Until reading the below article, I was not aware that the “promise” made to the monks of Solesmes by Pius X was widely known. Father Angelo De Santi talks about this “promise” at length in The Restoration of Gregorian Chant: Solesmes and the Vatican Edition. Furthermore, he speaks about this “promise” in no uncertain terms. I have my own theories about what this promise meant, and I mention this in my presentation on the Vatican Edition. In a nutshell, I doubt that Saint Pius X knew that Dom Mocquereau would be altering the clear rhythm of the Vatican Edition when he promised they could keep their rhythmic signs. I believe that the Pope thought the rhythmic signs were only meant to help folks sing the melodies, not change the rhythm that Abbot Pothier had clearly marked.
The author also says that “Solesmes” is to be pronounced like “So Lame.” But don’t worry . . . he’s not talking about the ictus when he says this!
Incidentally, much of Caeilia was devoted to . . . how to pronounce foreign names (including Dom Gregory Hügle)!
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