Exsultet

[keitha]

Don't you mean 'stickless heads'!

[nazard]

Yes - that's what comes of giving up alcohol for lent!

[VML]

Thank you Gradually, and welcome to the forum.
That is a truly beautiful layout.

Do any parishes have a female cantor for the Exsultet? Are all of you commenting on this thread priests or deacons?

[Gradually]

I'm none of the above - just the amateur choir director, but I have been singing the Exsultet here for the past 5-6 years pp. the PP.

[VML]

pp. the PP.

[Ros Wood]

Do any parishes have a female cantor for the Exsultet?

Yes - if we didn't it wouldn't be sung. All our cantors are female.

[contrabordun]

Yes - that's what comes of giving up alcohol for lent!

No, that leads to the far worse condition of "ginless tonics"

[contrabordun]

Thanks Gradually for that, it looks fantastic and is far easier to sing than the Missal version.

[JW]

I have just come across a setting of the Shorter Form by a certain Peter Jones in 'Resurrexit' and like it so much that Ive just decided to use it this year, rather than struggle to keep in pitch with the missal chant. It is also much easier on the voice, a factor when the piece is so long and it's only the beginning of a long night and day of singing! It is in 'Anglican Chant' psalm-tone style and I suspect it would work even better if it were proclaimed in the accompaniment harmony by 3 singers (Soprano, Tenor, Bass)!

Thank you very much, Peter

John Wilkins (layman!)

[Peter Jones]

It is in 'Anglican Chant' psalm-tone style

Oh no no no no no it's not - LOL - it's just in a free speech/rhythm style and I've even managed to teach it to a self-confessed non-singer colleague today - "I can manage this".

It's simple and I think it will work.

Thank you for your comments JW.

[Gradually]

I recently prepared for my own use a large-font edition, in traditional neumes, of the new translation and chant setting of the Exsultet. So as my opening contribution to the SSG discussions I offer it to any and all who might find it useful. It can be downloaded from:

"http://www.choirat9.btck.co.uk/Music/Propers-Easter#Easter Vigil"

I believe I have observed all the ICEl requirements regarding copyright acknowledgement. Feedback - especially regarding any typos - welcome.

I have now added an A4 copy of the Shorter Form of the Exsultetat the same web address.

I noted in passing however that, at least in the CTS Study Missal, the verses towards the end of the Longer Form "On this Your night of grace, O holy Father ... Your most holy Church" followed by "O truly blessed night ... divine to the human" appear in the reversed order in the Shorter Form. Deep theological significance or just a typo?

[gwyn]

It's nice to see the return of the bees.

[organist]

Your comments cheered me up - I too gave up alcohol for Lent and spent less time on the internet including this forum so now I see what fun I have been missing! Happy Easter to the bees (endangered in this country by the way!)

[VML]

Just read Dwight Longenecker in the Catholic Herald Easter magazine. I wondered when we lost the bees. Apparently the 1970 translator thought they were a flight of fancy and omitted them.

[gwyn]

Apparently the 1970 translator thought they were a flight of fancy and omitted them.

Ah the translators of the 70's, special people indeed.