At last, a short list of Q&A for musicians who are attempting the transition from ordinary to extraordinary form. This is beautifully done and only 6 pages. It is printable. So it begins this way:
Question: What Masses require the singing of a choir?
Answer: The Masses that require the singing of a choir are the High Mass, which has the following variations: High Mass (i.e. “Missa Cantata” or “Sung Mass”); Solemn High Mass (i.e. “Missa Solemnis”); Pontifical High Mass
Question: What is a High Mass (“Missa Cantata”)
Answer: A High Mass is a Mass sung by a priest without the assistance of a deacon and subdeacon.
Question: What is a Solemn High Mass (“Missa Solemnis”)
Answer: A Solemn Mass is a Mass sung by a priest with the assistance of a deacon and subdeacon.
Question: What is a Pontifical High Mass?
Answer: A Pontifical High Mass is sung by a Bishop, with the assistance of a deacon, subdeacon and the other required ministers and the choir.
Question: Is the music which the choir expected to sing the same in these Masses?
Answer: As far as it concerns the choir, the music that is prescribed to be chanted is the same, with a few distinctions. In a Pontifical Mass, excepting a Pontifical Requiem Mass,the Bishop chants the Pontifical Blessing, to which the choir must sing the responses.
Question: What parts of the High Mass are to be sung by the choir? In what language is the choir expected to sing the parts of the High Mass?
Answer: At a High Mass, the choir must sing the following:
etc.
(Also a sheet for low Mass)
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Musicians' cheat sheet on the extraordinary form
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