Responsorial Psalms at Mass
Question often asked of music directors & cantors: Why are you singing the psalms and verses that are not in the hymnals?
What you need to know about Responsorial Psalms: The Responsorial Psalm which follows the first reading, is intended to be sung by a cantor/choir with the response sung by the congregation at the invitation of the song leader - Call and Response style.
The psalms for each week of the 3-year cycle have been chosen by the Church and reflect the theme of the first reading. The readings cannot be changed, but there is more flexibility with the psalms. Music Directors may choose to use:
- chants that appear in hymnals with responses composed and supplied by each hymnal publisher;
- composed psalms using other melodies with melodic verses that follow the prescribed texts or are paraphrased;
- OR, occasionally, substitute psalms approved by the Church, like psalms 19 and 34. This is usually only done if no suitable music setting can be found.
In all of these cases, the spirit of the given psalms should be followed.
One other factor that can influence the choice of psalm music settings: The nature of the parish, its history and worship style: traditional, contemporary, cultural, etc.
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