For the English Ordinary Form of the Mass, I am really curious to know your opinion on the strategy of hymn selection, specifically on choosing hymns based on...
a.) readings (1st Reading, 2nd Reading, Gospel)
b.) liturgical action taking place (Procession to the altar, Offertory, Communion, Recessional)
The past 3 years, I decided to go with option b.), that which seems proper to focus on hymns in the Saint Michael Hymnal that are fully representative of what is taking place, and have them cycle throughout the year (minus the proper seasons such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter). These tunes are easy to pick up, kids sing them, MEN in our congregation sing them, and because they are repeated once every other month, it has seemed to work well with our congregation singing:
+Processional (strong, grand, majestic)
#410 - All Creatures of Our God and King LASST UNS ERFREUEN
#499 - Crown Him with Many Crowns DIADEMATA
#415 - All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name CORONATION
#426 - Alleluia! Sing to Jesus! HYFRYDOL
#483 - Come, Holy Ghost LAMBILOTTE
#575 - I Sing the Mighty Power of God ELLACOMBE
#689 - O Worship the King HANOVER
#716 - Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven LAUDA ANIMA
#718 - Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him AUSTRIA
#721 - Praise to the Lord LOBE DEN HERREN
+Offertory (familiar to most ears, we do not announce the hymn so the familiar introduction encourages people to pick up hymnal)
#525 - For the Fruits of His Creation AR HYD Y NOS
#572 - I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say KINGSFOLD
#659 - O God Beyond All Praising THAXTED
#601 - Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee HYMN TO JOY
#612 - Let All Things Now Living THE ASH GROVE
#622 - Lord of All Hopefulness SLANE
#627 - Love Divine, All Loves Excelling HYFRYDOL
#647 - O Christ, Our Hope HERMANN (LOBT GOTT)
#665 - O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts FULDA (WALTON)
#750 - Sing Praise to Our Creator GOTT VATER! SEI GEPRIESEN
+Communion (meditative, specific to the Eucharist, Mary, thanksgiving; only sung after the everyone has received communion and hosts placed in the tabernacle, again, not announced)
#503 - Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary ALLE TAGE SING UND SAGE
#521 - Father, We Thank Thee RENDEZ A DIEU
#593 - Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All SWEET SACRAMENT
#624 - Lord, Who at Thy First Eucharist UNDE ET MEMORES
#667 - O Jesus, We Adore Thee FULDA MELODY
#670 - O Living Bread from Heaven AURELIA
#675 - O Mary, Our Mother PADERBORN
#748 - Sing of Mary PLEADING SAVIOR
#759 - Soul of My Savior ANIMA CHRISTI
#784 - The King of Love ST. COLUMBA
+Recessional (proper to the Marian Antiphon of the season, i.e. Salve Regina, Alma Redemptoris Mater, etc.)
That said, I know many music directors choose option a.), but would like to know how that is works out:
...does it really make a difference in the spirituality of the congregation?
...do people even notice that one line from the hymn matched one of the readings?
...does it matter?
I'm giving a talk this Sunday (7/22) about music in the liturgy, any feedback before then appreciated. Thanks!
(if you're curious about everything we do, here are the spreadsheets)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eF7pmVmjdVXceBXmLPEj6PuwET91XTyqBLvA605nU2E/edit?usp=sharing
a.) readings (1st Reading, 2nd Reading, Gospel)
b.) liturgical action taking place (Procession to the altar, Offertory, Communion, Recessional)
The past 3 years, I decided to go with option b.), that which seems proper to focus on hymns in the Saint Michael Hymnal that are fully representative of what is taking place, and have them cycle throughout the year (minus the proper seasons such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter). These tunes are easy to pick up, kids sing them, MEN in our congregation sing them, and because they are repeated once every other month, it has seemed to work well with our congregation singing:
+Processional (strong, grand, majestic)
#410 - All Creatures of Our God and King LASST UNS ERFREUEN
#499 - Crown Him with Many Crowns DIADEMATA
#415 - All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name CORONATION
#426 - Alleluia! Sing to Jesus! HYFRYDOL
#483 - Come, Holy Ghost LAMBILOTTE
#575 - I Sing the Mighty Power of God ELLACOMBE
#689 - O Worship the King HANOVER
#716 - Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven LAUDA ANIMA
#718 - Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him AUSTRIA
#721 - Praise to the Lord LOBE DEN HERREN
+Offertory (familiar to most ears, we do not announce the hymn so the familiar introduction encourages people to pick up hymnal)
#525 - For the Fruits of His Creation AR HYD Y NOS
#572 - I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say KINGSFOLD
#659 - O God Beyond All Praising THAXTED
#601 - Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee HYMN TO JOY
#612 - Let All Things Now Living THE ASH GROVE
#622 - Lord of All Hopefulness SLANE
#627 - Love Divine, All Loves Excelling HYFRYDOL
#647 - O Christ, Our Hope HERMANN (LOBT GOTT)
#665 - O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts FULDA (WALTON)
#750 - Sing Praise to Our Creator GOTT VATER! SEI GEPRIESEN
+Communion (meditative, specific to the Eucharist, Mary, thanksgiving; only sung after the everyone has received communion and hosts placed in the tabernacle, again, not announced)
#503 - Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary ALLE TAGE SING UND SAGE
#521 - Father, We Thank Thee RENDEZ A DIEU
#593 - Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All SWEET SACRAMENT
#624 - Lord, Who at Thy First Eucharist UNDE ET MEMORES
#667 - O Jesus, We Adore Thee FULDA MELODY
#670 - O Living Bread from Heaven AURELIA
#675 - O Mary, Our Mother PADERBORN
#748 - Sing of Mary PLEADING SAVIOR
#759 - Soul of My Savior ANIMA CHRISTI
#784 - The King of Love ST. COLUMBA
+Recessional (proper to the Marian Antiphon of the season, i.e. Salve Regina, Alma Redemptoris Mater, etc.)
That said, I know many music directors choose option a.), but would like to know how that is works out:
...does it really make a difference in the spirituality of the congregation?
...do people even notice that one line from the hymn matched one of the readings?
...does it matter?
I'm giving a talk this Sunday (7/22) about music in the liturgy, any feedback before then appreciated. Thanks!
(if you're curious about everything we do, here are the spreadsheets)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eF7pmVmjdVXceBXmLPEj6PuwET91XTyqBLvA605nU2E/edit?usp=sharing