Chanting On Our Behalf

Though one rarely hears an entire chanted liturgy today, any prayer the presider sings seems somehow richer, more heartfelt and efficacious. As St. Augustine said, "He who sings prays twice." Unfortunately, many presiders do not receive the training needed to properly sing the parts of the Mass.

Chanting on Our Behalf fills this critical gap in the musical training of priests and deacons. Written by Paulist Father and liturgical composer Ricky Manalo, this well-researched book teaches the presider's chanted parts of the Mass, employing workbook-style musical and vocal exercises, including spaces for students to practice and write what they've learned.

Using the texts of the current Sacramentary, Chanting on Our Behalf offers expert guidance for singing the preface, the eucharistic prayer, the Exsultet and other presidential prayers. Of course, we learn music best -- and develop a good ear -- by hearing and imitating it. The book comes with a CD that demonstrates each chanted prayer, featuring the voice of Father John Schiavone.

Destined to become a standard textbook at U.S. seminaries, Chanting on Our Behalf is also a much-needed resource for the continuing formation of those already ordained.

Songbook + CD ISBN 1-56929-046-6 [160 pp, 7 1/8 x 10 1/2, spiral-bound]