Tuesday, December 14, 2004
The Mass Under a Microscope: Gospel Acclamation
Returning to IGRM 62:
After the reading that immediately precedes the Gospel, the Alleluia or another chant indicated by the rubrics is sung, as required by the liturgical season. An acclamation of this kind constitutes a rite or act in itself, by which the assembly of the faithful welcomes and greets the Lord who is about to speak to them in the Gospel and professes their faith by means of the chant. It is sung by all while standing and is led by the choir or a cantor, being repeated if this is appropriate. The verse, however, is sung either by the choir or by the cantor.
- The Alleluia is sung in every season other than Lent. The verses are taken from the
Lectionary or the Graduale.
- During Lent, in place of the Alleluia, the verse before the Gospel is sung, as indicated in the
Lectionary. It is also permissible to sing another psalm or tract, as found in the Graduale.
The alleluia "constitutes a rite or act in itself," is a pretty substantial thing to say for a piece of music. Especially a piece of music that is not traditionally included in the "classical" Mass setting. I had a friend who questioned the practice of "burying" the alleluia during Lent. It was like playacting, he said, to ignore we have no reason to sing "Praise God" before the Gospel. Additionally, he said we sing the same thing in English during Lent, but we sing a corrupted Hebrew/Latin blend other times. Not that he would have outright disobeyed and sung "alleluia" during Lent, but he did grumble about it. Me, I never saw the fuss. Just do what they tell me, right?
I will say that one music director never permitted an "alleluia" to pass her lips during Lent. Hey, folks, let's hum along with the Dameans, "Sing Hmm-mmm-mm-mm, Sing Hmm-mmm-mm-mm, Sing Hmm-mmm-mm-mm to the Lord." I probably mentioned this before, but years ago, they asked me to do Evening Prayer at the cathedral for the Rite of Election. (It was 3PM in the afternoon, but hey ...) To my horror, I found Gelineau's Magnificat with Alleluia refrain printed in the w-aid. Oops. First Sunday of Lent; can't do that puppy. At least not the refrain. I had a very Middle Eastern arrangement of that setting for mountain dulcimer. It was fun, even though it was Lent. But I digress ...
IGRM 63:
When there is only one reading before the Gospel,
- During a season when the Alleluia is to be said, either the Alleluia Psalm or the responsorial
Psalm followed by the Alleluia with its verse may be used;
- During the season when the Alleluia is not to be said, either the psalm and the verse before
the Gospel or the psalm alone may be used;
The Alleluia or verse before the Gospel may be omitted if they are not sung.
Of course, we were told in the olden days we should omit it if not sung. Personally, I can think of nothing more dead than a listless repeating of alleluia after a presider. Minimum qualification for ordination should be the ability to sing one, just one alleluia. Verse optional.
IGRM 64:
The Sequence, which is optional except on Easter Sunday and on Pentecost Day, is sung before the Alleluia.
The original draft was curious, placing the Sequence after the alleluia. Glad they got that cleared up.
