Holy Thursday Gloria in Excelsis organ accompaniment
  • Ted
    Posts: 204
    I was wondering if anyone has some official answer to using organ accompaniment for the Gloria in Excelsis according to the 1962 Missal on Maundy Thursday. In the past, I gave a little organ fanfare after the priest's intonation with the bells ringing in the background. From then on the organ and bells would fall in silent mourning until Easter and the choir would sing the rest of the Gloria in Excelsis as well and everything else a cappella. Someone recently mentioned to me that the entire Gloria in Excelsis can be accompanied with the organ on that evening, and fall silent after it was finished being sung. Does anyone know the "correct" procedure for this on that evening?
  • FSSPmusic
    Posts: 285
    De musica sacra et sacra liturgia 83b says that the organ may be played from the beginning of the solemn evening Mass of the Last Supper to the end of the Gloria—which does not mean it must be played during the Gloria! An organ fanfare after the priest's intonation, while the bells are rung, adds to the solemnity of this Mass and the Easter Vigil. If customary, I think an organ prelude before the Mass could be justified.
    Thanked by 1Ted
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    If customary, I think an organ prelude before the Mass could be justified.


    Could you qualify "could be justified", since Roche and Bugnini and Schoenborn and all the rest.....
  • FSSPmusic
    Posts: 285
    Sure. If it's usual to have organ preludes for Masses where organ playing is permitted throughout, I don't see anything objectionable about a prelude when organ is permitted only through the end of the Gloria, do you?
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    No, I don't.
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 2,887
    The problem is that the organ is supposed to be paired back for all of lent, with a few exceptions. Obviously the Gloria on Maundy Thursday, and Lætare Sunday break that mould, but the general rule would still be in force, no? Therefore it seems reasonable to conclude that just because the Gloria is done up, that would not give license to use additional organ music when the rubrics say it is “only to be used to support singing”.
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen LauraKaz
  • FSSPmusic
    Posts: 285
    And the first part of the Holy Thursday Mass, not the Gloria alone, is such an exception, which means the general rule is not in force, which is clear from the structure of the document itself.
    The playing of the organ or harmonium only is permitted . . . from the beginning of the solemn evening Mass in Cena Domini [emphasis mine] until the end of the Gloria in excelsis Deo
    Thanked by 1NihilNominis
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 2,887
    Rubric 7 for the Mass of the Lord's supper states the following:
    The Gloria in excelsis is said. While the hymn is being sung, bells are rung, and when it is finished, they remain silent until the Gloria in excelsis of the Easter Vigil, unless, if appropriate, the Diocesan Bishop has decided otherwise. Likewise, during this same period, the organ and other musical instruments may be used only so as to support the singing.
    It must be acknowledged that this technically treats the time after the Gloria is "said". I will also grant that when considered in light of GIRM 313 there is slight wiggle room:
    ...In lent the playing of the organ and musical instruments is allowed only in order to support the singing. Exceptions, however, are Lætare Sunday, Solemnities, and Feasts.

    So, there is a provision for additional instrumental music during Lent, however I would argue that if you are to take the "spirit" of the law and frame these two rubrics within their broader context, it would seem imprudent, even if you could technically justify it on the basis of solemnity. We have to remember that this solemnity fits within the context of holy week, which is of course the most somber time of the liturgical year, and the laws restraining the organ's use have been in effect for all of Lent up until this point.
    Thanked by 1LauraKaz
  • FSSPmusic
    Posts: 285
    The GIRM does not apply to the 1962 Missal, which was specified in the post. From the end of the Gloria on Holy Thursday until the intonation of the Gloria of the Easter Vigil, the organ is not permitted even to accompany singing in the traditional Latin rite. Note that the organ may be played without restriction for the Chrism Mass, i.e. not solely to support singing. Other instruments may not be used, even as accompaniment. "Organ or harmonium only" means just what it says.
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 2,887
    I missed that it was the 62 under consideration. Sorry
Add a Comment