This week our parish is going to begin learning Missa VIII (Missa de Angelis). Our plan is to introduce it in stages, and once we know it all, alternate every other week throughout ordinary time with our current ordinary (Mass in Honor of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, by Michael Olbash). Starting this weekend, until Lent, we will sing the Kyrie only.
As I was in need of a new gospel acclamation for ordinary time, and desirous to teach the people a little bit more of the ordinary of the Missa de Angelis without them knowing it, I decided to adapt the beginning of the Sanctus into an Alleluia, which works surprisingly well, IMHO, so that way when we go to learn the Sanctus, the opening lines of it are already familiar to the people. Lower the barrier to entry after Eastertide, as it were. As soon as the choir sang through it the very first time, there was unanimous agreement that it was very nice and felt very comfortable which was very pleasing to me; they are coming to truly embrace chant and I love it!
All that out of the way, I'm sharing the score free on my blog for anyone else who might like to use it. I've provided two versions in the PDF: the first has OT2-7 already set, and then the second page has the generic formula without any text for pointing other weeks throughout the year.
I had forgotten how beautiful the Missa de Angelis is. I am lucky enough to be very used to it, ironically that has made it harder to appreciate. This score is a reminder of just how lovely that Mass setting is. You have a fine voice. Thank you very much.
What's the verdict here? Hopefully it does not appear forced to you. It feel pretty natural to me, and the congregation responded well on their first hearing (especially considering they don't know the Sanctus and therefore have no reference for it).
It seems natural to me. The melody is fairly similar to the ubiquitous Mode VI alleluia, so I doubt it would come across as forced to someone unfamiliar with Mass VIII.
I have been wanting to introduce the Missa Angelis to our parish but our priest wants to keep the same mass parts for now. Just came across this and I'm excited to try this Alleluia out in lieu! It's beautiful! Thanks for this.
How did this go? I’m just seeing this in the first time, and while I think it’s lovely, it’s not difficult to imagine immediate confusion with the famous Mode 6 Alleluia.
I find this Alleluia to be quite natural, even "traditional," given that the Sanctus of the Missa de Angelis is itself an arrangement of the Magnificat antiphon "O quam suavis est" from the Vespers of Corpus Christi.
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