Congregational Plainchant Ordinaries - Greatest Success Stories
  • Palestrina
    Posts: 501
    Can anyone provide examples of what they believe are places with the most successful implementation of congregational singing of the Mass Ordinaries in plainchant (preferably using the 1962 Missal)?

    I know of many places where it is attemped (with varying degrees of success) but would really like to hear (with recordings) some examples of where it is done where the congregation literally thunders its own part without the impression of it being tentative.
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 3,210
    My place particularly for Mass XI. We have some polyphonic Masses coming up so it’s just Asperges-Credo-Salve for the people for a few weeks.

    It is certainly more tentative after the Kyrie in Advent and in Lent, a little more so yet in Paschal Time. But they finally seemed to get the Asperges, and they like Credo IV for Advent and Lent. We stick to I for Paschal Time except on Easter and Pentecost (full Credo sung by the choir as of this year); I think that strikes the balance well. I’m not testing my luck with Credo V…although maybe we should do that in the summer. Anyway, I would like a recording myself so I’ll see what I can manage.
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen tomjaw
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 3,180
    I had good success at my last parish implementing XVII during Advent/Lent, and we learned Credo III (albeit in English). Shortly before my departure, I did record (from the organ) us singing my transcription of Credo III, and while my voice is most prominent because the camera is close to me, you can definitely hear the singing in the background which is relatively robust: https://youtu.be/zXgzQCY7xkE?si=23ju56obBsFd7b_E After about 2 years they became quite proficient at chanting it since we did it every week at the "high" mass with choir.

    Here you can hear robust singing of the Kyrie (XVI? is the alternate for Lent) at 6:05
    https://www.youtube.com/live/LIkTIPT87AM?si=begSkinKYCwsSZj3&t=365

    Same video, at 40:28 you can hear Sanctus XVII
    https://www.youtube.com/live/LIkTIPT87AM?si=G5SYqfyog38XWfKr&t=2428

    Not bad for a small-town novus ordo parish! If they can do it, a trad community certainly can if they are encouraged to participate by the priest. In my (somewhat limited) experience at TLM parishes, it's really hit or miss whether or not it's choir only or with the people also chanting. I think it just comes down to whether or not the congregation has been taught that the ordinary does properly belong to them.

    We are in the process of acclimating to / learning Missa XVII at St. Augustine Cathedral now. We've had 3 seasons with them, and I'm hopeful for this year that things will continue to improve with repeated exposure.

    I'm attaching the pew cards that I produced for the parish (modern notation transcription with literal interlinear translations in red). We printed these on cardstock and laminated them, and they live in the pews all season. I did something very similar at St. John's as featured in the video linked above. There was catechesis involved, which helped immensely, and good-will on the part of the congregation. But it certainly can be done.
    Missa XVII • 2 sided CATHEDRAL ed. • Red interlinears 2024 .pdf
    733K
    Thanked by 5Chant_Supremacist irishtenor CHGiffen wren Joseph Michael
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