The Portal April 2017 | Page 22

THE P RTAL April 2017 Page 22 Music for the masses Christopher Smith is Organist and Director of Music at the Ordinariate and Parish of the Most Precious Blood, London SE1 M any musical settings of the common parts of the Mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei) for both the Ordinary and Ordinariate Form of the Roman Rite exist.  Groups with extensive musical resources at their disposal will already have an appropriate repertoire.  Most groups will have more limited resources and the following lists are written with them in mind. In the following lists, only settings which anticipate congregational participation have been suggested.  Most are by British composers, several of whom have close connections with well-known Anglo-Catholic Churches.  I’m sure there are others to add; do write to the editors with your suggestions.  Congregational settings for the Ordinary Form  Missal Tones in Latin and English. The Diocese of Leeds Music Department team have produced accompaniments for these which are free to download from their website - www.dioceseofleedsmusic.org.uk/ advice_materials Missa de Angelis in Latin So widely used both in this country and overseas that it’s difficult to be a Catholic and not pick it up somewhere along the way.  Learn this, Credo III and the Pater Noster in Latin and you’ll be well-prepared for Mass in Rome or nearer home.  quasi-plainsong style.  This setting is popular in many parishes and is a recommended setting, usually along with Missa de Angelis, used at big Diocesan events for several Dioceses.  It’s not as easy as people think and the Agnus Dei can easily go astray.  The newly composed Gloria is perhaps not as successful as the rest of the setting. Mass of St Luke the Evangelist – Phillip Stopford (Organ, unison voices with optional SATB and optional brass) Phillip was a chorister at Westminster Abbey and went as Organ Scholar to Keble College, Oxford.  To get a flavour of his work there are recordings on YouTube of, for example, “Do not be afraid” and “Teach me O Lord”.  The Mass of St Luke is a comprehensive setting with both the English and Latin texts set. Many extras are also set, including Gospel acclamations, response to the Prayer of the Faithful and a very attractive congregational setting in English of the Vidi aquam.  Both the Kyrie and Agnus Dei are led by a Cantor and the congregation then plays follow the leader. This is a moderately complex Mass setting in some parts but still suitable for congregational participation.  It requires a competent Organist, decent Organ and a few confident voices to do it justice.  Mass of St Gregory - Fr Mark Elliott Smith (Organ, unison voices with optional SATB) The Kyrie and Agnus Dei are almost identical, which makes learning this setting a little easier than some others. The Gloria requires a bit of work to get a congregation singing it, a swift pace helps, but the very singable Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus Dei make this a popular and straightforward setting.  Fr Mark is a Congregational settings for Divine Worship: Priest of the Ordinariate and dedicated the work to The Missal  John Merbecke’s setting of the Holy Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.  Communion was much loved by the Oxford Movement reformers of the nineteenth century.  It had both the Mass of St Peter – Malcolm Archer (Organ, unison timeless feel of plainsong while setting the words in voices with optional SATB) Malcolm Archer has held English.  What we know today are largely nineteenth a number of posts in Anglican Cathedrals including century adaptions of Merbecke’s music to 1662 words.  St Pauls’ but is now Director of Chapel Music and (As an aside, Merbecke was tried for heresy in the Organist at Winchester College.  This setting was Priory Church of St Mary Overie, commonly called written for St Peter’s Catholic Cathedral, Lancaster.  St Saviour’s Cathedral, Southwark, which is within the It is tuneful and fun!  The Agnus Dei is rhythmically parish boundary of MPB).  subtle and repays the effort of learning it.  Anglican Folk Mass - Martin Shaw (Unison with Mass of St Anne – Sir James Macmillan (Organ, organ) This is intended for unison singing, but unison voices with optional SATB) The well-known parts of it may be sung in harmony if desired.  A Catholic composer updated this setting with the words straightforward and much-loved setting in a quasi- of the new translation in 2011 and added a Gloria in a plainsong style.  ... continued at the foot of next page Ø