Request: Easy Short Entrance & Recessional Chants
  • probe
    Posts: 62
    So, my little group of ladies is getting to grips with the Mass VIII Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, and a Communion hymn Sancti Venite. As I understand it, the Credo is very rarely sung, the Pater Noster only on solemn or High Masses, and the Gloria is possible but at nearly three minutes long is a bit of a challenge I want to put off for a bit. I now want to ask for recommendations for easy chants for the Entrance and ideally the Recessional as well. Easy because I would like the congregation to pick them up from hearing them every Sunday. We could use popular hymns of course, but I would prefer to keep the style consistent with the Gregorian chants we are doing. What have you found are earworms that the people in the pews have taken up?
    Thanks in advance,
    Patrick
  • trentonjconn
    Posts: 772
    When you say that the Credo is rarely sung and the Pater Noster only on solemn occasions, do you mean that's the practice at your particular parish? Historically, these would both be sung at any sung Mass.
    Thanked by 2MatthewRoth Roborgelmeister
  • fcbfcb
    Posts: 389
    At least for the entrance, it sounds like the Graduale Simplex that you want. For the exit, maybe the appropriate Marian antiphon?
    Thanked by 2Paul F. Ford probe
  • probe
    Posts: 62
    @trentonjconn, I understand that as they are congregational prayers they should be either said or sung by all, not left to a choir. The Irish Bishop's Conference document "Singing the mystery of faith" prioritises the Sanctus, Gloria, Kyrie, Agnus Dei. and says for The Profession of Faith and the Lord’s Prayer: "Texts which may be sung, according to a pastoral judgement, especially on solemn occasions."

    @fcb, have you any recommendations from the Simplex? For the entrance, we only have about 15 seconds between the bell and the priest arriving at the altar so a one-liner like "Beati pacifici quoniam filii Dei vocabuntur" appeals to me.

    Yes, a Marian antiphon like Salve Regina or Regina Coeli is definitely something we will do and some of the members will remember them from school.
  • Chaswjd
    Posts: 297
    Almost all of the entrance chants in the Simplex are short. There are a number for each season although the Sundays of Lent get their own. I would advise anyone interested in it to just go take a look.
    Thanked by 1probe
  • lmassery
    Posts: 433
    If you are considering a chant for the recessional, might as well make it the seasonal Marian antiphons. They aren’t super easy, but there are only 4 so repetition is your friend.

    As for easy assembly English entrance chants, I like the st meinrad refrains (they are short snippets from the antiphon) or Esguerra’s Responsorial Introits (search this forum). Or are you looking for Latin?
    Thanked by 1probe
  • probe
    Posts: 62
    @chaswjd At first I had been daunted by the 529pp size of the Simplex but now I know how to read it I have found the Introits and can get the downloads from Gregobase.

    @lmassery I expected to stick to Latin, but I'll look up the others you mention.
  • irishtenoririshtenor
    Posts: 1,404
    For the entrance, if you're open to English, Bartlett's Simple English Propers are great
    Found here --> https://churchmusicassociation.org/sep/
    Thanked by 1probe
  • RoborgelmeisterRoborgelmeister
    Posts: 307
    Entrance:
    Christus Vincit
    Jesu dulcis memoria
    Sacris solemniis
    Ubi Caritas
    Veni Creator

    Retiring Procession
    Te Laudamus

    Marian:
    Concordi laetitia
    Ave Maria (Mode I)

    Thanked by 1probe
  • probe
    Posts: 62
    I've great help from everyone, thank you all!
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