Eucharist Settings Options

[mrbouffant]

Can't remember if I have posted on this topic before.. isn't old age great (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

Anyway, the time has come to introduce one or two new Eucharistic Settings at our place. Having grown bored of the insipid Murray setting, I would really like to do something decent musically. The quire are up for most things, as is the organist (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) However, whatever is chosen must work for congregational singing also.

Any recommendations?... Thank you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Barry Williams]

I am so glad that you have raised this point. There is a dearth of good settings. The Murray is a re-worked version of the Latin Ordinary from about 1951. It is extremely well written and durable, if a little boring after a long while.

There is nothing that matches it, which is why some folk have tried to use Merbecke or Martin Shaw's Folk Mass for the new words.

There is a version of Series III set to the Missa de Angelis which is rather good, though perhaps not everyone's cup of tea. Apart from that I have found the range of settings including a congregational part rather poor.

It seems to be the Gloria that is the least satisfactory, for that is where the greatest verbal alterations have been made.

The rubric permits the use of BCP settings and I do wonder whether that is not the best option.

Barry Williams

[jod]

Are you using Modern Rite or Traditional Rite?

I've always liked Rutter for Modern Rite and Shaw for Traditional Rite, although I'm sure you could adapt Shaw for Modern Rite.

[mrbouffant]

Are you using Modern Rite or Traditional Rite?

I haven't a clue! How can I tell? Everything is CW down our way - does that come in two flavours?

[jod]

Are you using Modern Rite or Traditional Rite?

I haven't a clue! How can I tell? Everything is CW down our way - does that come in two flavours?

Yep! One complete with Thees and Thous the other with You all the way through.

[mrbouffant]

Yep! One complete with Thees and Thous the other with You all the way through.

So how would the normal Gloria / Sanctus / Benedictus / Acclamations / Agnus differ between the two flavours?

[jod]

Yep! One complete with Thees and Thous the other with You all the way through.

So how would the normal Gloria / Sanctus / Benedictus / Acclamations / Agnus differ between the two flavours?

If you have the Black Holy Communion Common Worship book Order one has the Traditional Worship words starting on p59

Gloria is on p63
Sanctus is within the Eucharistic Prayers
(as is benedictus)
Agnus Dei p 75

One caveat I've just noticed this is a sample booklet, presumably one DrD was given when training so page numbers may vary a little.

Fortunately his theological library hasn't made it it into the loft in its entirity as although he's prepared to make a leap of faith from the top of the A-frame ladder, given my ability to have accidents, I am not! Most of the Service books are still in the study. However I couldn't put my hands on complete Common Worship immediately... now if you wanted two copies of the Edward VIth prayer books however that would have been another thing as both my set and his set sit side by side! (Could also oblidge with New testament in Greek, though he's the Biblical Greek scholar not me!)

[Barry Williams]

"....I'm sure you could adapt Shaw for Modern Rite."

I advise against this for copyright reasons. Martin Shaw is still in copyright. (He died on 24th october 1958.) The Folk Mass was arranged for Series III in the early 1970s. Shortly after his widow died permission was withdrawn and copies were no longer available.

Merbecke has been dead for a bit longer. Organist Publications has a version of Merbecke for the Common Worship words, with all the various responses set out.

Barry Williams

[daveinnorfolk]

For CW, one of the best settings i've foudn is by Grayston Ives, the 'Salisbury Service' which is avaliable in both full music and 'congregational soprano line only' copies.

If you're after a choral setting which the congregation could 'join in on' - I think there is a Leighton Missa Brevis in D that features a congregational part but is really a choral setting - i'll check in the library when I go to practice later.

For a simple setting, Noel Rawsthorne wrote a quite effective one for Rite A in the 80's, as did Herbert Sumsion

[Swell Box]

Does anyone else still use Addington these days? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

SB

[Dulcet]

Does anyone else still use Addington these days? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

SB

I have a copy in my folder, but we haven't sung it for over 5 years now; we use to use Addington, Wiltshire and something else (something Festival?) but now major on Thorne with Wiltshire for Lent and Advent. I was brought up on Rutter Series III and, when we started using ASB rite (less trendy, forget whether it was A or B) Merbecke.

[mrbouffant]

Thanks all. I have ordered a selection of inspection copies by Shephard, Thorne, Ives, Aston, Rawsthorne and Archer. Must be something in there to excite the quire, and the gathered faithful!

[jod]

If Shaw was adapted for Series III then the rubrics pertaining to music in Common Worship allow that to be used for orders 1 and 2.

(Checked with hubby last night)

There must be some copies knocking about in a second hand shop somewhere.

Thorne is pleasant. I've sung that, especially the Agnus - very pretty counter-melody for the sopranos (I won't call it a descant the register is wrong). I've sung Shepherd's Addington Service too and liked that. He manages to get the balance between the choir and congregation right.

Merbecke does work with modern words. I still have a lot of time for Merbecke. He took the original rubrics of the 1549 prayer book and came up with something that was musical and fitted them exactly. The fact that we are still using it today speaks volumes.

[randomsabreur]

Think our church uses Thorne sometimes, but also has its own mass setting by the organist which I also really like.

[Swell Box]

Does anyone else still use Addington these days? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

SB

I have a copy in my folder, but we haven't sung it for over 5 years now; we use to use Addington, Wiltshire and something else (something Festival?) but now major on Thorne with Wiltshire for Lent and Advent.

Addington is used here most weeks in our home parish, and the Rector and choir where SBJ plays like it, so we are hoping it will be used there from time to time in the future. It may be rather staid and unexciting, but it is easy for everyone to follow.

Our Rector here likes to use verses from Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord, (in MP and others), but it gets rather repetitive after a while. We also have a less formal setting to Woodlands which is sometimes used for Family Services 'All Age Worship'.

SB