I have compiled this list of “online” Mass settings — settings which are self-published, made freely available, or otherwise not available through a major publisher. This work builds on the outstanding work of Michael Silhavy’s index of published Mass settings. Many of these settings were brought to my attention through comments, here at Pray Tell and elsewhere.
This work is incomplete. No disrespect is meant towards any setting left off this list. We welcome your corrections and additions in the comments below!
An excellent list, and by no means complete as it expands daily. It would be wisely considered for music directors to have at least one such setting in their repertoire…in addition to the Missal Chants of course!
The offerings from Corpus Christi Watershed are of particularly high quality.
I asked this question to the outgoing Executive Director of the BCDW Msgr. Tony Sherman, he said that it requires the approval of the USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship. He added however, that it would be a year before they would accept from those composers who publish their own works without a publishing house.
Certainly here in the UK, all listed settings have been approved by the Liturgy Office of the bishops’ conference. Without a certificate from them, ICEL will not give permission to publish.
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Scott Pluff
I highly recommend the setting Ever Ancient, Ever New by Orin Johnson, available for free download.
Includes full score/SAB setting, guitar score, C instrument parts, and congregational reprint boxes.
It is a beautiful and useful setting. Some selections are arranged as call-and-response, making this setting easy to learn even for occasional assemblies such as festivals and pilgrimages. It works equally well for organ/choir or cantor/piano/guitar, and is easily scalable for large or small ensembles.
In addition to the typical “service music” components, this setting also includes the liturgical greetings and dialogues, all woven together by common musical elements. This is one excellent way to sing the Mass.
I was going to point this out, but it looks like you beat me to it. Like Charles, I’m a bit amused by any complaints that some settings haven’t yet received approval. When there is an effort to give actual approval (as opposed to a nod that there’s nothing offensive) of specific selections of music, I might be concerned. Given what is “approved” at the current time, it would be highly hypocritical for any of these settings to not be approved.
I commend PTB and Chris Angel for this post. I’m amused by Mr. Halloran’s canard of a question inasmuch as the episcopal approval of all first and second tier Masses were essentially under the monopoly of just two Sees, Chicago and Portland (and still are, though not for long.)
If he’s that concerned, he could freely use Mr.Nickel’s Mass of St, Therese; the Fresno episcopacy is vacant. And it’s a beautiful setting accessible to all.
Welcome to the future and renaissance of a catholic ethos in composition. Something that was explicitly called for in the conciliar documents, IIRC.
The ones at St. Michael Hymnal (linked in AWR’s PDF) are amazingly beautiful. Dignified, reverent without being too slow or droning, in a singable range, easy to learn after some repetition.
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