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Question Title Posted By Question Date
Singing the Gloria James Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Question:

Is it permissible to repeat phrases of the Gloria when it is sung, I.e. Glory to God In the Highest . . . Repeated twice and then again at the conclusion following the Amen. I have heard this done in a manner that seems to be an attempt to adapt the words of the Gloria to the music which I thought was not permitted. It is my understanding that if the Gloria is sung, the words must be sung EXACTLY as they appear in the Roman Missal with no modifications or repetitive words or phrases.
Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear James,

This actually is something that can drive me crazy.  If I were to write music for the Gloria myself for congregational singing, I would write it with the text sung straight though... ONCE, with absolutely no repetition.

However there is a history of Sacred Music in the Church with many elaborate and "ornamental" arrangements written by great composers such as Mozart, Beethoven etc..  In these compositions, texts are not only repeated but also there are multiple lines sung simultaneously.  The Church has not only approved of this musical style but has also embraced it and ordered its preservation.   BUT...  once a section of text is completed, the composition moves on to the next and there is no repeated "refrain".

Now moving back to our own century  :-)  there has been a Church ordered emphasis of increased active participation of the laity.  One way our modern composers have interpreted this is to insert  refrains for the Gloria.  Even though it drives me crazy, it's approved by the USCCB for use in the USA, so that's just going to have to be good enough for me.

Finally regarding your comment about modification of the text...  yes, that is absolutely FORBIDDEN under all circumstances.  Plain and simple.

Mr. Slavek
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