Views from the Choir Loft

Treatise on Gregorian Accompaniment (Flor Peeters)

Corpus Christi Watershed · March 19, 2013

LOR PEETERS WROTE his Practical Method for the Accompaniment of Plain Chant to explain the principles followed in this collection (8 volumes) by Peeters, his teacher (Van Nuffel), and others.

* * 1949 Treatise on Gregorian Accompaniment (Flor Peeters) — French/English

• Méthode pratique pour l’accompagnement du chant grégorien. • A practical method of plain-chant accompaniment. • Flor Peeters (1903-1986) • vii, 99 pages • 1949 : : Malines [Mechelen], H. Dessain • French/English •

* * 1943 Treatise on Gregorian Accompaniment (Flor Peeters) — French/Flemish

• Practische methode voor gregoriaansche begleiding. • Méthode pratique pour L’accompangnement du chant grégorien. • Flor Peeters (1903-1986) • iv, 95 pages • 1943 : : Mechelen [Malines], H. Dessain • – Alleenverkoop v. Nederland : W. Bergmans, Tilburg • – O. C. P. 1186 – Pda Abt. 2671 • This 1943 is missing the ERRATA insert that the 1949 has, but it has a handwritten note to Vyverman by Nees. • The 1949 is in French/English, while this one (1943) is in Dutch/French. •

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

“Tonus Solemnior” • How old is it?

In the 1962 Missal, a section called “præfationes in tono solemniore” contains ornate melodies for the Preface. An article posted on the blog of the Church Music Association of America claims the tone comes from “the late 19th century” and said its elimination “is one of the very few good things which the post-Conciliar reform did for Gregorian chant.” The author said: “The Roman solemn preface tone is already beautiful enough, there was no need to give a more Romantic feel.”

Some have asked us whether the tonus solemnior comes from “the late 19th century.” It does not. Their author was wrong by at least 400 years. I have seen this tone in MSS from the 1400s—and it may go back even further. Here is an example from 1494AD. And here’s another from the 1400s. The FSSP priests use these tones on high feasts, and the effect is unforgettable.

—Jeff Ostrowski

6 January 2022 • Quick!

A short version of the INTROIT for the feast of the Epiphany has been added to the Saint René Goupil Gregorian Chant Website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Confusing Feasts of Christmas

Whether one considers the Missale Vetustum or the post-conciliar calendar—or even the 1908 calendar—the feasts which follow Christmas are very confusing. Last year I created this comparison chart. I hope you find it helpful. As far as I can tell, my chart is the first effort to carefully detail the changes made to post-Christmas feasts (unless we also count the rather basic one by Lauren Pristas).

—Jeff Ostrowski