
GOOD FRIDAY: Father, into Your Hands - originally conceived in 1992 as Father, I put my life in your hands, but reborn as Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit in 1998 to conform with the Lectionary changes at that time.

Those three have been successfully used in Woonsocket, Providence, and Tiverton, as long as I've been music director there. The only exception is the following, as it is mainly for cathedral use:

CHRISM MASS: For Ever I Will Sing - originally conceived in 1992

BTW, DON'T FORGET!!! If you don't find these Psalms right away on the front page, simply consult the Responsorial Psalm Calendar, which lists all the Psalms sorted in liturgical order.

PSALM 151, from Christus Vincit Music! In both NAB and RGP translations, and written with the organ, choir, and congregation in mind! Use them at any parish! I dare you!

Peace,
BMP

PSALM FOR NEXT SUNDAY

The Lord Is Kind and Merciful
for 2/20/11 - Sunday VII



Unlike most of my settings, which have chant-like Psalm tones in the verses, this one has more of a Gelineau flavor to it (that is, the style used by the late great Père Joseph Gelineau, SJ). The antiphon includes a descant.

PDF - New American Bible translation
PDF - Revised Grail Psalter translation

Peace,
BMP

PS: You can find more settings at my newest blog, Christus Vincit Music.

BRIDEZILLA THE BARBARIAN

RSCT (for those who forgot what that is, "Red Sox Cap Tip") to Argent:

As I pasted the "embed" link to this, I can't get over the length of the code used to embed, compared to YouTube. Anyhoo...

I, like Argent, have been pretty lucky in not having too many "bridezillas" at the Wedding Mass. I've had many more struggles with funeral music than with weddings. I think the last time I wanted to strangle someone over music is when I was up in a choir loft (circa 1984), and a guitarist was downstairs by the altar. The guitarist was lucky of the distance between her and me in the church as I wanted so desperately to take the guitar and wrap it around her freakin' neck. Her song at Communion: "Up Where We Belong", from An Officer and a Gentleman. Now any time the song comes on the radio, I can't change the station fast enough!

As for the funeral struggles, Argent mentioned how people will ask for inappropriate music and then mention that they've worshipped here for x-amount of decades, and other useless "blah, blah, blah!" My former pastor from the "roundhouse" I once played would excuse such bad music by telling me that they're "good Catholic people." AH HA! So I guess that excuses them from proper catechesis?

Peace,
BMP

iSNARK RECOMMENDS

The St. Michael Hymnal

I've read quite a few complaints (and right they are) about many of the new and revised Mass settings that will appear in major worship aids from the "Big Three". It seems that they're doing the same old grind - about 30% anything that resembles dignified vs. about 70% hanky-panky.

Well, with the St. Michael Hymnal, that hanky-panky is out of sight and out of mind! There are eighteen Mass settings to be published in the forthcoming fourth edition of the hymnal, and they're ALL good! Twelve in English, and six in Latin (Jubilate Deo, plus Masses VIII, IX, X, XI, and XVII)! That's the next best thing since Ted Marier's brainchild, Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Canticles.

Click here to check the English settings out. They come with sample pages and audio. You'll really like what you hear!
Peace,
BMP

YOU BE THE JUDGE

Which anthem is worse? Rosanne's or Christina's?

I say Christina's. To me, Rosanne's was comedy (or at least "attempted comedy"). Christina's was just bad music, not to mention a minute longer - like going to Mass and having to endure four of the worst "Glory and Praise" and "Gather" tunes ever written.
Peace,
BMP

PS: I should add, at least Rosanne got all the words right, and didn't try to scat sing!

Christina Aguilera


Rosanne Barr/Arnold/just plain Rosanne

IT'S NOT JUST PETS AND HUMANS THAT NEED A HOME!

Pipe organs need a home, too! Found this site just minutes ago:

www.homelesspipeorgans.com

The title is a hoot, but it's worth checking out. Right now there is only one pipe organ on the site, but if you keep checking the site regularly, you might find an update, or two, or three...

After all, pipe organs need a home, just like us humans and their pets. :)

Peace,
BMP