With a new Order of the Mass due in the near future, musical talent is being sought.
Composers in Perth have been given a head start in composing musical settings for the text of the Order of Mass that will be introduced soon, according to Sr Kerry Willison RSM, Archdiocesan Director of Liturgy.
Sr Kerry was speaking after a workshop held on 12 March that was attended by a number of parish musicians with an interest in composing liturgical music.
The workshop had two aims: to launch the Archdiocesan guidelines for liturgical composers and songwriters entitled Make A Joyful Noise, and to introduce local musicians to the process by which they may submit their settings of the people’s parts of the revised Order of Mass to the National Liturgical Music Board for assessment.
Vicar General, Fr Brian O’Loughlin, launched the guidelines on behalf of Archbishop Hickey.
In his address, he paid tribute to Western Australian composers Dom Moreno OSB of New Norcia and Fr Albert Lynch, both of whom composed liturgical music of enduring quality.
He encouraged the composers present to follow their example. Chris deSilva then talked about the liturgical principles set out in the guidelines and how they applied to composers.
He explained the structure of the Mass and how the different characters of the parts of the Mass required the use of different musical forms.
He also discussed the section of the guidelines that deals with appropriate language for liturgical music texts.
In the second half of the workshop, participants were given copies of the texts of the parts of the Order of Mass that are to be set to music and of the guidelines for composers that must be followed by those submitting settings for assessment.
Composers have until the end of this year to submit their works.
Information about the guidelines and the submission process are available from the Archdiocesan Centre for Liturgy at liturgy.centre@perthcatholic.org.au, as are copies of the handouts from the workshop.