The last song from Liam Lawton’s Glendalough Mass is his Agnes Dei. This is a reverent litany in a restrained waltz time. He has John Bell’s knack of writing music that fits so well with its idiom that it could be a classic folk tune from centuries ago. This sounds very singable indeed. The repetition at the end serves the tune and resolves the piece neatly.
The music liturgy team has chosen these songs for mass. We are still using Paul Taylor’s Mass of St Francis, supplemented by the Celtic Alleluia as a Gospel Acclamation.
Entrance: Summoned By Love (O’Brien/Watts) AOV 2/18
I haven’t bothered with the Lord’s Prayer settings in the past, but one of my current aims is to get our parish singing it. The options are to learn the Lord’s Prayer of whatever mass setting is being sung, our perhaps something like the Australian chant setting that I understand quite a few parishioners vaguely remember. It will be a point of discussion, but I also need to convince people that this is actually meant to be sung.
Our Father’s are often almost as upbeat as the Gloria but this one is a restrained flowing piece with three recognizably similar motifs (Our Father… , Thy kingdom… , and As we forgive… ) acting as microverses and a micro bridge (Give us…) It is a thoughtful piece of composition.
In the music I have there is no music for after the embolus so assume none is intended.
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Liam Lawton’s Glendalough Mass continues with the Great Amen. I should add that there is music for the introduction to the memorial acclamations (ie “The Mystery of Faith”) if you can rouse your presider, and here the doxology also is set.
My backing is somewhat stodgy and the feel should be lighter, but as always this is merely to sing along to to help the learning process for those of us who can’t just look at the music and sing.
Amen, amen, amen,amen.
Fr Lawton’s setting is all you could hope for when singing one word four times, each in a different way and in only twenty seconds or so.
Continuing with Liam Lawton’s Glendalough Mass, I am up to the acclamations.
We proclaim your death, O Lord,
and profess your resurrection until you come again.
When we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again.
Save us, Saviour of the world,
Save us, Saviour of the world,
for by your cross and resurrection you have set us free,
you have set us free.
They are serviceable and delicate tunes that will have no trouble with their liturgical purpose. He again adds repeated phrases to make the text easier to set.
Mary commented that the Gloria from this mass had a vocal range that was beyond even musically adept assemblies. I fear this gorgeous tune may be a problem for other reasons. The 4/4 to 3/4 shift that occurs several times sounds fine to me after about twenty listens, but I suspect it would be difficult to teach.
You will also note the added repetitions to the text, which allow the tune to fly but may not be to everyone’s preference.
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord,
Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
This parish is having no trouble with the timings:
Recessional: Go Make a Difference (Angrisano/Tomaszek) AOV NG 52
I’m playing Sunday morning and will be blessed by the Tongan community choir singing the Offertory and Communion songs, which we will be their choice and language. That means I get off easy.
I’ve been looking the the accompaniment version of Gather Australia for some time. I found a melody line edition at the the Lifeline Book sale but I could use the one with proper music. If anyone has a copy surplus to their requirements I’d be interested in making a purchase.
This mass was written by Liam Lawton, a priest from Ireland. You can order the mass from his website or you can download it from GIA.
One day I’ll get around to doing the Kyrie of a mass, probably when a church I go to finally gets around to singing it, but for now I’ll start with the Gloria.
Fr Lawton’s Gloria is in 6/8 time and is meant to be “moderately fast, with abundant joy!”
He has played around with the refrain, which is repeated rather than being a sing through Gloria.
Refrain
Glory to God in the highest,
Glory to God in the highest,
Glory to God, glory to God,
and on earth peace to people of goodwill
We praise you, we bless you,
We adore you, we glorify you,
We give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.
Refrain
Lord Jesus Christ, only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us;
You take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us.
Refrain
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Refrain
Firstly, I can never quite get the light dancing 6/8 quality I want into my backings, but it will give you an idea of the tune.
There is much to applaud in this melody. The notes rise and fall memorably and pleasantly and the few leaps in the melody fit well enough. There are phrases that are echoed throughout the verses that I’m sure will become quickly familiar. It is certainly joyful with a delightful Irish lilt.
It has a fairly wide range and the high E’s in the third line of the refrain might be a challenge. The music splits and adds a lower harmony at that point and the groaners like me might be able to be taught that part. Mercifully the high parts are never held notes and I think that might allow them to get through.
The unhurried first line of the first verse is masterful. The descent from B to C# is like a relaxed sigh after that energetic refrain and the trick is repeated in the second verse to similar effect. On the down side I struggle with an amen followed by a last refrain, although the descant might make it worthwhile. Getting this text to fit music is a struggle which perhaps justifies both the amen to round out the third verse and the repetitions in the refrain.
This is a good start if you are brave enough to tackle a few high notes. The music does suggest the verses are for a cantor or section, but participation by the assembly is a given where I attend and that is not going to happen. The piece has to be singable by the assembly and I’d love to hear it sung with gusto. This parish has a go, and even has a crack at the descant:
I've worked my way through the As One Voice books and other collections making backings on Band in a Box to help me (& you if you're interested) learn new songs for church. This is aimed at churches and musicians that own the collections but haven't exploited them fully. If you don't have them they are certainly worth buying. This site is educational, nonprofit and designed to enhance the commercial prospects of songwriters. This site does not distribute copyrighted sheet music.
Disclaimer
Any opinions expressed here are personal views and not the responsibility of any Church.
All music backings posted are created by myself and the intention is for them to be used to learn the songs. If any copyright holder wishes me to cease publicising and promoting their wares and directing people to where sheet music can be legally purchased please let me know.
Mason’s “Mass of Glory and Praise”
To access my backings for Paul Mason's mass go to Feb 2011 in the archive.
