Gradual or Sequence?

[Michael Capon]

In producing the draft for our next Sunday's service bulletin I  mistakenly titled the "Gradual Hymn" as the "Sequence Hymn" (we sometimes use a "Sequence Verse" during Lent. Our music director commented as follows:

"I would be curious to know what your verger community thinks about the interchangeability of those two words, sequence hymn v/s gradual hymn?  "Sequence" gets used more frequently by most churches, but I fail to see an accurate connection with that word and what is actually happening at that point in the service, and it confused the historically liturgical nomenclature.Should it be a sequence hymn or a gradual hymn? Medieval liturgical music traditionally had conductus motets that were used at the Gradual (aka Gospel procession), step by step or literally taking steps.  I also learned in music history 101 that the Sequence is used in place of the Alleluia verses during penitential time. You would have an Alleluia with a verse and often a Trope (highly decorated extension) or a Sequence... But a Sequence and an Alleluia would not exist together."

Ever obliging, and as I am now curious, I said I would dip into the vast knowledge bank of my fellow vergers.

Michal "Mick" Capon

St. Philip's

Durham NC

“Vergers are the ministers of welcome”

Serbitas in cultu et cultus per serbitatem

[sist...@dmv.com]

Based on Dennis Michno (p. 36 in A Priest’s Handbook), I would say “gradual” (or sometimes called “grail”) refers to the psalm between the first and second lessons, and that a “sequence” hymn may take the place of an Alleluia verse between the second lesson and the gospel.

 

My past experience and the current use at St. Andrew’s in Princess Anne, MD, is usually in accordance with  Michno, although we simply have a verse (sans Alleluia) sung between the second lesson and the gospel and no hymn. . . . sometimes this is called “tract.” On p. 270, Michno lists Psalm after the first lesson, and Alleluia or Tract and Sequence Hymn between the Epistle and Gospel.

 

I’d call it a sequence hymn.

 

Sister Mary Winifred

Ascension Hermitage & Sanctuary

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[George Carlson]

That’s exactly my understanding as well. 

 

In omnibus pax,

George Carlson

St. Paul’s, Murfreesboro, TN

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[Joe Sturdevant]

Here’s what I learned a few years ago, and then I’ll tell you where I learned it.

 

In the ancient Church, the Gospel, and perhaps the Psalm, was read atop a large stone structure called the “graduus.”  It was reached by steps. Thus, when we “graduate” we have reached the “top step” of whatever activity we’ve been involved in, and something that happens “gradually” is something that happens in “steps.”  Therefore, the term “Gradual,” when applied to sacred music, is associated with movement, or “steps” such as what we recognize today as the Gospel “procession.”  I would think, therefore, that we use the term “Gradual” when it is accompanying movement.

 

Here’s where I learned it.  We had an annual training session of the Walter Mace Chapter of the Vergers’ Guild in Austin, TX, produced by Peggy Metcalf.  One of the speakers was a Professor of Liturgics and Liturgical History at the seminary in Austin, and he gave this explanation of the origin of that term.  If Peggy is on line she can tell us his name and credentials.

 

 

Joe Sturdevant

Verger, Master-of-Acolytes

Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd

Tomball, TX

713-256-3684

joe.stu...@swbell.net

 

From: vl...@googlegroups.com [mailto:vl...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Michael Capon
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2014 4:22 PM
To: The Vergers' Guild of the Episcopal Church V-List
Subject: [V-List] Gradual or Sequence?

 

In producing the draft for our next Sunday's service bulletin I  mistakenly titled the "Gradual Hymn" as the "Sequence Hymn" (we sometimes use a "Sequence Verse" during Lent. Our music director commented as follows:

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[Michael Capon]

Thanks to all.  Joe, that is so interesting.  Our MD is impressed.

Michael "Mick" Capon

St. Philip's

Durham NC

“Vergers are the ministers of welcome”

Serbitas in cultu et cultus per serbitatem