Views from the Choir Loft

Method of the Solesmes Plain Chant

Corpus Christi Watershed · March 19, 2013

HE FOLLOWING BOOK has been made available for free download courtesy of the Jean de Lalande Library. If you appreciate these efforts, please consider making a donation by using the link at the top of the page.

* * Method of the Solesmes Plain Chant

• Author: Birkle, Suitbertus, 1876-1926. • Title: A complete and practical method of the Solesmes plain chant • Publisher: New York, J.F. Wagner • IMPRIMATUR: 1904 – COPYRIGHT: 1904 • TRANSLATION: Lemaistre • (supposedly printed in 1904) • • Please Note: EXCERPTS ONLY •

* * The Vatican Plainchant

• Author: Birkle, Suitbertus, 1876-1926. • Title: The Vatican plain chant; a practical manual for teacher and student • Publisher: New York, J. F. Wagner • IMPRIMATUR: 1904 COPYRIGHT: 1904 • TRANSLATION: Lemaistre • (supposedly printed in 1906) •

N.B. These two titles by Suitbertus Birkle are but one book masquerading as two. They are identical, except for their titles. The one called “The Vatican plain chant: etc.” says that it’s a NEW AND REVISED EDITION. However, in this “new and revised edition” the Preface is missing. The Preface said, “This method has nothing new to offer. It is based upon well-known Plain Chant hand-books by authorities such as DOM POTHIER, KEINLE, TINEL, WAGNER, HABERL, etc.” Again, this Preface is NOT printed in the one called “The Vatican Plain chant; etc.” but it WAS printed in other book (which, again, has the same year of copyright and imprimatur). However, in the INDEX of “The Vatican Plain chant; etc.” it claims that the Preface is on page 7 . . . but there IS no Preface!!!

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

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music Director Job • $80,000 per year

Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published

Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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