Here are some thoughts:

A) The choices made by the editor were (generally) made in attempt to provide music for what is commonly sung, especially by "smaller" parishes (cantor & organist, etc.). Others will disagree about the the degree to which we accomplished this task.

B) In the editor's experience, the Credo is often not sung at Ordinary Form Masses. Obviously, this is not always the case. But it seemed a fairly accurate statement. Further, it seems a fairly accurate statement that there is not a "common" melody of the Credo sung at the majority of Ordinary Form parishes. Again, others will probably disagree.

C) Where it is sung, it seems that the melody chosen (Latin or English) would, perhaps, be particular to individual parishes. There are certainly a lot to choose from. Fr. Sam Weber, Richard Rice, the ICEL versions, etc.

D) The idea was to try to include as much as possible, but still realizing that many parishes will (for instance) sing a different Mass Setting than those included (which would have to be provided) or a different Credo. However, such a thing would not have to be done differently each week, which (as we all know) is a lot of work.

THAT BEING SAID, I would certainly welcome thoughts others have. Perhaps future editions will include this.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:

I forgot to say:

(A) Watershed encourages the singing of the Credo, as can be seen HERE.

(B) One nice thing about the Vatican II Hymnal: the Credo (and ALL the new parts of the changing ICEL translation) are included in big bold letters. In Latin and English. It is ALSO included in Latin & English in the Extraordinary Form section.

Now that pat.fiorillo has brought it up, I'm curious how many OF parishes sing the Creed on a weekly basis. Other than the 11 a.m. Mass at St. Paul's / Cambridge, where Credo III in Latin alternates with Marier's English settings, I don't recall any OF parishes that sing the profession of faith. How many of you sing it?

At the Choral Mass at St. Patrick's in New York, Credo III is usually sung in Latin by the congregation in its entirety.

I have to say the Marier's monotone accompanied vernacular settings of the Gloria (that's in public domain, I believe, at least it was so announced at CanticaNova years ago) and the Creed were particularly brilliant, if not to everyone's taste. Congregation just needs a G; the organ (and, if desired, choir) does the rest.

Here is a recto tono Credo from Anglican sources. I'll work on putting the new Missal English to it this weekend.

Liam, I agree about the Marier monotone Credo setting. It works really well! Any chance this might be reset with the revised Missal texts?

There is a version set by Nellie Louise Schreiner when she was assistant to Edwin Arthur Craft at Trinity Cathedral in 1947 that I have and need to reset with the text. All lush organ chords for the E.M. Skinner, with a choral part at the end, all chanted on Ab.

Since the original posting, I have discovered that this was a handwritten copy with her initials indicating that she had prepared the copy - but not written it - she may have added the Lord's Prayer text....

We haven't sung it since the late sixties. When the subject comes up, the answer is that it is too long and will make the mass longer. The masses are spaced pretty close together, so that could be a problem.

cgz, you make a point - but - don't imagine that this is a "modern" or American problem.

A few years back Bob Batastini from GIA wrote an article about taking his choir to Rome to sing, and all of his aspirations and hopes for that liturgy, along with all of his letdowns! He said that to his surprise, the master of ceremonies at St. Peter's was primarily concerned with moving mass along smoothly and getting them out in under an hour!

I just sang a slow, thoughtful, four-minute Credo III.

As a symbol of the twelve articles of our faith, which come down to us from the Apostles, I would say that the four minutes - minus the time it takes to say it in English - could easily be afforded at any Mass.

We have never sung the Creed. What a shame too. It's interesting to note that Musicam Sacram lists the Creed as belonging to the second degree of "progressive solemnity". So it should be sung only if those parts belonging to the first degree are sung:

28. The distinction between solemn, sung and read Mass, sanctioned by the Instruction of 1958 (n. 3), is retained, according to the traditional liturgical laws at present in force. However, for the sung Mass (Missa cantata), different degrees of participation are put forward here for reasons of pastoral usefulness, so that it may become easier to make the celebration of Mass more beautiful by singing, according to the capabilities of each congregation.

These degrees are so arranged that the first may be used even by itself, but the second and third, wholly or partially, may never be used without the first. In this way the faithful will be continually led towards an ever greater participation in the singing.

29. The following belong to the first degree:

(a) In the entrance rites: the greeting of the priest together with the reply of the people; the prayer.

(b) In the Liturgy of the Word: the acclamations at the Gospel.

(c) In the Eucharistic Liturgy: the prayer over the offerings; the preface with its dialogue and the Sanctus; the final doxology of the Canon, the Lord's prayer with its introduction and embolism; the Pax Domini; the prayer after the Communion; the formulas of dismissal.

30. The following belong to the second degree:

(a) the Kyrie, Gloria and Agnus Dei;

(b) the Creed;

(c) the prayer of the faithful.

31. The following belong to the third degree:

(a) the songs at the Entrance and Communion processions;

(b) the songs after the Lesson or Epistle;

(c) the Alleluia before the Gospel;

(d) the song at the Offertory;

I bring this up because often times our priest will not even chant the introductory greeting, dialogues and Collect. Let alone, the Eucharistic Prayer...

Yes, these are OF masses, and the pastor is in charge and I do it his way. No one really cares what the EF does, although there is one later in the afternoon. However, when I go to my own Byzantine Church, I expect the much longer liturgy and the people don't mind that it runs hours rather than minutes.

I would say that the four minutes - minus the time it takes to say it in English - could easily be afforded at any Mass.

While I whole-heartedly agree with this, it's important to note that a similar argument could be made for every part of the Mass, and that taking a slightly longer amount of time with each part can easily mean the difference between 50 and 90 minutes.

Not that there's anything wrong with a 90 minute service.

It is very, very much worth noting, though, that the typical "time-strapped" parish Mass wastes untold minutes on all sorts of things:
-the formalized informal greeting. "In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Good Morning!"
-the repeated refrain of the Gloria
-the announcements
-the rambling homily
-the rambling prayers of the people ("For those who work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and those who oppose their work, that they may set aside their differences and walk hand in hand toward the Easter promise of Peace and Justice for a New and verdant Earth where all God's children have the opportunity to live together in harmony, pursuing the unique gender identity they have been entrusted with. Oh Lord, we pray.")
-the intro to the Sanctus (Duhn dun... DUHN dun... DUHN Dun... dumdumdum....)
-the hugfest of peace
-the processional waddle of the EMHC platoon into the sanctuary
-the closing remarks

Adam, that was a PERFECT description of a typical Sunday Mass around these parts... correct Mass setting too!

I have a theory, though not backed up by anything. Perhaps people are not so offended by a long liturgy, so much as they are offended by feeling like their time is being wasted?

If the time to sing Happy Birthday to its traditional tune is a problem, I have a solution...

Much quicker.

Matthew, I don't have very strong organ skills (very basic keyboard skills overall), but I think I may be able to use your propers and ordinaries in your new book. After using the chants themselves, I plan to improvise on them (using the same melodic themes, of course) for added interest.

I don't know what I'd do without you. You're a Godsend.

We can also attest to the sheer beauty of the RECTO TONO PROPERS, KYRIALE, AND HYMNAL, as it was demonstrated at Thursday night's "workshop".

Alas, the fumbling invocations made up by some of our priests are not well formed; they should be about Christ, and not about us and our sins. So they should go anyway.

Lord Jesus, you desire the reduction of green house gas emissions, which are definitively linked to global warming and unhealthy levels of consumerism. Lord have mercy.

Christ Jesus, you call us to avoid genetically-modified food and to use acid-free recycled paper. Christ have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you have given us the free will to make our own moral decisions regarding what does and does not constitute the sin of lust, and yet inspire us to ensure all people are safely protected from their own greed and gluttony by a beneficent State otherwise ignorant of your grace or existence. Lord have mercy.

How did we get sidetracked onto the trope-tracks of the Penitential act/Kyrie? Isn't this about having the Credo in the V2H ... and what to do about singing the Credo?

Jesus, metaphor, you take away the sins of the world...

I like Salieri's idea.

Lord Jesus, have mercy on those who do not go to the women's guild bake sale held in the hall after all of our Masses this weekend.. Lord have mercy.

Christ Jesus, grant enlightenment to those who dare not volunteer at the parish festival, which will be held this coming Thursday through Saturday, hours are noted in the bulletin... Christ have mercy.

Lord Jesus, please remind folks that I'm going on vacation and thus daily Mass is cancelled this Monday through Wednesday. Thanks. Lord have mercy.

Just print the instructions in your worship aid. I do a Gloria this way and nobody gets confused.