Music Suggestions
The Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord [Mass during the Day] (A)

Liturgical Music

Official texts

Entrance Antiphon [Introit]:
1. Viri Galilæi [Graduale Romanum, p.235]
2. Viri Galilæi [Gregorian Missal, p.381]
3. Viri Galilæi [Graduale simplex, p.178]
4. Viri Galilaei (William Byrd, Dulos Couillart, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina)
5. Men of Galilee [Simple English Propers, p.134 (Adam Bartlett)]
6. Men of Galilee [Simple Choral Gradual, p.111 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
7. Men of Galilee [Lumen Christi Missal, p.933 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
8. O Men of Galilee [tune: Swabia] from Introit Hymns #28 (Christoph Tietze)
9. Men of Galilee [Saint Meinrad Antiphons for the Church Year (Columba Kelly OSB) p.38, Mode 7 / OCP]
10. Men of Galilee [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 5 versions, pp.381-384 / Ignatius Press]
11. Men of Galilee [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.90, with Psalm 68[67] / Liturgical Press]
12. Men of Galilee [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #241, with Psalm 47 / Illuminare Publications]
13. Galilean men and women [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.116, with Psalm 68 / Liturgical Press]
14. Jesus has been taken up to heaven [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.116, with Psalm 68 / Liturgical Press]
15. Men of Galilee [Mass Propers for Eastertide (Penkala) p.3, with Psalm 118]
Alleluia I (Responsorial Psalm):
1. Alleluia. Ascendit Deus [Graduale Romanum, p.236]
2. Alleluia. Ascendit Deus [Gregorian Missal, p.382]
3. Ascendit Deus (William Byrd, Jacob Handl, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Peter Philips, Ferdinand Schaller)
4. Omnes gentes, plaudite [Graduale simplex, p.179]
5. Omnes gentes, plaudite (Hans Leo Hassler, Christopher Tye)
6. O clap your hands (Orlando Gibbons, Thomas Tremain)
7. Clap your hands, all you peoples [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.117, with Psalm 47 / Liturgical Press]
8. Chabanel Psalmody
9. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner)
Alleluia II (Gospel Acclamation):
1. Alleluia. Dominus in Sina [Graduale Romanum, p.236]
2. Alleluia. Dominus in Sina [Gregorian Missal, p.383]
3. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Quis ascendet [Graduale simplex, p.182]
4. Alleluia, Who shall ascend the hill of the LOrd [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.120, with Psalm 24 / Liturgical Press]
Offertory:
1. Ascendit Deus in iubilatione [Graduale Romanum, p.237]
  — or —
  Viri Galilæi [Graduale Romanum, p.237]
2. Ascendit Deus in iubilatione [Gregorian Missal, p.389]
  — or —
  Viri Galilæi [Gregorian Missal, p.383]
3. Ascendit Deus in iubilatione [Graduale simplex, p.182]
4. Ascendit Deus (William Byrd, Francisco Guerrero, Jacob Handl, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Peter Philips, Ferdinand Schaller)
5. Men of Galilee [Simple English Propers, p.135 (Adam Bartlett)]
6. Men of Galilee [Simple Choral Gradual, p.112 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
7. Men of Galilee [Lumen Christi Missal, p.933 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
8. God goes up with shouts of joy [Lumen Christi Missal, p.934 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
9. God Is Gone Up with a Merry Noise (William Croft)
10. God has ascended with shouts of joy [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.384-386 / Ignatius Press]
11. God goes up with shouts of joy [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #242, with Psalm 47/ Illuminare Publications]
12. God mounts his throne to shouts of loy [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.121, with Psalm 47 / Liturgical Press]
13. Men of Galilee [Mass Propers for Eastertide (Penkala) p.7, with Psalm 136]
Communion:
1. (A) Data est mihi omnis potestas [Graduale Romanum, p.213]
2. (A) Data est mihi omnis potestas [Gregorian Missal, p.385]
3. Sede a dextris meis [Graduale simplex, p.183]
4. (A) Data est mihi omnis potestas [Communio, p.40]
5. (A) All power has been given to me [Simple English Propers, p.136 (Adam Bartlett)]
6. (A) All pow'r has been given to me [Choral Communio, p.74 (Richard Rice) Hostia Laudis Co]
7. I, the Lord, am with you always [Simple Choral Gradual, p.113 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
8. Sing praise to the Lord [Lumen Christi Missal, p.933 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
9. Behold, I am with you always [Lumen Christi Missal, p.934 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
10. (A) All power has been given to me [Laudate Dominum Communion Antiphons (Andrew Motyka)]
11. Behold, I am with you always [Saint Meinrad Antiphons for the Church Year (Columba Kelly OSB) p.39, Mode 1 / OCP]
12. Behold, I am with you always [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 6 versions, pp.389-392 / Ignatius Press]
13. Chant praise to the Lord [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 6 versions, pp.389-392 / Ignatius Press]
14. Behold, I am with you always [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.91, with Psalm 68[67] / Liturgical Press]
15. Sing praise to the Lord [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #243, with Psalm 68 / Illuminare Publications]
16. Behold, I am with you always [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #244, with Psalm 34 / Illuminare Publications]
17. The Lord said to my Lord [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.122, with Psalm 110 / Liturgical Press]
18. Behold, I am with you always [Mass Propers for Eastertide (Penkala) p.11, with Psalm 66]
Mass settings:
1. Mass of Our Lady, Help of Christians (Richard Connolly)
2. Mass of the Angels (Richard J. Clark)
3. Mass of the Redemption (Calvert Shenk)
4. Missa I – Lux et origo (Gregorian chant) [Graduale Romanum, p.710]
5. Missa I – Lux et origo (Gregorian chant) [Graduale simplex, p.75]
6. Missa sanctorum angelorum (Calvert Shenk)
7. Paschal Gloria (J. William Greene)

Other liturgical music

Common Psalms for Schools & Parishes (Thomas Cosley)
Communion Psalms for the Liturgical Seasons (Gary Penkala)
Gloria Vaticana (Gary Penkala)
Go Out to the World (Ronald Krisman) [GIA Publications] with flute
Graduale Romanum [Solesmes edition]
Graduale simplex [Vatican edition]
Gregorian Missal [Solesmes edition]
I Saw Water Flowing (Alex Hill)
Mass Propers for Eastertide (Gary Penkala)
Paschal Gloria (J. William Greene)
Psalm 118 (Christopher Bord)
Renaissance Alleluia (Gary Penkala)
Saint Patrick Alleluia (Stephen McManus)
Te Deum: We Praise You, O God (J. William Greene)
This Day Was Made by the Lord (Christopher Walker) [Oregon Catholic Press]
Universal Music for Morning Prayer (Gary Penkala)
Universal Music for Evening Prayer (Gary Penkala)
Vidi aquam (Gregorian chant) Proper chant for Sprinkling Rite [Liber usualis, p.12] — or — [Booklet of Chant, Volume 3]
You Shall Be My Witnesses (Rev. James Chepponis) [GIA Publications]

Hymns

A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing (WIII #469, HH #136, SMH #400, VII #359, LCH #74)
All Nations Clap Your Hands (HPSC #106, CH #559, SMH #417)
Ascend Your Throne, O Righteous One (Kathleen Pluth) from Hymns for the Liturgical Year
Go Make of All Disciples (WIII #628, CH #635)
God of Gods, We Sound His Praises (HPSC #166)
Hail, O Once Despised Jesus (HPSC #175, EH #357)
Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise (WIII #471, ICEL #82, HH #139, HPSC #176, CBW #512, AH #430, CH #295, CBH #87, SMH #552, EH #104, VII #252, LCH #73)
Hail Thee, Festival Day (AH #414, CBW #509, CH #274, HPSC #179, PMB #78, WIII #444, SMH #553, EH #86/102/107)
Look, O Look, the Sight Is Glorious (WIII #468, EH #105)
Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor (CD #893, CH #545, CHB #121, VII #301)
Lord, You Gave the Great Commission (WIII #470, HPSC #597, CH #639)
Praise Him As He Mounts the Skies (CBW #513, CH #296)
Rejoice, Angelic Choirs (WIII #455, HH #104)
See the Conqueror Mounts in Triumph (AH #431, CBH #89, EH #103, SMH #743)
Sing We Triumphant Hymns of Praise (ICEL #81, CBW #508, CH #273, SMH #753)
Thine Is the Glory (CD #829)
This Is the Lord's Day (Kathleen Pluth) from Hymns for the Liturgical Year

AH = The Adoremus Hymnal, Ignatius Press

CBW = Catholic Book of Worship II / Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

CD = Cantate Domino / Hymnal Supplement, GIA Publications, Inc.

CH = The Collegeville Hymnal, The Liturgical Press

CHB = The Catholic Hymn Book [London Oratory], Gracewing Publishers

EH = The Hymnal 1940 (Episcopal), used by many Anglican Use Roman Catholic parishes

HH = Hymnal of the Hours, GIA Publications, Inc.

HPSC = Hymns, Psalms & Spiritual Canticles, out of print but excellent

ICEL = ICEL Resource Collection, GIA Publications, Inc.

LCH = Lumen Christi Hymnal, Illuminare Publications

PMB = People's Mass Book, World Library Publications, Inc.

SMH = The Saint Michael Hymnal – 4th Edition 2011, Saint Boniface Church, Lafayette IN

VII = Vatican II Hymnal, Corpus Christi Watershed

WIII = Worship, 3rd Edition, GIA Publications, Inc.

Choral Music

Alleluia (William Boyce) [GIA Publications]
Alleluia, Ascendit Deus (William Byrd)
Ascendit Deus (Jacob Gallus) [Augsburg]
Blessed Be the Lord (Eugene Englert)
Dixit Dominus from Solemn Vespers of a Confessor (W.A. Mozart)
Easter Psalm (Gary Penkala)
Finished the Strife (Ottomanyi)
Gloria in excelsis Deo from Mass in D (Antonin Dvorak)
Go Ye Therefore (Robert Jordahl) [Kjos]
God Is Gone up with A Merry Noise (William Croft)
God Mounts His Throne (Leo Sowerby)
Great Is the Lord (Healey Willan)
Hallelujah, Amen from Judas Maccabeus (G.F. Handel)
How Lovely Are the Messengers from Saint Paul (Felix Mendelssohn)
Now Glad of Heart (Paul Langston) [Howard Publications]
O Clap Your Hands (François Couperin, Orlando Gibbons, Maurice Greene, John Rutter, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Malcolm Archer)
Te Deum laudamus (Calvert Shenk)
The Earth Is the Lord's (Paul Langston) [Howard Publications]
The Heavens Are Telling from The Creation (F.J. Haydn)
The King Ascendeth into Heaven (Healey Willan) [Concordia]
To Realms of Glory (Schein / Nelson) [Augsburg]
Viri Galilaei (Gregorian chant, William Byrd)

Organ Music

Agincourt Hymn (John Dunstable) [Treasury of Early Organ Music - Mercury Music Corp]
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today (Hermann Schroeder) [Parish Organist, Book 8 - Concordia 97-1404]
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today (Carlos Staszeski) [Organist's Companion, March 1999]
Christ Triumphant (John Marsh)
Deo gracias" (David Polley) [Organist's Companion, November 1996]
Entrance Flourish from Village Suite (Tim Knight)
Erschienen ist from Five Chorale Preludes (Colin Brumby)
Festival Flourish from Music for a Festive Occasion (Tim Knight)
Fugue in G (Jig) (J.S. Bach)
Hymn Prelude on Llanfair (Peter Pindar Stearns) [Eight Hymn Preludes for Ascension & Pentecost - Flammer]
Like the Golden Sun (Max Reger) from Chorale Preludes for the Church Year, Opus 67 [Carl Fischer Co.]
Llanfair (David Schack) [Organist's Companion, April 1981]
Maestoso: Five Processionals (Calvert Shenk)
O Love How Deep (Paul Manz) [Improvisations on Great Hymns of Faith - Morning Star Music Publ 10-839]
On Christ's Ascension I Now Build (Max Reger) from Chorale Preludes for the Church Year, Opus 67 [Carl Fischer Co.]
Poco vivace from Six Short Pieces (Hermann Schroeder)
Prelude on Bryn Calfaria (Paul Manz) from Improvisations for the Easter Season [Morning Star Music Publishers #10-402]
Prelude on Bryn Calfaria (Ralph Vaughan Williams)
Prelude on Deo gracias (Healey Willan) [Ten Hymn Preludes for Organ, Set II - Peters]
Prelude on Neander (Paul Manz) from Ten Chorale Improvisations, Set I [Concordia #97-4554]
Prelude on Werde munter (Paul Manz) from Ten Chorale Improvisations, Set IV [Concordia #97-4951]
Toccata in b minor (Eugene Gigout)
Variations on Lasst uns erfreuen (Thomas Bohlert) [Organist's Companion, June 1988]

Liturgical Hints & Ideas

The Ascension marks a "milestone" in the evolution of the Paschal Mystery. Christ must return to the Father, thus completing his physical work of earth, before the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit of God, which perpetuates his work in the hearts of believers. It is in today's Gospel that we hear perhaps the most chilling and hope-filled words of the Savior: "Behold, I am with you, even unto the consummation of the world." This text is etched forever in my memory owing to its use at the end of a familiar religious epic movie, dubbed over the glorious "Hallelujah Chorus" of Handel. Our celebrations should aim at that spine-tingling reality: Christ, though ascended, is with us always.

Music SuggestionsThe Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord [Mass during the Day] (A)