At Your Word, Lord

Music - Core Repertoire

Examples

In each of music resources for the Seasons of At Your Word Lord a number of key pieces have been recognised as core repertoire for a parish's repertoire.

Many of the texts, such as the Magnificat and the Beatitudes, are familiar. They are key passages from scripture and our tradition and as can be seen in the following lists they regularly find echoes within the Sunday readings. These are core texts to be sung on people’s lips and prayed in their hearts.

This page offers a draft 'long list'. An attempt to identify texts which should form the core of a liturgical repertoire. There are possibly 4 distinct types of text.

  • Texts, such as Exodus 15, that occur only once in the liturgical year but when they do occur they are meant to be sung.
  • Texts, such as the Magnificat, that as well as being a core text for Evening Prayer, can be sung on many occasions.
  • Texts that might be seen as seen as a second level of priority. For some of these texts there is often a lack of musical settings.
  • Elements the liturgy, such as the Song of Farewell at Funerals, where there is not a choice of single text but it is important that something is sung at this point.

Where music suggestions have been made for At your Word Lord they are included. In the case of some texts it may be appropriate to know more than one setting — we do not always want to sing the Beatitudes at the top of our voices!

It is an assumption that parishes have a repertoire for the Ordinary of the Mass — Gloria, Gospel Acclamation etc. as well as settings of the psalms for the Liturgy of the Word (see page on Common Responsorial Psalms).

This list is a draft. It is a long list intended to be comprehensive. A revised list may give priority some texts. It is intended for parish musicians so that they can develop their parish's repertoire. It is intended for composers as encouragement to set these core texts. Comments by email are welcome on inclusions and omissions, or suggestions for repertoire.

  • This information is available as a downloadable leaflet (pdf)

Repertoire

Gospel

The Gospel Canticles are integral to the Liturgy of the Hours. The themes of the Magnificat and the Beatitudes are often echoed in the Sunday Lectionary. The Benedictus can be seen as a core text for the Season of Advent.

  • Benedictus (Luke 1: 68-79)
    Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel!
  • Magnificat (Luke 1: 46-55)
    My soul glorifies the Lord
  • Nunc dimittis (Luke 2: 29-32)
    At last, all-powerful Master
  • Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1–12 & Luke 6: 20-26)
    How happy are the poor in spirit

New Testament

These texts are all used in Evening Prayer. The canticle from Philippians is familiar from the Sunday Lectionary. The canticles from Revelation would make suitable Entrance songs for the Easter Season.

  • Ephesians 1:3-10
    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
  • Colossians 1:12-20
    Let is give thanks to the Father
  • Philippians 2:6–11
    Though he was in the form of God
  • 1 Timothy 3:16
    O praise the Lord, all you nations!
  • 1 Peter 2:21-24
    Christ suffered for you
  • Revelation 4:11;5:9,10,12
    Worthy are you, our Lord and God
  • Revelation 11:17-18;12:10b-12a
    We give you thanks, Lord God Almighty
  • Revelation 15:3-4
    Great and wonderful are your deeds
  • Revelation 19:1-2, 5-7
    Salvation and glory and power belong to our God

Liturgical Year

These texts are taken from the Season of Advent and the Easter Triduum.

  • The 'O' Antiphons
  • Ubi Caritas
    Where charity and love are found
  • Pange, lingua gloriosi
    Hail our Saviour's glorious body
  • Crux fidelis
    Faithful cross
  • We worship you, Lord
  • The Reproaches
    My people what have I done to you?

Sequences

The Sequences are remnants of the medieval liturgy. The first two are obligatory, the latter two optional.

  • Victimae paschali laudes - Easter Sunday
    Christians, to the Paschal Victim
  • Veni Sancte Spiritus — Pentecost
    Holy Spirit, Lord of light
  • Lauda Sion Salvatorem - The Body and Blood of Christ
    Sing forth, O Zion, sweetly sing
  • Stabat Mater - Our Lady of Sorrows
    At the cross her station keeping

Old Testament

The Exodus canticle is one of the key sung text in the Easter Vigil. The two Daniel canticles come from Sunday Morning Prayer and would form effective Entrance songs.

  • Exodus 15:1-6, 17-18
    I will sing to the Lord
  • Isaiah 12:2-6
    With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
  • Daniel 3: 52-57
    You are blest, Lord God of our Fathers
  • Daniel 3:57-88
    O all you works of the Lord, O bless the Lord

Psalms

The psalms are the core sung texts of the liturgy: the Responsorial Psalm and the Liturgy of the Hours. They also provide the majority of texts for the antiphons (such as Entrance and Communion) at Mass and other rites. The following texts are suggested for their suitability through out the liturgy; many are, of course, common psalms from the Lectionary

  • Psalm 22 (23)
    The Lord is my shepherd
  • Psalm 26 (27)
    The Lord is my light and my help.
  • Psalm 33 (34)
    I will bless the Lord at all times
  • Psalm 50 (51)
    Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness
  • Psalm 62 (63)
    O God, you are my God, for you I long
  • Psalm 94 (95)
    Come ring out your joy to the Lord
  • Psalm 97 (98)
    Sing a new song to the Lord
  • Psalm 102 (103)
    My soul give thanks to the Lord
  • Psalm 103 (104)
    Bless the Lord, my soul
  • Psalm 115 (116)
    How can I repay the Lord.
  • Psalm 116 (117)
    O praise the Lord, all you nations!
  • Psalm 117 (118)
    Give thanks to the Lord for he is good
  • Psalm 135 (136)
    O give thanks to the Lord for he is good
  • Psalm 147
    O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!

Liturgical Rites

Apart from the first two titles these are all types of texts rather than individual texts.

  • Veni Creator Spiritus
    Come, O Creator Spirit blest
  • Litany of Saints
  • Song of Farewell
  • Acclamation for Baptised
  • A Sprinkling Song
  • Song of Blessing
  • Dismissal for Catechumens

Other texts