Gather Comprehensive : Choir Edition

Excerpts from Preface: The publication of Gather Comprehensive 2nd ed. marks the release of GIA's 10th hymnal and service book for Roman Catholic parishes in the US since the Second Vatican Council. Each of these volumes has had a unique character, and while several have been widely adopted by American parishes, the precursor to this edition, published in 1994, has risen above all the others. In this edition the ritual and service music offerings have been considerably expanded making it even more comprehensive than the original. The established mass settings have been retained, several exciting new settings have been added, and the rites of Christian Initiation, Baptism, Funeral, etc. have been added with appropriate service music. The section of psalms near the beginning of the hymnal retains the most widely sung settings, and in keeping with the spirit of the revised General Instruction of the Roman Missal and the document Liturgiam Authenticam, all of the lectionary psalm refrains for Sundays and solemnities set by Michel Guimont are now included near the back of the volume. Like its precursor, this edition includes both contemporary and traditional, or folk-style and classical, or piano/guitar-based and organ-based music-depending on how one chooses to identify musical styles-with the mix leaning toward the former in each case. The accompaniments for many items in the first category are clearly pianistic and cannot effectively be played on the organ without adaptation. It must be remembered that a hymnal is inherently a book for the gathered assembly. While expanded octavo versions for choir and various instruments exist for many of the titles in this hymnal, hymnal items have been edited to be accessible for the most commonly found resources of assembly with cantor and accompanist.