Dear Partners in Ministry,
What a spiritually (and literally) filling week we had at the Liturgical Composers Forum! Our speakers— renowned lyricist Mary Louise Bringle and renowned liturgist Dr. Mary Dumm— challenged us to re-examine and refine our approaches to text writing (which is quite near and dear to me!). I discovered some wonderful new/new-to-us music (including a setting of Ave Maria by Feargal King that we are definitely adding to our library), connected with dear friends (Kevin Keil included) and experienced some profound expressions of prayer. My hope is that the joy and grace the Forum brings me translates into my work for and with you throughout the year!
LENT UPDATES
Ash Wednesday is a mere fortnight hence... and, to make it feel even more imminent, I just added the first two liturgies of Lent to the list below! Some updates to our musical selections for the season:
- WONDROUS LOVE: The verses for Ash Wednesday (one verse instead of three) and the Sundays of Lent are now listed on the song sheets.
- KYRIE: We'll be using Form B of the Penitential Act, which is followed by a sung Kyrie. I'm seriously considering Luke Rosen's haunting "Kyrie Litany," (BB which Luke shared with us in our 2022 concert. Instead of the Taizé-like full version with the verses sung over the ostinato, we'd sing the refrain three times (Kyrie, Christe, Kyrie). This would be a very different piece for us, and I'd really appreciate your feedback before I make it official (and buy scores). You can hear the refrain in this YouTube snippet: https://youtu.be/1-3rkDFlSm0?si=xlgdyBCxwnY8ZzKI&t=227 (we'd sing it with accompaniment)
- PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL: Speaking of music written in our home state... our response to the Prayer of the Faithful will be a simple, unison refrain from my piece, "Hear Our Prayer."
- MASS SETTING: We'll return to Curtis Stephan's Mass of Renewal (JourneySongs 178-183) for the season. Cantors, I'll have Gospel Acclamation verses for you next week. This setting will stay with us through Triduum and the Easter season.
- THE BLESSED AND BROKEN: I'd said that I was tentatively planning to use this new piece in Lent and Triduum, pending the review at the Forum. To my delight, the reviews were overwhelmingly positive and encouraging! So, we'll introduce it at Gifts on the Third Sunday of Lent, and sing it for Communion on Holy Thursday. I won't have scores ready by tomorrow, but I'll play through it for you if time permits.
REVISED: LEARNING THOSE PARKER PIECES...
In my last WR, I outlined a rehearsal schedule for our two Triduum choral pieces. While the missed rehearsal on January 18 set us back a touch, we're still in fine shape. Here's a revised outline:
- February 1
- Wondrous Love: NWR (Notes, Words, and Rhythms), mm. 40–61
- Hark! I Hear the Harps Eternal: NWR, mm. 17–32
- February 8
- Wondrous Love: Review and Troubleshoot mm. 1–61; NRW, mm. 62–82
- Hark! I Hear the Harps Eternal: Review and Troubleshoot mm. 1–32
- February 15
- Wondrous Love: NRW, mm. 82–end
- Hark! I Hear the Harps Eternal: NRW, mm. 33–49
- February 22
- Wondrous Love: Review and Troubleshoot mm. 62–end
- Hark! I Hear the Harps Eternal: NRW, mm. 49–end
- February 29: JSW concert rehearsal
- March 7, 14
- Wondrous Love: Review and Troubleshoot
- Hark! I Hear the Harps Eternal: Review and Troubleshoot
- March 21: Taizé Prayer (all choir), 7 pm
REHEARSAL AGENDA: FEBRUARY 1
Pick up:
- 3.067 · Bless the Lord (Taizé)
- Song sheet, Feb 11/14
WEEKEND REPERTOIRE
- WA · TEMP · Ps 147: The Brokenhearted (Ward)
- JS 789 · Taste and See (Kendzia)
- JS 593 · Lift Up Your Hearts (O’Connor)
LENTEN REPERTOIRE
- JS 178–183 · Mass of Renewal (Stephan)
- 6.009 · Wondrous Love: A Lenten Reflection (Ward)
TRIDUUM REPERTOIRE
- 7.032 · Wondrous Love (arr. Shaw/Parker): NWR (Notes, Words, and Rhythms), mm. 40–61
- 8.013 · Hark! I Hear the Harps Eternal (arr. Shaw/Parker): NWR, 17–32
THIS WEEK IN LITURGY
ORDINARY TIME I (WINTER) 2024
RITUAL AND SERVICE MUSIC
Glory to God: 1.001 · Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Gospel Acclamation: JS 264 · Celtic Alleluia (O'Carroll/C. Walker)
Eucharistic Acclamations: 1.001 · Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Lamb of God: JS 789 · Lamb of God (Kendzia)
FEBRUARY 4 · Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gathering: BB 566 · JS 593 · Lift Up Your Hearts (O’Connor)
Responsorial Psalm: WA · TEMP · Ps 147: The Brokenhearted (Ward)
Preparation of the Gifts: WA · 3.067 · Bless the Lord (Taizé)
Communion: BB 337 · JS 789 · Taste and See (Kendzia)
Sending Forth: WA · 3.071 · Sent Forth as Light (Ward)
LOOKING AHEAD
FEBRUARY 11 · Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gathering: BB 301 · JS 771 · Our God Is Here (Muglia)
Responsorial Psalm: BB 662 · JS 532 · Loving and Forgiving (Soper)
Preparation of the Gifts: BB 325 · 3.066 · Bread for the World (Farrell)
Communion: BB 356 · JS 776 · Ubi Caritas (Hurd)
Sending Forth: BB 599 · JS 824 · Christ, Be Our Light (Farrell)
LENT 2024
RITUAL AND SERVICE MUSIC
Kyrie: pending
Prayer of the Faithful: WA · 3.057 · Hear Our Prayer (Ward)
All other acclamations: JS 178–183 · Mass of Renewal (Stephan)
FEBRUARY 14 · Ash Wednesday · Masses at 8:30 am, 7:00 pm
Gathering: WA · 6.009 · Wondrous Love: A Lenten Reflection (Ward), verse 5
Responsorial Psalm: WA · 2.015 · Psalm 51: Complete Setting (Ward)
Imposition of Ashes: BB 474 · JS 696 · In Every Age (Whitaker)
Preparation of the Gifts: BB 517 · JS 739 · O Beauty, Ever Ancient (O’Connor)
Communion: BB 658 · JS 345 · Turn to Me (Foley)
Sending Forth: instrumental
FEBRUARY 18 · First Sunday of Lent
Gathering: WA · 6.009 · Wondrous Love: A Lenten Reflection (Ward), verse 2
Responsorial Psalm: BB 762 · JS 28 · Ps 25: To You, O Lord (Soper)
Preparation of the Gifts: BB 505 · JS 732 · Only This I Want (Schutte)
Communion: BB 441 · JS 671 · On Eagle’s Wings (Joncas)
Sending Forth: BB 128 · JS 351 · Led by the Spirit (KINGSFOLD/Hurd)
RESOURCES
MUSIC SELECTIONS: Ordinary Time I (Winter: January 14–February 11, 2024)
MUSIC SELECTIONS: Lent and Holy Week (February 14–March 24, 2024)
MUSIC SELECTIONS: Triduum and Easter (Mar 28–May 19, 2024) coming soon