The Sacrifice of Holy Mass

Joee Blogs - A Catholic Londoner ^ | 9/19/2006 | Joee Blogs

[murphE]

BTTT

[Carolina]

The singer must be absoutely rythymic, yet absolutely relaxed at the same time.

The singer has to know the text the way it's written, that's where the internal rhythm is derived--not a strict meter...to know where the stresses and unstresses fall when the text is spoken is reflected in the notes...and the singer has to be always aware of those around...to sing with one voice, no voice stands out.....to always sing at the dead center of the pitch... It really is sublime.

[Carolina]

The way our choirmaster describes it is to "sing as though you are speaking" -- the words themselves create the rhythm, and it must be a natural rhythm, without any overemphasis on the stressed syllables (which is the first common mistake in both Gregorian and Anglican chanting). Breathing is the next absolute essential, so the line can be carried through in a single breath, but in what you correctly describe as a relaxed manner.

Absolutely!

[Pyro7480]

I think you caught the London Oratory presentation, which would be plainsong and polyphany from a Catholic church in London. It isn't Anglican chant.

[AnAmericanMother]

Our choirmaster is a hoot! He demonstrates "how the opera singers carry a handkerchief" to get their ribcages in the correct position . . . he's a tall, lanky Swede with an aureole of golden hair and a face like an eaglet.

He has more music in his little finger than I will ever have in my whole body. And he's a great coach - I have added four notes on the top of my range since I started singing with him. For a true contralto to be able to hit an A above the staff consistently (and a C in a pinch) is phenomenal!

[Carolina]

I'm so envious. Our choir is in the thrall of Haugen/Haas/Cooney et al. "Gifts of Finest Wheat" is what passes for sublime here. "Oh, it's just beautiful" is what choir members say about this wretched piece.

[ichabod1]

Well, ultimately Gregorian and Anglican chant are the same thing aren't they? But what developed after the reformation I think is more sophisticated. No matter -- I like Anglican Church Music the best of all, and the best of that is the best of Catholic music.

Since I've been Catholic I've been becoming more interested in what the English Roman Catholics do, with the Anglican musical tradition, but the Roman Catholic ethos.

When I was Anglican I couldn't care less what was happening in Westminster Cathedral, I only wanted to hear music out of Cambridge and Oxford.

[AnAmericanMother]

Ick. We have relegated the nasty Haugen/Haas stuff to the hymns, mostly, because unfortunately there are parishioners who think that dreck is "just beautiful". We're using the Massive Cremation, but great rejoicing because the New Words Won't Fit. Albert's already ringing in a Latin chant Mass setting, a Danish mass, and his own Mass setting (which is gorgeous, and of course he can custom fit it to the new words.)

I know I've quoted him before, but he said the first time he heard the Massive Cremation he knew it was awful and that everybody would just LOVE it. . . .

[AnAmericanMother]

The Anglican single-melody chant is essentially Gregorian.

What's usually known as "Anglican chant" is four or six-part, so not really like Gregorian except in the breathing and intonation of the words.

Here is a sample -- just as a gag, a group called the Master Singers cut a 45 with Parlophone (the Beatles' old label) back in the 60s. They sang, in four and six part Anglican chant, the portion of the British Highway Code pertaining to pedestrians . . .

Here it be, (at least part of it.) I actually have a copy!

[AnAmericanMother]

The Civil War photo gives me giggles. Talk about a fish out of water, Father looks just a LITTLE out of place . . .

[ichabod1]

What's usually known as "Anglican chant" is four or six-part

Yes, exactly! That's exactly what I was thinking. I don't know why I didn't just say it.

[FJ290]

and now we go WAY back

Wow! Great find.