Music in

the
Liturgy
Darryl P. Reyes
Why is Music
Important?
•It is a universal language
(musical notes, staff, etc.).
•When you hear music, you
will have the same reaction
regardless of gender, age,
knowledge in music, etc.
•Even plants and animals
are affected by music.
Sacred,
Liturgical,
Secular
• Sacred Music –Music
to glorify and
sanctify the faithful
• Liturgical Music – a type of
sacred music that specifically
satisfies the needs of the liturgy
• Secular Music – about the world,
people but not directly about God
Sacred
Secular Music
Liturg
Music ical
Music
Musical Instruments
• The pipe organ is to be held in high esteem
in the Latin Church, since it is its traditional
instrument, the sound of which can add a
wonderful splendor to the Church's
ceremonies and powerfully lift up men's
minds to God and higher things.
• The use of other instruments may also be
admitted in divine worship, given the
decision and consent of the competent
territorial authority, provided that the
instruments are suitable for sacred use,
or can be adapted to it, that they are in
keeping with the dignity of the temple,
Musical Instruments
• In permitting and using musical
instruments, the culture and traditions of
individual peoples must be taken into
account. However, those instruments
which are, by common opinion and use,
suitable for secular music only, are to
be altogether prohibited from every
liturgical celebration and from popular
devotions
• The use of musical instruments to
accompany the singing can act as a
support to the voices, render
participation easier, and achieve a
deeper union in the assembly. However,
Instrumentalists
• The playing of … instruments as solos is
not permitted in Advent, Lent, during the
Sacred Triduum and in the Offices and
Masses of the Dead.
• Instrumental music must not be heard
whenever a minister is saying his part.
• It is highly desirable that organists and
other musicians should not only possess
the skill to play properly the instrument
entrusted to them: they should also enter
into and be thoroughly aware of the
spirit of the liturgy, so that even when
playing ex tempore, they will enrich the
Determining
Liturgical
Music
•No kind of sacred music is
prohibited from liturgical
actions by the Church as
long as it corresponds to the
spirit of the liturgical
celebration itself and the
nature of its individual
Determining
Liturgical
Music
•All other things being equal,
Gregorian chant holds pride
of place because it is proper to
the Roman Liturgy. Other
types of sacred music, in
particular polyphony, are in no
way excluded, provided that
they correspond to the spirit of
Corresponds to the
Spirit
of the Liturgical
Celebration
•Aligned with the Season of the
Church
• Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter,
Ordinary
•Aligned with the Feasts,
Solemnities, Ceremonials.
• Feast of Saints, Immaculate
Conception, Devotion to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, etc.
Corresponds to the Nature
of its Individual Parts (Liturgy)
• Entrance Hymn
• The purpose of this chant is to open the
celebration, foster the unity of those who
have been gathered, introduce their
thoughts to the mystery of the liturgical
season or festivity, and accompany the
procession of the priest and ministers.
(GIRM 47)
• If the priest is already at his chair (or the
altar, if there is no chair or, at the
incensation), the song must end.
• May take the form of antiphonary, responsory,
hymn, or motet. Preferably, the people must
Corresponds to the
Nature
of its Individual Parts
(Liturgy)
• Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy)
• A chant by which the faithful acclaim the
Lord and implore his mercy. (GIRM 52)
• Originally a supplication to a king, and not a
penitential supplication.
• We glorify first before we ask for forgiveness.
• Takes the proper form of a litany, or troparion,
either with or without supplications.
• The proper Tagalog translation is
“Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami.”
Corresponds to the Nature
of its Individual Parts (Liturgy)
• Gloria
• a very ancient and venerable hymn in
which the Church, gathered together in the
Holy Spirit, glorifies and entreats God the
Father and the Lamb. (GIRM 53)
• sung or said on Sundays outside the Seasons
of Advent and Lent, on solemnities and feasts,
and at special celebrations of a more solemn
character. (GIRM 53)
• May be sung solely by the choir.
• May be replaced with a easier but similar
hymn during Masses with Children.
•
Corresponds to the Nature
of its Individual Parts (Liturgy)

• Responsorial Psalm
• (GIRM 61) an integral part of the Liturgy
of the Word and holds great liturgical and
pastoral importance, because it fosters
meditation on the word of God.
• It is preferred that response is thru song
while the verses thru chant (or read).
• Must be solely taken from the lectionary.
Substitution of popular sacred songs is
never allowed.
Corresponds to the Nature
of its Individual Parts (Liturgy)
• Alleluia
• (GIRM 62) the assembly of the faithful welcomes
and greets the Lord who is about to speak to it
in the Gospel and professes its faith by means of
the chant
• “Hallelu Yaweh,” which means “Praise the
Lord”
• Proper form is Alleluia – Verse – Alleluia. If the
song already has a verse, no need for lector to
read the verse
• (GIRM 62) sung in every season except Lent …
the verse before the Gospel is sung, as
indicated in the Lectionary, still taking the proper
form. It is also permissible to sing another
Corresponds to the Nature
of its Individual Parts (Liturgy)
• Prayers of the Faithful
• The response, and also possible, the prayers, may
be sung, as long as the people can sing along with
their proper part.
• Response must be easily remembered.

• Profession of Faith (Credo)

• May also be sung on more solemn occasions.
• Either the Nicene Creed or the Apostles’ Creed.
• The Apostles’ Creed is more preferred for Easter,
as it is the baptismal Creed of the Roman Church.
Corresponds to the Nature
of its Individual Parts (Liturgy)
• Song for the Presentations of the Gifts
• Song accompanying the procession of the bread and wine.
• continues at least until the gifts have been placed on the
altar… Singing may always accompany the rite at the
offertory, even when there is no procession with the gifts
(GIRM 74).
• May end when the bread and wine are placed on the altar
(after the preparatory prayers) or at the incensation.
• Take and Receive, Tinapay ng Buhay, and Paghahandog
ng Sarili are not appropriate because they are not about
offering to the Lord.
• About offering the BREAD AND WINE, thanks and praise
for the gifts of God.
• Special song for the presentation of the gifts: Holy
Thursday: Where there is charity (Ubi caritas).
Corresponds to the Nature
of its Individual Parts (Liturgy)

•Sanctus
•Said three times (Holy) ->
superlative degree
•joining with the heavenly
powers… this acclamation,
which is part of the Eucharistic
Prayer itself, is sung or said by
all the people with the priest.
(GIRM 79b)
Corresponds to the Nature
of its Individual Parts (Liturgy)

Santo, santo, santo,

Panginoong Diyos ng mga
hukbo,
napupuno ang langit at lupa
ng kadakilaan mo.
Osana sa kaitaasan!
Pinagpala ang naparirito
sa ngalan ng Panginoon.
Corresponds to the Nature
of its Individual Parts (Liturgy)

Banal ka, Poong Maykapal.

Banal ang iyong pangalan.
Banal ang iyong kaharian.
Langit at lupa’y nagpupugay
sa iyong kadakilaan.
Dinadakila ng lahat
ang naparito mong Anak
na siyang nagdilat sa bulag,
sa pilay ay nagpalakad, at
Corresponds to the
Nature
of its Individual Parts
(Liturgy)
•Memorial Acclamation
• keeps the memorial of Christ,
recalling especially his blessed
Passion, glorious Resurrection,
and Ascension into heaven. (GIRM
79e)
• Four choices in the Tagalog Missal.
• Acclamation: requires a rising
action in the song.
Corresponds to the Nature
of its Individual Parts (Liturgy)

Aming ipinahahayag
Na namatay ang ‘Yong
Anak.
Nabuhay bilang
Mesiyas
At magbabalik sa
Corresponds to the Nature
of its Individual Parts (Liturgy)

Si Kristo ay gunitaing
Sarili ay inihain
Bilang pagkai’t
inuming
Pinagsasaluhan natin
Hanggang sa siya’y
Corresponds to the Nature
of its Individual Parts (Liturgy)

Sa krus mo at
pagkabuhay
Kami’y tinubos mong
tunay.
Poong Hesus naming
mahal
Corresponds to the Nature
of its Individual Parts (Liturgy)

Si Kristo’y namatay.
Si Kristo’y nabuhay.
Si Kristo’y babalik
sa wakas ng
panahon.
Corresponds to the
Nature
of its Individual Parts
(Liturgy)
•Great Amen
•by which the glorification
of God is expressed and
which is confirmed and
concluded by the people’s
acclamation, Amen.
(GIRM 79h)
•The great confirmation.
Corresponds to the
Nature
of its Individual Parts
(Liturgy)
• Lord’s Prayer
• Should be sung having masculine
characteristics (strong, powerful,
protective, etc.) for the Lord wants us to feel
that our Father has such characteristics.
• Uses “illustrative melody” as in Gregorian
chant.
• Doxology to the Lord’s Prayer
• Same with the Lord’s prayer on how it should
be sung.
• The priest says the invitation to the prayer,
and all the faithful say it with him; the priest
Corresponds to the
Nature
of its Individual Parts
(Liturgy)
• Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)
• accompanies the fraction and, for this reason,
may be repeated as many times as necessary
until the rite has reached its conclusion, the last
time ending with the words dona nobis pacem (grant
us peace). (GIRM 83)
• Has two sections (A and B). A can be repeated as
necessary while B is always the ending.
• This is a form of litany so it should be sung
prayerfully and solemnly, begging for mercy.
• Also the song of the saints before the throne of the
Lamb in heaven, exuding Christ’s triumph over
death and our desire to eat the heavenly banquet
with him.
Corresponds to the
Nature
of its Individual Parts
•(Liturgy)
Communion Song
• purpose is to express the communicants’ union in
spirit by means of the unity of their voices, to show joy
of heart, and to highlight more clearly the
“communitarian” nature of the procession to receive
Communion. The singing is continued for as long as
the Sacrament is being administered to the
faithful. (GIRM 86)
• Should be related to the readings, responsorial
psalm, gospel or best if homily.
• Sung prayerfully to help parishioners in praying after
receiving communion
• Recessional Hymn
• Free to sing any sacred song preferably related to
the theme of the Mass.
Does not Hinder the
Active Participation of
the People
• The faithful fulfill their liturgical role by making
that full, conscious and active participation
which is demanded by the nature of the liturgy
itself and which is, by reason of baptism, the
right and duty of the Christian people. This
participation:
• (a) Should be above all internal, in the sense that by it the
faithful join their mind to what they pronounce or hear, and
cooperate with heavenly grace,

• (b) Must be, on the other hand, external also, that is, such
as to show the internal participation by gestures and bodily
attitudes, by the acclamations, responses and singing.

(Musicam Sacram 15)