• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

  • Our Team
  • Catholic Hymnal
  • Jogues Missal
  • Site Map
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Graduale Romanum Chants And The New Roman Missal

Jeff Ostrowski · November 19, 2012

OR SEVERAL YEARS, Christoph Tietze along with many others have been trying to explain why the antiphons in the Graduale Romanum do not always match the antiphons in the Roman Missal. I, myself, have attempted to explain this in a series of articles [url] posted on the CCW website. However, it would seem that a whole lot of confusion still exists. For instance, today on the Musica Sacra Forum (which I visit quite frequently) some correspondence with the USCCB Committee on Divine Worship was posted here [jpeg] and here [jpeg]. To make a long story short, the Committee itself does not seem to be cognizant of the reason for discrepancies between some antiphons in the Graduale Romanum and the Roman Missal. I have to admit I am surprised to hear this, because several organizations have written to the Committee about this over the years, including the Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians [homepage], and the relevant quote from Pope Paul VI is even printed in the front of the Roman Missal, 3rd Edition.

They are certainly not alone. One of the great liturgical scholars of all time, Professor László Dobszay, did not understand why the differences exist. I say this based on my understanding of part of his 2003 article [pdf] in the Sacred Music Journal, an excerpt of which I reproduce here:

As a matter of fact, there is a very good reason why these discrepancies exist. SHORT ANSWER: the antiphons in the Roman Missal were only to be used for “Masses without music” according to Pope Paul VI.

* For those who desire to learn more, please consider reading a series of articles [url] I have posted online.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe to the CCW Mailing List

Jeff Ostrowski

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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

Can You Spare 33 Seconds?

Here’s an audio excerpt (33 seconds) of a setting for Kyrie VIII which was recorded live last Sunday at our parish in Los Angeles. The setting (“Missa de Angelis”) is by composer Richard Rice, and you can download the free PDF if you click here and scroll to the bottom. I think Richard’s composition is marvelous. I missed a few notes on the organ, but I’ll get them right next time.

—Jeff Ostrowski
5 April 2021 • When Girls Sing

Covid restrictions here in California are still extremely severe—switching “two weeks to flatten the curve” into “two years to flatten the curve.” Since 2020, we’ve had police breaking into our church to check if everyone is wearing a mask…even when only 5-6 people are present! But we were allowed to have a small percentage of our singers back on Easter Sunday, and here is their live recording of the ancient Catholic hymn for Eastertide: Ad Cenam Agni Providi. The girls were so very excited to sing again—you can hear it in their voices!

—Jeff Ostrowski
29 March 2021 • FEEDBACK

“E.S.” in North Dakota writes: “I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you have put—and continue to put—into your wonderful website. In the past two years, my parish has moved from a little house basement into a brand new church and gone from a few families receiving Low Masses twice a month to several families (and many individuals) receiving Mass every Sunday, two Saturdays a month, and every Holy Day. Our priest has been incorporating more and more High Masses and various ceremonies into our lives, which has made my job as a huge newbie choir master very trying and complicated. CCWatershed has been an invaluable resource in helping me get on my feet and know what to do!!! Thank you more than I can express! May God bless you abundantly and assist you in your work and daily lives!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The union of Christians can only be promoted by promoting the return to the one true Church of Christ of those who are separated from it, for in the past they have unhappily left it.

— Pope Pius XI (6 January 1928)

Recent Posts

  • Can You Spare 33 Seconds?
  • The Great Reset—for Your Choir?
  • “Adze” • Do you know this word?
  • PDF Download • Vespers for Holy Thursday?
  • PDF Download • “Sanctus for Three Voices” (Soprano, Alto, and Bass)

Copyright © 2021 Corpus Christi Watershed · Charles Garnier on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.