The Music of Holy Week

Part II: Holy Thursday

The Entrance Song for Holy Thursday might be viewed more as an entrance into the Paschal Triduum than as the place for a Eucharistic hymn. With this in mind, the hymn might be "We Should Glory" CNP Catalog #5220 or CNP Catalog #3077, "Sing My Tongue the Savior's Glory," or perhaps a more subdued chant processional (Psalm 89, Liber usualis p.647) or the proper Introit Nos autem (Liber, p.654) may be used, saving the congregational hymn for the Gloria.

During the Gloria the church bells are to be rung. Use as many bells as possible (tower bells, chimes, handbells, Sanctus bells) to accompany a familiar congregational setting. The custom of not using organ from this hymn until the same on Saturday is one well worth resuming. It points out the special nature of the liturgies, especially Friday's, and forces choirs and congregations to sing a cappella music - a novel idea well worth the experience.

An arrangement of Ubi caritas (see Chant Booklet III, CNP Catalog #2003) is appropriate during the Preparation of the Gifts (where it's specifically called for in the rubrics) or during the Foot Washing. Another idea would be to have the congregation sing verses of "Where Charity and Love Prevail" without accompaniment, between which a flute could improvise interludes. Music during the procession at the end of Mass could include the choral chant Pange lingua gloriosi (See Chant Booklet II, CNP Catalog #2002) in Latin, alternating with the congregation's English verses sung to the same tune.