Bear Music

Music for the Liturgy

New Lectionary - Advent 2024

Like many others I have been updating psalms for the new Lectionary which comes into use on First Sunday of Advent 2024. Psalms for Advent and Christmas are now available:

Also updated is the Helmsley Alleluia – with Advent verses from the new Lectionary.

Music for Rites

Responsorial Psalms and Antiphons are available for:

Psalms

Psalm settings for Sundays, Solemnities and Sacraments can be found here in a variety of styles. Simple settings are provided for the Common Psalms which include other settings where the same psalm occurs in the Lectionary.

The page includes a list of psalm settings and of Sundays etc.

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Antiphons

Here you will find settings of the Antiphons from the Roman Missal in English. There are simple settings for all the Sundays and major feasts where common musical ideas are repeated across a season.

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Mass Parts

At any Mass it is important to sing the Mass rather than just sing at Mass. Key to that principle is for the whole congregation to participate in the parts of the Mass: the Penitential Act, the Gloria, Gospel Acclamation, Eucharistic Acclamations (Sanctus, Memorial Acclamations and Amen), and Lamb of God.

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Other Music

Here will be found a variety of pieces which are not Mass Parts, Psalms or Antiphons. These includes songs with congregational refrains and pieces for choirs written for a variety of occasions. There are ‘short songs’ or chants which can be used in different circumstances. read more

Recent Additions

Exodus 15

I will sing to the Lord, glorious his triumph! Easter Sunday: Vigil — Psalm after 3rd reading Exodus 15: 1-6. 17-18 r. 1 — I will sing to the Lord, glorious his triumph! Easter Vigil: Exodus 15 (pdf) part of Easter Vigil Psalm Project I will sing to the Lord A setting...

Psalm 15 (16)

Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you. The settings marked MC are part of the More Common Psalms project. Easter Sunday: Vigil — Psalm after 2nd Reading 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time: Year B Psalm 15: 5. 8-11 r. 1 — Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you. Easter...

Easter Vigil Psalm Project

Introduction The genesis of these settings was the idea of congregation which had not sung the psalms at the Vigil before and might sing them antiphonally to simple psalm tones. To make this simpler the psalm tones are repeated — so the one psalm tone is used for the...

Psalm 32 (33)

Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just. The settings marked MC are part of the More Common Psalms project. 2nd Sunday of Lent: Year A 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Year B Psalm 32: 4-5 18-20 22 R. v. 22 — May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope...

Psalm 103 (104)

Bless the Lord, my soul! Common Psalm Project — related settings have the suffix CP Baptism of the Lord — Year C Ps 103: 1–2. 3-4. 24-25. 27-30. r. v.1 — Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord God, how great you are. Ps 103 (Baptism of the Lord C) (pdf) The response is based...

Alleluia Hymn

A hymn based on Orthodox chant for SA(T)B. There are a number of verses provided some of which reflect its use at celebrations of the Ascension of the Lord. Alleluia Hymn Alleluia Hymn (pdf) For information about permissions see About Page.