• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

  • Our Team
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Saint Antoine Daniel KYRIALE
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Sung Propers: Various Simple Settings In English

Corpus Christi Watershed · May 27, 2013

ILBERT K. CHESTERTON said famously, “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.” When it comes to the Sung Propers, we can say that, in general, they have not even been found, much less tried. But if they were to be found, they might be judged too difficult to begin immediately. Therefore, the following resources have been provided to assist choirmasters. During this demonstration, we shall consider the Introit from Pentecost (some documents refer to it as the “Entrance Chant”). As with the vast majority of the Mass Propers, this chant is very ancient. To see more versions, click here.

Here’s how the PENTECOST INTROIT looked around the year 970AD:

The official version of the PENTECOST INTROIT in our modern chant books can be found in the Gregorian Missal. The entire Gregorian Missal can be downloaded for free courtesy of the CMAA, but watch out because it’s a large download (26MB). By the way, here’s a website with video recordings and organ accompaniments for every chant in the Gregorian Missal.


1. Gregorian Missal

Here’s how the PENTECOST INTROIT looks in the Gregorian Missal:


2. Graduale Parvum

Is that version too difficult for you? One alternative might be the simplified version (in Latin & English) found in the Graduale Parvum, a book being created by Fr. Guy Nicholls at a new institute. The Graduale Parvum can be downloaded for free courtesy of the James MacMillan’s Blog.

Here’s how the PENTECOST INTROIT looks in the Graduale Parvum:


3. Simple English Propers

Another simplified version can be found in the Simple English Propers, published by the Church Music Association of America. The complete book can be downloaded for free courtesy of the CMAA, but be advised it’s a large download (11.3MB).

Here’s how the PENTECOST INTROIT looks in the Simple English Propers:


4. Arbogast Propers

Yet another simplified setting can be found in a 1964 collection by Fr. Paul Arbogast. His complete book can be downloaded for free courtesy of the CMAA. Be careful with this book, because the Propers don’t always perfectly match the Ordinary Form, since the Ordinary Form was not complete until 1969.

Here’s how the PENTECOST INTROIT looks in the Arbogast Propers:


5. Lalemant Propers

If you require the absolute simplest Mass Propers, try the musical settings in the Lalemant Propers. The entire book (391 pages) can be downloaded for free.

Here’s how the PENTECOST INTROIT looks in the Lalemant Propers:


We have examined simple musical settings of the Propers, mainly in English, but it should be noted that before the Second Vatican Council, many simplified versions were also done in Latin.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Vespers Booklet (4th Sunday of Lent)
    The organ accompaniment booklet (24 pages) which I created for the 4th Sunday of Lent (“Lætare Sunday”) may now be downloaded, for those who desire such a thing.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Vespers Booklet, 3rd Sunday of Lent
    The organ accompaniment I created for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (“Extraordinary Form”) may now be downloaded, if anyone is interested in this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Weeping For Joy! (We Hope!)
    Listening to this Easter Alleluia—an SATB arrangement I made twenty years ago based on the work of Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel—one of our readers left this comment: “I get tears in my eyes each time I sing to this hymn.” I hope this person is weeping for joy!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“One must pray to God not only with theologically precise formulas, but also in a beautiful and dignified way. The Christian community must make an examination of conscience so that the beauty of music and song will return increasingly to the liturgy.”

— Pope Saint John Paul II (26 February 2003)

Recent Posts

  • Vespers for Easter Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
  • Hidden Gem: Ave Regina Caelorum (Steven Talley)
  • Four (4) Shimmery Hymns for Lent & Passiontide
  • “Go!” • The Word That Changed My Life Forever
  • Vespers Booklet (4th Sunday of Lent)

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2023 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.