Music Suggestions
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (ABC)

Liturgical Music

Official texts

Introit:
1. Gaudens gaudebo [Graduale Romanum, p.628]
2. Gaudens gaudebo [Gregorian Missal, p.673/736]
3. Gaudens gaudebo (Lorenzo Donati)
4. Tota pulchra es Maria [Graduale simplex, p.323]
5. Tota pulchra es (J. William Greene)
6. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord [Simple English Propers (Adam Bartlett) p.410 / CMAA]
7. I exult for joy in the Lord [Simple Choral Gradual (Richard Rice) p.300 / CMAA]
8. I rejoice heartily in the Lord [Lumen Christi Missal(Adam Bartlett) p.970 / Illuminare Publications]
9. I rejoice heartily in the Lord [Saint Meinrad Antiphons for the Church Year (Columba Kelly OSB) p.116, Mode 3 / OCP]
10. I rejoice heartily in the Lord [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.909-911]
11. I rejoice heartily in the Lord [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.212, with Psalm 30[29] / Liturgical Press]
12. I rejoice heartily in the Lord [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #378, with Psalm 30 / Illuminare Publications]
13. Mary, you are all beautiful [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.242, with Isaiah 61 / Liturgical Press]
14. I rejoice heartily in the Lord [Mass Propers for Advent (Penkala) p.1, with Psalm 80]
15. In God I Will Rejoice [tune: Swabia] from Introit Hymns #88 (Christoph Tietze)
Gradual (Responsorial Psalm):
1. Benedicta es tu [Graduale Romanum, p.629]
2. Benedicta es tu [Gregorian Missal, p.674/737]
3. Opera me regi [Graduale simplex, p.324]
4. For the king I will sing my song [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.243, with Psalm 45 / Liturgical Press]
5. Chabanel Psalmody
6. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner)
Alleluia (Gospel Acclamation):
1. Tota pulchra es [Graduale Romanum, p.630]
2. Tota pulchra es [Gregorian Missal, p.675/738]
3. Ecce tu pulchra es [Graduale simplex, p.325 or 326]
4. Alleluia, how beautiful are you [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.244, with Song of Songs 4 / Liturgical Press]
5. Tota pulchra es (J. William Greene)
6. Tota pulchra es (Anton Bruckner, João de Deus Castro Lobo, José Maurício Nunes Garcia, Francisco Guerrero, Karl Kempter, Orlando di Lasso, Giovanni Battista Riccio, Francisco Valls)
Offertory:
1. Ave Maria, gratia plena [Graduale Romanum, p.630]
2. Ave Maria, gratia plena [Gregorian Missal, p.676/739]
3. Sanctificavit [Graduale simplex, p.326]
4. Ave Maria (Gregorian chant) from Booklet of Chant, Volume III
5. Ave Maria [ant] & Psalm 25 [ps tone] (Gregorian chant) [Graduale simplex, p.62]
6. Ave Maria gratia plena (Moritz Brosig, Anton Bruckner, William Byrd, Luigi Cherubini, Edward Elgar, Cristóbal de Morales, Jean Mouton, Claudio Monteverdi, Lorenzo Perosi, Josquin des Prez, Louis Vierne)
7. Ave Maria gratia plena from Vier Offertorien (L.B. Est)
8. Ave Maria gratia plena from 6 Gradualia vel Offertoria (Karl Kempter)
9. Ave Maria (Tomas Luis de Victoria, arr. Andrea Angelini)
10. Hail Mary, full of grace [Simple English Propers (Adam Bartlett) p.411 / CMAA]
11. Blessed are you among women [Simple Choral Gradual (Richard Rice) p.301 / CMAA]
12. Hail Mary, full of grace [Lumen Christi Missal (Adam Bartlett) p.971 / Illuminare Publications]
13. Hail Mary, full of grace [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.912-914]
14. Hail Mary, full of grace [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #379, with Luke 1 / Illuminare Publications]
15. The Lord, the Most High [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.246, with Psalm 46 / Liturgical Press]
16. Rejoice, O highly favored [Mass Propers for Advent (Penkala) p.3, with Psalm 25]
Communion:
1. Gloriosa dicta sunt [Graduale Romanum, p.631]
2. Gloriosa dicta sunt [Gregorian Missal, p.677/741]
3. Gloriosa dicta sunt [Communio, p.102 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
4. Gloriosa prædicentur [Graduale simplex, pp.327]
5. Glorious things have been proclaimed [Simple English Propers(Adam Bartlett) p.412 / CMAA]
6. All honor to you, Mary! [Simple Choral Gradual (Richard Rice) p.302 / CMAA]
7. Glorious things have been proclaimed [Choral Communio (Richard Rice) p.220 / Hostia Laudis Co]
8. Glorious things are spoken of you [Lumen Christi Missal (Adam Bartlett) p.971 / Illuminare Publications]
9. Glorious things have been proclaimed Laudate Dominum Communion Antiphons (Andrew Motyka)
10. Glorious things are spoken of you [Saint Meinrad Antiphons for the Church Year (Columba Kelly OSB) p.116, Mode 2 / OCP]
11. Glorious things are spoken of you [The Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 5 versions, pp.915-917]
12. Glorious things are spoken of you [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.213, with Luke 1 / Liturgical Press]
13. Glorious things are spoken of you [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #380, with Luke 1 / Illuminare Publications]
14. Glorious things are spoken of you [Communion Antiphons for Advent (Richard J. Clark) with Luke 1 / GIA Publications]
15. Glorious things are told of you [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.246, with Magnificat / Liturgical Press]
16. The Almighty has done great things [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.247, with Magnificat / Liturgical Press]
17. Glorious things are spoken of you [Mass Propers for Advent (Penkala) p.5, with Psalm 85]
Mass settings:
1. Latin Chant Mass XVII (Adventus et Quadragesimae)
2. Latin Chant Mass IX (Cum jubilo)
3. Mass of Saint Agnes (B. Andrew Mills)
4. Missa Deus Genitor alme (Harry McMurray)
5. Modal Mass (Calvert Shenk)

Other liturgical music

Advent Alleluia (William Atwood)
Beata viscera (Gary Penkala)
Common Psalms for Schools & Parishes (Thomas Cosley)
Communion Psalms for the Liturgical Seasons (Gary Penkala)
Emmanuel: An Advent Processional (Gary Penkala)
Gloria Vaticana (Gary Penkala)
Gospel Verses for the Christmas Cycle (Gary Penkala)
Graduale Romanum [Solesmes edition]
Graduale simplex [Vatican edition]
Gregorian Missal [Solesmes edition]
Hail, Holy Mother (Gary Penkala) from Seven Roman Basilica Processionals
Mass Propers of Advent (Gary Penkala)
Psalm 45 (Christopher Bord)
Psalm 98 (Christopher Bord)
Renaissance Alleluia (Gary Penkala)
Universal Music for Morning Prayer (Gary Penkala)
Universal Music for Evening Prayer (Gary Penkala)
Winchester Alleluia (Gary Penkala)

Hymns

All Who Keep the Faith of Jesus (CH #321, HPSC #108)
Ave Maria (ICEL #110, WIII #713, PMB #173, AH #531, CH #326, CBW #607, HPSC #117, CHB #294, SMH #441, LCH #143)
Blessed Virgin Mother (HH #294)
Free from All Stain of Evil (Kathleen Pluth) from Hymns for the Liturgical Year
Hear Our Prayer, O Gentle Mother (HH #295)
Immaculate Mary (AH #532, CBW #611, CH #316, HPSC #193, ICEL #114, PMB #172, WIII #708, CHB #154, SMH #577, VII #259, LCH #157, SEC #906, CBH #117)
In God I Will Rejoice [tune: Swabia] from Introit Hymns #88 (Christoph Tietze)
Maiden, Yet A Mother (AH #540, CHB #155, VII #367, SMH #632, SEC #913)
Mary Immaculate, Star of the Morning (CHB #156)
Mary the Dawn (PMB #174, AH #541, CH #329, HPSC #221)
O Be Glad, My Soul, Rejoice [Magnificat] (HPSC #233)
O Mary, of All Women (PMB #179)
O Mary, Our Mother (SMH #675)
O Purest of Creatures! (ICEL #116, CHB #159, CBH #196)
O Sanctissima (WIII #712, PMB #181, AH #542, CH #318, CBW #616, SMH #684, VII #369, LCH #147, SEC #915, CBH #206)
Praise We the Lord This Day (ICEL #117, WIII #696, SMH #723, EH #118)
Stainless the Maiden (CH #333, SMH #764)
Tell Out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord (HPSC #311, CD #846, CBW #638, CHB #264, WIII #534)
The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came (WIII #537, ICEL #239, HPSC #320, EH #285)
The God Whom Earth and Sea and Sky (AH #534, CBW #608, CH #334, HPSC #321, ICEL #120, WIII #405, CHB #161, SMH #783, VII #368, SEC #914)
Thou Art the Star of Morning (HPSC #331)
Virgin-born, We Bow before You (WIII #403, CHB #163, HH #49, CD #839, LCH #33)

AH = The Adoremus Hymnal, Ignatius Press

CBH = A Catholic Book of Hymns, Sacred Music Library

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.

SEC = Saint Edmund Campion Hymnal & Missal, Corpus Christi Watershed

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

A Marian Triptych (Leo Nestor)
Adam Lay Ybounden (arr. Boris Ord) from Carols for Choirs II [Oxford]
Alma redemptoris mater (Gregorian chant) from Booklet of Chant, Volume 1
Alma redemptoris mater (Stephen McManus)
Alma redemptoris mater (G.P. da Palestrina, arr. Andrea Angelini)
Angel Gabriel, The (arr. William Atwood)
Angelus (Christopher Garten-Zavesky)
Angelus ad Virginem (14 C., arr. Willcocks) from Carols for Choirs III [Oxford]
Annunciation (Heinrich Schütz) for ST soli and SATB choir
Audi cœlum (Claudio Monteverdi)
Ave Maria (Gregorian chant) from Booklet of Chant, Volume III
Ave Maria (Jacob Arcadelt, arr. Andrea Angelini)
Ave Maria (W.A. Mozart)
Ave Maria (Tomas Luis de Victoria, arr. Andrea Angelini)
Benedicta es, caelorum regina (Josquin des Prez)
Benedicta tu in mulieribus (Francisco Valls)
Fiat! And Word Made Flesh (Ursula Ramjit)
In Praise of the Virgin (Colin Brumby)
Laudate pueri Dominum (G.S. Geiger)
Magnificat (Jacques Berthier / Taizé Community) from Worship III #553
Magnificat (Gregorian chant, tone 6) from ICEL Resource Collection #115
Magnificat (Ronald Turner)
Magnificat brevis (Gary Penkala)
Psalm 98 (Heinrich Schütz)
Salutation (Gary Penkala) from Easy Marian Motets
Sing to the Lord A New Song (Johann Pachelbel)
Missus est Gabriel (Cristobal Morales) [G. Schirmer]
Ne timeas Maria (Tomás Luis de Victoria) [G. Schirmer]
The Annunciation (Paul Christiansen) [Augsburg]
The Annunciation (Heinrich Schütz) [J. Fischer]
There Is No Rose (anon 15th C.) from Carols for Choirs II [Oxford]
There Is No Rose (Benjamin Britten) from Ceremony of Carols
Tota pulchra es, Maria (J. William Greene)

Organ Music

A Trumpet Celebration (Grimoaldo Macchia)
Adagio on a Lourdes Traditional Melody (Alice Jordan) [Organist's Companion, June 1985]
Alma redemptoris mater (Hermann Schroeder) from Die Marianischen Antiphonen
Ave Maria from Two Chant Meditations (Kevin Waters SJ)
Festival Processionals for Organ and Brass (Calvert Shenk)
Fuga sopra Magnificat (J.S. Bach) [Orgelwerke VII - Peters 246]
He Remembering His Mercy (Marcel Dupré) from Fifteen Pieces [H.W. Gray Publ]
I Am Black But Comely (Marcel Dupré) from Fifteen Pieces [H.W. Gray Publ]
Il messaggio di San Gabriele Arcangelo (Gary Penkala)
Immaculate Mary (Robert Hebble) [For the Masses - The Sacred Music Press]
Mach's mit mir, Gott, Nach deiner Güt (J.S. Bach) [Neumeister Collection - Yale University Press]
Mach's mit mir, Gott, Nach deiner Güt (J.C. Kittel) [Church Organist's Golden Treasury II - Oliver Ditson Co]
Mach's mit mir, Gott, Nach deiner Güt (J.G. Walther) [Church Organist's Golden Treasury II - Oliver Ditson Co] [Seasonal Chorale Preludes for Manuals, Bk 2 - Oxford] [Eighty Chorale Preludes - Peters 4448]
Maestoso: Five Processionals (Calvert Shenk)
Magnificat settings (J.F. Dandrieu)
Magnificat Suite (Jean Guillain)
Maria zart, von elder Art (Arnolt Schlick) [Church Organist's Golden Treasury II - Oliver Ditson Co]
Music for a Festive Occasion (Tim Knight)
Offertory from May Music (John Larkin)
Offertory from Messe basse (Camil van Hulse)
Postlude on Sicilian Mariners (Alfred Fedak)
Postlude on Sicilian Mariners from May Music (John Larkin)
Ricercare on Ave Maria klare (J.K.F. Fischer) [Consoliere IV-4 - World Library Publ]
Salve Mater misericordiæ (Robert Farrell)
Toccata a la Dubois (Jon Naples)
Variation to the Sicilian Hymn (Benjamin Carr) [A Century of Amercian Organ Music, Bk 1 - McAfee Music Corp]
When the Salutation Gabriel Had Spoken (Marcel Dupré) from Fifteen Pieces [H.W. Gray Publ]

Liturgical Hints & Ideas

The plan of God's mercy begins to unfold as Mary is conceived free from the stain of original sin. She will come to accept the invitation of God to become the mother of his Son. As a privilege of her faith-filled response to Gabriel's message, she shared beforehand in the grace won by Christ through his suffering, death and resurrection. Mary is the "New Eve" who is "Mother of the Church."

The year 2024 marks the 170th anniversary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854:

The Blessed Virgin Mary in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin.

Music SuggestionsThe Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (ABC)