Category Archives: Music

Music for the Third Sunday after Easter (Missale Romanum of 1962, 9:00 a.m.)
Prelude: Glorificamus (John Redford, c.1485-1547)
Mass for Four Voices (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585)
Gregorian Mass of the Third Sunday after Easter: Jubilate Deo
Hymn at the Offertory: Ad regias Agni dapes (plainsong, mode iv)
Motet at the Communion: O sacrum convivium (Tallis)
Postlude: Verses on the Te Deum (anonymous French, 16th century)

Music for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (Missale Romanum of 1970, 11:00 a.m.)
Prelude: Sheep May Safely Graze (from Cantata No. 208) (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Alleluia: Ego sum pastor bonus (plainsong, mode i)
Communion: Ego sum pastor bonus (plainsong, mode ii)
Postlude: Fugue in G Minor, BWV 542 (Bach)

Music for the Second Sunday after Easter (Missale Romanum of 1962, 9:00 a.m.)
Prelude: Improvisation on the Introit Misericordia Domini
Missa Lux et origo (Vatican Gradual, Mass I)
Gregorian Mass of the Second Sunday after Easter: Misericordia Domini
Motet at the Communion: Regina caeli (Robert White, c.1538-1574)
Postlude: Partita on Christ lag in Todesbanden (Georg Böhm, 1661-1733)

Music for the Third Sunday of Easter (Missale Romanum of 1970, 11:00 a.m.)
Prelude: Improvisation on the Introit Jubilate Deo
Missa de Angelis (Vatican Gradual, Mass VIII)
Alleluia: Oportebat pati Christum (plainsong, mode iv)
Antiphon at the Offertory: Regina caeli (plainchant, mode vi)
Hymn at the Offertory: Now the Green Blade Riseth (Noel Nouvelet)
Communion: Surrexit Dominus (plainsong, mode vi)
Hymn at the Communion: Hallelujah! He Is Risen (Hallelujah! Gott zu loben)
Postlude: Partita on Christ lag in Todesbanden (Georg Böhm, 1661-1733)

Music for the Octave Day of Easter (Low Sunday) (Missale Romanum of 1962, 9:00 a.m.)
Prelude: Improvisation on the Alleluia In die resurrectionis meae
Missa Octavi Toni (Orlando di Lasso, c.1532-1594)
Gregorian Mass for the Octave Day of Easter: Quasi modo
Motet at the Offertory: Angelus Domini (G.P. da Palestrina, c.1525-1594)
Motet at the Communion: Post dies octo (William Byrd, c.1543-1623)
Postlude: Improvisation on Surrexit Christus hodie

Music for the Second Sunday of Easter (Missale Romanum of 1970, 11:00 a.m.)
Prelude: Erschienen Ist der Herrliche Tag, BWV 629 (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Alleluia: Post dies octo (plainsong, mode vii)
Hymn at the Offertory: Ye Sons and Daughters (O filii et filiae, plainsong, mode ii)
Communion: Mitte manum tuam (plainsong, mode vi)
Motet at the Communion: Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain (Gaudeamus pariter)
Postlude: Choral-Improvisation sur le Victimae Paschali (Charles Tournemire, 1870-1939)

Music for Easter Sunday (Missale Romanum of 1962, 9:00 a.m.)
Prelude: Christ ist erstanden (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Missa Regina caeli (G.P. da Palestrina, c.1525-1594)
Gregorian Mass of Easter Sunday: Resurrexi
Motet at the Offertory: Terra tremuit (William Byrd, c.1543-1623)
Postlude: Improvisation on the Alleluia Pascha nostrum

Music for Easter Sunday (Missale Romanum of 1970, 11:00 a.m.)
Prelude: Christ ist erstanden (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)
Missa de Angelis (Vatican Gradual, Mass VIII)
Sequence: Victimae Paschali laudes (plainchant, mode i)
Alleluia: Pascha nostrum (plainchant, mode vii)
At the Aspersion: Vidi aquam (plainchant, mode viii)
Hymn at the Offertory: At The Lamb’s High Feast We Sing (Salzburg)
Communion: Pascha nostrum (plainchant, mode vi)
Motet at the Communion: Haec dies (Ludovico da Viadana, 1564-1627)
Hymn at the Communion: This Joyful Eastertide (arr. Charles Wood, 1866-1926)
Postlude: Final from Symphony No. 1 (Louis Vierne, 1870-1937)

Music for the Easter Vigil (Missale Romanum of 1970, 8:00 p.m.)
The Exsultet (plainsong)
Missa de Angelis (Vatican Gradual, Mass VIII)
Alleluia: Confitemini Domino (plainsong, mode viii)
Litany of the Saints (plainsong)
At the Aspersion: Vidi aquam (plainsong, mode viii)
Hymn at the Offertory: ¡Aleluya! ¡Cristo Jesús resucitó! (O filii et filiae)
Hymn at the Offertory: At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing (Salzburg)
Communion: Pascha nostrum (plainsong, mode vi)
Motet at the Communion: Panis angelicus (César Franck, 1822-1890)
Motet at the Communion: Haec dies (Ludovico da Viadana, 1564-1627)
Hymn at the Communion: This Joyful Eastertide (arr. Charles Wood, 1866-1926)
Postlude: Allegro maestoso from Sonata No. 4 (Op. 65) (Felix Mendelssohn, 1809-1847)

Music for the Celebration of the Lord's Passion (Missale Romanum of 1970, 3:00 p.m.)
Gradual: Christus factus est (plainsong, mode v)
Antiphon: Crucem tuam (plainsong, mode iv)
The Reproaches (plainsong)
Hymn at the Procession: Crux fidelis (plainsong, mode i)
Motet at the Communion: Adoramus Te, Christe (Theodore Dubois, 1837-1924)
Hymn at the Communion: O Sacred Head Surrounded (Passion Chorale)

Music for the Solemn Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper (Missale Romanum of 1970, 7:00 p.m.)
Missa de Angelis (Vatican Gradual, Mass VIII)
Antiphons at the mandatum: Postquam surrexit Dominus etc.
Hymn at the Offertory: Ubi caritas (plainsong, mode vi)
Communion: Hoc corpus (plainsong, mode viii)
Motet at the Communion: Panis angelicus (César Franck, 1822-1890)
Motet at the Communion: Ave Verum Corpus (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1756-1791)
Hymn at the Procession: Pange lingua gloriosi (plainsong, mode iii)

Music for Palm Sunday (Missale Romanum of 1962, 9:00 a.m.)
Missa Aspice Domine (Cristóbal de Morales, c.1500-1553)
Antiphons Hosanna filio David, etc.
Gregorian Mass of Palm Sunday: Domine, ne longe facias
Hymn at the Offertory: Vexilla regis (plainsong, mode i)
Motet at the Communion: Vigilate et orate (Morales)

Music for Palm Sunday (Missale Romanum of 1970, 11:00 a.m.)
Missa pro Dominicis Adventus & Quadragesimae (Vatican Gradual, Mass XVII)
Antiphons Hosanna filio David, etc.
Motet at the Offertory: O Saviour of the World (John Goss, 1800-1880)
Communion: Pater, si non potest (plainsong, mode viii)
Hymn at the Communion: Cross of Jesus (John Stainer, 1840-1901)

Music for Passion Sunday (Missale Romanum of 1962, 9:00 a.m.)
Missa pro Dominicis Adventus & Quadragesimae (Vatican Gradual, Mass XVII)
Gregorian Mass of Passion Sunday: Judica me Deus
Motet at the Offertory: Adoramus te, Christe (Orlando di Lasso, c.1532-1594)
Motet at the Communion: O Crux benedicta (Cipriano de Rore, c.1516-1565)

Music for the Fifth Sunday of Lent (Missale Romanum of 1970, 11:00 a.m.)
Missa pro Dominicis Adventus & Quadragesimae
Hymn at the Offertory: The Royal Banners Forward Go (Vexilla regis, plainsong, mode i)
Communion: Videns Dominus (plainsong, mode i)
Motet at the Communion: God So Loved the World (John Stainer, 1840-1901)

Music for the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Missale Romanum of 1962, 9:00 a.m.)
Prelude: Improvisation on the Introit Laetare
Mass for Four Voices (Thomas Tallis, c.1505-1585)
Gregorian Mass of the Fourth Sunday of Lent: Laetare
Hymn at the Offertory: Quicumque certum quaeritis (plainsong, mode i)
Postlude: Improvisation on the Lenten Compline hymn Christe qui lux es et dies (after Robert White, c.1535-1574)

Music for the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Missale Romanum of 1970, 11:00 a.m.)
Prelude: Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten (Max Reger, 1873-1916)
Missa pro Dominicis Adventus & Quadragesimae (Vatican Gradual, Mass XVII)
Hymn at the Offertory: If Thou But Trust In God To Guide Thee (Wer nur den lieben Gott)
Communion: Lutum fecit (plainsong, mode vi)
Motet at the Communion: O Jesu Christe (Jacquet van Berchem, c.1505-c.1580)
Postlude: Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten, BWV 647 (Johann Sebastian Bach, 1685-1750)

On the use of the organ on Laetare Sunday
The fourth Sunday in Lent derives its Latin name from the first word of the Mass text, “Laetare Jerusalem” (Rejoice, O Jerusalem). It is a day of joy within the penitential season. The altars may be decorated with flowers, organ playing is permitted, and the priests may wear rose-colored vestments instead of purple. The reason for such display of joy is explained in a sermon by Pope Innocent III (1216): “On this Sunday, which marks the middle of Lent, a measure of consoling relaxation is provided, so that the faithful may not break down under the severe strain of Lenten fast but may continue to bear the restrictions with a refreshed and easier heart.” For further customs of the day, see here.