To me, a Mass setting consists of only the Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei. There's really no need for special settings of the Memorial Acclamations, Doxology and Amen that fit to the Ordinary. These are simple acclamations, and should preferably be sung from the Roman Missal.

On the other hand, you CAN include them if you wish, and it is very common to do so.
It is also common to include a Gospel Alleluia and Lenten Gospel Acclamation. These are technically part of the Proper, but in common Novus Ordo practice have become a de facto part of the Ordinary.

If your Mass setting would fit well with the simple chants for those parts given in the Roman Missal, then there isn't much need. If it would sound or feel weird to jump from your composition to the chant given for the Memorial Acclamation, then you probably ought to include your own setting (and, of course, think hard about why you are writing a Mass setting that doesn't work within the context of the Roman Missal's official music...).

Timing is - or isn't - everything. For better or for worse, this comes thread comes rather soon after I have released my own setting, "Missa Ascensionis Domini" (Ascension Mass). The four principal parts of the Mass Ordinary (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei) have been set both in English and also in Latin (Greek for the Kyrie) providing options for Novus Ordo Masses in either English or Latin, as well as for Vetus Ordo usage. The 9-fold Kyrie in Greek would always be my preference (each of the three sections for Cantor/Choir-All-Cantor/Choir), even in Novus Ordo masses otherwise sung in English, but I have supplied a 6-fold vernacular setting for those that want a simpler setting.

As with many other composers, I have not (yet) composed a Credo, even though I feel it should be sung and not spoken. For the vernacular, the tinkering with the text (especially the "we" versus "I") has made this a difficult part of the Mass Ordinary for composers to deal with - and clergy and laity to accept.

Although not originally planned as a part of my setting, the Gospel Alleluia and Lenten Gospel Acclamations (with music that is thematically and hence organically related to the principal movements) have been included, along with the three Memorial Acclamations and the Amen. This is in line with what several (but, by no means, all) present day composers have done with their Mass settings. During Advent or Lent, when the Gloria is not sung, the inclusion of the Alleuia or Gospel Acclamation in this setting seems, at least to me, to preserve some of the balance and integrity of the setting as a whole. Could they be replaced by Missal or other chants? Yes, of course, but this setting provides a dignified option in lieu of what might be worse alternatives.

Each composer's approach to a Mass setting is surely different from that of others. But this is as it should be, at least if the composer is seeking to honor, worship, and glorify God in the effort.

If it would sound or feel weird to jump from your composition to the chant given for the Memorial Acclamation, then you probably ought to include your own setting...

But the moment where this weird jump would be felt first, is from a sung Preface to the Sanctus. Would that mean that a composer should create his own Preface tone to accommodate a smooth transition for the ear? Of course not.

...and, of course, think hard about why you are writing a Mass setting that doesn't work within the context of the Roman Missal's official music...

There you go.

+

just a thought...what about the Domine non sum dignus? Response, or ordinary or what?

But the moment where this weird jump would be felt first, is from a sung Preface to the Sanctus. Would that mean that a composer should create his own Preface tone to accommodate a smooth transition for the ear? Of course not.

If I'm not mistaken, that is what Marty Haugen did for the Mass of Creation.

Not writing anything but the K,G,S,A (C optional) increases the chances of more use, since no one has to adapt to sing a new acclamation melody, a new...

You get the idea.

Not writing anything but the K,G,S,A (C optional) increases the chances of more use, since no one has to adapt to sing a new acclamation melody, a new...

And if you compose in Latin it will be timeless, never go out of date (because of translation) and universal (not just English speaking countries) :-)

I'm just reading Music in Catholic Liturgy by Gerarld Gill, and he has some interesting things to say about this, and it's worthwhile to quote him at some length:

The Ordinary of the Mass includes the Kyrie, the Gloria, the Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei. [...] Although the U.S. Bishops do not address this in Sing to the Lord, frequently American liturgical musical composers include, along with the Ordinary of the Mass, a setting for the anamnesis and the "Amen" of the Eucharistic Prayer. Both of these parts of the Eucharistic Prayer are dialogues between the priest celebrant and the people. The priest acclaims the Mystery of Faith and the people respond in one of several ways. The priest sings the doxology and the people assent, "Amen". These two dialogues, although of a quite significant importance especially in the context of the Eucharistic Prayer, are like all the dialogues of the Eucharist. They are a liturgical exchange between the priest and the people. They are not rites or parts that stand alone like the Sanctus. Thus, their musical form, a form provided in the Roman Missal, as with all of the other dialogues, should be in accord with the nature of the anamnesis and this "Amen". They are, after all, dialogues! (pp. 56-57)

So, the Ordinary of the Mass doesn't consist of dialogues, but of parts that stand alone. Then, he makes an important observation:

The musical notations given in the Roman Missal form part of the auditory translation of the texts, part of the sung sound of these texts, and thus part of their meaning for the singer and listener. This sung sound is a constitutive element of the Roman Rite as part of the way the Church prays in addition to the words. These musical notations should not be set aside too easily unles the priest celebrant cannot sing them in a suitable and dignified manner. (p. 60)

When this principle is applied to the Memorial Acclamation the the Great Amen, this means:

The Anamnesis, commonly called the Memorial Acclamation, and the Doxology are properly dialogues between the priest celebrant and the faithful. The responses of the faithful to the Mystery of Faith and the single Amen to the doxology are related in style and sound to the sung part of the priest celebrant. Therefore, as with all other dialogues, the musical settings already provided in the Roman Missal should be used. Once again, these chant settings, along with the texts, belong to the translation of these texts in the vernacular. (pp. 75-76)

I never saw this stated so clearly before: that the chant settings of the Roman Missal are part of the translation, and can therefore not be set aside too easily. What do you think of this assertion?

It is right and just.

I hope so.

I'm sure that this isn't the thread for this, but talking about translations: What is just sooooo bad about Thee, thy, wast, hast, bringst, feedeth, and other archaic bits of modern English?

I got into an intense debate with a woman about what she called 'Old English', saying that 'people don't talk like that anymore, so why should we pray like that!' I asked her not to confuse terms that Old English is actually something else - Anglo-Saxon - not Shakespeare. When she again said 'people don't talk like that', all I could say was: "I'll tell thee summat: go to Yorkshire, and thou'll find many a body that does, and they'll be shocked to hear thee say that."

I don't speak to those kind of people, nor play music for them, nor befriend them. I leave them to themselves and those that are like minded.

We the people

We are equal as humans, but not in our gifting, talents, and abilities to do whatever.

Well, Chuck, at least it gets rid of that anti-wymyn word forefathers!

forefathers

Fixed.

I got into an intense debate with a woman about what she called 'Old English', saying that 'people don't talk like that anymore, so why should we pray like that!'

Ok, so she wants people to pray how they talk? I don't know anyone who would talk to me saying, "Gavin, I just... just... want to tell you you're great. And if you could just... just.... loan me an awesome twenty dollars that would just be.... awesome. You're sooooo great. AYYYmen!!!"

Adam, I just wanted to reply, and just tell you that, Adam, its just so great to just be on this forum with you. And I just want to ask you, Adam, I just want to ask if you could just please continue to just continue posting, Adam, and just continue to grace these interwebs with your presence.