FOR ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THE MINISTRY OF MUSIC

1. Will I have to change anything I do?
Musicians are one of the most important groups of people who can help to make this change in the way we celebrate Mass work smoothly. Because there will be a new translation of texts such as the Gloria and the “Holy, holy” there will be new music settings of the Mass, and revised versions of existing ones.

Singing the new texts is going to be a great help for the people in getting to know them quickly, so musicians will need to spend time learning new music and preparing it for the people. If you belong to a group that does not rehearse very often, or even at all, this is a good opportunity for you to get together with the other musicians to make sure that you all know what the music is and how it goes, so that you can help the people become familiar with it too.

If you do not know where to find the new material, there will be people in your diocese who can help you. Don’t be afraid to ask around. In addition, publishers have been preparing new editions of hymnbooks that will include settings of the new texts, so it’s worth having a look at what is in their catalogues and on their websites. Those hymnbooks will include both brand new settings and revisions of settings that you may already use, and there will also be Mass settings available separately, including pew sheets for the people.

This isn’t the first time this has happened. The last time we had a change of texts like this was in 1972-73, when the Gloria and Sanctus texts we currently use were introduced among others. And before that, there was a whole period from 1966 to 1970 when the Mass was changing into the vernacular and lots of new music and hymnbooks came along. So — we know we can do it, because we have done it before!

If you belong to a group that sings ‘paraphrase’ settings such as the Israeli Mass or “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord”, this is a great opportunity to for you to move to other settings that more closely reflect what the Church has been asking us to do for quite a long time: ensure that we all sing the same texts, the Church’s official texts, so that when different groups of people or congregations come together they have a common repertoire and can all sing together.

Lectionary texts like the Responsorial Psalm are not going to change for a number of years, and the Lamb of God will remain the same, so there will still be some familiar ground.

As well as changes to texts that we sing, there will also be changes to texts that we speak; so make sure you know what they are so that you can give a strong lead to the people!

2. Are there any texts in the Mass that speak especially to my ministry?
A number of the new Prefaces end with words similar to “. . . as we sing the hymn of your glory/praise,
without end we acclaim” or “we sing to you with all our hearts, crying out as we acclaim”. This is a call to everyone to sing! Make sure that you are ready to come straight in with the “Holy, holy”.

In Eucharistic Prayer I for Reconciliation: “. . . made fully into a new creation, we shall sing to you with gladness the thanksgiving of Christ, who lives for all eternity.”

 3. What other aspects of my ministry could I look at?
Probably much of what has been said above will be sufficient. But if you do not have a subscription to a journal such as the Society of St Gregory’s Music and Liturgy now would be a good time to take out one. It contains lots of practical resources and advice, and a liturgy planner to help you with good music choices.

Useful resources

The Society of St Gregory: http://www.ssg.org.uk

St. Mungo Music: http://stmungomusic.org.uk/