Music Suggestions
The Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist [At the Mass during the Day]

Liturgical Music

Official texts

Entrance Antiphon [Introit]:
1. De ventre matris meæ [Graduale Romanum, p.570]
2. De ventre matris meæ [Gregorian Missal, p.631/687]
3. Dominus ab utero vocavit me [Graduale simplex, p.275]
4. Elisabeth Zachariæ (Francisco Guerrero)
5. From my mother's womb [Simple English Propers, p.369 (Adam Bartlett)]
6. There was a man sent from God [Simple Choral Gradual, p.275 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
7. From my mother's womb [Lumen Christi Missal, p.963 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
8. Called By My Name [tune: Woodlands] from Introit Hymns #78 (Christoph Tietze)
9. A man was sent from God [Saint Meinrad Antiphons for the Church Year, p.102 / Mode 1 (Columba Kelly OSB) OCP]
10. A man was sent from God [Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.816-818 / Ignatius Press]
11. A man was sent from God [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.190, with Psalm 92[91] / Liturgical Press]
12. From my mother's womb [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #2354, with Psalm 92 / Illuminare Publications]
13. From my mother's womb [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.203, with Psalm 92 / Liturgical Press]
14. A man was sent from God [Mass Propers for Solemnities and Feasts I (Penkala) p.2, with Psalm 104]
15. Called from My Mother's Womb [tune: Tallis' Canon] from Introit Hymns 95 (Christoph Tietze)
Gradual (Responsorial Psalm):
1. Priusquam te formarem [Graduale Romanum, p.571]
2. Priusquam te formarem [Gregorian Missal, p.632/688]
3. In te Domine speravi / Psalm 71 [Graduale simplex, p.276]
4. Let me never come to shame [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.204, with Psalm 71 / Liturgical Press]
5. Chabanel Psalmody
6. Parish Book of Psalms (Arlene Oost-Zinner)
7. In te Domine speravi (Francesco Tuma)
Alleluia (Gospel Acclamation):
1. Tu puer propheta Altissimi [Graduale Romanum, p.571]
2. Tu puer propheta Altissimi [Gregorian Missal, p.633/689]
3. Ad te Domine levavi / Psalm 25 [Graduale simplex, p.197]
4. Ad te levavi (Johann Kaspar Aiblinger, Alessandro Scarlatti, Franz Xaver Witt)
5. Alleluia, to you, O Lord [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.205 / Liturgical Press]
6. To you, O Lord, I lift [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.206, with Psalm 25 / Liturgical Press]
Offertory:
1. Iustus ut palma florebit [Graduale Romanum, p.497]
2. Iustus ut palma florebit [Gregorian Missal, p.633/690]
3. Justus ut palma (Giovanni Paolo Cima, Carl Ludwig Drobisch, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina)
4. Puer qui natus est nobis [Graduale simplex, p.279]
5. The righteous man shall flourish [Simple English Propers, p.370 (Adam Bartlett)]
6. The just will flourish like the palm tree [Simple Choral Gradual, p.276 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
7. The just will flourish [Lumen Christi Missal, p.964 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
8. The just man shall flourish like the palm tree [Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 5 versions, pp.819-821 / Ignatius Press]
9. The just will flourish like the palm tree [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #355, with Psalm 92 / Illuminare Publications]
10. The child who is born for us [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.206, with Psalm 65 / Liturgical Press]
11. The just man shall flourish like the palm tree [Mass Propers for Solemnities and Feasts I (Penkala) p.4, with Psalm 72]
Communion:
1. Tu puer propheta Altissimi vocaberis [Graduale Romanum, p.572]
2. Tu puer propheta Altissimi vocaberis [Gregorian Missal, p.635/692]
3. Tu puer propheta Altissimi vocaberis [Communio, p.273 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
4. Tu puer propheta Altissimi vocaberis [Graduale simplex, p.280]
5. You, child, will be called the prophet [Simple English Propers, p.371 (Adam Bartlett)]
6. You, child, shall be called the prophet [Choral Communio, p.203 (Richard Rice) Hostia Laudis Co]
7. Through the tender compassion of our God [Simple Choral Gradual, p.277 (Richard Rice) CMAA]
8. You, child, shall be called the prophet [Lumen Christi Missal, p.964 (Adam Bartlett) Illuminare Publications]
9. You, child, will be called the prophet [Laudate Dominum Communion Antiphons (Andrew Motyka)]
10. Through the tender mercy of our God [Saint Meinrad Antiphons for the Church Year, p.102 / Mode 1 (Columba Kelly OSB) OCP]
11. Through the tender mercy of our God [Proper of the Mass (Fr. Samuel F. Weber OSB) 4 versions, pp.822-824 / Ignatius Press]
12. Through the tender mercy of our God [English Proper Chants (John Ainslie) p.191, with Lk 1:68-79 / Liturgical Press]
13. You, child, shall be called the prophet [Lumen Christi Simple Gradual (Adam Bartlett) #356, with Lk 1:68-79 / Illuminare Publications]
14. Through the tender mercy of our God [Communion Antiphons for Feasts and Solemnities – Volume 1 (Richard J. Clark) with Lk 1:68-79 / GIA Publications]
15. You, my child, shall go before the Lord [By Flowing Waters (Paul Ford) p.207, with Lk 1:68-79 / Liturgical Press]
16. Through the tender mercy of our God [Mass Propers for Solemnities and Feasts I (Penkala) p.7, with Psalm 23]
Mass settings:
1. Latin Chant Masses VIII (De angelis) & XI (Orbis factor)
2. Latin Gregorian Chant Masses XI (Orbis factor) & VIII (De angelis)
3. Latin Missa sanctorum angelorum (Calvert Shenk)
4. Latin Mass of Saint Jerome (Christopher Bord)
5. Mass of Our Lady, Help of Christians (Richard Connolly)
6. Mass of Saint Agnes (B. Andrew Mills)
7. Mass of the Angels (Richard J. Clark)
8. Mass of the Redemption (Calvert Shenk / Adam Taylor)
9. Modal Mass (Calvert Shenk / Adam Taylor)

Other liturgical music

Blessed Be the Lord from Seven Roman Basilica Processionals (Gary Penkala)
Graduale Romanum [Solesmes edition]
Graduale simplex [Vatican edition]
Universal Music for Morning Prayer (Gary Penkala)
Universal Music for Evening Prayer (Gary Penkala)
various antiphons & propers (Gregorian chant) [Liber usualis, pp.1496-1506]
Winchester Alleluia (Gary Penkala)

Hymns

Around the Throne a Glorious Band (CH #335, HH #301, ICEL #178, WIII #719, EH #120, LCH #155)
Blessed Be the God of Israel (CBW #77)
By All Your Saints Still Striving (WIII #706, HH #284)
Canticle of Zachary/Zechariah (WIII #6, CBW #77, CH #421, PMB #223, PMB #754, CH #421, SMH #465)
Christ Is the King (WIII #500, CH #540, HH #286, CBW #546, EH #543)
Hail, Redeemer, King Most Blest! (CH #337)
Hark! A Herald Voice Is Calling (ICEL #4, HPSC #183, CBW #453, CH #176, CHB #4, SMH #556, VII #227, SEC #795, CBH #100)
Herald of the Joyful Tidings from Hymns for the Liturgical Year (Kathleen Pluth)
O Christ, the World's Salvation (Dennis DiPaolo)
O Prophet John, O Man of God (HH #264)
On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry (AH #303, CBW #443, CH #182, HH #14, HPSC #271, ICEL #9, WIII #356, CHB #9, SMH #699, EH #10, VII #229, LCH #7, SEC #800, CBH #219)
The Great Forerunner of the Morn (WIII #697, ICEL #209, HH #263, HPSC #323, LCH #144)
When Jesus Comes to Be Baptized (CBW #480)
When John Baptized by Jordan's River (HH #61, WIII #412)
Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim (CD #911, CH #519, HPSC #357)
Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones (HPSC #359, WIII #707, AH #416, HH #275, PMB #71, CH #578, CHB #275, SMH #838, EH #599, LCH #118, CBH #293)

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

Agnus Dei (Palestrina, Victoria, Lotti, Hassler, Mozart, Haydn, Bruckner, Kodaly)
Beatus vir / Psalm 112 (Moritz Brosig, Claudio Monteverdi, W.A. Mozart, Antonio Vivaldi)
Benedictus (George Whitefield Chadwick, Josquin des Prez, Edward Elgar, Padre Martini, José Maurício Nunes Garcia, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Franz Schubert, Charles Villiers Stanford, Tomás Luis de Victoria)
Blessed Be the Lord (Eugene Englert)
Christ the Glory (Lallouette) [GIA Publications]
Complete Thy Work, O Lord (Calvert Shenk)
Domine Deus, Agnus Dei from Gloria in D (Antonio Vivaldi)
Herr, auf dich traue ich (Heinrich Schütz)
His Name Is John (Peter Naylor) [Novello]
Jesu dulcis memoria (Walker Williams)
Jesu dulcis memoria (Juan Francés de Iribarren, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Carlo Rossini, Tomás Luis de Victoria)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (J.S. Bach)
Jesus, Sun of Life, My Splendor (G.F. Handel)
In Thee, O Lord, Do I Put My Trust (Camil van Hulse) [H.W. Gray]
Lamb of God (Johannes Somary / Adrian Batten)
Lord of Life and King of Glory (Grancini) [GIA Publications]
Lord, Thou Hast Searched Me Out and Known Me (Healey Willan) [Flammer]
O Gracious Light (Jason Cole)
O Lord, Thou Hast Me Tried and Known (Joseph Key)
O Splendor of God's Glory Bright (John Reese)
Te Deum laudamus (Calvert Shenk)
The Glory of the Father (Egil Hovland) [Walton Music]
This Is the Record of John (Gibbons/Domet)
Ut queant laxis / proper hymn for Vespers (Gregorian chant) [Liber usualis, p.1504]

Organ Music

All Glory Be to God on High (J.S. Bach) [Parish Organist, Book 8 - Concordia 97-1404]
All Glory Be to God on High (Charles Ore) [Eleven Compositions for Organ Bk 1 - Concordia 97-5019]
All Glory Be to God on High (Johann Pachelbel) [Parish Organist, Part 1 - Concordia]
Allegro maestoso (Felix Mendelssohn)
Allegro vivo e maestoso (Dom Paul Benoit) from Esquisses liturgiques [J. Fischer & Bros.]
Allein Gott in der Höh (David Polley) [Organist's Companion, May 1989]
Allein Gott in der Höh (Max Reger) [Thirty Chorale Preludes - Peters 3980]
Allein Gott in der Höh (J.C.H. Rinck) [Organist's Companion, July 1992]
Allein Gott in der Höh (G.P. Telemann) [Organist's Companion, July 1995]
Allein Gott in der Höh (A.N. Vetter) [Eighty Chorale Preludes - Peters 4448]
Allein Gott in der Höh (J.G. Walther) [Eighty Chorale Preludes - Peters 4448] [Church Organist's Golden Treasury I - Oliver Ditson Co] [Organist's Companion, October 1984]
Allein Gott in der Höh (F.W. Zachau) [Eighty Chorale Preludes - Peters 4448] [Organist's Companion, June 1984]
Alleluya (William Faulkes) [A Victorian Organ Album - Oxford]
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, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam (J.S. Bach) [Orgelwerke VI - Peters 245]
Fanfare (Jean Mouret)
Fantasia and Fugue in g minor (J.S. Bach)
Fantasia super Valet will ich der geben (J.S. Bach) [Orgelwerke VII - Peters 246]
Fantasy on the tune Azmon (James Pethel) [Consoliere VII-3 - World Library Publ]
Foundation: Harmonization and Variations (Robin Rokey) [Organist's Companion, May 2001]
How Firm a Foundation (George Lachenauer) [Organist's Companion, May 1995]
Jesu dulcis memoria (Sr. Teresine Fonder) [Twenty-six Miniatures]
Lasst uns erfreuen (Lois Hill) [Organist's Companion, May 2001]
Maestoso: Five Processionals (Calvert Shenk)
O for A Thousand Tongues (Paul Manz) [Improvisations on Hymns of Praise - Morning Star Music Publ 10-750]
Partita on Gelobt sei Gott (Theodore Ripper) [Organist's Companion, April 1987]
Postlude on Lasst uns erfreuen (Gordon Young) [Collage for Organ - Flammer HF-5011]
Prelude on Azmon (Robert Hobby) [Three Hymns of Praise, Set 6 - Morning Star Music Publ]
Prelude on Lasst uns erfreuen; (Russell Schulz-Widmar) [Organist's Companion, June 1980]
Psalm XIX (Benedetto Marcello)
Toccata on Gelobet sei Gott (Alfred Fedak) [Organist's Companion, April 1986]
Toccata on Ut queant laxis from Four Preludes on Chant Hymns (Mark Siebert)
Valet will ich der geben (J.S. Bach) [Orgelwerke VII - Peters 246] [Church Organist's Golden Treasury III - Oliver Ditson Co]
Valet will ich der geben (G.F. Kaufmann) [Eighty Chorale Preludes - Peters 4448]
Valet will ich der geben (Max Reger) [Thirty Chorale Preludes - Peters 3980]
Variations on Lasst uns erfreuen (Thomas Bohlert) [Organist's Companion, June 1988]
Vigiles et sancti (Mahlon Balderston) [Organist's Companion, March 1997]
Ye Sons and Daughters of the King (Camil van Hulse) [Seven Preludes on Hymns for Easter - Concordia 97-1390]
Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones (Charles Ore) [Eleven Compositions for Organ Bk 1 - Concordia 97-5019]
Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones (David Schack) [Nine Chorale Preludes - Concordia 97-5045]

Liturgical Hints & Ideas

The Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist is an ideal time to use any settings of the Canticle of Zechariah (Benedictus) that are in your repertoire. Some particularly elegant ones make use of Anglican chant tones. This may also be a perfect time to pull out "Comfort Ye, My People" and "Every Valley" from Handel's Messiah for tenor (or possibly soprano) soloist.

Music SuggestionsThe Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist [At the Mass during the Day]