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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

Arundel hymns

Veronica Brandt · April 26, 2013

THE ADVERTISING copy for a Catholic hymnbook published in 1905:

Arundel Hymns, chosen and edited by Henry Duke of Norfolk and Charles T. Gatty, with Introductory letter from Pope Leo XIII., Preface, etc. Complete in one volume (553 pages), price 6s. net. Parts I to VII. 1s. each. Published by Boosey & Co., 295 Regent Street, London, W.

Also, listed in the adverts in the back:

Words only, Complete Edition. Price in leather, with gilt edges, and printed on special paper, 2s.; in cloth, 1s.; in stiff paper 9d.

Words only, Abridged Edition, suitable for poor Missions. Price, in cloth 6d.; in stiff paper, 3d.

Arundel Masses — William Byrd’s Mass for 3 voices and Missa de Angelis.

Arundel Antiphons, simple settings by classical composers, with Latin words.

I haven’t seen the rest of these books, only the complete one volume edition thanks to the Internet Archive. I don’t have a picture of the original binding, but here is the copy I put together through Lulu.

The Church of England beat us to writing the first big collections of English hymns and we couldn’t just copy. So Catholic hymn books from around the time of Catholic emancipation have a difficult task. To try collect a distinctly Catholic collection of hymns from the bits left over by the heretics and schismatics.

This is an over simplification. Catholics have a huge treasury of hymns in Latin and these had been translated into English by quite a few scholars. But a persecuted Church who had been excluded from higher education for so long looked upon these with suspicion.

Enter the fifteenth Duke of Norfolk a descendant of St Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel who died in the tower of London in 1595. At long last the government permits Catholic churches to be built, so he builds one. The Church of Our Lady and St Philip Neri, built in 1868-1873, now serving as Arundel Cathedral. You can see it on the cover of this paperback copy in the picture.

They need hymn books, so he teams up with a learned antiquarian to produce a new book. In some ways it is quite impractical. Such a mixture of favourite poems and hymns. Little motets by William Byrd alongside “Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, bless the bed that I lie on.” Most are given in four parts. Some poems are left without any music-maybe just for the edification of the reader. But such a mixture of styles offers something for everyone. I’m probably not the only one to have grown up reading the hymnbook during Mass – so it serves as a prayer book too. It’s also designed for use in Catholic Schools so even has a song praying for fair weather for the summer holidays “From rain and sadness, keep us free and send the sun to cheer us.”

        1.  Click here to view on Open Library.

        2.  Click here to buy a tidied up copy from Lulu.

They may have overdone it in providing alternative tunes. Most have at least one tune spare in case the first doesn’t fit.
But do we need 12 settings of Stabat Mater?
13 of Ave Maris Stella?
14 of Tantum Ergo?
15 of O Salutaris Hostia?
Maybe we don’t need them, but they are good to have.

Though it might not serve as a practical pew book in a parish today, Arundel Hymns might be more of a treat for someone who learns new hymns for fun. Maybe to dip into after a choir social night round the piano.

And if anyone has any of the other editions, contact me.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Hymnbooks Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“I have devoted myself too much, I think, to Bach, to Mozart and to Liszt. I wish now that I could emancipate myself from them. Schumann is no use to me any more, Beethoven only with an effort and strict selection. Chopin has attracted and repelled me all my life; and I have heard his music too often—prostituted, profaned, vulgarized … I do not know what to choose for a new repertory!”

— Ferruccio Busoni (to a colleague in 1922, when he was 56 years old)

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  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”

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