Hymn Tune Introits

It occurs to me that there is a way to combine the joy of singing hymns, with the deeper riches that are gained by mining the proper texts of the Catholic liturgy--and in the process, to write something liturgically useful.

What if the entrance procession of Mass began with a single verse, an antiphon, set to a familiar hymn tune? The congregation could sing the antiphon just as easily as singing any hymn. After the antiphon, the choir would sing the first verse of a Psalm, set to a Psalm tone. Then back to the congregation for a repeat of the antiphon. This antiphony would continue throughout the procession, ending with a rousing Gloria Patri, set to the same hymn tune.

Here are some early drafts of Hymn Tune Introits for the Sundays of Advent, all in "Church meter" or Long Meter, 8.8.8.8. iambic.

Advent 1

To you, O Lord, I lift my soul
I trust in You, save me from shame.
Let not my foes boast over me.
Save those who trust in you from shame. -or- Protect the ones who trust your name.

Advent 2

Let Zion's people see the Lord
Who comes to set the nations free.
The Lord will sound His glorious voice.
Your heart will hear Him joyfully.

Advent 3

Rejoice at all times in the Lord.
Be glad, rejoice, I say again.
Let your unselfishness be seen.
Indeed, the Lord is near at hand.

Advent 4:

Let dew fall down from heav'n above.
O clouds, rain down the Righteous One.
And let the earth be opened up,
And let the longed-for Savior come.

BENEDICT XVI PRAISES THE MUSIC OF ANTON BRUCKNER

VATICAN CITY, 22 OCT 2011 (VIS) -  This evening in the Vatican's  Paul VI Hall, the Bavarian State Opera gave a concert in honour of Benedict  XVI. The programme included the Ninth Symphony and the "Te Deum" by  Anton Bruckner, played by the Bavarian State Orchestra and the "Audi  Jugendchorakademie", conducted respectively by Kent Nagano and Martin  Steidler.

  At the end of the  performance the Pope rose to thank the musicians. Listening to Bruckner's  music, he said, "is like finding oneself in a great cathedral,  surrounded by its imposing structures which arouse emotion and lift us to the  heights. There is however an element that lies at the foundations of  Bruckner's music, both the symphonic and the sacred: the simple, solid,  genuine faith he conserved throughout his life".

  "The great conductor  Bruno Walter used to say that 'Mahler always sought after God, while Bruckner  had found Him'. The symphony we have just heard has a very specific title:  'Dem lieben Gott' (To the Beloved God), almost as if he wished to dedicate  and entrust the last and most mature fruit of his art to the One in Whom he  had always believed, the One Who had become his only true interlocutor in the  last stage of his life", the Holy Father said.

  "Bruckner asked this  beloved God to let him enter His mystery, ... to let him praise the Lord in  heaven as he had on earth with his music. 'Te Deum laudamus, Te Dominum  confitemur'; this great work we have just heard - written at one sitting then  reworked over fifteen years as if reconsidering how better to thank and  praise God - sums up the faith of this great musician", Pope Benedict  concluded. "It is also a reminder for us to open our horizons and think  of eternal life, not so as to escape the present, though burdened with  problems and difficulties, but to experience it more intensely, bringing a  little light, hope and love into the reality in which we live".

Vatican Information Service

Hymn for St. Teresa

To the tune ISTE CONFESSOR: the hymn tune for Doctors of the Universal Church

This is the feast day of the Lord's true witness,
Lover of Jesus, leading others to Him,
Woman of wisdom, passionate and truthful,
Filled with God's favor.

God gave her grace like water from the heavens.
She drank it deeply, even as she suffered;
Perfectly docile, saint and holy teacher:
Light for the ages.

Mantle around us, Mary, flow'r of Carmel,
Pray to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
That They may give us, with the great Teresa,
Life everlasting.

Kathy Pluth, 2003

O Bread of Heaven

I wrote here about the beautiful hymn sung as a Communion meditation at the Holy Father's Mass at Westminster Cathedral.

Someone has now made a video available. Enjoy!

A beautiful accomplishment