If at all possible, get the music for the ordinary of the Mass in the hands of the people...I have often been surprised with congregations that do not usually sing when the get a chance to sing chant.

I also think it can really help to get the people singing if you all sing the creed recto-tono...

Would it be at all possible to sing a different chant Mass setting? At least keep this option in mind for future years.

As a Mom of four boys, I have to respectfully differ with Noel about a rectotono Credo. For short texts, fine. But the Creed is a looooong text to sing. I think 5-12 year old boys would start to feel like they were banging their heads against a wall- I know I would.

You want them to want more chant, I'd err on the side of speaking it before I'd sing it rectotono. Or your cantor should be able to learn Credo III with 2+ weeks to go.

And I'd second your thoughts on Mass XI. Many folks actually find it easier than Mass VIII. It could be perceived as more 'spooky' sounding and cool for boys, too.

What the heck, Noel.

I do not suggest that it be accompanied. It can be.

The words of the Credo are not dull. Chanting them, even on one lonely note, raises them a step above speaking them. It's a step in progressing upward.

When people begin to complain that it is dull (personally, I find it really, really dull and deadly to say the Credo) singing it on one note, then teach them to sing it on more than one note. As the wise Charles in CenCa says, step by step.

We are not dressing up recto tono, we are getting people chanting the Credo.

If it were not licit, would it be more attractive?

If given a choice to speak the credo or sing it on one note, I would assume a singer would say, Sing it, sing it! But because it is not as beautiful as an aria you don't like it?

I'm not a singer, but I am a continuo player and I can slow things down or speed them up. Holding one note on the organ is not going to speed up or slow down anything. Playing chords underneath it, yes, then I can slow it down or speed it up, but accompaniment does not make it slow down or speed up.

The lipstick on a pig argument I only accept is if the pig grabs the tube in their cute little cloven hoof and applies it him or herself. I also will eat an organic turkey for Thanksgiving but only if it died a natural death.

Recto Tono is a step to getting people singing. Skipping steps leaves some people behind.

As far as singer credentials, I've worked as a vocal coach in Germany, Italy and the USA. Accompanied masterclasses by a past metropolitan opera star, coached soem when ended up there and assisted a young soprano for three years, accompanied and recorded her audition CD for college. I've been told that 3,000 applied for Juilliard tow eyars ago, 300 got auditions and....and this I know, only 3 were accepted, and she was one of the three.

Many singers would love to have a chance to sing the credo recto tono, you wouldn't, and that's fine. But I don't people to walk away from this posting thinking that they are second class or worst because they do or would like to sing the credo recto tono, that's all.

If any congregation hears the celebrant begin to chant the creed on one note they are going to pause and then gradually join in in one way or another.

I'd be darn inspired.

No one agrees with me?

Yeah... on second thought, maybe not for the recto-tono creed. I mean if you really want to sing it, you could put it to a simple psalm tone or something.

At first, it sounds waaayyy better than saying it, but when you think about it, something that long recto-tono is just not good, in my mind.

Theodore Marier demonstrated the possibilities for a recto-tono Creed with his ingenious accompaniment:

Depending on time, you may or may not really need three chants for post-Communion; it's good to allow some quiet time or some time with solo organ music. Choosing among the three listed, I'd pick the Sub Tuum; "Adoremus in aeternum" seems more fitting for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament than for post-Communion anyway.

I'm very pleased to see the English "Our Father" on the list; I have the impression that congregations really like to sing it.