Music for Pentecost

[festivaltrumpet]

Once more, it was clear on the feast of Pentecost that we fail, through our music, to recognise that the Spirit is active in Mother Church. There exist a mulitude of settings on the theme of Veni Creator but a dearth of music acknowledging the presence and action of the Spirit in the Church. The antiphons for Pentecost, by contrast, reflect the Spirit's continuing presence (The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world..., The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Spirit of God dwelling within us, They were all filled with the Holy Spirit...) rather than constantly imploring the Advocate to arrive (the psalm fulfils this purpose).

Is it appropriate to sing Veni post-epiclesis within the Liturgy at all?

Does our multiplicity of Veni settings reflect a lack of belief in the work of Paraclete throughout the Church? What music is there that redresses this balance?

[Calum Cille]

"Look with favour on your Church's offering, and see the Victim whose death has reconciled us to yourself. Grant that we, who are nourished by his body and blood, may be filled with his Holy Spirit, and become one body, one spirit in Christ."

This explicit request for filling with the Holy Spirit is post-epiclesis.

I have made three hymns on this subject: a Gaelic/English introit, a Gaelic offertory and an English offertory. I still haven't got round to communion or recessional hymns on the subject yet.