In general, I would suggest to you that it will be better to do something a little more "simple" and do it EXTREMELY well than do very difficult repertoire and barely make it happen.

Then decide which parts of the Mass the Congregation will sing and which the Schola will sing.

For example, you may want the congregation to sing the Ordinary, but reserve the Lamb Of God/Agnus Dei for the Schola to sing in a polyphonic setting.

In choosing the congregation's music, pick music that they know except for Psalm responses that they can respond to.

Another important point is determining how much Latin will be permitted. At least one priest that I know of had his music selections for his ordination held up when the Bishop felt there was too much Latin, resulting in some rather stressful delays. Will the parish pastor have objections to Latin?

(revised to reflect that I failed to think FIRST MASS!)

Not an ordination. Just a regular Mass, albeit a very special one.
I assume, then, that the Propers and so forth for the 6th Sunday of Easter are the way to go:

For Latin propers, check out:
http://www.jogueschant.org

Otherwise:
http://musicasacra.com/simple-propers-of-the-mass-ordinary-form/

For the Mass ordinary, in Latin:
http://antoinedanielmass.org/kyriale/
(Apparently Mass I is suggested for Easter).

Otherwise:
>>No otherwise. Sing the Latin Ordinary. If you hate Latin, tough it out until Advent when you can do the ICEL chants. Also, if you hate Latin, consider converting to Episcopalianism.



That should pretty much cover you, although you might want a nice motet during Communion, or another choral piece for some reason.



Also- you might want a recessional.
The Te Deum seems appropriate.
English hymn version: Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
(also check out "God We Praise You" set to Nettleton)





The first "choice" is whether to do the music (And texts!) prescribed for the day, or just some other damn thing you happen to like.
I hope your seminary training has informed you that the second option isn't, umm... well... the best.

After that, it seems to me (and what follows is SO VERY MUCH JUST MY OPINION), that within the context of doing the right texts in a traditional manner, you could go in the direction of the very ornate (Polyphony and Choral) or the simple and humble (chant). Both are very much at home in the liturgy, and there is nothing wrong with the (I mean this in a good way, really) obscenely beautiful sound of Polyphony.
However, it seems to be that this first Mass should in some ways set the tone of your ministry. I would be fearful that too much ado about the music may communicate to the congregation (and to yourself) that your ministry is about something other than service, or (worse) that the Liturgy in question is a celebration of you, rather than God. For that reason it is my opinion that prudence and a certain amount of austerity are called for. So I highly recommend that chant. Plain, unaccompanied. As you should be also, it's place in the liturgy is entirely a role of service.
There will be many years ahead for Palestrina and Byrd (and probably Haas, Haugen, and company), but this first Mass... think very carefully about the message you send with your choices.




Alternatively, I understand "Here I am, Lord" was written for just this sort of occasion.

It is actually tradition to chant the actual Te Deum at the end of a First Mass in thanksgiving. If you have a capable schola, I'd say go for it, then choose a hymn other than Holy God We Praise Thy Name for the recessional.

"if you hate Latin, consider converting to Episcopalianism."
I suspect that the average ECUSA parish gets more Latin than the average RC parish.

Jeffrey, as the Catholics say, BINGO!

Ooooh...and a solo soprano could sing the Laudate before Mass....good choices!

But...but....but....the people need to sing their hymns so they can fully participate.

If they do not sing Amazing Grace they are going to be wery, wery, angwy....said Elmer Fudd.

Thank you all so much for your suggestions! For some reason I was expecting to see replies to this thread in my inbox - but they probably went to my junk mail, which I've lost track of, and then I forgot I posted this!

I have been emailing ideas back and forth with the music director and he has been very open and helpful. There is some resistance to Latin but not in an angry/dismissive way at all. Here is our first draft of the music. Can you all tell me what you think?

Prelude: Laudate Dominum - Charpentier, Cantate Domini - Pitoni, as well as "a bell anthem and several works for trumpet and organ"
Entrance Antiphon and Procession: From the Simple English Propers Project followed by Alleluia Sing to Jesus
Kyrie and "Great Amen": Missa d'angelis
Gloria: Straight-through setting by Carroll Thomas Andrews
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 66 chanted to St. Meinrad psalm tone
Gospel Acclamation: Festival Alleluia - Chepponis [Wouldn't the Mozart Alleluia be totally awesome!?]
Procession of the Gifts/Offertory: If Ye Love Me - Tallis
Sanctus, Mysterium Fidei/Mortem Tuam, and Agnus Dei from the simpler Cantus Missae
I will use the Roman Canon and chant my parts
Our Father: English chant from the Sacramentary
Communion Antiphon and Hymn: From the Simple English Propers Project followed by Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Post-Communion hymn: Gerard Manley Hopkins' translation of Adoro Te Devote
Recessional Hymn: All Creatures of Our God and King (Lasst Uns Erfreuen) - All singers and instrumentalists
Postlude: Final movement from "Joshua" (The Great Jehovah is our Awful Theme) - G.F. Handel (arranged for solo trumpet and organ)

Is this too pieced-together?

With the above plan, the only Latin then would be the Prelude hymns then the Kyrie, Sanctus, Mysterium Fidei, and Agnus Dei with the Mysterium Fidei being the only one the people may not be familiar with.

What do you all think?

God Bless you,
Deacon Hardesty
Louisville, KY
{Holy Spirit parish)

Deacon Hardesty,

Congratulations! God bless you---it sounds like you will be a great boon to the Archdiocese. I'm a KY native, so I can appreciate (or decry) the dearth of good Catholic music there. Who is your trumpeter---anyone from the orchestra? I played with the LO for a few years, a while back, and knew the guys pretty well. Best wishes----you'll be in the prayers of my family.

That's right DougS. My Priesthood Ordination is at the Cathedral of the Assumption in downtown Louisville Sat May 28, 2011 at 11am and the first Mass of Thanksgiving is at Holy Spirit parish in St. Matthew's on Sun May 29, 2011 at 2pm. The late time is so that as much of the presbyterate who wants to can come and attend in choir or con-celebrate while still keeping their Mass schedules on Sunday morning.

Deacon Hardesty

Not quite in stone yet Pancho. Thanks for this suggestion of the Saint Meinrad Kyriale.

Also, I'm shocked that you all let me forget the following :) Today it dawned on me that since it is a Sunday in Easter, the Sprinkling Rite would be appropriate and would replace the Penitential Rite and Kyrie. I know that the Vidi Aquam is used in the Easter Season but I don't think the Latin will be possible. Is there a dignified English setting?

God Bless you all,
Deacon Hardesty