This is an interesting song by Ricky Manalo that looks useful for Easter or liturgies celebrating the Trinity. The text of the verses is a translation of Die parente temporum from the Breviary of Le Mans. Manalo claims copyright on the brief chorus consisting of several words in Latin and English.
The lovely tune is his and worth claiming copyright on.
OCP sell the sheet music and the words are in their preview.
This is the over the top original:
This is better:
More tympani:
I’m puzzled as to why you’d call that first recording over-the-top: The organ is identified as a specifically ideal instrument for the liturgy, the full choral arrangment doesn’t get in the way of the melody and the brass adds a fantastic sense of occasion, solemnity and excitement. What about the second recording (which is perfectly fine) do you consider to be better?
G’Day Isaac
To me, the first one sounds more a performance, and as you suggest a very fine one, the second a lovely choir being supported by simple accompaniment that invites participation. My heart is always with the assembly and much of my experience with organs is hearing them bury participation, a feat admittedly possible with many other instruments, especially the amplified!
The documents promoting the pipe organ belong to a specific era in the Catholic church. The organ was originally not allowed in churches as it was a profane instrument for popular songs – unaccompanied voices was the rule. It then became accepted as the best option for large churches in the preamplification era. For most assemblies pipe organs are currently inappropriate – fine perhaps for well endowed cathedrals, but impractical for small suburban churches, lousy in hot climates and wedded to eurocentric repetoires.
Thank you for your comment, Isaac, as I must keep working on examining my prejudices and be open to the merits of all styles and instrumentation for liturgical music, including Fr Manalo’s timpani.
cheers
Geoff