Music Suggestions
The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night (A)

Liturgical Music

Official texts

Lucernarium
1. Lumen Christi (Richard J. Clark)
2. The Light of Christ / Lumen Christi [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #4475 / Illuminare Publications]
Canticle 1 (Responsorial Psalm) Psalm 104:1-2 / 5-6 / 10,12 / 13-14 / 24,35 -or- Psalm 33:4-5 / 6-7 / 12-13 / 20-22 -or- Psalm 100:2-3:
1. Iubilate Domino omnis terra [Graduale Romanum, p.185]
2. Iubilate Domino omnis terra [Gregorian Missal, p.328]
3. Jubilate Domino, omnis terra (Dieterich Buxtehude, Giovanni Gabrieli, Hans Leo Hassler, Orlando di Lasso, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Michael Praetorius, Damiano Scarabelli)
4. Psalm 104: Lord, send out your Spirit [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.82 / Liturgical Press]
5. Psalm 33: The earth is full [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.83 / Liturgical Press]
6. Psalms for the Easter Vigil (McManus)
7. Chabanel Psalmody [opt 1]
8. Chabanel Psalmody [opt 2]
9. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner) [opt 1]
10. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner) [opt 2]
Canticle 2 (Responsorial Psalm) Psalm 16:5,8 / 9-10 / 11 -or- Psalm 125:1-2:
1. Qui confidunt [Graduale Romanum, p.109]
2. Qui confidunt [Gregorian Missal, p.261]
3. Qui confidunt in Domino (Krystof Harant)
4. Psalm 16: Keep me safe, O God [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.83 / Liturgical Press]
5. Psalms for the Easter Vigil (McManus)
6. Chabanel Psalmody
7. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner)
Canticle 3 (Responsorial Psalm) Exodus 15:1-2 ( 3-4 / 5-6 / 17-18):
1. Cantemus Domino [Graduale Romanum, p.186]
2. Cantemus Domino [Gregorian Missal, p.330]
3. Cantemus Domino [Graduale simplex, p.143]
4. Cantemus Domino (Gioacchino Rossini, Johann Baptist Schiedermayr, Ascanio Trombetti)
5. Exodus 15: Let us sing to the Lord [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.84 / Liturgical Press]
6. Psalms for the Easter Vigil (McManus)
7. Chabanel Psalmody
8. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner)
Canticle 4 (Responsorial Psalm) Psalm 30:2,4 / 5-6 / 11-12a,13 -or- Psalm 117:
1. Laudate Dominum omnes gentes [Graduale Romanum, p.187]
2. Laudate Dominum omnes gentes [Gregorian Missal, p.332]
3. Laudate Dominum omnes gentes (William Byrd, Sixt Dietrich, José Maurício Nunes Garcia, Claudio Monteverdi, Ludwig Senfl, Tomás Luis de Victoria)
4. Psalm 30: I will praise you, Lord [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.85 / Liturgical Press]
5. Psalms for the Easter Vigil (McManus)
6. Chabanel Psalmody
7. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner)
Canticle 5 (Responsorial Psalm) Isaiah 12:2-3 / 4 / 5-6 -or- Isaiah 5:1-2:
1. Vinea facta est dilecta [Graduale Romanum, p.188]
2. Vinea facta est dilecta [Gregorian Missal, p.333]
3. Vinea enim Domini [Graduale simplex, p.144]
4. Isaiah 12: You will draw water joyfully [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.85 / Liturgical Press]
5. Isaiah 5: The vineyard of the Lord [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.86 / Liturgical Press]
6. Psalms for the Easter Vigil (McManus)
7. Chabanel Psalmody
8. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner)
Canticle 6 (Responsorial Psalm) Psalm 19:8 / 9 / 10 / 11 -or- Deut 32:1-4:
1. Attende cælum [Graduale Romanum, p.189]
2. Attende cælum [Gregorian Missal, p.334]
3. Audite cæli [Graduale simplex, p.145]
4. Psalm 19: The law of the Lord [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.87 / Liturgical Press]
5. Deuteronomy 32: Let heaven and earth [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.88 / Liturgical Press]
6. Psalms for the Easter Vigil (McManus)
7. Chabanel Psalmody
8. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner)
Canticle 7 (Responsorial Psalm) Psalm 42:3 / 5 / 43:3 / 4 -or- Isaiah 12:2-3 / 4bcd / 5-6 -or- Psalm 51:12-13 / 14-15 / 18-19 -or- Psalm 42:2-4:
1. Sicut cervus desiderat [Graduale Romanum, p.190]
2. Sicut cervus desiderat [Gregorian Missal, p.336]
3. Quemadmodum desiderat cervus [Graduale simplex, p.146]
4. Sicut cervus desiderat (Gregorian chant) [Liber usualis, p.753]
5. Sicut cervus desiderat (G.P. da Palestrina, arr. Andrea Angelini)
6. Psalm 42/43: My soul is longing [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.88 / Liturgical Press]
7. Psalm 51: Create a clean heart in me [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.89 / Liturgical Press]
8. Psalms for the Easter Vigil (McManus)
9. Chabanel Psalmody [with Baptism]
10. Chabanel Psalmody [no Baptism, opt 1]
11. Chabanel Psalmody [no Baptism, opt 2]
12. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner) [with Baptism]
13. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner) [no Baptism, opt 1]
14. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner) [no Baptism, opt 2]
Alleluia Psalm:
1. Confitemini Domino [Graduale Romanum, p.191]
2. Confitemini Domino [Gregorian Missal, p.339]
3. Confitemini Domino [Graduale simplex, p.147]
4. Confitemini Domino (Giovanni Paolo Cima, Alessandro Costantini, Jean Mouton, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Michael Praetorius, Ascanio Trombetti)
5. Alleluia [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #448, with Psalm 118 / Illuminare Publications]
6. Psalm 118: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.90 / Liturgical Press]
7. Easter Alleluia (arr. Andrew Motyka)
8. Easter Vigil Gospel Procession (J. William Greene)
9. Chabanel Psalmody
10. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner)
Litany of the Saints
1. Litany of the Saints [Roman Missal]
2. Litaniæ sanctorum [Graduale Romanum, p.192]
3. Litaniæ sanctorum [Gregorian Missal, p.340]
4. Litaniæ sanctorum [Graduale simplex, p.148]
5. Litaniæ sanctorum for SATB, congregation & optional organ
6. Litany of the Saints [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.304-307 / Ignatius Press]
7. Litany of the Saints [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #449 / Illuminare Publications]
8. Litany of the Saints [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.91 / Liturgical Press]
Acclamation
1. Springs of water, bless the Lord. Give him glory and praise for ever.
2. Fontes et omnia quæ moventur in aquis, hymnum dicite Deo, alleluia.
  V. Benedicte, omnia opera Domini, Domino; laudate et superexaltate eum in saecula. [Graduale simplex, p.150]
3. Springs of water, bless the Lord [Simple Choral Gradual, p.86 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
4. Springs of water, bless the Lord [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #450 / Illuminare Publications]
5. Easter Vigil Baptismal Music (Ignatowski)
Sprinkling
1. Vidi aquam [Graduale Romanum, p.708]
2. Vidi aquam [Gregorian Missal, p.71]
3. Vidi aquam [Liber usualis, p.12]
4. Vidi aquam (Manuel Cardoso, Filipe de Magalhães, Cristóbal de Morales, Tomás Luis de Victoria)
5. Vidi aquam from Water Music: For the Sprinkling Rite (Horst Buchholz)
6. Fontes et omnia [Graduale simplex, p.449]
  Verses of Psalm 118 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.
7. I saw water [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 3 versions, pp.972-975 / Ignatius Press]
8. I saw water [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) pp.71/75, with Psalm 118[117] / Liturgical Press]
9. Springs of water, and all that move [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.93 / Liturgical Press]
10. I saw water flowing [Simple Choral Gradual, p.86 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
11. I Saw Water Flowing (Alex Hill)
12. I Saw Water Flowing (Matthew Koraus)
Offertory:
1. Dextera Domini [Graduale Romanum, p.194]
2. Dextera Domini [Gregorian Missal, p.347]
3. Dextera Domini [Graduale simplex, p.151]
4. Dextera Domini (César Franck, Franz Kersch, Giovanni Battista Martini, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Francesco M. Zuccari)
5. The right hand of the Lord [Simple English Propers, p.98 (Adam Bartlett) CMAA]
6. When God arose to judge [Simple Choral Gradual, p.91 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
7. The right hand of the Lord [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.438-440 / Ignatius Press]
8. The right hand of the Lord [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #218, with Psalm 118 / Illuminare Publications]
9. The Lord's right hand [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.93, with Psalm 118 / Liturgical Press]
10. The right hand of the Lord [Lumen Christi Missal, p.926 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
11. The right hand of the Lord [Mass Propers for Eastertide (Penkala) p.5, with Psalm 136]
Communion:
1. Pascha nostrum [Graduale Romanum, p.199]
2. Pascha nostrum [Gregorian Missal, p.354]
3. Pascha nostrum (William Byrd, Rev. Marco Frisina)
4. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia [Graduale simplex, p.163]
5. Pascha nostrum [Communio, p.184 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
6. Christ, our Paschal Lamb [Simple English Propers, p.99 (Adam Bartlett) CMAA]
7. Christ, our Passover [Choral Communio, p.50 (Richard Rice) Hostia Laudis Co]
8. Christ has become our paschal sacrifice [Simple Choral Gradual, p.92 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
9. Christ, our Lamb, has been sacrificed [Laudate Dominum Communion Antiphons (Andrew Motyka)]
10. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia [Laudate Dominum Communion Antiphons (Andrew Motyka)]
11. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed [Saint Meinrad Antiphons for the Church Year (Columba Kelly OSB) p.30, Mode 6 / OCP]
12. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.317-319 / Ignatius Press]
13. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.74, with Psalm 118[117] / Liturgical Press]
14. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.74, with Psalm 118[117] / Liturgical Press]
15. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #219, with Psalm 34 / Illuminare Publications]
16. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #222, with Psalm 118 / Illuminare Publications]
17. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.104, with Psalm 105 / Liturgical Press]
18. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia [Lumen Christi Missal, p.926 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
19. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed [Mass Propers for Eastertide (Penkala) p.9, 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 sanctorum angelorum (Calvert Shenk)
5. Paschal Gloria (J. William Greene)

Other liturgical music

Blessed Be God (James Chepponis) [GIA Publications]
Chant Booklet, Volume 4 (ed. Chris Bord)
Common Psalms for Schools & Parishes (Thomas Cosley)
Communion Psalms for the Liturgical Seasons (Gary Penkala)
Easter Alleluia (arr. Andrew Motyka)
Easter Vigil Baptismal Music (John Ignatowski)
Easter Vigil Gospel Procession (J. William Greene)
Exodus Canticle (Howard Hughes, SM) [GIA Publications]
Exsultet: The Easter Proclamation (Stephen McManus)
Graduale Romanum [Solesmes edition]
Graduale simplex [Vatican edition]
Gregorian Missal [Solesmes edition]
I Saw Water Flowing (Alex Hill)
I Saw Water Flowing (Matthew Koraus)
Let All the Earth (Christopher Willcock) [OCP]
Like a Deer That Longs (John E. Sittard)
Lumen Christi (Richard J. Clark)
Processional Alleluia (Howard Hughes SM) [GIA Publications]
Paschal Gloria (J. William Greene)
Psalm 118 (Christopher Bord)
Psalms for the Easter Vigil (Stephen McManus)
Renaissance Alleluia (Gary Penkala)
Te Deum: We Praise You, O God (J. William Greene)
The New Lambs of Christ (arr. Gary Penkala)
Universal Music for Morning Prayer (Gary Penkala)
Universal Music for Evening Prayer (Gary Penkala)
You Have Put on Christ (J. William Greene) [GIA Publications]

Hymns

A Living Hope (PMB #61)
At the Lamb's High Feast (WIII #459, ICEL #65, HH #102, CBW #563, AH #411, CH #268, CHB #73, SMH #437, EH #89, VII #353, LCH #66)
Come and Let Us Drink of That New River (WIII #723, HH #123, CH #351)
Come, O Christian People, Sing (HH #110)
Come, Ye Thankful People, Come (WIII #759, ICEL #217, HPSC #143, CH #626, CHB #211, SMH #491, EH #137, LCH #70, LCH #100)
Give Thanks to God for He Is Good (HPSC #162)
O Worship the King (AH #483, CH #571, HH #201, HPSC #268, PMB #138, CHB #255, SMH #689, EH #288, LCH #91)
Rejoice, Angelic Choirs (WIII #455, HH #104)
Send Forth from the Heav'ns (HPSC #292)
Sing of Christ, Proclaim His Glory (HPSC #302)
Sing with All the Saints in Glory (CD #824, LCH #67, SMH #754)
The Perfect Law of God (HPSC #327)
Thine Is the Glory (CD #829)
This Is the Day (PMB #65, HPSC #329, CBW #589, WIII #663)
This Is the Feast of Victory (WIII #458, CH #265, SMH #794)
This Is the Lord's Day from Hymns for the Liturgical Year (Kathleen Pluth)
Through the Red Sea Brought At Last (HH #107)
We Celebrate the Lamb's High Feast (HH #108)

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 (J.S. Bach)
Alleluia (Sr. Edith Scholl, OCSO)
Alleluia (Randall Thompson)
As Pants the Hart (Christopher Tye)
As the Hart Longeth (R. Evan Copley, Felix Mendelssohn)
Bless the Lord, O My Soul (M. Ippolitov-Ivanov)
Cantemus Domino (Gregorian chant) Canticle of Moses [Graduale simplex, p.143]
Christ, Our Passover (Healey Willan)
Christ the Lord Is Risen Again (John Rutter)
Christ the Lord Is Risen! Alleluia! (Roman)
Easter Psalm (Gary Penkala)
Exsultate justi in Domino (Ludovico da Viadana)
Finished the Strife of Battle Now (Steven Ottomanyi)
Good Christian Men, Rejoice and Sing (Donna Robertson)
Hallelujah from Messiah (G.F. Handel)
I Will Exalt Thee (Christopher Tye)
Jesus Christ Is Risen Today (arr. Matthew Koraus)
Let All the Nations Praise the Lord (Volkmar Leisring) [Carl Fischer]
Misericordia Domini (G.O. Pitoni)
O Lord, How Manifold Are Thy Works (J. Barnby)
O sacrum convivium (Eugene Englert)
O sacrum convivium (Michael Lawrence)
Regina coeli (Gregor Aichinger, arr. Andrea Angelini)
Regina cæli (W.A. Mozart)
Regina cæli (Adam Taylor)
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous (George J. Elvey)
Saint Patrick's Breastplate (Charles Villiers Stanford) [Stainer & Bell / ECS Publ]
Sicut cervus desiderat (Gregorian chant) Proper Hymn for Blessing of Font [Liber usualis, p.753]
Sicut cervus desiderat (G.P. da Palestrina, arr. Andrea Angelini)
Sing unto the Lord (Christopher Tye)
Sing Ye to the Lord (Edward Bairstow)
Sitientes, venite ad aquas (Tomás Luis de Victoria) [Ricordi]
Surrexit a mortuis (Charles-Marie Widor)
Surrexit pastor bonus (Jehan l'Heritier)
Te Deum laudamus (Calvert Shenk)
Te Deum laudamus (F.J. Haydn, Jean Langlais, W.A. Mozart, Domenico Scarlatti)
The Master's Rejoicing (Jim Stanley)
The New Lambs of Christ (arr. Gary Penkala)
This Joyful Eastertide (arr. Alan Smith)
Those That Do Place Their Confidence / Psalm 125 (John Alcock Jr.)
Two Easter Anthems (Colin Brumby)
We Will Rejoice (William Croft)

Organ Music

The organ should maintain the silence of Good Friday until the Gloria, when it accompanies the joyful singing. A brief appropriate fanfare might precede the singing of the Gloria, during which the church bells are rung.

Allegro from Symphony VI (Charles-Marie Widor)
Allegro-Finale from Symphony I (Louis Vierne)
Alleluya (William Faulkes) [A Victorian Organ Album - Oxford]
As Pants the Hart for Cooling Streams (Newman Powell) [Parish Organist XI - Concordia]
At the Lamb's High Feast (Paul Manz) from Improvisations for the Easter Season [Morning Star Music Publishers #10-402]
Carillon-sortie (Henri Mulet)
Chorale Fantasie on Lasst uns erfreuen (Flor Peeters) [Novello]
Chorale Prelude (Healey Willan)
Chorale Toccata on Lasst uns erfreuen; (R. Evan Copley) [H.W. Gray]
Christ ist erstanden (J.S. Bach) [Orgelbüchlein] [Church Organist's Golden Treasury I – Oliver Ditson Co]
Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands (Wilbur Held) from Six Preludes on Easter Hymns [Concordia #97-5330]
Christ lag in Todesbanden (J.S. Bach) [Orgelbüchlein] [Orgelwerke VI - Peters 245] [Church Organist's Golden Treasury I – Oliver Ditson Co]
Christ lag in Todesbanden (Georg Böhm) [Church Organist's Golden Treasury I - Oliver Ditson Co] [Organist's Companion, March 1992]
Christ lag in Todesbanden (Dieterich Buxtehude) [Church Organist's Golden Treasury I - Oliver Ditson Co]
Christ lag in Todesbanden (G.F. Kauffmann) [Organist's Companion, February 1986]
Christ lag in Todesbanden (J.L. Krebs) [Church Organist's Golden Treasury I - Oliver Ditson Co]
Christ lag in Todesbanden (Johann Pachelbel) [Church Organist's Golden Treasury I - Oliver Ditson Co] [Organist's Companion, March 1993]
Christ lag in Todesbanden (Samuel Scheidt) [Eighty Chorale Preludes - Peters 4448] [Church Organist's Golden Treasury I – Oliver Ditson Co] [Organist's Companion, March 2001]
Christ lag in Todesbanden (G.P. Telemann) [Seasonal Chorale Preludes for Manuals, Bk 2 - Oxford]
Christ lag in Todesbanden (F.W. Zachau) [Eighty Chorale Preludes - Peters 4448] [Seasonal Chorale Preludes for Manuals, Bk 2 – Oxford] [Organist's Companion, April 1987 & March 2000]
Concerto for Organ and Strings (Michael J. Starke)
Ershienen ist der herrliche Tag from Five Chorale Preludes (Colin Brumby)
Fanfare on The Strife Is O'er (Alec Wyton) [Preludes, Fanfares & a March for the Liturgical Year – Flammer]
Fantaise über Christ ist erstanden (H.R. Basler) [Die Orgel im Kirchenjahr - Cron Luzern EC 270]
Gloria in excelsis Deo (Max Reger)
Good Christian Men, Rejoice and Sing (Paul Manz) [Improvisations for the Easter Season, Set I – Morning Star Music Publ 10-402]
Grand chouer dialogue (Eugene Gigout)
Heut' triumphiret Gottes Sohn (J.S. Bach) from Orgelbüchlein
Incantation pour un jour saint (Jean Langlais) uses motives from the Litany of the Saints
Jesus Christ Is Risen Today (Paul Manz) from Improvisations for the Easter Season [Morning Star Music Publishers #10-402]
Litanies (Jehan Alain)
Look, Ye Saints, the Sight Is Glorious (Paul Manz) from Improvisations for the Easter Season [Morning Star Music Publishers #10-402]
New Hymn Accompaniments, Volume 1 (Donna Robertson)
Partita on Gelobt sei Gott (Theodore Ripper) [Organist's Companion, April 1987]
Prelude on O filii et filiæ (Healey Willan) from Ten Hymn Preludes, Set I [C.F. Peters Corp]
Prelude on Victimæ paschali laudes (John Reese)
The Strife Is O'er (G. Winston Cassler) [This Is the Victory - Augsburg 11-9497]
The Strife Is O'er (Wilbur Held) [Six Preludes on Easter Hymns - Concordia]
Toccata from Symphony V (Charles-Marie Widor)
Toccata jubilante (Dennis Janzer)
Toccata on Gelobet sei Gott (Alfred Fedak) [Organist's Companion, April 1986]
Toccata on Lasst uns erfreuen (R. Evan Copley)
Tuba Tune (Norman Cocker)
Victory (G. Winston Cassler) [Organist's Companion, April 1987]
Victory (Robin Dinda) [Organist's Companion, March 1991]
Ye Sons and Daughters of the King (Jan Bender) [Parish Organist, Book 8 – Concordia 97-1404]
Ye Sons and Daughters of the King (Camil van Hulse) [Seven Preludes on Hymns for Easter – Concordia 97-1390]

Liturgical Hints & Ideas

Innumerable creative possibilities exist for music during tonight's liturgy. Resist scheduling any prelude… the silence of Good Friday must be broken by the deacon's proclamation, "The Light of Christ," or Lumen Christi and the glorious Exsultet. If your parish is lucky enough to use all seven Old Testament readings, treat the responses to them in varied ways. Options include a standard responsorial psalm format, a through-composed setting of the psalm for choir, a Gregorian chant version of the psalm, a solo, or silent meditation. None of these should be accompanied by organ. The organ, silent from the Gloria of Holy Thursday, is not played until tonight's Gloria… and by all means, play it then! An introductory fanfare and intricate accompaniment to a familiar congregational setting heighten the drama of this moment in the liturgy. Choose music for the baptismal acclamations carefully. It is perhaps better to use an antiphon from a familiar hymn or psalm for each of the times when music is called for in this rite, using the same music again during the Sprinkling Rite. This will help to delineate the Liturgy of Initiation within tonight's Mass. The choir should have some worthy music prepared (this is the major feast of the entire year) and the organist should be ready with free accompaniments to those wonderfully familiar Easter hymns… and, of course, the flashiest recessional or postlude imaginable.

Music SuggestionsThe Easter Vigil in the Holy Night (A)