Singing Alleluia for Nuptial Mass
  • jczarn
    Posts: 65
    Hi all,

    I will be singing the Alleluia for a friend's Nuptial Mass (Ordinary Form) tomorrow. I have talked them into letting me sing the "Mittat Vobis" proper, but in English, so I will be using Aristotle's helpful adaptation (the melismatic option E): http://lalemantpolyphonic.org/antoine_daniel_mass_parts/antoine_daniel_TOME_scores/6494_esguerra.pdf

    Since almost all of my experience singing as a cantor at Mass as been in the Extraordinary Form, is there anything in particular I should know about singing the full melismatic Alleluia at an OF Mass? In particular, I presume that I should be singing the Alleluia from the loft, correct? Also, do I begin singing as soon as the lector returns to his/her seat? Do I need to inform the priest ahead of time that the Alleluia will be a bit longer than he is probably used to?

    Sorry if these are silly questions - just want to make sure everything goes smoothly tomorrow! I hope this will be a liturgical bright spot in the midst of what I presume will be the usual mediocre/dreadful suburban parish musical fare (they hired their parish music director to plan the music, but I was invited to be a "soloist" for the Alleluia...)

    Thanks in advance!
  • SalieriSalieri
    Posts: 3,177
    We sing the Gregorian Alleluias regularly at my parish, though usually with the verse on a solemn psalm tone (partly because of lack of rehearsal time for daily Mass, and to ease into it).

    I would warn the Pastor, partly because the Gregorian Alleluia and the Gospel Acclamation function differently. The Gregorian Alleluia is really a meditation chant, during which the Gospel procession happens to occur; the Gospel Acclamation is an accompaniment (often a lame one) to the Procession. You might warn the pastor about this and let him know that he is welcome to remain seated untin the repeat of the Alleluia after the verse. (Though he may stand at the beginning and wait at the ambo out of habit.)

    We do it one of two ways. On Sundays and Solemnities we do what I call the "Old Roman Way":

    Alleluia intoned up to the (*); Alleluia repeated with Jubilus; Verse; Alleluia with Jubilus.

    On Weekdays we do it the "Cistercian Way":

    Alleluia intoned up to the (*); Alleluia intonation repeated (NO Jubilus); Verse; Alleluia repeated WITH Jubilus.

    (I have also heard it done: Alleluia with Jubilus; Repeated; Verse; Alleluia w/ Jubilus.)

    We usually begin immediately after "The Word of the Lord/Thanks be to God."
    Thanked by 1jczarn
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