Basic Tips for Planning the Eucharistic Liturgy: The Gradual

By Robin G. Jordan

Strictly speaking the Gradual is a psalm, portion of a psalm, or a canticle that is sung or said after the Old Testament in the Liturgy of the Word. In churches that use one of the older prayer books such as the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, or the 1962 Canadian Book of Common Prayer, the term "Gradual" is applied to the hymn or anthem that is sung between the Epistle and the Gospel. The proper term for this hymn or anthem is the Sequence.

The two best methods of singing the Gradual is direct recitation and responsorial recitation. An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church describes these methods:

The traditional methods of psalmody, whether spoken or sung, are direct recitation, antiphonal recitation, and responsorial recitation. Direct recitation means the reading or singing of the entire psalm or portion of the psalm in unison. It is frequently used to recite or chant the psalm following the first lesson at the eucharist and the canticles at the Daily Offices. Antiphonal recitation is the alternation of verses of the psalm between two groups of singers or readers, e.g., the sides of the congregation, men and women, choir and congregation. An antiphon said or sung in unison may begin and conclude antiphonal recitation. It is the traditional monastic method of reciting the psalms at the Daily Offices. Responsorial recitation assigns the verses to a single voice, with the congregation responding with a refrain after each verse or group of verses. This is the traditional method of singing the invitatory psalm at Morning Prayer and the psalm between the readings, often called the responsorial psalm.

Both methods require a suitable acoustical environment and strong musical leadership. A plainsong or other simple chant setting is the best choice for congregational singing of a psalm, psalm portion, or canticle. The advantage of responsorial recitation over direct recitation is that it enables young children (and adults who cannot sing chant) to join in singing the Gradual. Alternately metrical versions of the psalm, psalm portion, or canticle may be substituted for the prose versions. Worship songs that are based upon the psalm, psalm portion, or canticle also may be used.

Christopher Idle's "Bless the Lord, our fathers' God," set to ORIENTIS PARTIBUS, and Stephen P. Stark's "All You Works of God, Bless the Lord!" set to the Jamaican tune LINSTEAD and found in Celebrating Grace Hymnal #313, Hymnal Supplement 98 #914, Lutheran Service Book #930, and Worship and Rejoice #39, are metrical versions of the Benedictus es and the Benedicite omnia opera. They not only may be used as a Gradual but also as an entrance song or as Morning or Evening Prayer canticle.

If singing a different psalm, psalm portion, or canticle every Sunday (or whenever the congregation celebrates the Eucharist) places too great a musical demand on the congregation common seasonal psalms may be used. A common seasonal psalm is a psalm, psalm portion, or canticle that is sung for the entire season in the shorter seasons of the Church Year and for several consecutive Sundays in the longer seasons. A congregation can gradually acquire a repertoire of common seasonal psalms, which incorporates a variety of different settings--metrical settings and worship songs along with with responsorial and sung-through settings. LiturgyTools.net in "Introducing the Common Psalms" offers this explanation of the advantages of a common seasonal psalms and common seasonal psalm responses:

WHAT ARE THE COMMON PSALMS USED FOR

One of the Common Psalms may be used instead of the regular psalm at any Mass.

So, you could choose that on every Sunday during a season (eg Lent), you will use one of the common psalms for that season, instead of the psalm that's in the lectionary for that day. Or you could use the psalm-verses from the lectionary but use the common-psalm response for the season instead of the response in the lectionary.

This sounds boring to musicians and choirs. But congregations often really like it: Repeating something for a few weeks gives them the chance to learn it properly. And that is exactly the aim of the Common Psalms, which is to give communities a core repertoire of psalms that are well-known and can be used at any occasion, confident that people will know them well.

The Common Psalms also provide a good starting point for parishes that want to introduce or improve psalm-singing. Because they can be repeated regularly, people can get to know them. And it's easier to motivate a new choir to learn a psalm which they will use regularly, than one which won't be seen again for three years.

Psalms and canticles are songs and therefore should be sung. In the event, however circumstances do not permit the singing of the Gradual, the psalm, psalm portion, or canticle may be said. When the Gradual is said, the two best methods are direct recitation and antiphonal recitation. Responsive reading, while is common, is the least desirable method and is best avoided. There are exceptions, for example, Psalm 136, the Benedictus es, and the Benedicite omnia opera which have a recurring refrain after each verse. One or more members of the congregation may read the verses while the congregation reads the refrain. If the Benedicite omnia opera is used as a Gradual, a shorter version should be used.

A number of psalms such as the penitential psalms may be read by one person.

Whether the Gradual is sung or said, the congregation remains seated. The Gloria Patri is omitted. A period of silence for reflection and prayer may follow the psalm, psalm portion, or canticle.

Related Articles and Online Resources:
Psalm Tones--The Way of Beauty
Several ways to sing the Psalms
Several ways to sing the Psalms - Part two: Some psalter reviews
Common Responsorial Psalms and Gospel Acclamations
Music for the Church of God: Psalters
The whole Psalter translated into English metre : which contayneth an hundred and fifty Psalmes ; the first quinquagene - The metrical psalter of Archbishop Matthew Parker with psalter collects