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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • 1895 “Liber Responsorialis” by Solesmes Abbey

Jeff Ostrowski · March 3, 2015

194 Liber Responsorialis Abbot Pothier SOLESMES 1887 HE 1895 LIBER RESPONSORIALIS was published two years after Dom Joseph Pothier left Solesmes to become Prior of Ligugé, but was entirely the result of his research. In addition to those parts of Matins which don’t change, it contains first class feasts and the Common of the Saints: martyrs, confessor bishops, virgins, etc. This book is only for Matins, but the hymns are often repeated at Vespers.

* *  1895 Liber Responsorialis (PDF)

The pre-Urban hymn texts (i.e. non-corrupted) were employed, just as Dom Pothier had done in his 1891 Liber Antiphonarius. For instance, we find “Praelium certaminis” instead of “Lauream certaminis” in Fortunatus’ Pange Lingua. About a decade later, in September of 1904, the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican Edition would adopt the following motion:

22. The Congregation of Sacred Rites shall be requested to return to the medieval text of the Hymns (a.) because the text corrected by Urban VIII is ill-suited to the needs of the chant; (b.) in consideration of the artistic unity of the whole of the liturgical work; and (c.) out of respect for the ancient and holy authors of a great portion of these chants.

They were not granted permission at that point, but some publishers included the ancient texts as an option. According to Fortescue, the major Roman basilicas never adopted the revisions of Urban VIII.

The 1895 Liber Responsorialis is significant because of its relationship to Solesmes’ Chants Abrégés. Choirmasters for the Traditional Latin Mass will be familiar with this book, whose origins were explained by Fr. Robert Skeris in the 2008 Sacred Music Journal, Vol. 135, No. 4:

The most difficult chants in the Graduale have always been a particular challenge for even the average parish choir, in any country. It is by no means only the XXth century that has sought to overcome this difficulty in practise by proposing simpler alternatives. The Chants Abrégés are an attempt to find a via media which would be useful in a typical parish. Dom Gajard (1885-1972) was chef d’atelier of the Paléographie musicale at the time, and under his supervision the booklet went to press. The tunes seem to have been chosen from various sources ranging from ordinary psalm tones simple or solemn (e.g. Introit psalmody) through melodic types for Allelujas etc. (e.g. Processionale of 1887) and Toni Communes for Gloria and Alleluja in the Matins responsories (e.g. Liber Responsorialis 1895) to tones for Invitatory psalms or other simple cantillation formulae such as lections or Historiae Passionis, similar to those which Gajard suggested to Mrs. Ward for the booklet of seasonal Mass Propers she published during the Second War.

When the CMAA first released both versions of the Chants Abrégés (1926 and 1955), a rumor was circulated saying the 1926 melodies were not in conformity with Church law, necessitating the 1955 edition. Actually, there is no truth to that statement, and these melodies were a constant topic of discussion by the Gregorian Commission of Pope Pius X. Some wanted the Gradual, Tract, and Alleuia melodies made optional; Fr. Angelo de Santi, a key advisor to Papa Sarto, suggested they be replaced (!) by organ interludes; but Abbot Pothier and Dom Mocquereau felt that Gajard’s approach was best, and since the Liber Responsorialis is now online we can better observe his models. For purposes of comparison, the 1891 Antiphonale (PDF) can be downloaded at the St. Jean Lalande Library, and the 1883 Processionale Monasticum (PDF) is available at Google books.

Although the excessively legalistic rumor about the Chants Abrégés is false, there is some truth to the notion that the Solesmes editions were not officially allowed until 3 September 1958. This topic has been treated many times — and often misunderstood — taking its basis Roman decrees such as those dated 2/14/1906, 2/18/1910, 1/25/1911, and 4/11/1911. At this point in history, debating this point seems rather futile, but it’s interesting to read Abbot Pothier’s 1906 commentary on the Solesmes rhythmic signs, which made quite a stir at the time!

 

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: 1895 Liber Responsorialis by Solesmes, Abbot Joseph Pothier of Solesmes Last Updated: September 10, 2020

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    How Well Does ICEL Know Latin?
    This year, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June 2025) falls on a Sunday. It’s not necessary to be an eminent Latin scholar to be horrified by examples like this, which have been in place since 1970. For the last 55 years, anyone who’s attempted to correct such errors has been threatened with legal action. It is simply unbelievable that the (mandatory) texts of the Holy Mass began being sold for a profit in the 1970s. How much longer will this gruesome situation last?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Is the USCCB trolling us?
    I realize I’m going to come across as a “Negative Nancy” … but I can’t help myself. This kind of stuff is beyond ridiculous. There are already way too many options in the MISSALE RECENS. Adding more will simply confuse the faithful even more. We seriously need to band together and start creating a “REFORM OF THE REFORM” Missale Romanum so it will be ready when the time comes.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Common” Responsorial Psalm?
    I try to avoid arguing about liturgical legislation (even with Catholic priests) because it seems like many folks hold certain views—and nothing will persuade them to believe differently. You can show them 100 church documents, but it matters not. They won’t budge. Sometimes I’m confronted by people who insist that “there’s no such thing” as a COMMON RESPONSORIAL PSALM. When that happens, I show them a copy of the official legislation in Latin. I have occasionally prevailed by means of this method.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    When to Sit, Stand and Kneel like it’s 1962
    There are lots of different guides to postures for Mass, but I couldn’t find one which matched our local Latin Mass, so I made this one: sit-stand-kneel-crop
    —Veronica Brandt
    The Funeral Rites of the Graduale Romanum
    Lately I have been paging through the 1974 Graduale Romanum (see p. 678 ff.) and have been fascinated by the funeral rites found therein, especially the simply-beautiful Psalmody that is appointed for all the different occasions before and after the funeral Mass: at the vigil/wake, at the house of the deceased, processing to the church, at the church, processing to the cemetery, and at the cemetery. Would that this “stational Psalmody” of the Novus Ordo funeral rites saw wider usage! If you or anyone you know have ever used it, please do let me know.
    —Daniel Tucker

Random Quote

“To me it is a most inspiring reflection that, while empires and kingdoms have tumbled down, while language and custom of every kind have changed beyond recognition, still day by day the humblest Catholic priest in the remotest mission stands at his altar dressed in the garb of old Rome.”

— Father Adrian Fortescue (8 February 1912)

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