In search of good communion antiphons

[johnquinn39]

I am looking for settings of the above (which correspond more or less to the ones in the Missal) which have a really good memorable, singable antiphon that congregations will sing, and an interesting psalm / NT part that will interest and motivate a small choir.

Any ideas?

John

[Nick Baty]

There are many good items for the communion procession and, if they're psalm based, you'll have no problem matching them to the antiphons in the Missal – although personally I'd rather match them to the themes of the readings where possible. See the psalm indexes in Laudate, Cantate and Music for the Mass (Vols 1 and 2) for a start.

However, most of the items I'm thinking of are for cantor(s) and assembly. Could you adapt some of these for choir? You could also find those which are right for the assembly and then look through the online listings of OCP and GIA to see which are available in choral arrangements.

[NorthernTenor]

The Graduale Romanum communion antiphons have the double virtue of being the Church's first choice for a sung mass and of being beautiful.

[johnquinn39]

The Graduale Romanum communion antiphons have the double virtue of being the Church's first choice for a sung mass and of being beautiful.

I have a copy of the Solesmes GR in front of me. Yes, this is beautiful stuff. But I'm not sure about using Latin.

Do your congregation sing these antiphons NT?

[NorthernTenor]

That depends on where I'm singing, John. As to use of Latin, translations can be provided (as they were where I sang last week), and I much prefer this. In that sense, it's no different from singing a beautiful Taize chant like 'Nada te turbe' - except that the Language used is one that unites us with all our fellow Roman Catholics, both the quick and the dead.

[johnquinn39]

That depends on where I'm singing, John. As to use of Latin, translations can be provided (as they were where I sang last week), and I much prefer this. In that sense, it's no different from singing a beautiful Taize chant like 'Nada te turbe' - except that the Language used is one that unites us with all our fellow Roman Catholics, both the quick and the dead.

Sounds good. Do any other people on this discussion board use any of these?

Are there any as congregation-friendly as Fr John Foley's 'One bread, one body'?

[nazard]

I use two of the Saints days communion antiphons. Beatus servus I use just as it is, in latin, and give out copies which have the translation and some explanatory notes. Some people try to join in, but are not audible. I also rearranged Beati mundo corde to suit the english translation, which involved a lot of simplification. I give copies of that out too, and it is well received, but I can't hear anyone joining in.

I do use these on days when they are not actually the specified antiphon. The GIRM can be read as allowing this, as "another antiphon from an approved book of antiphons", that is if the Graduale Romanum is approved. I might, however, be stretching a point. Argue away amonst yourselves...

[johnquinn39]

[quote="nazard"] ' ... I can't hear anyone joining in.'

Just to clarify - I am looking for antiphons that people will join in loudly and with enthusiasm!

Are there any? (In addition to 'One bread, one body')

[alan29]

If the people don't join in an antiphon, what then is its liturgical function?

[mcb]

The Graduale Romanum communion antiphons have the double virtue of being the Church's first choice for a sung mass and of being beautiful.

There's a conflict that can't be ignored between GIRM 87 (which lists the antiphon from the Graduale among the options for singing at this point) and GIRM 86, which says

...the Communion chant is begun. Its purpose is to express the communicants’ union in spirit by means of the unity of their voices, to show joy of heart, and to highlight more clearly the ‘communitarian’ nature of the procession to receive Communion.

I'd suggest that actually it's not easy to achieve these aims using (solely) the antiphon from the Graduale.

[docmattc]

I am looking for settings of the above (which correspond more or less to the ones in the Missal) which have a really good memorable, singable antiphon that congregations will sing, and an interesting psalm / NT part that will interest and motivate a small choir.

I bought a collection from GIA called "Amen to the Body of Christ" a while back looking to address a not dissimilar need. I may even have had a PM conversation with you about it John (I certainly PMd someone, but my memory fails me!). However I didn't find either the texts or the melodies to be very useful and never used them. I tried to find the book yesterday to remind myself why, but couldn't lay my hands on it.

[John Ainslie]

There's also Psallite, which, following ancient custom, has Communion antiphons based on the Scripture of the day. And there are various possibilities for involving cantors, choir and instruments.

[presbyter]

There's also Psallite,......

I played/sang through much of volume 1 - Year A - yesterday to attempt something of a personal assessment of this collection. I agree that there are many fine texts but musically, I think it's a hotch-potch and that there is much poor material therein. If I recall correctly (not near the book), the very first piece supplied an aural augury of anxiety and discomfit regarding the rest of the volume, in that there's a blatant exposed octave in the accompaniment that sounds - in my opinion - stylistically crass. As I feared, the music began as much of it would carry on and I found myself re-harmonising several of the accompaniments at the keyboard to make them more palatable. If I were reviewing this collection, I think my conclusion would be "use with caution". Much of the material - in my opinion - is rather boring.

By the way - if I were reviewing the Latin Gradual antiphons - my conclusion would be "use with extreme caution - if at all" - and thanks to mcb for pointing out the second paragraph above.

[presbyter]

By the way - if I were reviewing the Latin Gradual antiphons - my conclusion would be "use with extreme caution - if at all" - and thanks to mcb for pointing out the second paragraph above.

I mean as regards their use in "the average and less than average parish" (if you'll forgive the generalisation) - and I would remind NT that the chants of the Graduale only have pride of place when the entire Mass is celebrated in Latin (apart from the readings & homily).

[Dot]

I do not possess a copy of Psallite because I have similar views to Presbyter. The intention behind it is good, and the outcome is sometimes effective in drawing the assembly into a murmuring of song, or at least creating a suitable reflective background at Communion. However, it comes nowhere near the beauty of plainchant. Are there any credits to the various hymn tunes it borrows in its melodies? (eg. Picardy)