02 • Lalemant Interviews: Dr. Jeremy Sienkiewicz

Corpus Christi Watershed · May 3, 2013

ATERSHED CONTINUES in this second installment of the Lalemant Interviews, a series designed to bring about a greater awareness of the Mass Propers. Dr. Jeremy Sienkiewicz of Benedictine College speaks about the Mass Propers and many other subjects.

THOSE DESIRING A BOOK with the complete Mass Propers in English ought to investigate the Lalemant Propers. Beautifully-bound and painstakingly-typeset, this 391-page book contains very simple Psalm Tone settings of the complete Roman Gradual as well as forty-five fully pointed Psalms. The Propers are notated note-by-note, making it possible for those without any musical training to instantly sing them. The entire collection can be downloaded here:

* * The Lalemant Propers (free download) 391 Pages [url]

To access all the Lalemant Interviews conducted so far, click here.

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

Hymn by Cardinal Newman

During the season of Septuagesima, we will be using this hymn by Cardinal Newman, which employs both Latin and English. (Readers probably know that Cardinal Newman was one of the world's experts when it comes to Lingua Latina.) The final verse contains a beautiful soprano descant. Father Louis Bouyer—famous theologian, close friend of Pope Paul VI, and architect of post-conciliar reforms—wrote thus vis-à-vis the elimination of Septuagesima: “I prefer to say nothing, or very little, about the new calendar, the handiwork of a trio of maniacs who suppressed (with no good reason) Septuagesima and the Octave of Pentecost and who scattered three quarters of the Saints higgledy-piddledy, all based on notions of their own devising!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Introit • Candlemas (2 February)

“Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”

Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3). I'm not a fan of chant in octaves, but we had such limited time to rehearse, it seemed the best choice. After all, everyone should have an opportunity to learn “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium,” which summarizes Candlemas.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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