About this blogger:
Jeff Ostrowski
A theorist, organist, and conductor, Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004), where he also did graduate work in Musicology. On 22 January 2011, the board of directors elected Mr. Ostrowski President of Corpus Christi Watershed. He lives with his wife and daughter in Corpus Christi, TX.
An Important Change In The GIRM
published 10 July 2011 by Jeff Ostrowski

There has been an important change made in the newest version of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. You will see this change in ADVENT of 2011. I will be commenting on this at length. However, since I do not have time to comment at the moment, I will simply indicate some key words to watch. “A word to the wise is enough . . .”

2003 GIRM: 48. The singing at this time is done either alternately by the choir and the people or in a similar way by the cantor and the people, or entirely by the people, or by the choir alone. In the dioceses of the United States of America there are four options for the Entrance Chant: (1) the antiphon from the Roman Missal or the Psalm from the Roman Gradual as set to music there or in another musical setting; (2) the seasonal antiphon and Psalm of the Simple Gradual; (3) a song from another collection of psalms and antiphons, approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop, including psalms arranged in responsorial or metrical forms; (4) a suitable liturgical song similarly approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop.

2011 GIRM: 48. This chant is sung alternately by the choir and the people or similarly by a cantor and the people, or entirely by the people, or by the choir alone. In the Dioceses of the United States of America, there are four options for the Entrance Chant: (1) the antiphon from the Missal or the antiphon with its Psalm from the Gradual Romanum, as set to music there or in another setting; (2) the antiphon and Psalm of the Graduale Simplex for the liturgical time; (3) a chant from another collection of Psalms and antiphons, approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop, including Psalms arranged in responsorial or metrical forms; (4) another liturgical chant that is suited to the sacred action, the day, or the time of year, similarly approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop.

2003 GIRM 87. In the dioceses of the United States of America there are four options for the Communion chant: (1) the antiphon from the Roman Missal or the Psalm from the Roman Gradual as set to music there or in another musical setting; (2) the seasonal antiphon and Psalm of the Simple Gradual; (3) a song from another collection of psalms and antiphons, approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop, including psalms arranged in responsorial or metrical forms; (4) a suitable liturgical song chosen in accordance with no. 86 above. This is sung either by the choir alone or by the choir or cantor with the people.

2011 GIRM 87. In the Dioceses of the United States of America, there are four options for singing at Communion: (1) the antiphon from the Missal or the antiphon with its Psalm from the Graduale Romanum, as set to music there or in another musical setting; (2) the antiphon with Psalm from the Graduale Simplex of the liturgical time; (3) a chant from another collection of Psalms and antiphons, approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop, including Psalms arranged in responsorial or metrical forms; (4) some other suitable liturgical chant (cf. no. 86) approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop.

Comments

1 Mark says...

Is the law, as expressed by the meaning of the English words, binding?

There has been some discussion on what cantus means, and whether the fact that the word 'chant' was authorized, means that we should be singing 'chant' as it is meant in our vernacular.

I have read that the 2011 GIRM is an adaptation of the latin. And that, being an adaptation, it is a 'particular law', which makes it binding in our country. Is this right?

Best,
Mark

Posted at 8:16 p.m. on July 28, 2011

2 Craig Colson says...

FR. Hilgartner who is the Head of the USCCB Liturgy office has weighed in on this change by saying that the change from the word "song" to the word "chant" Is really talking about The texts that are sung, not the musical form. This change does not mean that we can only use chant. Read his quotes here: http://www.catholicreview.org/subpages/storyworldnew-new….

***Editor's note: Hello! Question: who is claiming that only chants can be sung?

Posted at 3:04 a.m. on September 5, 2011

3 Mark says...

Re: "who is claiming that only chants can be sung?"

I'm just saying that option 4 seems to be obviously talking about chant music, and not anything else. Who has given us any good reason to believe otherwise?

Posted at 10:51 p.m. on September 20, 2011

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