Comments on: Gospel Tone Question

By: Derek the Ænglican

Derek the Ænglican — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:40:00 +0000

Thanks all! That’s what we thought and what M does by instinct but its always good to have some clear-cut rules.

By: John-Julian, OJN

John-Julian, OJN — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:13:04 +0000

I’m with Scott…with the single exception (following the Liber) that the closing formula leaves FOUR syllables after the final la-ti-doh, the last two syllables being held. I have found that this really “puts an end to it” — no way one could ever go on after those four syllables! I have never tried the two Liber alternatives, but one day I’ll do that.

It has always seemed peculiar to me for there to be a considerably more elaborate tone for the Epistle than for the Gospel. I’ve always put that down to the inherent musical inadequacy of the “higher orders”. :-))

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:58:47 +0000

The simple Gospel tone goes like this:

1. Most sentences (not questions or the final sentence): Stay on the reciting tone, except drop a minor third on the fourth syllable from the end (so you’re back to the reciting tone for the final three syllables of the sentence).

2. On questions, starting with the interrogative (Who…What…but you knew that), drop a half-step down from the reciting tone; start the “la-ti-ti-doh-(doh)” question formula two syllables before the last accented syllable in the question sentence.

3. For the final sentence of the pericope, stay on the reciting note, then start the la-ti-doh closing formula on the penultimate accented syllable of the sentence.

That’s how I’d do it…eventually this tone can be done on the fly once you’re used to it, but in practice it’s best to point the text ahead of time to protect against brain glitches.

By: revdrmom

revdrmom — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:29:41 +0000

I’m trying to remember if David Hurd gave us clear instructions, but my music notes are at church—I’ll try to look later.

By: bls

bls — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 18:48:45 +0000

Why not write the folks at StMV to see what they use?

(BTW, did you listen to the German/Lutheran Mass I linked about a week ago? Is that Tone typical for Lutheran worship, do you know? I’ve been wondering….)