Pax! I found a video with a strange way if chanting psalm 50/51 (Nova Vulgata). They are chanting exultabunt ossa humiliata all the time. What is this? http://m.youtube.com/?#/watch?v=-EXkKT4XmFk
They are repeating the antiphon (from the Requiem Mass) after every verse of the Miserere, as though it was a Responsorial Psalm. We do it sometimes (in the OF), usually at Communion, to prolong the music when the action is long.
Based on the date of the video, I suspect that the recording is from an Ash Wednesday service. Psalm 51 is sung during the imposition of ashes. The antiphon is taken from verse 9 of the psalm.
This psalm and antiphon are used in the Office for the Dead as Andrew indicates, and have been used for many other occasions: see http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10352c.htm
In this case, the antiphon is repeated between verses, in the manner of a communion antiphon.
I'm a new poster, who's part of the same choir Andrew Malton sings in. I'm very interested in the technique demonstrated in this video. There is clearly congregational singing happening. The antiphon is from the Office of the dead so this is not an Ash Wednesday ceremony which has the same psalm but a different antiphon and therefore would have a different psalm tone for the psalm verses. I point out that the version of Ps 23 posted with this on Youtube is also from the Office of the dead. I can imagine a circumstance such as John Paul II's death when crowds of people filed past when a prolonged office with congregational participation would have been the ideal thing to do, but otherwise I'm stumped. Doing this maximizes the meditative character for the congregation and alleviates the need for participation aids. I would think it is almost a Taize-like experience albeit without instrumental accompaniment, harmony or rhythm. Has anybody ever taken a similar approach in doing a vesper service or any other office liturgy (compline).
To participate in the discussions on Catholic church music, sign in or register as a forum member, The forum is a project of the Church Music Association of America.