Kyrie eleison

Slav

It looks like this is the only foreign language bit that managed to survive several editions of Latin and vernacular Mass. This somehow puzzles me since Greek has practically no liturgical use in the West since the fourth century.

Can "Kyrie eleison" still be heard in your church in Greek? If so, what's the reason to keep it in Greek, why not translate it into English?

georgieporgy

But it is translated into english! "Lord have mercy"

Of course the Kyrie version is often sung but that's because it's a nice old tune I think.

Likewise the word "Alleliua" crops up a lot. That's ancient hebrew I think.

The Brigadier

We have the Kyrie in our church. It is sung according to the music most suitable. We have the Missa de Angelis now but we go to Mass XVII for lent.

It is sung x2 in the Novus Ordo and x3 in the EF.

Splendour

When I was a member of the Catholic church we occasionally sang the Kyrie.

And not to detract from your thread but when I read it, this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNKbHJ3PTu4 sprang to mind. Brilliant!

Slav

Thanks everyone!

georgieporgy wrote: »

But it is translated into english! "Lord have mercy"

Well, yes, it is translated and that's exactly what makes it different from alleluia or amen or hosanna.


The idea that it's because it chants better in Greek seemed to be pretty obvious explanation to me but on the other hand many chants and tunes came in and then gone away since the fourth century but the Greek text still stays.

Onesimus

Slav wrote: »

Thanks everyone!



Well, yes, it is translated and that's exactly what makes it different from alleluia or amen or hosanna.


The idea that it's because it chants better in Greek seemed to be pretty obvious explanation to me but on the other hand many chants and tunes came in and then gone away since the fourth century but the Greek text still stays.

Slav you have a great point there. Even in secular music they use words from different languages with the english because it sounds better. Take Frank Sinatra for example. ''When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie its ''amore''. He uses the Italian word for Love instead of the english text because it sounds better.

I love the Greek and I'm happy to hear it chanted at the Mass. I also am a fan of Old Slavonic.

Onesimus

The Brigadier

Dean Martin surely?

Onesimus

The Brigadier wrote: »

Dean Martin surely?

Is that who it is? I couldnt of exposed my youth more.