Vespers

[Gabriel]

Or you could try and find a copy of 'Tones for the Office' by Laurence Bevenot published by Parish Music (this was Philip Duffy's imprint in Liverpool) - Decani might be able to supply

They were written for New Hall.

[Southern Comfort]

I believe Worth pray in English, mostly using Dom Philip Gaisford's own melodies. Whether or not these are available more widely I couldn't say.

Yes, that is so, and Worth have now produced an assembly book and an accompaniment volume of Dom Philip's recent work. I haven't tried this for music, but perhaps the Worth Abbey website would be worth a visit.

[Adrian]

You could also try Dom Alan Rees' "Music for Evening Prayer: Settings for Vespers throughout the year". I suspect it might get a bit samey if you used it as the only source, but it does seem to provide a comprehensive base that you could build on from elsewhere. Its published by Kevin Mayhew Ltd.

[nazard]

We only do Vespers about twice a year. I used to use the simple tones from "The Catholic Supplement" (mayhew, a very odd book indeed), but lately I have used the gregorian psalm tones. These work well if you get the pointing right. It is not just a question of counting syllables back from the end of the line, you need to think about stresses. It is difficult to describe, but you need to have a stressed syllable where you move away from the reciting note, and a stress where you arrive on the final note.

The other problem is that you need settings of the antiphons. The laid down antiphons for vespers tend to be longer than the responsorial psalm antiphons for mass, so it is difficult to set them. I usually take the gregorian setting of the latin from the Liber or Antiphonale and adapt them for the english. It is an opportunity to simplify them too, so that the choir, none of whom can read music, can learn them quickly. does anyone have a source of english antiphons?

Can anyone recommend a really good unison setting of the Magnificat (catholic pronunciation please, like agnus)? Our old pp used to insist on singing "Tell out my soul" which rather destroyed the atmosphere. We have used tone 6 from "New Iubilate Deo" and had the men sing each verse in Latin followed by the Ladies sing the same verse in English. That seems to work.

[docmattc]

Are there any psalm tone settings included in 'Celebrating Sunday Evening Prayer'?

Can anyone recommend a really good unison setting of the Magnificat (catholic pronunciation please, like agnus)? Our old pp used to insist on singing "Tell out my soul" which rather destroyed the atmosphere. We have used tone 6 from "New Iubilate Deo" and had the men sing each verse in Latin followed by the Ladies sing the same verse in English. That seems to work.

I've used the Gelineau setting in the past. Its in English and can be sung either antiphonally or all together.

[contrabordun]

You could probably adapt the Andreas fauxborduns* - eg use instruments for the harmony - which might work really well especially if everything else you use is based on chant.

(Tried to get a cpdl link, but it's running really slowly - pm me an email address and i'll send them to you if you haven't got them and want a pdf).

[manniemain]

Can anyone recommend a really good unison setting of the Magnificat (catholic pronunciation please, like agnus)? .

Bernadette Farrell's setting is nice. There is a Benedictus version as well.

[mcb]

Can anyone recommend a really good unison setting of the Magnificat?

There are two versions that use the melody from Pieds-en-l'air from Peter Warlock's Capriol Suite. One is (I think) in the Mayhew collection for evening prayer mentioned above by Adrian, the other (text by Martin Foster) is in Cantate. Not sure whether two arrangers had the same idea independently, or Martin did his version because the other one isn't good enough. We've only ever done the 'other one', and I can't remember noticing anything wrong with it. Nice tune.

M.

[Southern Comfort]

There are two versions that use the melody from Pieds-en-l'air from Peter Warlock's Capriol Suite. One is (I think) in the Mayhew collection for evening prayer mentioned above by Adrian, the other (text by Martin Foster) is in Cantate. Not sure whether two arrangers had the same idea independently, or Martin did his version because the other one isn't good enough. We've only ever done the 'other one', and I can't remember noticing anything wrong with it. Nice tune.

M.

Don't know about Mayhew (never use anything from that publisher on principle) but a Capriol version certainly appears in Collins Liturgical's Parish Sunday Vespers.

[mcb]

Yep, my mistake, that's the one.

[docmattc]

Bernadette Farrell's setting is nice. There is a Benedictus version as well.

There are two versions that use the melody from Pieds-en-l'air from Peter Warlock's Capriol Suite. One is (I think) in the Mayhew collection for evening prayer mentioned above by Adrian, the other (text by Martin Foster) is in Cantate.

Are either acceptable for Evening Prayer in our post-Liturgiam Authenticam world?

[contrabordun]

Acceptable to whom? The CDW? I shouldn't imagine the Lord minds too much.

And shouldn't that be "Liturgiam"?

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congr ... am_en.html

[docmattc]

Acceptable to whom? The CDW? I shouldn't imagine the Lord minds too much.

Let me rephrase. Are either allowed...? We've discussed elsewhere that psalm paraphrases aren't OK in the Mass, are Canticle paraphrases in the Office?

And shouldn't that be "Liturgiam"?

It is, isn't it?

[contrabordun]

It is, isn't it?

Yes. Ignore me (again). I'm having a lot of very senior moments today.

[quaeritor]

So what makes it "Anglican" chant? - written by Anglicans? (some research needed there!) - sounding "Anglican"? (does that mean sung in those decadent "parts" and more-or-less together?).

I'd happily contribute one I "knocked up" for an ecumenical service some time ago - mainly to avoid copyright wrangles actually - probably musically quite undistinguished but of unquestionable Catholic provenance (Baptismal Cert supplied if required). I'd be happy to attempt a few more if the first one goes down well - it wasn't the most demanding thing I ever did!