"incidental" music at Easter vigil
  • wren
    Posts: 6
    This is my first Triduum as director after years of playing the organ for this parish and I have a couple questions about standard practices for the Easter vigil. Firstly, is it common for the choir to sing an acclamation/response following each baptism? We typically reprised the responsorial psalm refrain "let us sing to the Lord, He has covered Himself in glory." I've switched to Source & Summit psalms which are less...boisterous, at least for that purpose (previously used Alstott's Respond & Acclaim). Secondly, what do you all do music-wise (if anything) during confirmations? Standard practice at this parish has been for the choir to softly sing a Taize-type setting of Veni Sancte Spiritus, but I've always felt it was a bit awkward to sing while Father is speaking. I was planning to just improvise at the organ on Veni Creator Spiritus.

    I haven't been able to find definitive instructions either way on these two moments during Mass, so any advice on general traditions/practices would be most appreciated. Thank you and a blessed Holy Week to all!
  • StPatrick
    Posts: 25
    We don't sing anything during baptisms, we do sing the traditional chant Veni Creator Spiritus during confirmations. Our pastor speaks pretty quietly and doesn't try to make anyone but the the confirmand hear him at that point so it works nicely. I think an instrumental version could be nice though.
    Thanked by 1wren
  • jporenchuk
    Posts: 76
    After each baptism, we sing a simple mode 7 chant alleluia as an acclamation. It’s actually one of my favorite parts of the vigil because of the simplicity and joy of it. It doesn’t seem to say anything specific about this in the Roman Missal. I think it’s a more traditional practice maybe stemming from the Order of Baptism.

    During confirmations, if I remember correctly, there is normally organ improv quietly on Veni Creator Spiritus. It can be kind of awkward to play during the talking but usually neither is loud enough to overpower the other.
  • Palestrina
    Posts: 559
    I seem to recall something in the rubrics about such acclamations for the 1969 rites - with no apparent musical sources. I was unable to find any chant sources (contemporary or historical) for such acclamations, or indeed for those inserted at the dismissal of the catechumens (RCIA) during the Sundays of Lent. Has anyone had more luck?
  • SponsaChristi
    Posts: 710
    I seem to recall something in the rubrics about such acclamations for the 1969 rites - with no apparent musical sources. I was unable to find any chant sources (contemporary or historical) for such acclamations, or indeed for those inserted at the dismissal of the catechumens (RCIA) during the Sundays of Lent. Has anyone had more luck?


    I’m not sure if this is helpful at all, but back in the early 90s I recall at every baptism, after each baby was baptized, the choir would break out into the refrain, “You have been baptized in Christ. It is he that you have put on. You who are washed in this water, have hope of eternal life.” It’s the refrain from one of Carey Landry’s songs written back in the 70s. It was in the old blue Glory & Praise hymnals.

  • Charles_Weaver
    Posts: 203
    There is a beautiful hymn that one might borrow from the Sarum use for this purpose. Attached here.
    Rex sanctorum.pdf
    413K
  • novusgordo
    Posts: 7
    https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/14970/cantus-qui-desiderantur-in-rituale-romano-1934/p1

    The first page contains an antiphon Effundam vos, to be sung with its psalm during the conferral of Baptism. I believe there's also a setting of the same text in English by Fr. Weber floating around somewhere.
  • Palestrina
    Posts: 559
    Thank you, novusgordo, for sharing this.

    I wonder where in the Baptism rite this was intended to be used.
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