With a minimum of snark from me, let’s see how we are to celebrate the Easter Vigil from the pages of CWB II. I’ll do some of the strictly liturgical elements today.
331-332 The Blessing of the Fire and Preparation of the Candle.
This is a great start and symbol, starting outside in the fading light with a roaring fire to light the candles.
The music and text is at ICEL, although CWB II drops it two semi-tones – “Thanks be to God.” The sound file is from NPM.
333 Exsultet – CWB II just gives the responses. I would have thought a setting of some sort mandatory. What they didn’t provide is available in chant mode at ICEL.
This is nice but a non chant version would have been good as well.
334-5 The Easter Alleluia
CWB II has picked a version from the Grail, which seems idiosyncratic and not used much elsewhere in the world. There are many other settings available.
I made a bad guide for the chant for the three lines of “Alleluia” then the solemn tone chant for “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever”. Each of the first three lines is repeated by the assembly (but I didn’t put that in) – probably useless:
336 the Litany of the Saints
This is always great and you can pop your local saints in to the mix. This is the ICEL version and again CWB II have dropped the setting by two semi-tones (Thanks be to God.)
337-338 Springs of Water, Bless the Lord
I prefer Haugen’s setting.
Percy Jones setting (2010 ICEL text):
Springs of water, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him forever.
Richard Proulx’s setting (1973 ICEL text):
Cantor: Springs of water, bless the Lord.
Assembly: Springs of water, bless the Lord.
Cantor: Give him glory and praise for ever.
Assembly: Give him glory and praise for ever.
339-340 Easter Dismissal
This is the ICEL text and music (again CWB II down two semi-tones – Thanks be to God). “Go in peace” is also an option:
What do you think? I’m not a chant guy but if they are going in that direction why not stick to ICEL? Maybe some of these have been used successfully in many parishes in Australia. They aren’t leftovers from CWB I, so I don’t know the reasons for idiosyncratic responses and the omissions.
I’ll look at the hymns they suggest tomorrow.