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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

The Semiologist And The Unbeliever

Aurelio Porfiri · August 5, 2014

NCE UPON A TIME there was a man, an Italian man, a musician, making music for God. This musician liked Gregorian chant. He thought he knew how this famous chant should be performed and was always very suspicious of the so called “semiologists”.

Who are they? They promulgate an understanding of Gregorian chant which traces back to the work of the Solesmes Monk Eugene Cardine and his followers. Dom Eugene Cardine (1905–1988), a monk of the Abbey of Solesmes, shed a new light on the interpretation of the medieval neumes, showing that these neumes have not only a value for the reconstruction of the melodies but also shed a great light on the correct interpretation. But the musician, full of his knowledge, mocked these new interpreters of Gregorian chant. Not that he was really into Mocquerau either, having already considered those theories of interpretation worthy of being confined to the recesses of history. But semiology, please!

One day this unbelieving musician was invited to a concert in a beautiful roman church called Sant’Agostino, very near to Piazza Navona, one of the most popular tourist attractions of Rome. It was a chant concert, the choir was the female choir of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, and the conductor was Professor Nino Albarosa, a student of Cardine himself. The musician really did not want to go, but one of his friends sang in that choir and insisted he go. So when he sat in that beautiful church he was just hoping that this boring concert would finish as soon as possible, so he could attend to more worthy business.

But when Professor Albarosa moved his hand to give the cue for the first piece, it was like the angels themselves had gathered to sing together with an international choir that was voicing the praise of God in that very place. It was like the daily time, the Chronos, was suspended to make everyone enter in the time of eternity, the Aion. From that moment on the musician, like a new Saint Paul on the road to Damascus, converted wholeheartedly; understanding that if the angels themselves are singing, this theory cannot be wrong at all. And from that time on that musician, which you guessed, is me, and all present understood that chant is a gift from God; that dom Cardine was a great man and that Professor Albarosa is a great chant conductor; and all lived happily ever after. Alleluia. Amen.


BOTTEGA • Aurelio Porfiri is where you can discover
many of Mæstro Porfiri’s compositions in PDF format.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Dom Eugène Cardine, Gregorian Semiology Last Updated: February 22, 2021

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About Aurelio Porfiri

Renowned as composer, conductor, theorist, author, pedagogue, and organist, Aurelio Porfiri has served the Church on multiple continents at the highest levels. Born and raised in Italy, he currently serves as Director of Choral Activities and Composer in Residence for Santa Rosa de Lima School (Macao, China).

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President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 14 September (Holy Cross)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for 14 September 2025, which is the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “14 September 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 14 September 2025) discusses OFFERTORY ANTIPHONS and contains a wonderful quote by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Draft Copy (Pamphlet)
    A few days ago, I posted a draft copy of this 12-page pamphlet with citations about the laity’s “full, conscious, and active participation.” Its basic point or message is that choir directors should never feel embarrassed to teach real choral music because Vatican II explicitly ordered them to do that! We’ve received tons of mail regarding that pamphlet, with many excellent suggestions for improvement. Please feel free to chime in!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“The liturgy needed reform by 1965; there was no call for dismantling it. It was intended that the vernacular would enhance the Latin, not supplant it. It was not, emphatically, the mind of the Council Fathers to jettison Gregorian Chant, or to encourage the banal secularization of Church music, so as now to surpass in crudity the worst aberrations of the Howling Pentecostals.”

— Most Rev’d Robert J. Dwyer, Archbishop of Portland (9 July 1971)

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