It’s that time of year when I see what is in and out at OCP for 2026, before I get back to Australian compositions.
Spoiler alert, what is in is chant adjacent and solemnity and what is out is liveliness and joy. This should be no surprise as this has been their approach for some years now. I have heard nothing that isn’t worthy and liturgically appropriate but there is a sameness and a dourness and much revisiting of tropes from old traditional sources. I can only assume that this is the music that is now inculturated in the current US Catholic church and OCP is responding to that. Otherwise, you have to assume that any upbeat music for the church is being suppressed from above through OCP – perish the thought.
I should rejoice in this first song from the Palm Sunday mass by Howard Hughes SM, because I have never been happy with any of the entry songs we have used over the years. And maybe this is doable chant even for a recalcitrant like myself.
What isn’t doable is chant on Band in a Box so I won’t bother with an appalling attmept.
The sheet music is available at OCP where the text is in their preview.
When I saw the list of what’s being “retired” this year, only two songs really stood out. “Jesu, Jesu” is an oldie from the 60s, but it has easy application on Holy Thursday. GIA spared it from their folk-hymn-purging Gather 4th edition, and they even included a Spanish translation, so it’s interesting that OCP totally removed it.
The other one that made me pause isn’t totally shocking, but it is one my parish uses. In fact, we just used it this weekend, “To Live With Him Forever.” It was probably the last time we’ll ever sing it since we ditched weekly worship aids in favor of Breaking Bread after COVID. I guess if OCP wants to add multiple new Sarah Hart songs, they have to cut at least one of her older songs that isn’t as popular.
Not sure if you came across this document that OCP made. They give recommendations for alternative selections for the songs that are being removed. I saw this document months ago when the list came out, but had to really dig to find it again. https://dh8zy5a1i9xe5.cloudfront.net/ocp/pdf/16584-MIBB-261.pdf
As an aside, OCP’s Heritage Missal is getting a big overhaul this year, making it much more aligned with the word “heritage” AKA traditional. It’ll be interesting to see how Breaking Bread changes over the next few years.
In my mind, two words describe this piece: “noble simplicity”.
No argument from me.
Geoff