Sing the Mass Accompaniment Edition

Prepared by the National Centre for Liturgy, in association with the Advisory Committee on Church Music of the Bishops’ Conference of Ireland, this anthology of music for the Irish Church is a resource for all involved in music ministry and for all who gather to celebrate the Eucharist.

In conjunction with the publication of the third edition of the Roman Missal, it includes new settings for the Mass, as well as previously used settings that have been amended in line with the revised translation.

National Centre for Liturgy

The National Centre for Liturgy was founded to promote liturgical formation in the light of Vatican II. It was established in 1973 when the late Mgr Sean Swayne was appointed National Secretary for Liturgy.The National Centre for Liturgy houses the National Secretariat for Liturgy which works on behalf of the Episcopal Conference and the Irish Episcopal Commission for Liturgy and co-ordinates the work of the various consultative agencies on liturgy, church music, sacred art and architecture and liotuirge in nGaeilge. New Liturgy is the quarterly bulletin of the Secretariat. The National Centre for Liturgy has been engaged in the work of liturgical formation since 1973. The Centre also conducts shorter courses at other centres.

Excellent resource but with some lacunae
Review by Fergus

This new book is a fantastic resource for all those involved in supporting the singing of the Mass by priest, ministers and people. Providing newly composed settings of the Mass along with adapted older settings and also many of the standard chants from the Roman Missal itself, it is almost a comprehensive resource for singing the ordinary parts of the Mass.

I say "almost" because it is lacking in a small number of respects. The standard chants from the Roman Missal are quite incomplete (lacking, strangely, the acclamations for the Gospel - not the Alleluia, but those sung by deacon and people, the Creed in English, the Prayer of the Faithful, the Orate Fratres) and entirely lacking in organ accompaniment. Directions for the ministers' chants (Collect, Prayer over the Gifts, etc) would have helped musicians encourage priests/deacons to chant their parts. It is unclear whether the acclamations by composers have been approved by the Bishops' Conference (which is required before publication).

It would also have been good to have some explanation of the use of music in the Mass, particularly the use of singing by priest, ministers and people, as the hard work of the 1970s and 1980s trying to have people "sing the Mass" is currently losing is influence in our country.

I have to say that my favourite Mass setting in the book is that by Bernard Sexton: "Mass of Renewal". It is simple to sing but that slight bit challenging in parts which makes it interesting to learn and to sing over time. It is written unharmonised and full of hints of traditional Irish melodies without being too plagal for modern tastes. The "Glory to God" refrain might have been left as an option instead of added in between the three sections of the Gloria without any remarks about its use. I suspect this Mass setting might become the standard Mass setting in Ireland in years to come. I hope congregations will be given the opportunity to learn it and to sing it regularly. (Posted on 19/07/2011)