Views from the Choir Loft

1934 “Antiphonale Monasticum” (Solesmes Abbey) • Free PDF Download!

Jeff Ostrowski · December 4, 2013

THE FAMOUS 1934 Antiphonale Monasticum published by the monks of Solesmes can now be downloaded in its entirety:

* * Part 1 of 3 • pp. 1 – 363

* * Part 2 of 3 • pp. 364 – 763

* * Part 3 of 3 • pp. 764 – 1,296

Part 3 had some missing pages. These were added as of 10 December 2013 thanks to Gustav Valencia.

Father Brian T. Austin, FSSP, has created a B/W version—based on our scanned copy—which can be downloaded:

* PDF Download • ANTIPHONALE MONASTICUM (1934)
—Scanned and uploaded by Corpus Christi Watershed.

IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE that Fr. Paul Jausions (†1870) was born in 1834, precisely a century before the publication of the Antiphonale Monasticum. After Jausions’ death (in America!), his associate, Fr. Joseph Pothier, took the reins, and history knows what he was able to accomplish. The 1934 Antiphonale, however, might be regarded as the “crowning achievement” of the Solesmes monastery (unless it was the 1903 Liber Usualis). Dom Gajard is generally believed to have been the motivating force behind its publication.

Not everyone appreciated this work. In 1960, Msgr. Francis P. Schmitt wrote in the Caecilia:

“The Monastic Antiphonal is proof that the archaeologists never gave up. One can have no objection to the adherents of Solesmes singing what they please, but it is a fair and conjured guess that a cursory reading of the Monastic Antiphonary, and other books said to be in preparation, will make most people grateful that the like was not released upon the unsuspecting public some fifty years ago.”

THOSE WHO WISH TO LEARN MORE about Abbot Joseph Pothier, Fr. André Mocquereau, and the Vatican Edition might be interested in the following:

VIDEOS: 01 • 02 • 03 • 04 • 05 • 06 • 07

Article by Jeff Ostrowski — The rhythm of the Vatican Edition (PDF)

(1906) Fr. Henry Bewerunge’s Attack on the Vatican Edition (PDF)

(1906) Prior T. A. Burge, O.S.B. Defense of the Vatican Edition (PDF)

(1907) Dr. Peter Wagner’s Article on the Vatican Edition (PDF)

A few extra items worth noting:

Alternate Version of Article (with minor changes)
Hayburn Dissertation (Page 317)
Translation Explained

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

About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

Dr. Mahrt explains the ‘Spoken’ Propers

In 1970, the Church promulgated a new version of the Roman Missal. It goes by various names: Ordinary Form, Novus Ordo, MISSALE RECENS, and so on. If you examine the very first page, you’ll notice that Pope Saint Paul VI explains the meaning of the ‘Spoken Propers’ (which are for Masses without singing). A quote by Dr. William P. Mahrt is also included in that file. The SPOKEN PROPERS—used at Masses without music—are sometimes called The Adalbert Propers, because they were created in 1969 by Father Adalbert Franquesa Garrós, one of Hannibal Bugnini’s closest friends (according to Yves Chiron).

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Music List” (1st Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 30 November 2025, which is the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is quite memorable, and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • Christ the King Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 23 November 2025, which is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. In the 1970 Missal, this Sunday is known as: Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Universorum Regis (“Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”). As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the magnificent feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”

According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski