Sunday 3 July 2011

Music from the Roman Missal - More Examples from Australia

Earlier I posted a link to an Episcopal Ordination at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne in June this year where parts of the new translation of the Missal were used.  Now here are some excerpts from St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney.

Before the extracts, it may be appropriate to be reminded of one of the first paragraphs of Sacrosanctum Concilium:  
"In the earthly liturgy we take part in a foretaste of that heavenly liturgy which is celebrated in the holy city of Jerusalem toward which we journey as pilgrims, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, a minister of the holies and of the true tabernacle; we sing a hymn to the Lord's glory with all the warriors of the heavenly army; venerating the memory of the saints, we hope for some part and fellowship with them; we eagerly await the Saviour, Our Lord Jesus Christ, until He, our life, shall appear and we too will appear with Him in glory" (para 8).
Many have argued that the musical and liturgical patrimony of the Roman Rite is the ideal form of expressing on earth that which is to be expected in the heavenly liturgy (c.f. Sacrosanctum Concilium, para 116).  The music at the Solemn Mass at St Mary's draws heavily on that rich inheritance - from the Order of Service at St Mary's Cathedral for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2011):  

HYMN - Be thou my vision
INTROIT - Suscepimus, Deus ... (translation provided)
GREETING C (Peace be with you/And with your spirit)
PENITENTIAL ACT A (Confiteor - new translation)
KYRIE & GLORIA - Cantus Missae, Rheinberger (translations provided)

Extract from Mass setting (sound quality not particularly good):  
COLLECT
Father,
through the obedience of Jesus,
your servant and your Son,
you raised a fallen world. 
Free us from sin
and bring us the joy that lasts for ever.  (1973)
O God, who in the abasement of your Son
have raised up a fallen world,
fill your faithful with holy joy,
for on those you have rescued from slavery to sin
you bestow eternal gladness.  (from 2012) 
READINGS (Responsorial Psalm - I will bless your name for ever, O God my King)
ALLELUIA - Simple refrain, verse Venite ad me ... (translation provided)
GOSPEL (new translation)
CREDO I

Extract from Credo I (sound quality not particularly good):  
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
OFFERTORY MOTET - Laudate Dominum, Dupre (translation provided)
ORATE FRATRES (new translation)
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
PREFACE DIALOGUE (new translation)
SANCTUS - Mass XI (orbis factor) - Sung by all
MYSTERY OF FAITH - Acclamation A

We proclaim your Death (sound quality not particularly good):  
COMMUNION RITE - (new translation)
AGNUS DEI - Mass XI (orbis factor)
ECCE AGNUS DEI (new translation)
COMMUNION ANTIPHON - Gustate et videte ... (translation provided)
POST COMMUNION HYMN - All ye who seek a comfort sure
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
CONCLUDING RITES (new translation)
ORGAN POSTLUDE (Reger)

Is this not approaching the ideal liturgy envisaged by Vatican II by drawing on the best traditions of the Roman Rite?