Passion for Palm Sunday and Good Friday
  • SWM
    Posts: 38
    My pastor is interested in having the Passion read by three readers on Good Friday and possibly Palm Sunday , with a small choir chanting the parts of the crowd. Does anyone know of good resources that are available for this? The Passion is to be read (not chanted) in English, with the parts of the crowd chanted in English as well. Polyphonic settings of the crowd parts may be useful as well. The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John will be read on Good Friday, while Saint Luke's Passion will be read on Palm Sunday as is normal for Year C. Settings of crowd parts for the Passions of Saint Matthew and Saint Mark may be needed as well for future years.
  • SamuelDorlaque
    Posts: 318
    One of the publishers has offered English translations of the Victoria settings.
  • Protasius
    Posts: 468
    I thought the part of Christ had to be sung by someone at least ordained deacon.
  • Chris HebardChris Hebard
    Posts: 124
    Protasius,
    The rubrics for the Passion on Palm Sunday, in the Roman Missal 3rd ed., are applied to Good Friday as well:

    21. The narrative of the Lord’s Passion is read without candles and without incense, with no greeting or signing of the book. It is read by a Deacon or, if there is no Deacon, by a Priest. It may also be read by readers, with the part of Christ, if possible, reserved to a Priest.
    Deacons, but not others, ask for the blessing of the Priest before singing the Passion, as at other times before the Gospel.
  • JPike1028
    Posts: 95
    We are singing Gounod's Seven Last Words for the passion reading on Good Friday.
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    We are singing Gounod's Seven Last Words for the passion reading on Good Friday.


    That doesn't seem allowed.
    Thanked by 1Spriggo
  • JPike1028
    Posts: 95
    I don't know how it works. It is occurring during the reading somehow. We recently clustered with two other parishes and this is the idea of the DM of the parish where Triduum is being held this year. I am not a DM so I am not privy to the meetings that plan these things. Apparently a number of parishes use the Seven Last Words within the context of the Passion readings around here. I've never heard of it being done before, but what do I know?
  • SWM
    Posts: 38
    SamuelDorlaque, Which publisher has offered translations of the Victoria settings?
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    Side note to this topic...

    Last year, Trinity Episcopal on Wall Street improvisationally chanted the Passion.
    It's pretty amazing:

    http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/news/blogs/in-the-moment/when-performance-becomes-listening/
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    The English (PDF score link) setting of Victoria's St. John Passion is at CPDL on this page.
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    And here is the chant version of the St. John Passion that I am familiar with and sang the Chronista (Evangelist) part for many years. Hidden away somewhere, I have it in modern notation, together with 3-part organum for the Turba. I'll look for it but make no promises on being able to find it.
    Passion according to St. John-black and white.pdf
    43K
  • Heath
    Posts: 966
    Byrd choruses (still need to put the title and attribution at the top) attached, as well as a set that I wrote. Both are 3-pt and mine have moderate ranges so different voice types can cover the lines.

    We use the GIA books (edited Batastini, IIRC), red, hardbound, and beautiful, for the chanting.
    PassionChorusesHM.pdf
    322K
    ByrdPassionChoruses.pdf
    506K
  • Earl_GreyEarl_Grey
    Posts: 904
    GIA has an English version of the Victoria http://www.giamusic.com/products/P-5268.cfm
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    GIA charges $2.75 apiece for the Victoria St. John Passion choruses in English. CPDL has the entire Passion for free download. I posted the direct link earlier in this thread.

    Oh, and the GIA link immediately above is broken and hence redirects to this page.
  • Earl_GreyEarl_Grey
    Posts: 904
    Mea culpa
Add a Comment