About this blogger:
Veronica Brandt
Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. As editor, she has produced fine publications (as well as valuable reprints) dealing with Gregorian chant, hymnody, Latin, and other subjects. These publications are distinguished on account of their tastefulness. She lives in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her husband Peter and six children.
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Legitimate and necessary concern for current realities in the concrete lives of people cannot make us forget the true nature of the liturgical actions. It is clear that the Mass is not the time to “celebrate” human dignity or purely terrestrial claims or hopes. It is rather the sacrifice which renders Christ really present in the sacrament.
— Pope Saint John Paul II (20 March 1990)

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Chant any Psalms and Antiphons
published 13 July 2019 by Veronica Brandt

E ALL NEED TO PRAY MORE. Liturgical Prayer isn’t confined to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. For centuries saints of all stripes have sung the Psalms throughout the day. At first it would take years to memorize the psalms. Then came the Printing Press. Now we have online tools which provide the psalms notated, ready to sing!

This tutorial will help you on any occasion when you would like to sing a psalm in the style of the Liber Usualis and Antiphonale and other liturgical books from last century. This still assumes you can read square notes. If this is an issue, you might like to read An Idiot’s Guide to Square Notes by Arlene Oost-Zinner and Jeffrey Tucker.

First step is to find your psalm. You may have a printed copy of your Office of choice, or you may access the amazing riches of the website: Divinum Officium. Take note of the Psalm Number.


Divinum Officium Screenshot

Usually a psalm is preceded by an Antiphon in Latin. Take note of the first few words then head over to that amazing database of chant that is GregoBase. You can find your antiphon “by incipit” – you may have to scroll a bit through all the pieces starting with the same letter. Yellow boxes signify Antiphons.


Gregobase Scores

Notice each Antiphon has a Mode Number, usually appearing above the Big Drop Cap at the beginning of the Antiphon. It should be a number from 1-8, possibly followed by a letter. This describes the flavour of the antiphon so that the psalm tone tune can be chosen to match.

Now open yet another tab, this time with the tremendous Psalm Tone Tool.


Psalm Tone Tool with Marks

Select your Psalm from the drop down menu on the right. That menu defaults to the Magnificat – there are quite a few more Canticles in the collection for when you need them. Select your Mode on the left – there are modifications to most numbers named after the letter name of the ending note, taking Do as C. I’ve managed thus far without knowing how these variations are determined – some antiphons will specify which variation – ask your superior (and if you don’t have a superior, then it probably doesn’t matter too much.)

When everything seems to be in place, hit the “Hide Editor” link in the lower part of the screen. If all has gone according to plan, you should see the psalm all laid out ready to chant! With the Antiphon from GregoBase open in another Tab, you’re all set to sing!

Is this helpful to you? Drop us a comment on the Facebook comments, or contact me.




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