For any given Sunday or feast, we have to decide what will be sung. This means choosing the propers, the commons, the Credo and the hymns. Many different factors influence our choices. Among other things, we consider:
- The liturgical feast
- The liturgical season
- The readings and propers of the day
- The calendar month
We also have to take into account the availability of choir members, how well the congregation knows the music, how well the various pieces work together musically, and how much time there will be to sing a hymn. And believe it or not, sometimes it comes down to personal preference.
Saint Anthony’s congregation has a rich repertoire in terms of which Mass commons we can choose. We’ve been singing Mass II (two), which is appropriate for the heart of the Christmas season, since it is intended for solemn feasts.
We’ve now entered the period after Epiphany. It’s a good general rule that if the priest is wearing green (which means the Sunday is a second-class feast), then Mass XI (for Sundays throughout the year) is the right choice. Musically speaking, Credo I goes nicely with Mass XI and so we will be singing Mass XI and Credo I for the next several Sundays.