A shout out to all the music ministers who have survived the Triduum. I was just strumming along with very talented musicians who carried the burden, and sang the Exultet, and other impossible tasks, so I got off lightly.
If you are an Australian Catholic liturgical musician you are with few exceptions a volunteer and in many small parishes doing everything by yourself. If you are lucky enough not to be criticised for your work you may find that you beat up on yourself at times. Since the miracle of the loaves and fishes was actually about music ministry in the Australian Catholic church be at peace.
So let us share Easter blessings regarding the miracle of musicians and their ministry and the life of the risen Christ in the voice of the assembly that is nourished by them.
Those who decide these matters in our parish wisely add things slowly to annual celebrations. This year, apart from Percy Jones’s setting of “Springs of Water” CWB II 337, the only new song was Marty Haugen’s delightful “Up From the Waters” CWB II 97, after the baptisms.
How did Easter go musically in your parish?
Happy Easter! Not much different this year, mainly just some different psalm settings.
Two notes, both from Holy Thursday…
We did We Come to Your Feast by Michael Joncas for the offertory, which was very nice. We combined verses 2 and 3 together since it’s a long song.
As a meditation after Communion, the choir did Allen Pote’s The Garden of Gethsemane. It was a nice bridge from Communion to the the procession and “keeping watch” in adoration. The piano part reminded me of The Twilight Zone theme, very haunting.
Happy Easter everyone! I love to use the Shalom Gloria at Easter because it is so joyful. (Normally we use the Mass of Love Gloria – mine is a small non-choir-few-singers-community.) At the Holy Saturday Vigil, we sang Alleluia #1 (V1,2,4) for Gospel acclamation, Lord I Am Not Worthy for offertory (which we also used on Holy Thursday for Communion), Because He Lives for Communion and Allelulia Love is Alive for recessional. I had All to Jesus I Surrender ready for reflection but time didn’t allow for it. (Next time maybe, as I love that song too!) For Washing of the Feet, we played As I Have Done For You. We sang Down in Adoration during transference to the Altar of Repose, and Andrew Chinn’s Garden of Gethsemane during adoration.
great Easter Vigil But A Lot of the Same Songs
Lighting The Fire and Entrance Procession: Christ Be Our Light
Exultet: Star of Morning Fire Frank Andersen MSC (Chorus Sung and Verses Spoken by the Commentator)
Liturgy of The Word: Song of The Body of Christ David Haas (Refrain)
Gloria: Mass of Renewal
Gospel Acclamation: Halle Halle Halle
Litany of The Saints
Procession to the Baptism Water: Come to the Water AOV 74
Communion: Sing A New Song AOV 80
Recessional: The Easter Song Lent and Easter Song Book Page 14