Went down early to prepare for the 10am Mass this morning- no mic's, mostly a capella repertoire sketched out in me head, then prayer. A lot of folks started showing up early as well. The director of our Gregorian Schola of St. Francis walked by with his huge Italian smile so we exchanged greetings and I invited him to join with me as he does SEP, GM and GR every other week at one of our parishes with his guys. Also sitting nearby was our one and only cantor, whose patron saint will soon be Bl.John23, he being the last hippie standing up for the Spirit of V2. I asked him to form a trio. Then a gentleman who sings in our ensemble, a kind of Karaoke belter who desires to learn how to chant from the SEP and finally learn to blend in. He just saw us gathered near the organ and we were now a quartet. I said to the first, "Would you please select the Entrance?" The second, "Would you please choose the Offertory?" The third "Communion?"
With the other schola fellow we chanted the SEP Introit and then transitioned to his choice of "Sing of Mary." We all then chanted the ICEL "Kyrie/Gloria." Did the Alstott psalm a capella (good setting for chanting) and VI mode "Alleluia."
Our V2 fellow opted for the John Michael Talbot "Holy is His Name" paraphrase of the Magnificat, and as I looked around we'd become a quintet. One of my tenors from my schola great voice, had joined us. Five guys from different perspectives about church music, but with a humble, casual unified purpose-to lead the singing, and DID THEY SING!
Did Bob Hurd's acclamations and the Latin Agnus Dei from ICEL/Jubilate Deo. Ah, mens voices in unison framed by intensive listening to each other. Little to no chironomy needed.
The Ensemble fellow chose "Here I am, Lord" and I didn't refute that, as after all, I asked him to choose. But we still sounded like monks for the Schutte anyway.
The celebrant is a Polish missioner on leave from Peru, a priest among priests, so I added two verses of Infant Holy, Infant Lowly after the Schutte.
After a solemn prayer and dismissal I chose the popular version of SALVE REGINA. No one left until its conclusion.
2014 has to be a better year already, in my estimation.