Responsorial Psalm Clarification, please...
  • noel jones, aagonoel jones, aago
    Posts: 6,611
    "It is preferable that the responsorial Psalm be sung, at least as far as the people's response is concerned. Hence, the psalmist, or the cantor of the Psalm, sings the verses of the Psalm from the ambo or another suitable place. The entire congregation remains seated and listens but, as a rule, takes part by singing the response, except when the Psalm is sung straight through without a response. " GIRM

    IF the Psalm is sung straight through....does this mean:

    Sing only the Psalm Verses?

    Sing only the Antiphon (doubtful)

    Your wise counsel is appreciated...

    noel at sjnmusic.com
  • Steve CollinsSteve Collins
    Posts: 1,022
    I believe it means the people singing the Antiphon at the beginning and at the end, as in the Office, rather than interrupting the flow of the Psalm itself with all those repeats. We sang it this way at Our Lady of Walsingham for all the 16 years I was Director there.
  • Paul F. Ford
    Posts: 864
    The GIRM provision is there to respect the continued use of the Gradual chant from the Graduale Romanum, even if the assembly cannot join in the singing. As article five of the Praenotanda of the Graduale Romanum says:

    5. Post primam lectionem dicitur Responsorium Graduale a cantoribus vel a choro. Versus autem a cantoribus profertur usque ad finem. Nulla proinde ratio habenda est asterisci, quo indicatur resumptio cantus a chora facienda in fine versus Gradualis, versus ad Alleluia et ultimi versus Tractus. Quando autem opportunum videtur, licet repetere primam partem Responsorii usque ad versum.

    Tempore paschali, omisso Responsorio Graduali, cantatur Alleluia, prout infra describitur.

    5. The gradual response is sung after the first reading by the cantors or the choir. The verse is sung all the way through by the cantors. To be disregarded, therefore, is the asterisk in the Graduale indicating the choir’s coming in at the end of the gradual verse, the Alleluia verse, and the last verse of the tract. When it seems appropriate, the first part of the response may be repeated as far as the verse.

    During the Easter season the gradual response is omitted and the Alleluia is sung in the way that will be indicated later.
  • noel jones, aagonoel jones, aago
    Posts: 6,611
    Thanks to both Steve and Paul....great help. And clear.

    noel
  • Kallen
    Posts: 9
    And this also makes provision for a through-composed setting.
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