> Are the two Alleluias (so to speak) are as different from one another as the Responsorial Psalm and the Gradual?

Very often, though not always, yes.

Another interesting observation: In both the GM and the Graduale simplex the verses for the Alleluia (not the Psalmus alleluiaticus) are derived from the Psalms (as with most of the propers found in the GM), and not from Scripture, as is the case with the 3-year Lectionary.

Curiouser and curiouser.

> If you look in the lectionary the Alleluia verses for Sundays of Ordinary Time are not assigned for each Sunday but are to be taken from a set of verses

I'm afraid I never saw the original Latin lectionary, but the Portuguese translation does have a verse for every single day in the calendar, including ferial days in Ordinary Time --- plus the seasonal sets intended for those that cannot but stick to just one melody.

Valério: I'm Brazilian and our Portuguese lectionary works the same way, though I think we have different lectionaries, or don't we?

[Curious that we are to be talking in English to each other]

Mark,

You have our prayers. Just last week I was in a meeting with staff and when I brought up doing simpler, more musical psalms than the OCP ones only to have another paid musical staff member interrupt, "You mean those CHABANEL ONES." And, forgive me for having to mention this Jeff, it was said in a rather less then appreciative tone.

The people are not the problem. It's the cantors and organists that resist change.

The problem in this parish is that they were taught to sing them in a way that slows each cadence of the verses to half speed. So they have no rhythmic flow.

I am singing a verse and here's THE_____________FIRST____________________CA____________________DENCE,
and now I am singing the second line which HAS____________A___________________CA_____________________DENCE________________________HERE____________________.

And the cantors refuse to relearn them....

The difficulty of singing them causes a large number of flubs that are inappropriate for the Liturgy.

I had a similar experience, Noel. I've received almost no negative feedback from the congregation about doing Latin Ordinaries. But, boy, did I get flak when we asked the regular choir to sing it! You'd have thought the roof was caving in!

The congregation is (in general) much more adaptable than the cantor and choir gives them credit for.

I'm also curious about the verses. I've put up fights in churches where I sub that the cantor must only sing the proper verse and not Marty Haugen's verse.

Noel: sounds like it's time for a mandatory cantor workshop! ;)

Sam Schmitt,

THANK YOU for your post. I have never understood that until now.

Is anyone else amazed when they read what Sam wrote?

I am amazed.

> I mean, though in the same language, the lectionaries were separatedly prepared.

Yes, lectionaries use different translations. In Brazil you have a translation of the whole Bible approved for Liturgy; in Portugal the bishops tried to have one but were unable to, and lectionaries use ad hoc translations. As far as I know, liturgical books in Brazilian and Portuguese have nothing in common save the responses at Mass (including the Gloria, the Credo, etc.). Even the priest's parts at Mass are differently translated. The Liturgy of the Hours does not even have the same responses. Of course, since both versions are in Portuguese, there are plenty of similar words and phrases.

That Alleluia used to be the antiphon for the psalmody of the first Vespers of Easter Sunday (which were sung after communion at the end of what we now call Easter Vigil, but which then took place in the morning, after praying all little hours at once). Check p. 420 of this 1923 Sung Holy Week.

When Pius XII reformed Holy Week, and sent Easter Vigil back to the night where it had started, that Alleluia became the antiphon for the psalmody of the Lauds of Easter Sunday, which now were to be sung after communion. (Some new Vespers were made up for Saturday.) Check p. 239M of the 1961 Graduale Romanum.

Currently the Easter Vigil no longer ends with an Office Hour. The current 1974 Graduale Romanum (or its 1979 edition with ancient neums, the Graduale Triplex) recicled this Alleluia, providing it to be sung as communion antiphon of the Easter Vigil. (Formerly there was no communion antiphon at Easter Vigil. The current Graduale also provides for the singing of the communion antiphon of Easter day at Easter Vigil. And of course rubrics allow singing any other communion antiphon from Easter time.) See p. 348 of the Gregorian Missal.

Using this Alleluia before the Gospel is enjoined by the 1974 Iubilate Deo, prepared by order of pope Paul VI (see p. 12).

It used to be that Easter was the only day that a triple Alleluia was sung. Now we can use it every day of the year if we want (except Lent).

Yes, that's right..we have gone from gorgeous single alleluias to mundane triples. That's progress, American Catholic style.