Try telling that to most any priest- I don't have access to one just now, but surely the GIRM gives other instructions?
Donna

I will never understand in a million years why the congregation(and doesn't that term date me?) should be bullied and preached into singing some saccharine response as they approach the altar. I've had it explained to me, but I still don't get it. Surely the Communion proper is better?
But I do what I'm told. In my Episcopal church, the # of communion hymns is printed in bulletin, but to my knowledge no one but the choir sings them after they themselves have received. Needless to say, none of them have 'refrains'

Donna

"Here We Are" is a real folk-mass song, by the way. You can hear it in one of the podcasts on kencanedo.com; I think it's by Paul Quinlan.

"Here we are....as we sing our song so joyfully"
I don't think it was Quinlan, more like Repp or Wise. But I'm old, infirm and ecstatic as the Saints went marching in.
What Noel outlines works for us in CenCA, either with Bruce's AG or Richard's SCG. Schola sings immediately upon celebrant's reception and through the ministerial reception at the altar, then a very smooth transition to a congregational piece.
We have once done the same transition for Offertory. I was full of hubris that day, among other things.

Donr,

The first thing to sing is the Communion chant. In the best case scenario it lasts from the priest's Communion (I usually begin when he is preparing to drink from the chalice). I don't see any reason why this shouldn't be a Psalm, sung exactly like a responsorial Psalm. There are a million ways to do this. To just get the ball rolling, I would choose maybe 4 Psalms from your usual Responsorial Psalm repertoire and sing them in rotation, including Psalm 34--definitely, because of its Eucharistic references, and maybe 116 for the same reason--and Psalm 23, because everyone will respond to that. For Lent, Psalm 130 would be good. Psalms 27 and 121 would be good anytime.

The Psalm could be lengthened by adding verses.

We don't have a very long Communion. After the Psalm I usually add a congregational "hymn of praise" and then a choir piece, or at cantored Masses, when I can, the seasonal Marian antiphon.

Don't forget Psalm 78

Regarding Offertory hymns: in my current parish the offertory is often so quick that 2 verses of any given hymn would be almost too much. It is my goal to move from a hymn to either a psalm with antiphon for the whole congregation, or better still, the Proper for the day, chanted by a schola. That's several years off, I think.

Regarding singing during communion: I agree with those who suggest singing a psalm with a "refrain" (antiphon, response). This of course is in lieu of singing the Proper chant, which while is ideal and certainly the first choice, in many parishes trying to make the transition from "spirit of the Council" 1980's-style practice to one more in conformity with the Mind of the Church, singing a psalm is a good option.

And, as luck would have it, the Graduale simplex actually offers options for hymns and songs to be sung during communion. They are: Psalm 34 (with it's proper antiphon, "Taste and see how good the Lord is," or a threefold alleluia), Psalm 23 with the proper antiphon, "I am the living bread"; the Magnificat with antiphon, "My soul glorifies his holy name"; or the hymn, Ubi caritas. That gives you four common texts that can be used once a month in rotation. So much for worrying about the communion procession!

If you're in one of those parishes that insists on multiple "songs" for the procession, why not do one that they've been using (just swallow hard and offer it up), and follow it with one of these four, one each in rotation over the course of 4 weeks? You could even put something in the bulletin explaining what you're doing and why. A perfect teachable moment to help bring the people into a better understanding of what the Church requires for the proper celebration of the Mass.

It is also available for free download. And if you're congregation/pastor is not ready for that much Latin it is also available with English verses too.

Don't forget to consider the seven ad libitum Communion Antiphon/psalm pairings recommended in the Graduale Romanum. (The Graduale specifies psalm verses explicitly; I will update the link accordingly in the near future.)

Thanks, Aristotle!!

Thanks, David!

donr:

The communion lines are well-served, according to STTL, by music and silence. It's helpful to abandon the concept that the entire time people are receiving there must be music. It's nice to sing the Communion Verse while the priest receives, then let the choir go and receive, then come back to sing. And then stop. When the priest returns to the chair, that's the time for a congregational hymn.

Then have the choir sing the Marian song for the season while the people leave. The people will be refreshed having not been expected to sing one or more songs at communion and another while they are leaving. Better to sing one meaningful song than three that really cannot all be approriate.

The organist may need to be restrained from filling the gaps with mindless noodling.

To start, have the choir sing the Agnus Dei while the priest receives. That's a place you have control over. It's appropriate.