Pastors, the Holy Days will be here soon. Practice!
Soon enough it will be Holy Week. Laetare’s rejoicing is a reminder that we who will celebrate the feast in sincerity and truth need to be ready. That means pastors, you have to practice. There are plenty of things to be done in anticipation of Holy Week and the Paschal festival, one of should be practicing your chanting.
I have found in over two decades of presiding that the most difficult chants to master are the Reproaches on Good Friday. I think this is because, unlike so many other parts of the Liturgy, we only pray them once a year at the Chief Service. Because of their unique use, more focused rehearsal is called for. The same goes for the Exultet and the Easter Vigil’s Preface.
I would urge a few things-
Rehearse with your organist. I need to be better in the next couple of weeks to make time with Kantor to rehearse. If you do not want to, or aren’t ready to chant the Reproaches, Exultet or Preface on your own, there is nothing wrong with being accompanied quietly with the organ. You could rehearse near the instrument so that you can talk through the chants, and you should also rehearse where you will be positioned in the church when you will be chanting to see how it goes from there.
Rehearse on your own. This can happen in a couple of different ways. Obviously, if you are able to play piano, you need to schedule some time for yourself to sit on the bench with the Altar Book and play the chants through. You can also listen to them. The LCMS Directors of Worship, past and present, have helped you here. The Liturgy Audio Collection is a great resource, not only for the special chants of Holy Week and Easter but for all the pastoral chants of the Divine Service. Yesterday when I was out for a walk I listened to the Good Friday and Easter chants to get them back in my ear and head.
Our Lord was prepared to do the work of our salvation, and He accomplished it. As we lead the people of God in their observances of Holy Week and Easter, let us be prepared in mind, heart, and with our voices.
So practice.