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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

Free Download • “Liber Usualis” PDF Online (Solesmes, 1961)

Corpus Christi Watershed · March 19, 2013

Here’s the direct URL link.

ANY PEOPLE think they need the Liber Usualis, but might actually prefer the Graduale if they knew about it. The Liber Usualis is (of course) the “Vatican Edition” (Editio Vaticana), but with rhythmic signs added by Dom André Mocquereau in 1908 (and not one of these marks was ever changed in a subsequent edition, even 100 years later). If you don’t understand what the “Vatican Edition” is, please watch these videos or read this article. Anyway, here’s an online PDF copy of the 1961 Liber Usualis published by the monks of Solesmes:

* *  Liber Usualis (Solesmes, 1961) • free PDF
—Liber Usualis, with Introduction and Rubrics in English Hardcover • 2340 pages.

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Liber Usualis book scan courtesy of Jeffrey Tucker.

If you like the Liber Usualis, you should download the 1957 version that includes English Translations:

* *  1957 Solesmes Liber Usualis with English Translations

“LIBER USUALIS” DESCRIPTION:
The 1961 Edition of the “Liber Usualis” by the Benedictines of the Solesmes Monastery • The “Liber Usualis” contains the complete Latin settings of Gregorian Chant for every Mass of the year (Sundays, Solemnities, Commons and Feasts) as well as for Nuptial Masses, Requiem Masses, Holy Week, and Ordination. Additionally it provides much of the Gregorian Chant to be sung in Latin for the Divine Office (Vespers, Compline, etc.), as well as many other traditional Latin chants and hymns (Litanies, Benediction, and so forth). • Gregorian Chant for Every Mass of the Year • There’s no such thing as a “1962” Liber Usualis, because the 1962 Liber Usualis is identical to the 1961 version +

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured, PDF Download Tagged With: 1962 Liber Usualis Solesmes, PDF download Liber Usualis Last Updated: August 25, 2023

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 17th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (27 July 2025). 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 the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Communion • “Ask & You Shall Receive”
    All of the chants for 27 July 2025 have been added to the feasts website, as usual under a convenient “drop down” menu. The COMMUNION ANTIPHON (both text and melody) are exceedingly beautiful and ancient.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Jeff’s Mother Joins Our Fundraiser
    To assist our fundraiser, Mrs. Kathleen Ostrowski has drawn several beautiful sketches which she offers to all our readers free of charge. If you have a moment, I invite you download them at this link.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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

Random Quote

“Now with the elimination of Latin, the choirs that performed the treasures of sacred music are dying. Someone remarked that the study of sacred music is the history of its disappearance. In place of the authentic music demanded by the Vatican Council, all kinds of secular forms and inferior dance and combo music are heard.”

— Monsignor Richard J. Schuler (1971)

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