Liturgical Song?

A liturgical song is a song that is integral to the liturgy.

Browse liturgical song titles in the alphabetical index and genres in the genre index. Find songs for particular days by clicking the liturgical index, or browse the navigation bar above.

Three principles help us to choose music for liturgical songs - liturgical holiness, musical beauty and pastoral universality.

Holy?

What is Holy?
Sacred music is considered "the more holy in proportion as it is more closely connected with the liturgical action" (Constitution on Sacred Liturgy, 112). It must be able "to express adequately the mystery grasped in the fullness of the Church's faith" (John Paul II).

Music, including sacred music, is not liturgically holy if it is incompatible with the liturgical action or Church teaching.

Beautiful?

What is Beautiful?
"The criterion that must inspire every composition and performance ... is the beauty that invites prayer." (John Paul II).

Requires sound form, true art, full adherence to the text it presents, synchronization with the time and movement in the Liturgy for which it is intended, appropriately reflecting the gestures proposed by the rite.
(John Paul II).

Universal?

What is Universal?
Three requirements:
1. "must comply with the legitimate demands of adaptation and inculturation"
2. "must respect specific criteria such as the search for musical expressions which respond to the necessary involvement of the entire assembly in the celebration.
3. "nobody of any nation may receive an impression other than good on hearing them."
(John Paul II).

How Much Singing?

How Much Singing?
(General Instruction, 40):
The amount of singing should correspond to the degree of solemnity of the occasion, with due consideration for culture and ability of the assembly; "preference should be given to those (parts) of greater importance and especially to those to be sung by the priest or the deacon or the lector, with the people responding, or by the priest and people together." More detail

Psalms

Psalm Texts
The texts in Psalms for All Time are those found in the current liturgical books approved for use in Australia.

Alternate translations of psalm texts that use the same sprung metre as the original Grail 1963 translations can also be readily adapted to the published melodies. This includes Grail 1986, Grail 1993 and Grail 2000.

Psalm Responses A-F

All the ends of the earth
Alleluia
Be merciful, O Lord
Be with me, Lord
Create a clean heart in me
Father, I put my life in your hands

Psalms for All Time

Psalms for All Time equips parishes and schools with a core repertoire of prayerful, memorable, contemporary settings of the psalms for every Mass and liturgical celebration. The responses are instantly singable, led by a cantor and accompanied by piano, guitar or organ, or sung a Capella. SATB choir parts for the responses are also provided, as well as some instrument parts.

The music is easy to learn, with website help for choirs learning parts and cantors learning verses. There are chord diagrams for guitarists. Page layout is designed for a
maximum two double page spread. Extensive liturgical and topical indices help in selecting the right psalm for the occasion.

Historical and performance notes for each psalm help bring these ancient songs to life in today’s liturgy.