Back in the (choral) saddle

It was great to sing at mass yesterday, the first Sunday back for the choir.

It was an easy sing, as we had our first rehearsal in the hour and a half before mass, so we reprised a couple of pieces from last season. During the offertory, we did Sing My Soul by Ned Rorem, and then Rutter's Gaelic Blessing during Communion.

The entrance hymn was to be Hymn to Joy but the traditional words were on  a different page from the harmony in the choir hymnals, so we ended up singing the words that begin "God the Spirit, Guide and Guardian" which seems to be an exhortation to priests and leaders.  It just wasn't the same.  The closing hymn was All My Hope on God is Founded (CBW III, 479) with which I was not familiar.

Mass setting was Marty Haugen's Mass of Creation which has apparently been used at this mass all summer.  Not my favorite.

It was truly great to be singing in a group again.  We started rehearsing some music for upcoming masses, including a gorgeous five-part Tudor setting of The Lord's Prayer by John Sheppard and a choral setting of J.S. Bach's Sheep May Safely  Graze.