Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast SE07 EP02 - How Did the Parts of the Mass Ordinary Get Arranged into Groups in the Kyriale? with Dr. Andrew Kirkman
Feb 18, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Andrew Kirkman, a Professor at the University of Birmingham and director of the Banshoi Consort, dives into the fascinating evolution of the Kyriale and its arrangement of the Mass Ordinary. He explains how historical factors influenced its structure, tracing its journey from oral traditions to standardization by the 1908 Vatican edition. Kirkman also highlights the significant contributions of the Franciscans and the impact of early polyphonic practices on present-day liturgy, revealing the enduring influence of sacred music on worship.
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Franciscans Started Mass Cycles
- The Franciscans in the 13th century initiated the practice of grouping Mass ordinary chants as cycles or linked units.
- This reflected liturgical rationalization aiming for a basic core structure due to their close ties with the papal Curia.
Franciscans and Papal Liturgy Rationalization
- Mendicant Franciscans valued a portable liturgy for their itinerant preaching missions.
- The papacy sought to reduce liturgical complexity, aligning their motivations and facilitating liturgical rationalization.
Liturgical Rationalization by Cistercians and Franciscans
- Cistercians began liturgical rationalization early, influencing mendicant orders like the Dominicans.
- Franciscan codification of music, notably their gradual around 1251, promoted common, portable worship across their widespread communities.