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THE WEDNESDAY REPORT: April 13, 2022

THE WEDNESDAY REPORT: April 13, 2022

Dear Partners in Ministry,

It’s go time.

Holy Thursday marks the beginning of my third month with you at St. Noel, and what a two months we’ve had already! This edition of TWR takes you, day by day, through these celebrations; keep an eye on the Worship Blog and your emails for any updates and late-breaking info I need to share with you.

Harried as these weeks have been, you’ve been amazing…. We’re going to rock this. =)

MORNING PRAYER

Please consider starting each day of the Triduum with Morning Prayer at 9 am. I’ll be at the piano to lead singing.

DRESS CODE

None, really. Don’t worry about matching outfits for these liturgies. I trust you to wear something appropriate! All I would ask is:

  • No “noisemakers” (jangly jewelry, shoes that clack loudly on hard floors, etc)
  • Comfortable shoes, as we’re on our feet for a fair bit of time each night
  • Minimal to no scents (no strong perfumes, colognes, etc)
  • Consider the liturgical color for the day: red for Good Friday, white for all the rest.

TEMPO: TONY’S CALL; DON’T RUSH!

We have a collective habit of pushing tempo a bit in our singing and accompanying. Please remember that a refrain that feels a touch slow to you might be set there to accommodate a much busier verse, or to allow for the harmonic structure of a piece to really work its magic. Keep an eye on me for our common tempo, especially if it’s a song you know very well!


HOLY THURSDAY

CALL TIMES
Instrumentalists: arrive by 6:00 pm to set up, tune, etc.
Vocalists: please be in place and ready to start warmups at 6:15.

GATHERING: Glory to the Christ, Our Savior

  • Verse 1: unison
  • Verses 2–3: SATB
  • Verse 4: unison
  • The goal is to set a joyous and ceremonious tone for the celebration, but to hold a bit of oomph back for the greater joy to come!

GLORY TO GOD: Mass of Creation

  • “Sing what you know, know what you sing.” Harmony is ok from the get-go.

PSALM: Ps 116: Our Blessing-Cup (Charlie M, cantor)

  • All verses
  • Harmony after verse 2
  • Generally a mp dynamic, poco cresc. to mf at “blood,” then dim.

LENTEN GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Mass of Renewal

  • Same as Sundays.

WASHING OF FEET:  As I Have Done for You

  • We’ll have ten “washees" this year, and sing verses as needed. Harmony after v. 1. 

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL:  O God, Hear Us

  • Unison tonight; sung before petitions and after each petition.

GIFTS: Panis Angelicus 

  • I’ve added Bob to the accompaniment for this piece

EUCHARISTIC ACCLAMATIONS: Mass of Renewal/Chant Mass

  • Same as our Lenten Sundays.

COMMUNION: Love One Another 

  • Verses 1, 2, 4, 6
  • Communion rules apply: All to communion procession right away, except cantor and a few others; harmonies after we’re all back in place
  • Tony will take the lead on verses, but please sing whatever is comfortable

PROCESSION WITH THE BLESSED SACRAMENT: Praise We Christ’s Immortal Body 

  • All who are able to process will join me at the lead of the procession.

NIGHT PRAYER, 10:00: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence 

  • unaccompanied

GOOD FRIDAY

CALL TIMES
Instrumentalists: arrive by 2:00 pm to set up, tune, etc.
Vocalists: please be in place and ready to start warmups at 2:30.

SOLEMN ENTRANCE

  • We begin in sacred silence.

PSALM 31: Father, Into Your Hands

  • Intro: 1 refrain
  • Greg sings refrain, we repeat in unison
  • Choir begins singing harmonies on “oo” underneath verses
  • All refrains SATB after verse 1
  • Let it be the prayerful mantra it is. It’s a beautiful and haunting setting!

LENTEN GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Mass of Renewal

  • A bit more subdued than our Sunday level for this. 

ADORATION OF THE CROSS: Behold the Wood

  • PRESENTATION: Ed will play chords as the cross is processed into the church. At three points, the cross will be elevated; Tony will intone the refrain, and the choir responds with the assembly.
    • Tony: Behold, behold the wood of the Cross,
      on which is hung our salvation:
    • All: O come, let us adore.
  • ADORATION: We sing the entire song as needed.
    • Choir is welcome to take part in the adoration. Let’s depart all together as with Communion; we’ll begin harmonizing one all of you have returned.

COMMUNION: Behold the Lamb of God

  • Communion rules apply: All to communion procession right away, except cantor and a few others; harmonies after we’re all back in place
  • Do what you do so well, just down one dynamic notch from “all-in.”

REFLECTION: Seven Last Words of the Prince of Peace

  • Tony is soloist
  • Sing as directed in the box below the score.

EASTER VIGIL

CALL TIMES
Instrumentalists: arrive by 7:15 pm to set up, tune, etc.
Vocalists: please be in place and ready to start warmups at 7:30.

BLESSING OF THE FIRE AND PREPARATION OF THE CANDLE

  • I would actually like anyone among you who is comfortable doing so to take part in the outside portion of this rite. As you make your way into the church, head on over to the music area. 

EXSULTET

  • Proclaimed by myself, Karin, and David at the ambo. Steve accompanies. It’s a beautiful setting that I hope to include you all in next year!

PSALMS: INFORMATION FOR CANTORS

  • When the reading preceding your psalm begins, move to the front row of seats next to the ambo so that you can take your place for the psalm quickly and easily. No need to bow; simply walk up from the side and sing away.

PSALMS: FOR THE CHOIR

  • For each setting: two unison refrains to start (cantor, then all); harmonies start after first verse.

PSALMS:

  • I. Ps 104: Send Forth Your Spirit, O Lord (Kathy S): verses 1, 3.
  • II. Ps 16: You Are My Inheritance (Jack G): verses 1, 4, 5.
  • III. Ex 15: Song of Miriam (Diane M): all verses; sing as written.
  • IV. Ps 30: I Will Praise You, Lord (Rich W): verses 1, 2.
  • V. Is 12: We Shall Draw Water (Karin O): verses 1, 4.
  • VI. Ps 19: Lord, You Have the Words (David R): verses 1, 2, 4.
  • VII. Ps 42: As the Deer Longs (Kathy P): verses 1, 4.

GLORY TO GOD: Mass of Creation

  • “Sing what you know, know what you sing.” Harmony is ok from the get-go.

SOLEMN ALLELUIA

  • Fr. Terry intones this three times as the first official “Alleluia” of Easter.

PSALM 118: This Is the Day

  • Jerry G, cantor
  • All verses (by cantor alone)
  • Harmony after 1

LITANY OF THE SAINTS

  • After the homily, we call Keira forth. Deacon Dave leads her and her family, along with ministers, to the font in long procession.
  • The Litany is led by Tony
    • Intro: Lord, have mercy (cantor, then all)
    • Verses 1–4 (names of saints): “Pray for us.” Refrain: “All you holy men and women, pray for us.”
    • Verse 5 (prayer for deliverance): “Lord, deliver us, we pray.” Refrain same as above.
    • Verse 6 (for those to be baptized): Remember, this one starts at the top of page 3. “Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.” Refrain: “Christ, hear us; Christ, graciously hear us.”

BAPTISMAL RITES: SPRINGS OF WATER, BLESS THE LORD (Refrain only)

  • 1. BLESSING OF THE WATER: Fr. Terry blesses the water in the font, concluding with “who lives and reigns… God, forever and ever…. Amen.” We sing one refrain.
  • 2. KEIRA’S BAPTISM: As soon as she is baptized, we sing one refrain.

RENEWAL AND SPRINKLING: Come to the Water

  • Keira moves to the front of the altar steps. She receives her baptismal garment (her Communion dress) and her baptismal candle.
  • Keira is then Confirmed.
  • She will then be sent to change and return to us, and will begin re-lighting our baptismal candles as she moves down the center aisle.
  • We then renew our baptismal promises (I do…)
  • Once Fr. Terry moves to begin the Sprinkling Rite, we start “Come to the Water.”
    • Verse 1: unison, p to mp
    • Verse 2: harmonized, mp to mf
    • Verse 3: harmonized, mf to f
    • Verse 4 (Keira enters): 
      • start p
      • begin a molto cresc. at “bring them all to the Lord.” 
      • Sing f at “bring the children without might;” then subito p at “easy the load and light;” 
      • back to f to finish. 

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL:  O God, Hear Us

  • Sung before petitions (unison) and after each petition (harmonized as able).

GIFTS: Three Days (octavo version)

  • Piano added to help with choral pitches
  • Remember the character of each verse!
  • Assembly invited to join at verse 3
  • Watch like crazy at end for tempo, entrances, cutoffs 

EUCHARISTIC ACCLAMATIONS: Mass of Renewal

  • Same as our Lenten Sundays, but harmony is OK if you’re comfortable with it.

LAMB OF GOD: Mass of Creation

COMMUNION: Christ, Be Our Light (Easter Vigil verses)

  • Communion rules apply: All to communion procession right away, except cantor and a few others; harmonies after we’re all back in place

SOLEMN DISMISSAL

  • “Go in peace, alleluia, alleluia…” “Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia…”. Traditional chant.

SENDING FORTH: Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

  • All verses
  • Harmony after 1

EASTER SUNDAY · Masses at 9 am and 11 am

CALL TIMES
Instrumentalists: arrive 45 minutes before to set up, tune, etc.
Vocalists: please be in place and ready to start warmups 30 minutes before.

GATHERING: Alleluia! Sing to Jesus

  • Verses 1–4
  • Verses 2–3: SATB
  • Verse 4: unison

GLORY TO GOD: Mass of Creation

  • “Sing what you know, know what you sing.” Harmony is ok from the get-go.

PSALM 118: This Is the Day

  • Jerry G/Jack G, cantor
  • All verses (by cantor alone)
  • Harmony after 1

EASTER SEQUENCE: Christians, to the Paschal Victim

  • Verses 1–3: All
  • Verses 4, 6: Men
  • Verses 5, 7: Women
  • Verse 8: All

ALLELUIA: Mass of Renewal

  • JS 177
  • Very similar to Lenten GA!

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL:  O God, Hear Us

  • Sung before petitions (unison) and after each petition (harmonized as able).

GIFTS (9 am): Three Days (hymn version)

  • Verse 1, unison
  • Verses 2–3: harmony as able

EUCHARISTIC ACCLAMATIONS: Mass of Renewal

  • Same as our Lenten Sundays, but harmony is OK if you’re comfortable with it.

LAMB OF GOD: Mass of Creation

COMMUNION: Gather the People

  • Communion rules apply: All to communion procession right away, except cantor and a few others; harmonies after we’re all back in place

SOLEMN DISMISSAL

  • “Go in peace, alleluia, alleluia…” “Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia…”. Traditional chant.

SENDING FORTH: Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

  • All verses
  • Harmony after 1

LOOKING AHEAD: PSALM 118: GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD

We’re singing one of my creations next Sunday, April 24, “Psalm 118: Give Thanks to the Lord.” This is an upbeat and joyful setting that I hope you’ll enjoy. There’s choral harmony in the refrain and in verse 3, a fun little surprise at “This is the day…!” Here’s an MP3 [https://www.dropbox.com/s/vq0g0az2yourf7i/Psalm118Ward-Demo.mp3?dl=0] I recorded a few years ago, and the PDF score [https://www.dropbox.com/s/9qxyf46jo3f72km/Psalm%20118%20Give%20Thanks%20to%20the%20Lord%20%28Ward%29.pdf?dl=0] to look over in advance of our next rehearsal. I’ll be serving as cantor for all Masses that weekend.

MORE SELECTIONS

Triduum and Easter (April 14–June 5, 2022)

Peace be with you,

Tony

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