Dividing the Improperia?
  • TLMlover
    Posts: 36
    Hello All,

    I mentioned in a previous post that the parish where I am DOM/cantor/bass coupler-using organist, (lol), is very tiny. Thirty people tops on a good Sunday.

    This limits me greatly in the amount of time I have to sing everything I want or need to sing.

    Example: There were ten people at Good Friday service. For the adoration of the Cross I had planned the Improperia (Lalemant), followed by Crux Fidelis in English (Aquinas Tantum Ergo tune - thank you, Fr. Weber!).

    The adoration was so fast that I only got to the second verse of the first part of the Improperia (with modified "Holy God" - not repeated as many times as indicated in the traditional, and only English).

    My question is: I have seen that the music for most versions of the Reproaches has it divided into two sections - Reproaches I and Reproaches II. How appropriate is it to only use the second section, and maybe sing 4 verses at a time followed by "My people."? Leaving out the first section entirely would mean I never sing "Holy God." Is that inappropriate?

    So it would look like this:
    My People...
    Verses 1-4
    My People
    Verses 5-9 (or however many)
    My People

    Does this seem acceptable? Thanks in advance!

    Have a great day, everyone.
  • SponsaChristi
    Posts: 496
    These are the actual texts of the Liturgy of Good Friday. They’re also very old. Even if it’s allowed on the grounds of anything seems to go in the OF, I am of the strong belief that it should be sung as written in Latin and Greek.
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,744
    You go until the adoration concludes. I take this as the replacement of the cross on the altar. (And it should be a crucifix meant for the altar, not some giant thing for display or an empty cross, per the rubrics.) But you should end the text naturally, e.g. sing the Greek-Latin Trisagion, or one more Popule meus.

    I would not do this arrangement in any language. They are a specific form of a responsorial chant (even though it’s somewhat simpler than the responsories of Matins or the gradual of the Mass) which is totally obliterated by singing it this way.
  • TLMlover
    Posts: 36
    Hi Sponsa and Matthew, thanks for your replies. I understand what you are saying about preserving the order of the texts of the Improperia. I suppose I should just (sadly) omit them next year and sing several verses of Crux Fidelis instead, as I'm sure there will be only 10 or 15 people in attendance again.

    I was looking for a way to include as much of the Improperia as possible. I feel that it's important for the people to hear it. It's often not done at all, especially in N.O. parishes. Usially all you hear is "Jesus Remember Me" repeated ad infinitum and "Were you There."

    But I do appreciate the concept of preserving ancient texts. I have seen several works which only feature Part II of the Reproaches, one in particular by Aristotle Esguerra in English, based on the Graduale Simplex, written as an antiphon with psalm tone verses. It looked very promising as an option for my situation. However, once again, with 10 people there I would only be able to sing a few verses if I were to repeat the antiphon after each verse.

    Thank you both for your input.


  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,744
    The problem is that in the NO, you’re supposed to sing all of Crux fidelis, no? Which would be barbaric to not finish as it is a hymn.

    Honestly as much as it pains me to say it, you probably don’t have a congregation big enough to justify doing Good Friday.
    Thanked by 1PaxMelodious
  • TLMlover
    Posts: 36
    Hi Matthew, thank you for your reply. I haven't seen anything mandating the singing of all the verses of Crux Fidelis, but it definitely says the last verse cannot be left out. This is probably another one I will have to forgo next year.

    You are right, with only 10 people attending, it might be easier if they went to another Good Friday service. It is sad, indeed, and I'm trying to do all I can to avoid the doors closing on this parish.

    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • francis
    Posts: 11,013
    I feel for you @TLMlover.

    God bless you and all the effort you make.

    On a lighter note:

    1. we don’t need to remind Jesus to remember anything

    and

    2. no, we “were not there”, but we are now!

    3. And on a side note, please don’t ever ask me if Mary ever knew anything…(Mary, did you know?)

    (… in her state of being when she was here on earth, she probably knew more about Jesus than all of us will ever know until we pass over into the eternal.)
    Thanked by 3OMagnumMysterium CHGiffen Abbysmum
  • TLMlover
    Posts: 36
    Francis, LOLLLLLLL. Love it!! And thank you for your kind words....
  • Abbysmum
    Posts: 39
    The problem is that in the NO, you’re supposed to sing all of Crux fidelis, no? Which would be barbaric to not finish as it is a hymn.


    I haven't seen anything mandating the singing of all the verses of Crux Fidelis, but it definitely says the last verse cannot be left out.


    I have never heard this! But when I looked it up, the (English translation of the) text reminds me of the Good Friday text by Fortunatus. Is that the same text?
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,744
    That’s what it is indeed.
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