Loading...What is “service music?” This term refers to the sung portions of the traditional mass texts. In our parish, we sing the Gloria (“Glory to God in the highest”) or Kyrie (“Lord, have mercy”), Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy Lord”), Great Amen (at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer), and the Fraction Anthem after The Breaking of the Bread: Agnus Dei (“Jesus, Lamb of God”), or Christ, our Passover, etc.
I try to choose mass settings (service music) to match the tone of each season in the liturgical year, hopefully providing a meaningful variety. This year for Lent, rather than the usual unaccompanied New Plainsong chant (by David Hurd), I thought it would be fitting, in this time of turmoil and uncertainty, for us to sing something a little more warm and comforting. So, I have chosen Franz Schubert’s Deutsche Messe (which he wrote specifically for congregational singing, and which has been adapted for English language and arranged by Richard Proulx).
It has been customary for us to sing portions of Deutsche Messe for Christmas Eve and Christmastide – specifically, the Sanctus and Agnus Dei (so, hopefully, you are already familiar with that music). This mass setting is simple and somber, evoking feelings of awe and reverence – fitting for the wonder of the Nativity. However, instead of beginning with the somewhat penitential Kyrie, we usually sing John Rutter’s Benedictus es, Domine (“Glory to you”). But for Lent, it is certainly appropriate for us to sing the Kyrie, and I would like to introduce it to you! Please refer to the music score from our hymnal, and watch the video to give you a head start on learning it. It is my hope that this will help you participate more fully in worship through music!
Yours, truly –
Daniel Douglas Martin, Organist-Choirmaster
