Centre Of My Life (Inwood)

[Hare]

A question- was this conceived (1) as a Responsorial Psalm, with cantored verses, or (2) as a hymn with everyone singing the verses? We have always treated it as (1) but as it appears in CFE with chorus and verses, I wondered if it shoyld be (2) ?

[gwyn]

We sing this delightful setting with choir ladies singing the odd-numbered verses, choir men singing the even-numbered verses, everyone singing the refrain. The congregation tend to sing along with the whole thing thru.

Something in dark recesses of my memory tells me that it was composed as a responsorial psalm for cantor and cong and for one particular celebration, It's unlikely that Mr Inwood would have crippled it by setting in stone how it's to be sung.

Somewhere there's the story of how Mr. Inwood came to compose this setting and why it was commissioned, I'll forrage about and find it. iirc it was an interesting Inwoodesque tale.

[musicus]

I was at Clifton Cathedral today for Catherine Harrison's funeral thanksgiving Mass, and Christopher Walker was directing the music. The responsorial psalm was his 'Because the Lord is my shepherd'. We began in responsorial mode, but by verse 3 Chris was encouraging the assembly to join in and sing everything, which they did very well. This is a similar case, I suggest, of a song being used flexibly and appropriately, irrespective of how the composer might originally have conceived it.

(I was struck, by the way, by how much better the Mass seemed for having no hymns.)

[mcb]

by verse 3 Chris was encouraging the assembly to join in and sing everything

Were they singing from memory, or did they have the words in front of them?

It would be interesting to see the whole music list, musicus.

M.

[John Ainslie]

(I was struck, by the way, by how much better the Mass seemed for having no hymns.)

I was also there, and I agree. But I find it difficult to put my finger on exactly why.

Since you ask, mcb, here is the Order of Service:
Entrance: organ variation on Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika - because Catherine was born in Zambia
Dressing of the Coffin by the women of the family
Psalm: Because the Lord is my shepherd - cantor was Chris Walker: the words of the verses were printed in the service booklet
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia of the Angels - Walker
Preparation of the Gifts: All things bright and beautiful - Rutter, sung by an ad hoc choir
Eucharistic Acclamations: New Celtic - Walker
Lamb of God: In Pace - Walker
Communion: Unless a grain of wheat - Farrell
Song of Farewell - Sands

[VML]

I don't quite see how this can be said to have 'no hymns' Musicus.
Don't those hymns count?

[musicus]

I see no hymns on that list, VML, but I do distinguish between (strophic) hymns and songs.

[musicus]

(I was struck, by the way, by how much better the Mass seemed for having no hymns.)

I was also there, and I agree. But I find it difficult to put my finger on exactly why.

Perhaps it was because nearly every piece of music accompanied (or itself constituted) a liturgical action. So, for example, the final song really involved us all in saying farewell. A 'final hymn', on the other hand, is seldom so involving - at least, not for me; I have always thought that hymns are like arias in baroque opera: they reflect upon the action but they do not advance it.

But we are straying off-topic...

[gwyn]

I have always thought that hymns are like arias in baroque opera: they reflect upon the action but they do not advance it.

Yes, nice.

[Nick Baty]

Yes, I'm with Musicus on this. Can't explain why but Mass without hymns just feels right. I'd be delighted with this music list at my funeral. The nearest to a hymn is Unless a grain of wheat but, if it was sung as a communion processional, that changes its function altogether.

[John Ainslie]

Yes, Nick, it was sung as a processional. And when the choir received (last), SSG members present duly took over, unbidden, the singing of the verses. 'Ecclesia supplet', for those who remember their canon law!

Sorry, musicus, still off topic - or should the matter of hymnless Masses become a new one?

[MaryR]

I also attended Catherine's funeral. It was a thoughtful and moving service. For those who don't know, Catherine was the wife of Peter Harrison, a long time member and friend of SSG who was Treasurer of the Society for a number of years, until he stepped down at the last AGM.

It was good to see Chris Walker (who is a friend of the Harrison family). He looked really well and was on fine form.

[alan29]

I thought a hymn was something with verses that everyone sang all the way through - no matter what the style.
As opposed to something where the people only sing a response/refrain.
Am I wrong?
And would that explain my alarm/despair when I see hymnless masses being extolled ........ "OK folks, heres the next thing that you will only be singing a fraction of. Its only a couple of words and a bit of a tune. Are you sure you can manage it?"

Delighted Chris Walker is well. I have great respect for his musicianship.

[Nick Baty]

I thought a hymn was something with verses that everyone sang all the way through - no matter what the style.

People can also sing songs all the way through – not just hymns.

[alan29]

I thought a hymn was something with verses that everyone sang all the way through - no matter what the style.

People can also sing songs all the way through – not just hymns.

Indeed - I wouldn't make a distinction in the context of church. For me they are the same thing - to use one word or the other is just commenting on style/era etc, not on how they are done.