For anyone who tried these out, what was your experience with them? I did all propers for Vigil and Day, and have my own thoughts (edits), but I'm just as interested in yours!
On some of these you will see small parenthetical notes at the end of the antiphon. They are intended for the final time through. In the case of Communion B & C (Holy Family, above) this means that the note may be omitted the final time. In the case of all of the others for Holy Family, it is simply eliminating the inversion. Substitute those notes for the bass and/or tenor. Many of these end on inversions, and if the verses will follow, I find this acceptable. There is forward motion and a sense of "more." To end on these harmonies, though, can sometimes feel like you're stuck in liturgical limbo! While I sometimes enjoy the mystical anticipation nature in this, its not always appropriate or effective... or you may just simply not like it!
Spark Notes: I've included options for the endings. You'll make wise and musical decisions, I know it!
How cool. I haven't used them yet as I just found them. BTW, what are you using to write your score - being able to just use note heads instead of stemmed ones?
I have been looking to be able to do this, but so far I haven't been successful.
Thanks for these and thanks in advance for your expertise.
musings,
I am using Sibelius. The notes have stems during input, but it is possible to change the noteheads to stemless.
The shortcut for this is shift+option+(number) on Mac, and Shift+Alt+(number) on PC. Each number (above the keyboard) provides a different notehead. Stemless notes are 8.
I don't know Finale well, but I am sure that they provide a similar option. If you are using Finale, I would suggest looking up how to change noteheads.
A dear priest friend of mine emailed me the link to this after I told him that we were doing some of the English Propers. I also started incorporating the organ into our Masses for Christmas Eve. These will be perfect for adding to our liturgy since during the holidays I am the only musician there! I'm hoping to get some of my college students to jump on and help me with them when the semester starts! Hope to see some of you at the Winter Chant Intensive in Houston in about a week! Thanks for posting!
Thanks very much for your work on this project. I can foresee an unintended use of this by folks who cannot easily read the square-note notation... Very helpful!
As we move into ordinary time, there are often different texts for years A/B/C. Where this is the case, the incipits will indicate as such.
I am only able to post the current year (B) for the time being, but will be filling in the blanks as the collection nears completion next year.
Please continue to share comments on your experience with using these. I'm very interested as to their effectiveness. I used the Epiphany settings this morning and was happier with them than anything else I've posted so far.
I was just hired as the Organist/Choir Master of a parish that has started doing the Simple English Chant for communion and your service has helped me and the choir out alot. Thank You for all the work that you do and May God continue to Bless and Grace you for all the time and effort you put into, putting these files together. Once again Thank You. Mr. J. Anthony Pietrowski.
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