The trouble with Communion Processionals

[HallamPhil]

I agree, mcb, about beginning the song immediately after the priest's communion and during distribution to ministers. Have you used CW's 'Draw near'? I've decided to give it an airing at the Chrism Mass and later at Holy Thursday. It went down well with the choir last night. We still fluctuate between choral motet followed by a processional song which involves the congregation in singing the refrain and the processional song alone.

[mcb]

Have you used CW's 'Draw near'?

Hadn't come across it till you mentioned it. There's a sample to listen to here. Sounds nice. I could imagine using it for a big occasion - at the Mass of Chrism, for instance, when there's time to fit a choral item in, and then still begin a processional song in a timely way that connects the priests' communion to the people's.

[mcb]

immediately after the priest's communion

Actually, during, when we can manage it.

[alan29]

immediately after the priest's communion

Actually, during, when we can manage it.

Aaaaaaaaaah! Fraction Songs.

[Nick Baty]

Fraction Songs coincide with the fractio.

[HallamPhil]

I thought the only fraction song was lamb of God. Please enlighten me if otherwise.

[alan29]

Fraction Songs coincide with the fractio.

I know, but I still hanker after Lamb of Gods that continued being played quietly through the fraction and with a deft change of invocation became communion processionals.
Does that make me a very naughty boy?

[Nick Baty]

Not at all!
Surely a fraction song that links to a Communion song helps to tie the rite together.
But it need not be one item – could be two linked together!

[JW]

Two or three minutes of some quiet organ music after the priest's communion seems to go down well. Then, when distribution is about half way through we'll launch into a (Post?) Communion hymn or perhaps a choir number. Then to silence after the vessels are cleaned. Not liturgically 'pukka' but it works for us.

PS This means that the organist (up in the West Gallery) doesn't get Communion. It's not appropriate for a special minister to traipse all the way up to the organ loft and I've turned down an offer to receive Communion after Mass. Perhaps another thread?

[alan29]

Two or three minutes of some quiet organ music after the priest's communion seems to go down well. Then, when distribution is about half way through we'll launch into a (Post?) Communion hymn or perhaps a choir number. Then to silence after the vessels are cleaned. Not liturgically 'pukka' but it works for us.

Thats pretty much what we do, but with a group, playing over/improvising around the actual hymn before leading everyone in.

[Nick Baty]

Improvisation is an incredible skill and can have a superb effect when well executed.

[alan29]

Improvisation is an incredible skill and can have a superb effect when well executed.

It can also be a big word for doodling around with a tune ..... passing notes etc, but taking turns, keeping the chord structure ans harmonic pace the same as the original. There are two of us who are comfortable doing it an acoustic guitarist and moi, and we try to encourage the young instrumentalists to gently "have a go" when we have particularly good ones ...... but they tend to go off to Uni, just when they are getting really good.

[Nick Baty]

Yes, but they've probably only got into uni because of the chord structures you've shown them!
I remember being asked to improvise on Old Hundredth at my audition for music college. It was in G – I managed to start on a chord of Eb – and passed. And I will never know if that was because the lecturer thought I was being brilliantly creative or because he'd had a liquid lunch!

[Southern Comfort]

PS This means that the organist (up in the West Gallery) doesn't get Communion. It's not appropriate for a special minister to traipse all the way up to the organ loft and I've turned down an offer to receive Communion after Mass. Perhaps another thread?

No, this thread will do fine.

I wanted to say "Aw, nuts!" when I read that "It's not appropriate for a special minister to traipse all the way up to the organ loft". What on earth?! This happens in more than a few places, and not just for the organist but the entire choir. What could possibly be inappropriate about it? The community is serving its members, and the musicians are part of that community. It is a ministry of care, in which people recognize that those who serve (in this case as ministers of music) also need to be served. While they are being discreetly given Communion, the rest of the assembly is quietly reflecting, praying, making its thanksgiving. When the minister(s) is/are back, then everyone rises for a postcommunion song of thanksgiving or the postcommunion prayer, depending on your practice. Entirely appropriate. And the further the minister(s) has/have to "traipse", the more appropriate it is because the more care is being shown.

Communion after Mass is only appropriate when the clergy and ministers have overlooked the ministers of music. That, of course, happens a lot, alas.

To keep us on topic, the ministers of music are precisely those who cannot be part of the Communion procession because they are supporting the sung prayer of the community in that procession, so we need to make sure that they are included.

[Nick Baty]

There will always be practical problems when it comes to musicians receiving Communion.

I've frequently been in a threeway where A leads communion song, accompanied by B while C goes to Communion. C then takes over from B who sings psalm verses while A goes to Communion etc etc. And we've sometimes had a Communion Song led by a cantor with the choir taking part in the procession then, on their return, taking up the verses while the cantor goes to Communion.

I agree with SC that there's no reason why a minister should not "traipse all the way up to the organ loft". I also see no reason why the musicians, having exercised their ministry, should not then be ministered to themselves, quietly once the music has stopped. (Although I do have childhood memories of such things not happening simply because Father Polycarp was anxious to plough on.) Not so sure about taking Communion up to an entire choir in the loft, though – suggests to me that the choir is possibly in the wrong place and not part of the assembly – but it's almost impossible to generalise.

And we're getting off topic.