NZ Directory of Liturgical Music | He Puna Himene mo Aotearoa

Criteria

The National Network of Liturgical Musicians will use the following criteria (prepared by the National Liturgy Office of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops) in its review of all music submitted for inclusion in the New Zealand Directory of Liturgical Music:

• Musical Judgment
• Liturgical Judgment
• Pastoral Judgment

Musical Judgment

Is the music technically, aesthetically and expressively good?

• Is there an identifiable musical structure and form?
• Do the melodies and harmony complement each other?
• Do the text and musical rhythm go together, or have they been forced?
• Are the phrases, intervals and harmonies sing able?
• Is the music pleasing and engaging?
• Does the music have the capacity to transcend the simply aural, indeed, to be symbolic, moving the listeners and singers beyond the concrete to the abstract?
• Is the music able to express the text or the occasion for which it was composed?

It is also important to consider the style of music. Not all liturgical music is of one style; some music may be described as classical, some as folk, some as contemporary. Musicians need to consider the style of music which is best suited to the liturgical celebration, the particular assembly, and the instruments available.

Catholic Book of Worship III, 29.

Liturgical Judgment

The liturgical judgment is a decision based on the suitability of a piece of music for a particular moment in the liturgical celebration. It presumes an awareness of the musical priorities mentioned above. The following questions will assist the musician in making a liturgical judgment regarding music for celebrations:

• Will this piece of music enable the assembly to participate fully in singing its praise of God?
• Is the text theologically sound?
• Is this setting in accord with the text provided in the Roman Missal?
• Is this piece of music in keeping with the norms for liturgical music found in the GIRM?
• Is the text consistent with the language of our contemporary liturgical books? For example, does the text use inclusive language in a manner consistent with our liturgical books?
• Is this music suited to the assembly or to the choir only?

Catholic Book of Worship III, 30.

Pastoral Judgment

The pastoral judgment is often best made in consultation with other music ministers and members of pastoral staff. This judgment is about the appropriateness of the music for a particular community on a particular occasion. The following questions will assist the musician in making a pastoral judgment regarding music for celebrations.

• Will this piece of music help this assembly to express its prayer?
• Are the music and text in accord with the mentality, tastes and cultural expression of this assembly?
• Does the community know this piece of music?
• Will this piece be a valuable addition to the community’s repertoire?
• Can this piece of music be used on more than one occasion during the liturgical year?
• Are the musicians and members of the community capable of performing this piece of music?

Catholic Book of Worship III, 31.

Lent

National Repertoire Hymns and Songs for Lent

Lenten Music is marked by the characteristics of the season, a time of repentance and conversion. The Alleluia and Gloria are omitted. As the organ may be silent or used only to accompany singing, so other musical accompaniment should also be restrained to the provision of support for the singing of the Assembly. People may be asked to leave from some Masses in silence. In all these ways such choices will enable the contrast between the time of Lent and the effect of the Church’s exuberance at Masses on Easter Sunday to be experienced in all its fullness.

Music specific to the rituals for catechumens and candidates preparing to enter the Church at Easter Time needs consideration, as does the ritual music for the Triduum.

Palm Sunday, the last Sunday of Lent, requires ‘Hosannas’! A song using ‘Hosanna’ and the phrase, ‘Son of David’ is to be used as ministers approach the place where people have gathered for the Procession to the Church.

For a list of liturgical music suitable for Lent, please visit the National Liturgy Office website, He Puna Hīmene mō Aotearoa, The Directory of Liturgical Music, Lenten Repertoire.

Easter Time

National repertoire of Hymns and Songs for Easter

Sing Alleluia! The 50 days from the Sunday of the Resurrection to Pentecost Sunday are celebrated in unbounded joy and exultation as one ‘great Sunday’(St Athanasius). The Church’s exuberance at Masses of Easter is reflected in the return of the ‘Alleluia’ and the ‘Gloria’ at the Easter Vigil, and in joy filled words and music throughout the Mass. These are the days above all others in which the ‘Alleluia’ is sung – to welcome the Gospel and to send us out to share the Good News.

Sequences for Easter and Pentecost

In liturgy, the word “sequence” refers to a hymn that follows the gospel acclamation on particular feast days. Two Sequences are currently retained for Easter Time; Victimae Pashchali Laudes, ‘Christians to the Paschal Feast’, to be sung on Easter Sunday and Veni Sancte Spiritus, ‘Holy Spirit, Lord of Light’, to be sung on Pentecost Sunday. Examples of these hymns are to be found in the national repertoire of Hymns and Songs for Easter.

Ideally the hymns, acclamations and responses will be able to be sung by all the people; or with assistance from a cantor or choir. The texts of these hymns, responses and acclamations give thanks to God; or speak about the new life that Jesus Christ offers or express the faith, hope and love of those gathered. They may also be related to the scriptures that are chosen (#30).

The Introduction to the Order of Christian Funerals encourages the use of music for the Vigil, the Funeral Liturgy and whenever possible for funeral processions and the Rite of Committal (#32). Within the funeral liturgy, in addition to the parts of the rite that are normally sung, every effort is to be made to sing the Song of Farewell during the final commendation (#174).

An outline of suitable hymnody is provided in the resource that follows, as well as a repertoire of suitable music that has been collated from the parishes of each diocese in New Zealand.