"He who sings well prays twice." (St. Augustine of Hippo) +++ "Qui cantat precatur ter." (Gregorius Spurius)

Monday, September 25, 2017

Line-up for SUN 01 OCT: SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (plus Midnight Mass news, upcoming Daily Mass feasts, and preview of 18th Sunday's Introit)

A summary of the Midnight Mass Planning Meeting is at the end.

There is a Pastoral Council Meeting at 6pm Tuesday 26 September, so practice will have to be quick and efficient. Please, if at all possible, pre-practice the Introit with the linked mp3 and video below.

Here's the line-up for practice -- my plan is to hit the Feast of St. Michael really quick, then quickly through the new hymn, Te Gestientem Gaudiis (which I think we all remember well from last year), and finally the Propers for Sunday until I have to leave. That is a tall order, I know.

For Sun 01 Oct: Seventeenth Sunday
  • Mass Propers [PDF]
  • Mass Parts: Mass VIII -- De Angelis
  • After Offertory: Psalm 140 Incensum [PDF]
  • After Communion: Te Gestientem Gaudiis [PDF -- Video]
    • This will be the hymn for the month of October, in celebration of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (Feast 07 Oct). See here for more information about this hymn: [LINK]
  • Postlude: Antiphona ad Sanctum Michaelem [PDF -- mp3]
Upcoming Daily Mass Feasts
  • Fri 29 Sep: Michaelmas [gdoc]
  • Wed 04 Oct: St. Francis (Indulgenced Basilica Feast Day) [gdoc to be posted]
  • Sat 07 Oct: Our Lady of the Rosary [gdoc to be posted]
Next Week Preview
Midnight Mass

The format will be much as last year. Pre-Mass caroling will be two selections by the Schola (I settled on Corde Natus ex Parentis and Resonet in Laudbus -- see right for both; I intend both of these to be a capella), two selections by the 9am Choir, two instrumentals, and three carols with everybody; what those are is to be determined. Finally, we will end with Cantique De Noel/O Holy Night in both French and English.

The Procession to the Creche will be Adeste Fideles, verse 1 in Latin then English. After the Blessing of the Creche, we will continue with Adeste Fideles, verse 2 in English, as the priests and the servers enter the Sanctuary.

The Mass Parts will be the normal "everyday" Latin Sanctus and Agnus Dei, with the Mortem Tuam Memorial Acclamation printed in the program for the evening so everyone will have it in front of them if Fr. Blake chooses to do it. We're used to not knowing what he's going to do until he introduces it in English or Latin....

The Introit when the priest reaches the altar and incenses it will be the same as last year (the Propers and Readings for Midnight Mass are the same every year) -- Dominus dixit ad me. The 9am Choir has it in modern notation and is indeed already working on it, so they will join in the choir parts. There will be organ accompaniment.

The Gloria is still a bit up in the air. The 9am Choir is learning a new Gloria besides the Andrews one they have done forever, but two out of three of us there in the meeting were for the 9am Choir learning the Mass VIII Latin Gloria, so they are going to give that a shot.

The Responsorial Psalm and the Gospel Acclamation will be the same as last year -- again, we'll just sing along with the melody for the latter.

Fr. Blake requested Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring for the Preparation of Gifts, so we will start learning the melody for that in the coming weeks.

The Communion Antiphon will also be the same as last year, In splendoribus, and yes, the 9am Choir is working on it as well and will join in, with organ accompaniment. Then there will be instrumental music as the Choir Communicates, after which we will all sing Of the Father's Love Begotten as the Communion Hymn, followed by Silent Night as the priest performs the Post-Communion ablutions.

And, as usual, the Recession will be accompanied by Joy to the World.

A Combined-Choir practice is anticipated for the Thursday prior, 21 December, at 6:30pm. I hope to get Roxanne up for one or two of our Tuesday practices, perhaps the 19th, maybe the 12th as well, so we can go over the carols and hymns we'll join in on as well as practice the Introit and Communio with the organ.

Overall, I think this is actually a better line-up than last year.

Monday, September 18, 2017

Line-up for SUN 24 SEP: SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (plus upcoming Daily Mass feasts and preview of 17th Sunday's Introit

I think all are agreed the TLM wedding Saturday night went off wonderfully. Thank you to all who showed up, and especially to Tommy Myrick for taking lead and playing organ!

Here's the line-up for practice Tue 19 Sep:

For Sun 24 Sep: Sixteenth Sunday
  • Mass Propers [PDF]
  • Mass Parts: Mass VIII -- De Angelis
  • After Offertory: Psalm 140 Incensum [PDF]
  • After Communion: Vexilla Regis [PDF -- Video]
    • This will be the hymn for the month of September, in celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Feast 14 Sep)
  • Postlude: Antiphona ad Sanctum Michaelem [PDF -- mp3]
Upcoming Daily Mass Feasts
  • Thu 21 Sep: St. Matthew [gdoc]
  • Fri 29 Sep: Michaelmas [gdoc]
  • Wed 04 Oct: St. Francis (Indulgenced Basilica Feast Day) [gdoc to be posted]
Post-Communion Hymn for October

Next Week Preview

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Line-up for SUN 17 SEP: FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (plus upcoming Daily Mass feasts and preview of 16th Sunday's Introit -- and the upcoming Wedding)

Here's the line-up for practice Tue 12 Sep:

For Sun 17 Sep: Fifteenth Sunday
  • Mass Propers [PDF]
  • Mass Parts: Mass VIII -- De Angelis
  • After Offertory: Psalm 140 Incensum [PDF]
  • After Communion: Vexilla Regis [PDF -- Video]
    • This will be the hymn for the month of September, in celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Feast 14 Sep)
  • Postlude: Antiphona ad Sanctum Michaelum [PDF -- mp3]
Upcoming Wedding Mass for Sat 16 Sep
  • Information to be posted, but here is the Introit [PDF -- Video -- mp3]
Upcoming Daily Mass Feasts
  • Thu 14 Sep: Exaltation of the Holy Cross [gdoc]
  • Fri 15 Sep: Our Lady of Sorrows [gdoc
  • Thu 21 Sep: St. Matthew [gdoc]
  • Fri 29 Sep: Michaelmas [gdoc to be posted]
Next Week Preview

Sunday, September 03, 2017

Line-up for SUN 10 SEP: FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (and Thu 14 Sep: Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Fri 15 Sep: Our Lady of Sorrows; plus preview of 15th Sunday's Introit)

Here's the line-up for next week.

For Sun 10 Sep: Fourteenth Sunday
  • Mass Propers [PDF]
  • Mass Parts: Mass VIII -- De Angelis
  • After Offertory: Psalm 140 Incensum [PDF]
  • After Communion: Vexilla Regis [PDF -- Video]
    • This will be the hymn for the month of September, in celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Feast 14 Sep)
  • Postlude: Antiphona ad Sanctum Michaelum [PDF -- mp3]
Daily Mass Feasts of the Week
  • Thu 14 Sep: Exaltation of the Holy Cross [gdoc to be added]
  • Fri 15 Sep: Our Lady of Sorrows [gdoc to be added] 
Next Week Preview
  • 15th Sunday Introit [PDF -- Video -- mp3]
  • Thu 21 Sep: St. Matthew [gdoc to be added]

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Line-up for SUN 03 SEP: THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (and Fri 08 Sep: Nativity of Our Lady; plus preview of Sun 10 Sep: 14th Sunday after Pentecost)

Here’s the line-up. We practiced the Thirteenth Sunday on Tuesday night, spending a lot of time on the Introit. I’m linking the practice video and mp3 for that below as well; keep working with it. I think we can do this!

As a heads-up, I’m also including the next-coming Friday, 08 September: Nativity of Our Lady, as well as the practice video and mp3 for the Introit of the Fourteenth Sunday as well, under the assumption we’re going to continue with these. We can do this! Just try to listen to it, pre-practice it a bit before we practice on Tuesday … I think it helped last Tuesday night.

For Sun 03 Sep: Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
  • Mass Propers [PDF]
  • Mass Parts: Mass VIII -- De Angelis
  • After Offertory: Psalm 140 Incensum [PDF]
  • After Communion: Vexilla Regis [PDFYoutube]
    • This will be our hymn for the month of September, in celebration of the Triumph of the Cross (Feast: 14 Sep)
  • Postlude: Antiphona ad Sanctum Michaelum [PDFmp3]
Daily Mass feast celebrated with chant this coming week:

Fri 08 Sep: Nativity of Our Lady
For Sun 10 Sep: Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Monday, August 21, 2017

Line-up for SUN 27 AUG: TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (and Tue 22 Aug: Queenship of Mary; Thu 24 Aug: St. Bartholomew)

Here's the line-up for practice tomorrow night, back at our regular time in our regular place:

For Sun 27 Aug: Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

  • Mass Propers [PDF]
    • Note that I am changing the Alleluia slightly to match the style we used with Tommy at the St. Philomena Mass a couple of weeks ago.
    • I'm also leaving out the extended Psalm-verses for incensation. I'll try pacing the Introit and the Offertory better, beginning the Kyrie when the incensation begins during the opening rites and reserving extra music for the chanting of Psalm 140 when incensation begins afteer the Offertory.
  • Mass Parts: Mass VIII De Angelis [see at right]
  • Psalm 140 Incensum [PDF]
  • After Communion: Salve Regina [PDF -- Youtube]
  • Postlude: Antiphona ad Sanctum Michaelem [PDF -- mp3]


Daily Mass feasts celebrated with chant this week are:

Tue 22 Aug: Queenship of Mary

  • Line-up [PDF]
  • Of course, 6:30am Mass is before our 5:30pm practice. I put up an announcement on Facebook a while ago.


Thu 24 Aug: St.  Bartholomew

  • Line-up [PDF]

Finally, we'll start looking at the Post-Communion hymn for the month of September, the Month of the Holy Cross: Vexilla Regis Prodeunt [PDF -- Youtube]

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Line-up for Sun 20 Aug: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

With Fr. Blake leaving on vacation today, there was quite a bit of uncertainty what the 5pm Mass on this coming Sunday would be -- TLM or Novus Ordo. On the other hand, with Tuesday being a Holy Day of Obligation with a 6pm Mass (covered by another choir since the Schola covered the 6:30am Mass), our practice was delayed until tonight. Things worked out at the last minute, however, with news that the Mass will be said by Fr. Seiler as a Novus Ordo -- but predominately in Latin much like Fr. Blake did for the month of July 2016, immediately after his appointment to the Basilica, when he was still working on learning the TLM well enough to say it with appropriate dignity. Ultimately, the difference in language between the "English Mass" and the Traditional Latin Mass is the least of the differences, it seems! In any case, I had just enough time before practice began to clear the core of the following line-up with him....

  • Mass Propers in Latin (Introit, Offertory, and Communion Antiphon) [PDF]
  • Responsorial Psalm and Gospel Acclamation in English [PDF]
  • Mass Parts: Mass VIII De Angelis [as at right, including Gloria and Credo III]
  • Incensation Psalm 140 [PDF]
  • Post-Communion: Salve Regina [PDF -- Youtube]
  • Postlude: Antiphona ad Sanctum Michaelem [PDF -- mp3]

I really haven't looked ahead to next week, but presumably Fr. Blake will be back with the TLM for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost.

In the meantime, come Tuesday night we will be back to our normal night for practice, and we will go over the upcoming week's daily-Mass feast day, St. Bartholomew on Thursday the 24th.