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

Corpus Christi Watershed

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.”

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
    • Jeff’s Mom Joins Fundraiser
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Feasts Website
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • 1974 “Graduale Romanum”

Jeff Ostrowski · February 17, 2014

Here’s the direct URL link.

OW HARD should we be on the Bishops’ Liturgy Committee with regard to their famous mistake of 2002? Some readers will recall the serious error made in their Newsletter of May 2002. The Committee attempted to fix the error, but ended up making things worse by an “official” wording that was literally bizarre & unintelligible (more). The error remained on the books for almost a decade, but was finally corrected due to indefatigable “nagging” by Christoph Tietze. We ought not be too hard on the Committee, who failed to understand that the Missal Antiphons are (by design) not identical 1 to those in the Roman Gradual. After all, even a famous “liturgy expert” got this wrong as recently as 19 July 2011. We can’t blame him, either, because the entire Church seemed to have collectively forgotten about “Propers” for decades. When I was going to Catholic grade school in the 1990s, we sang This Little Light Of Mine as the Introit!

Before I continue, here (for the first time) is a PDF copy of the 1974 Graduale Romanum:

* *  1974 Graduale Romanum • Solesmes Abbey / Vatican Press

* *  Alternate Version — A Different Scan Technique

HOW COULD EVERYONE just “forget” about the Roman Gradual? Let me explain, and I promise to be clear and to the point. Before the Council, the entire Liturgy could be found in one book: the Missal. However, the post-conciliar liturgy has three books: (1) Lectionary, containing the Readings; (2) Sacramentary, called a “Missal” starting in 2011; and (3) Roman Gradual, containing the music for Mass. Pretty basic, right? Old Rite had 1, New Rite has 3. So, what’s the problem?

Well, the problems came because the new books were introduced in the most chaotic way imaginable. For example, the Sacramentary was released piecemeal over a period of years. Other books were released in a “faux” version (e.g. Ordo Cantus Missae) containing almost nothing usable 2 in an actual liturgy. There were also issues as to whether certain books ought to be printed first in Latin or the vernacular. It’s no wonder 3 Pope Paul VI asked publicly in a 1969 audience:

“How can we celebrate this new rite when we have not yet got a complete missal, and there are still so many uncertainties about what to do?”

If we possessed video recordings of what happened during the period of 1970-1975 we would be shocked. Anyway, the final book 4 to be published (in 1974!) was the Roman Gradual, but even then, it was only available with Latin rubrics. A version with English rubrics wouldn’t be published until 1990.

Obviously, the fact that no Revised Gradual was available until 1974 had a severely detrimental effect on the ability of Catholics to “sing the Mass.” It really was a death blow, and perhaps this partially explains a statement by Msgr. Francis P. Schmitt. I can’t remember the exact quote, but he basically said Catholic liturgical music couldn’t be saved in the 1970s “because by that point, there was nothing left to save.”

Catholics have begun to realize the extent to which we’ve been “ripped off,” and we’re trying to rebuild … but it won’t be easy. Recent examples of efforts in the right direction would include the Lalemant Propers and Solesmes Gregorian Missal (courtesy of the CMAA).

… And don’t forget!   Very soon, we will make an important announcement about the Roman Gradual in English.  Make sure you hear about it before anybody else.

782 Graduale Romanum 1974

 

NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Pope Paul VI wanted the Introit and Communion antiphons revised “for greater intelligibility.” Perhaps he was thinking of the Introit Gaudete, since that Introit is not a “complete sentence.” However, the reformers ended up annihilating and replacing many propers. No one knows why this was allowed to happen.

2   To date, only four people in the universe actually know how to use the Ordo Cantus Missae, and one of them is Steven Van Roode, who wasn’t even born until decades after Vatican II ended!

3   I own a Lectionary from one of the big publishers that has this message in the front cover. In this same book, somebody has gone through and crossed out every instance of HE, HIS, or HIM and replaced it with something else. Does anyone have a complete 1970 organ accompaniment to the Responsorial Psalms? If not, what did people use back then? Does anyone know? Did they just speak the Responsorial Psalm until musical collections were published?

4   Solesmes cannot really be blamed for this. As a printing house, they needed to make sure the reformers were finished tinkering with the liturgy before going to the trouble of producing a quality book.

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured Tagged With: Graduale Romanum Roman Gradual Propers Last Updated: August 25, 2023

Subscribe

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

* indicates required

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).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    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’ with regard to 1960s switch to 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
    “Music List” • 27th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 5 October 2025, which is the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin. Readers will want to check out the ENTRANCE CHANT posted there, which has a haunting melody (in the DEUTERUS MODE) and extremely powerful text.
    —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

Goupil deserves the name of martyr not only because he has been murdered by the enemies of God and His Church while laboring in ardent charity for his neighbor, but most of all because he was killed for being at prayer and notably for making the Sign of the Cross.

— St. Isaac Jogues (after the martyrdom of Saint René Goupil)

Recent Posts

  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
  • “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
  • “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
  • Involving Women in the Communion?
  • “Toward a More Sacred Style With Pastoral Charity” • Guest Article by Dr. Myrna Keough

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 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.