For Easter Sunday, the 1979 Graduale Romanum maintains the traditional order for the chants between the readings (Gradual, Alleluia, Sequence). I know that the Missal for English speaking regions (or for the US, at least) has reordered these chants (Gradual [so to speak], Sequence, Alleluia). Is this merely a regional option, or does this reflect a universal change in the latest Missale Romanum?
And a lively discussion it is, I'm sure... but I was just checking the rubric, which I assume applies to all Masses with Sequences. (DBP, shall we curb our enthusiasm in this public forum, perhaps?)
So, just to clarify yet again, you are telling me that on Pentecost Sunday, the order of Major Propers is: (First Reading) Alleluia I — (Second Reading) Sequence — Alleluia II (Gospel)?
Yes, that is what several posters have conveyed, along with pointers to the relevant citations, and a pointer to another discussion (which you dismissed) containing the desired info and history and the all-important reminder "Anything to the contrary notwithstanding".
The ordering applies for Easter as asked in the discussion title and first post, for any time a Sequence is used as asked in the sixth post, for Pentecost as asked in the seventh post.
Don't you think that the GIRM assumes you're going to sing "Celtic Alleluia," or maybe the familiar three-fold chant for Easter from the Graduale Simplex, in the same way it assumes the Responsorial Psalm as normative? I think it's a different story when you're singing a four minute Alleluia with verse. I came to this conclusion before I read Bruce Ford's suggestion, which basically says to do the same thing but for somewhat different reasons. Considering the number of parishes that simply skip the required sequences, I hardly think singing the propers as they appear in a liturgical book would constitute a grave liturgical abuse.
To participate in the discussions on Catholic church music, sign in or register as a forum member, The forum is a project of the Church Music Association of America.