Immediately above is my performance (1/3/24) of the "Our Father" chant, as was arranged in a previous WLP Hymnal. I would never have played this and instead played my own arrangement for all the years I held the position for which I was hired in 2002. The score and performance for my own arrangement (the one I used back then) is immediately beneath my "Music for Liturgy" heading (just below the Icon of the Trinity) near the top of this Home Page.

I very recently discovered that the  WLP editors, at some point, decided to get a new arranger for the “Our Father” chant, to replace the collaborative setting I could have been using if I hadn't been inspired to come up with my own.

Although the previous arrangement is not particularly inspiring, the arranger WLP hired to replace it fell into the same trap! as his collaborating predecessors. The original chant melody never ventures below D at the lower end, or above G on the higher end. The earlier arrangers never figured out that the key they were working with included C#.  They both assumed the melody’s key was “G” . All the C “naturals” in their respective accompaniments do not make for a  satisfying singing or listening experience!  

 

I could have told them, after working awhile with my 3 part arrangement technique, that the melody’s actual key is D!

 

Compare the following (WLP) 4 part arrangement of the Sanctus (activate with the generic play button below) with my 3 part arrangement ((play button for that is the 3rd one down to the right of the Trinity Icon, at the head of this page)). The arrangement, performed below, is in the correct key! It's pleasant enough, if a little dreary. I think mine is much more energetic.