*Update: links to recordings of tunes added*
A metrical setting of the Mass. This is offered as a ‘way in’ for congregations who don’t sing (or don’t think they can sing) the ordinary of the Mass. The idea is that singing it is better than saying it, even in paraphrase form, and that this might lead on to specially-composed settings of the ordinary, or even simple plainchant, once the people have gained confidence. It could also usefully be sung in a more informal setting. There is perhaps a danger of 'hymn overload,' but this could be avoided by just singing introit, offertory, and post-communion hymns in addition to these settings. In any case, fewer hymns on a Sunday morning might well be a good thing.
The Kyries for Advent and Lent are based on the Kyrie Confessions used extensively in Common Worship, which themselves borrow from the ancient tradition of ‘troped’ liturgical texts (inserting seasonal or devotional texts within the framework of the original liturgical text, in this case simply, “Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.”) As such, I’ve abandoned rhyme, and chosen to stick closely to the Kyrie Confessions as printed in Common Worship: Times and Seasons.
I’ve provided four settings of the Gloria; two for ordinary time, one for Christmas (with festive refrains), and one for Easter (with ‘Alleluias’). The seasonal settings could be sung from Christmas to Candlemas (or whenever you go back to green), and from Easter to Pentecost, respectively (from the Ascension Day onwards, 'Llanfair' could be used instead of 'Easter Hymn,' freeing up 'Hail the day that sees him rise' to be sung to the wonderful 'Chislehurst.' I've thought of everything!) Churches with greater musical resources could add choral harmony and descants, especially in the Christmas Gloria.
The Sanctus is a straight paraphrase, but in the Agnus Dei, the last line of each verse reflects the end of the great Eucharistic anthem, ‘Ave verum corpus’ – “O sweet Jesus, O holy Jesus, O Jesus…”
The texts are all rather difficult to set to metre, tending to jump sharply from one image or subject to another. As a result, some settings are a little more adventurous than I would like, and the Glorias draw on both the modern and traditional versions to help with the poetry. But I have tried to remain as faithful to the liturgical translations as possible, and hopefully my ‘expansions’ are in the spirit of each text. I’ve included the liturgical texts at the end.
Kyrie eleison – Advent (after Psalm 85)
Tune: St Philip (NEH 69) (the penultimate bar of each verse is sung to a dotted minim rather than minim and crotchet, and "Christe eleison" can be made to fit quite intuitively. This more spacious feeling to the 'refrain' helps to focus the penitence.)
Turn to us again, O God,
Let your anger cease from us:
Kyrie eleison.
Show us your compassion, Lord,
Keep us in salvation’s way:
Christe eleison.
Lord, your light is near at hand,
Show your glory in our land:
Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison – Lent (after Psalm 51)
Tune: as above
Wash away our sins, O Lord,
Cleanse us from all wickedness:
Kyrie eleison.
Make in us clean hearts, O God,
Faithless spirits to renew:
Christe eleison.
Cast us not away, O Lord,
Keep us in the Spirit’s care:
Kyrie eleison.
Gloria in excelsis Deo – ordinary time
Tune: Abbot’s Leigh (NEH 185) or Blaenwern (NEH 408i)
Glory be to God in heaven,
And to all his people, peace.
Heav’nly King, almighty Father,
May our worship never cease;
May we ever live to praise you,
Songs of blessing ever send,
May we always kneel to thank you,
For your glory without end.
Jesus, Son of God the Father,
Merciful beyond compare,
All our sin, by you forgiven;
Lamb of God, receive our prayer.
Jesus, you alone are holy,
Jesus, you alone are Lord,
With the Holy Spirit reigning,
And the Father—glorious God!
Gloria in excelsis Deo – ordinary time
Tune: Crucifer (A&M 707)
'Glory to God!' Our joyful song we raise:
Let earth and heav'n rejoice and give him praise!
Glory to God, and on the earth be peace;
Our worship, thanks and praise will never cease.
Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy now, we pray;
In highest heav'n receive our prayers today.
O holy Christ, you only are the Lord,
With Spirit reigning: praise our glorious God!
Gloria in excelsis Deo – Christmas
Tune: Sussex Carol (‘On Christmas night all Christians sing’)
All glory be to God on high
And peace to all beneath the sky.
Our praise and blessing now we bring,
In worship of our glorious King.
Glory to God, who made the earth,
And brought Jesus our Lord to birth!
All praise to Christ, his only Son,
For all our sin he has undone.
O grant us mercy, Lord, we pray,
Receive our humble prayer today.
Glory to Christ, our glorious Lord,
Blessèd Saviour, incarnate Word!
All glory to the Holy One,
To Christ alone, the Most High Son,
Who reigns with Holy Spirit, Lord,
And with his Father, glorious God!
Glory to God, who made the heavens,
Now and forevermore. Amen!
Gloria in excelsis Deo – Easter
Tune: Easter Hymn (NEH 110); and from Ascension to Pentecost, Llanfair (NEH 130i)
Glory be to God on high, Alleluia!
Peace to all beneath the sky, Alleluia!
Praise and blessing now we bring, Alleluia!
Worship, glory, to the King, Alleluia!
Praise to Christ, his only Son, Alleluia!
All our sin has he undone, Alleluia!
Grant us mercy, Lord, we pray, Alleluia!
And receive our prayer today, Alleluia!
For you are the Holy One, Alleluia!
Who, alone, the victory won, Alleluia!
With the Holy Spirit, Lord, Alleluia!
And the Father, glorious God, Alleluia!
Sanctus and Benedictus
Tune: Pastor pastorum (NEH 282)
Holy, holy, holy,
God of power and might,
Filling earth and heaven
With your glorious light.
Blessèd is the one who
Comes in God’s great name;
Angels sing ‘Hosanna!’
In the highest heav’n.
Agnus Dei
Tune: St Columba (NEH 457i) (the last word of lines two and four is held over two bars)
O Lamb of God, you take away
The sin of all the world;
With mercy look on us, we pray,
O sweetest Lamb of God.
O Lamb of God, you take away
The sin of all the world;
With mercy look on us, we pray,
O holy Lamb of God.
O Lamb of God, you take away
The sin of all the world;
Grant us your peace, dear Lord, we pray,
O Jesus, Lamb of God.
Kyrie confession – Advent (after Psalm 85)
Turn to us again, O God our saviour,
and let your anger cease from us:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Show us your compassion, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation:
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Your salvation is near for those that fear you,
that glory may dwell in our land:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Kyrie confession – Lent (after Psalm 51)
Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness
and cleanse me from my sin:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Make me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me:
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Cast me not away from your presence
and take not your holy spirit from me:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Gloria – traditional
Glory be to God on high And in earth peace, goodwill towards men, We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee, for thy great glory O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
Thou that takest away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father,
have mercy upon us.
For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Gloria – modern
Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, Almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; You are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Sanctus and Benedictus
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth and full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Agnus Dei
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
grant us peace.
