The Collect, sung by the priest celebrating the Mass, is one of several readings and prayers in the Mass that are recited on a very simple formula. It is less a song than a way to make the text audible in a large church or cathedral. The punctuation of the text is indicated by melodic gestures for the end of a phrase, the end of a sentence, a question, or the end of the entire chant. At the end, the choir responds "Amen."
The second edition of NAWM had an example of a Collect (see NAWM 3c).
Last updated: 19 August 2006
URL: http://www.music.indiana.edu/som/courses/m401/Collect.html
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J. Peter Burkholder
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