Chris has sent this important missive:
To anyone looking for some simple chant responsorial psalms and/or gospel acclamations for Lent, I now have a complete collection available on LiturgyShare.org from Ash Wednesday to Good Friday including Sundays and the solemnities of Patrick, Joseph, and the Annunciation. Items can be freely downloaded in complete collections from the website’s homepage, or individually via the Liturgy page, in editions for accompanist, cantor and congregation. There is even a printable “tablet” version using colour text to help the cantor stay on track for each stanza!
All have been recorded on YouTube (but don’t expect world class singing!) for demonstration purposes. They can either be accessed from the website or directly from the YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@LiturgyShare – all of Year A is collected in a playlist that will remain on the YouTube homepage during Lent.
One feature of the Gospel Acclamation is that the one tune works for all four of the responses given in the lectionary (Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ … / Glory and praise to you … / Glory to you, Word of God … / Praise and honour to you …). It is, of course, perfectly acceptable to use the same response right the way through Lent.
Metric hymn selections (three for each of the four usual spots plus Hymn of the Day) will be added over the next week or two in the same format as has been the case since Advent, and will also be accessible either via the website or from a playlist on the YouTube homepage. Accompaniment and lyric downloads are available when copyright allows. Links are normally included in the comments section of YouTube as to where accompaniments might be found (if copyrighted) as well as to the LiturgyShare website when downloads are possible. Note that the videos are intended to aid practice and hymn selection rather than showcase beautiful performances, though the latter can be accessed (where available) via the website.
Finally: the psalms were meant to be sung!!! Here are some excellent options if you want something that sticks to the Australian lectionary, but is more musically advanced (interesting / beautiful?) than what I have produced:
Michael Herry: http://www.maristmusic.org.au/ (free, including audio)
Kate Keefe: https://www.musicformass.co.uk/ausnz/index.html (free)
Colin Smith: https://willowpublishing.com.au/product/responsorial-psalms-year-a-sundays-holy-days-and-special-occasions/ (commercial, either individual or as a complete collection)
Amanda McKenna: https://willowpublishing.com.au/product/sing-the-responsorial-psalms/ (response only; commercial, either individual or as a complete collection)
Thank you, and I hope all readers have a holy and blessed Lent.
Chris Wroblewski