Introducing Antiphons: Entrance or Communion First?
  • JazFenn
    Posts: 29
    We are planning to introduce either the Entrance or Communion Antiphons at our parish beginning this Advent. For those of you who have implemented antiphons, which would you recommend introducing first, and why?

    I'm leaning toward starting with the Communion Antiphons, primarily for logistical reasons. The timing seems much more straightforward than trying to coordinate the conclusion of the entrance hymn and the beginning of the Entrance Antiphon during the incensation of the altar. We also don't use incense at our Vigil Mass, so I'm unsure how the timing would work in that setting.

    I'd love to hear your experiences and recommendations!
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 3,419
    I always recommend ADDING Communion antiphons first. And doing only that for a year. This way you're enhancing what is already there without taking anything away. Chant is meditative by nature, and it feels very natural at Communion. People will begin to acquire a taste for antiphons this way, without threatening the hymns they already know and love. It wets the appetite and then Introits (and eventually offertorios) can come later.

    By contrast, if you launch right in with Introits, people will wonder why because they have no context for it. Worse still is if you only do introits and "take hymns away" from the people. That is absolutely a recipe for disaster unless they have been conditioned and CATECHIZED as to what the antiphons are and why you're doing them.

    If you decide you must do the introit instead (which, to be fair, Masses are named after them, and they literally set the tone of the Mass) then consider doing them as a "prelude" while the bells are ringing or after a hymn, while the altar is (hopefully) being incensed. I personally prefer them after a hymn, because they flow much more nicely into the collect, especially if your priest opens the Mass with chant. The flow is seamless.
    Thanked by 5emac3183 JazFenn CHGiffen probe Liam
  • CaleferinkCaleferink
    Posts: 470
    Communion Antiphons are, logistically, lower-hanging fruit. You can do it as the priest receives Communion and then do a hymn and/or motet/anthem during the distribution and purification. As Serviam says above, this way you're not "taking away" something the people know without the need to really coordinate and/or explain more.
    Thanked by 3JazFenn CHGiffen Liam
  • tandrews
    Posts: 248
    Communion first. Introit as a prelude to the hymn.
    Thanked by 3JazFenn CHGiffen Liam
  • JazFenn
    Posts: 29
    Thanks, everyone! That makes a lot of sense. We’ll begin by introducing the Communion Antiphon as the priest receives Communion, continuing to catechize the congregation and allowing familiarity through repeated exposure before introducing the Entrance Antiphon down the road.

    I plan to use the Simple English Propers throughout this year. Do any of you have thoughts on beginning with a seasonal antiphon versus the proper antiphon for each Mass? I’m wondering whether using the same antiphon for several weeks might help the congregation become more familiar and comfortable with the practice before introducing a different text each Sunday.

    One other logistical question: Our hymnals don't include the antiphons, and while my priest is fully supportive of introducing them, he's understandably hesitant about the recurring cost of printing antiphons for the congregation every weekend. Have any of you navigated this issue? I'd love to hear what has worked in your parishes!
  • tandrews
    Posts: 248
    Must the congregation sing them? Just have the cantor/choir sing them?
    Thanked by 3ServiamScores irishtenor Chant_Supremacist
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 3,419
    For communion, just have the choir / cantor sing them. I've experimented with doing simple introits congregationally this last year, and it's a slog. People will do it, but they have to be UBER simple. It's a weird pie-in-the-sky ideal to have the "people" singing the antiphons. It just isn't practical in the slightest.

    Sing the real antiphons of the day, and allow the people to just listen. They don't have to do everything, and the choir is allowed its own proper role (as provided for by even post-conciliar documents).
    Thanked by 4irishtenor Chant_Supremacist JazFenn novusgordo
  • tandrews
    Posts: 248
    As has been echoed before on this forum, don't sing the congregation to death.
    Thanked by 1ServiamScores
  • Chant_Supremacist
    Posts: 378
    I plan to use the Simple English Propers throughout this year. Do any of you have thoughts on beginning with a seasonal antiphon versus the proper antiphon for each Mass? I’m wondering whether using the same antiphon for several weeks might help the congregation become more familiar and comfortable with the practice before introducing a different text each Sunday.


    I agree with everyone else that the communion chant is lower hanging fruit. Here imo you're overthinking the gradual transition thing. I would just evaluate if the choir is able to learn new simplified chant(s) every week.

    On another note I think Bruce Ford's unsimplified English propers are quite nice overall, so depending on choir capability I recommend looking at that resource for the communion chant.
    Thanked by 2JazFenn Roborgelmeister
  • JazFenn
    Posts: 29
    I've never done antiphons in a setting without a choir. We don't have a regularly scheduled choir here, so it's generally just a cantor.

    In that situation, would the cantor simply sing the antiphon once and stop there, or go straight into a verse? I'm used to having the cantor sing the antiphon once, followed by the choir and congregation repeating it, and then either moving into a verse or ending there. But it would perhaps be odd to have the cantor sing the antiphon twice through by themselves before stopping or moving to a verse?
  • Chant_Supremacist
    Posts: 378
    Yes, once then straight into the verse (unless you're thinking of the responsorial psalm). Typically we repeat the antiphon after every 2nd verse, but I'm not aware of any hard and fast rule about that. I've heard it repeated after every verse, or only after all the verses are done, or just whenever the chant needs to wrap up. It's nice to have a second voice at least, to jump in after the incipit and on the second half of each verse, for strength and colour, but if you don't have it you don't have it.
    Thanked by 4JazFenn CHGiffen Andrew_Malton Roborgelmeister
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 3,419
    In that situation, would the cantor simply sing the antiphon once and stop there, or go straight into a verse?
    Entirely depends on the timing of the liturgical action. If you have time for a verse (or more), then by all means, absolutely sing them. If everyone is just standing there waiting for you to be done with it (as can happen with introits) then just sing the antiphon and be done.
    Thanked by 3JazFenn CHGiffen Roborgelmeister
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