Brass parts for Mass of Saint Ann Glory to God

Hey all,

I am pleased to announce that the very talented Rory Cooney has created a BRASS QUINTET arrangement of the Glory to God from the Mass of Saint Ann. For a limited time, we are making these parts available for free on Rory's website. The full score is available now, and the individual parts and audio file will be up tomorrow.

Check it out if you get the chance. If you are bringing in some brass players to sit in during the Christmas liturgies, and you are using Mass of Saint Ann, this would be a great addition to the Glory to God.

Thanks again, Rory, for arranging these and allowing people to use them. And thank you also, World Library Publications, for allowing us to make them available.

Here's the link:
http://www.rorycooney.com/www.rorycooney.com/freebies.html


Merry Christmas!

Ed

Glory to God in the Highest!

Hey all!  I'm sure so many of you are putting the finishing touches on your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day music selections, preparing folders, choosing verses, printing programs, etc, etc, etc.  There are always a few things that pop up every year where I say, "Oh yeah, I meant to fix that for this year!" or, "I wish I'd thought of that sooner." So, I thought I'd throw a few things out there and see if they might be helpful.

Do you know what we know?

Singing mass parts at Christmas (and Easter) is always a little problematic because there are a lot of people visiting who, perhaps, won't know them. I've shared with you how I've used familiar melodies for the Gospel Acclamation, Holy, and Lamb of God to try and make it a bit easier to involve everyone. When it comes to the "Glory to God," especially now that there are so many NEW versions available, there might be SO MUCH of the song that people won't know. For us, I've chosen to use the "Gloria in excelsis Deo" from "Angels We Have Heard on High" as the Refrain for Mass of Saint Ann.  The hymn version is in 4/4, so I adapted it for 6/8 so it would flow well with the 'Glory to God' from that setting.  Here it is if you care to use it for Christmas Eve and/or Day. It's just a two-part vocal that goes into three part at the end. Simple. People will know it and can at least sing the Refrain with you!

Too many chords!

Often times, for guitars, Christmas hymn arrangements have so many chord symbols listed above the staff. They usually follow the 4-part vocal arrangement. It's ok, however, to let the vocals 'change' around some static chords, too. This is especially effective for bass guitars.  Pedal tones are wonderful!  Consider simplifying the chord changes a bit to make it easier for everyone, especially 'hired musicians' who might be sitting in for the night or day.  'Too many notes!!!  Just...cut a few!' 

Listen to Paul Baloche's new arrangement of 'Hark! the Herald Angels Sing.' He does a fabulous job of simplifying the chord changes. The whole first line is now one chord, 4 bars of F.  Then he plays 2 bars of Dm, followed by 2 bars of C.  That's what I'm talking about.  Compare that to the typical hymn arrangement with chord symbols listed above.  For bands/contemporary groups, it works great!  If you're just playing piano or organ, the hymn versions are awesome, of course.

Walk...don't run.

As director or coordinator, try to plan ahead so when you show up on Christmas Eve, you can just walk from place to place, not rushing around. This is some of the best advice I can offer. Take a breath! You will be able to think more clearly, and you will perform your music much better!  Make sure you get extra batteries for the mics now. Make sure there is a backup wireless headset for when it starts to crackle like crazy right before Mass. Think of anything that would cause you to rush around and try and take it off the table. Often times people will be glad to handle a situation for you if you just ask them to be ready beforehand. 

Making' copies...

Post the copier code for all to see...just in case! 

It's too hot in here!

Make sure your facilities manager sets the A/C or heat early enough before the crowds show up!

Those pesky music stands...

Borrow music stands now if you need them.  School will be out next week!

So...there are lots of little things, and I'm sure you all know what they are.  I just wanted to suggest that we not put them all off until the last minute. Not next Monday, and certainly not next Tuesday!

If you have some suggestions, please feel free to comment and I will post them.

Dynamics! Help the assembly out!

It's easy to get caught up in our musical arrangements, instrumentation, vocal parts, vocal ranges, recorded versions, rehearsals, etc.   Let's always try to remember that no matter how great we sound, how many harmonies we know, how many instrumental parts we can fit in, etc...we need to be sure we are enabling our assembly to sing along!  It's not a concert.  There's back-and-forth dialogue (i.e. "The Lord be with you.  And with your Spirit."), communal prayers, built-in 'acclamations!'  The liturgy is designed to involve the assembly.  Our gathering songs, responsorial psalms, offertory songs, communion songs, and dismissal songs should, too!

Ever notice how a good organist will accompany a cantor with just the upper manuals on a light registration for the first part of a responsorial psalm, then crank up the volume, adding the pedals and a much fuller registration when the assembly is supposed to join in?  Even if the cantor didn't raise his/her arms to invite the assembly to sing, they'd feel invited to sing simply by the fact that music changed and is suddenly full and supporting them.  Our contemporary ensembles (bands) should do the same.

Here's a video that shows some examples of how we did this sort of thing this past Sunday.

These aren't the only ways to do these songs, by any means.  We had only guitar, piano, bass guitar, drums, and 3 singers.  More instruments give you more options to be creative and orchestrate the music.  

But whatever you choose to do, however you choose to play the music...make it inviting to the assembly.

Involve them!

Songs for 4th Sunday of Advent (A)

Here are some song possibilities for December 22nd, 4th Sunday of Advent Cycle A:

Advent Penitential Act by Craig Colson (WLP) (from the CD "I Am the Way")

*Come, Emmanuel by Paul Tate and Deanna Light (WLP) (from the CD "Hope in the Lord")

Come, Lord Jesus by John Angotti (WLP) (from the CD "Welcome Home for Christmas")

Emmanuel by Steve Angrisano (spiritandsong.com) (from the CD "Never Too Young")

Emmanuel, Come to Set Us Free by Jalonda Robertson (WLP) (from the collection "More Voices As One")

Hope Is Dawning by Matt Maher and Aaron Keyes (worshiptogether.com)

The King Shall Come by Trevor Thomson (spiritandsong.com)

*Look to the One by Ed Bolduc (WLP) (from the CD "We Are Faithful")

*Lord, We are the People by Ed Bolduc (WLP) (from the CD "Awake to the Day")

*My Deliverer by Rich Mullins (CCLI) (from the collection "Voices As One vol. 2" and the CD "Jesus, Hope of the World")

O Come, O Come Emmanuel (traditional)

*Jesus, Hope of the World by Tate/Light (WLP) (from the collection "Voices As One vol. 2" and the CD "Jesus, Hope of the World")

To You, O Lord by Curtis Stephan (spiritandsong.com)

The Name of Jesus by Brian Flynn and Jeff Thomas (WLP) (from the CD "Born Again" and the collection "More Voices As One")

You are Mine by Ben Walthers (spiritandsong.com) (from the CD "Make Your Home in Me")

ALSO...be sure to check out the entire Advent Music section on voicesasone.com.  Click here.

* indicates instrumental parts available for these titles in the Voices As One series. All titles from this series have C and B-flat instrument parts. Select titles have Saxophone and Brass parts. 

Voices As One ® Vol. 1 and 2 C Instrument Book

Voices As One ® Vol. 1 and 2 Bb Instrument Book

Voices As One ® Vol. 1 and 2 Saxophone and Brass Instrument Book

Songs for 3rd Sunday of Advent (A)

Here are some song possibilities for December 15th, 3rd Sunday of Advent Cycle A:

Advent Penitential Act by Craig Colson (WLP) (from the CD "I Am the Way")

*Awake to the Day by Ed Bolduc (WLP) (from the CD "Awake to the Day")

*Come, Emmanuel by Paul Tate and Deanna Light (WLP) (from the CD "Hope in the Lord")

Come, Lord Jesus by John Angotti (WLP) (from the CD "Welcome Home for Christmas")

Emmanuel, Come to Set Us Free by Jalonda Robertson (WLP) (from the collection "More Voices As One")

Find Us Ready by Tom Booth (OCP) (from the CD "Find Us Ready")

The King Shall Come by Trevor Thomson (spiritandsong.com)

*Look to the One by Ed Bolduc (WLP) (from the CD "We Are Faithful")

Lord, Come and Save Us by Aaron Thompson (WLP) (from the CD "Days of Grace")

*My Deliverer by Rich Mullins (CCLI) (from the collection "Voices As One vol. 2" and the CD "Jesus, Hope of the World")

The Name of Jesus by Brian Flynn and Jeff Thomas (WLP) (from the CD "Born Again" and the collection "More Voices As One")

Ready the Way by Curtis Stephan (spiritandsong) (from the CD "Born to Us")

*Rise Up, My People by John Angotti (WLP) (from the CD "Rise Up, My People")

You are Mine by Ben Walthers (spiritandsong.com) (from the CD "Make Your Home in Me")



ALSO...be sure to check out the entire Advent Music section on voicesasone.com.  Click here.


* indicates instrumental parts available for these titles in the Voices As One series. All titles from this series have C and B-flat instrument parts. Select titles have Saxophone and Brass parts. 

Voices As One ® Vol. 1 and 2 C Instrument Book

Voices As One ® Vol. 1 and 2 Bb Instrument Book

Voices As One ® Vol. 1 and 2 Saxophone and Brass Instrument Book