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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download: Two (2) Rare Franciscan Chant Books

Jeff Ostrowski · February 24, 2015

234 Franciscan Cappa Magna NE OF OUR READERS kindly sent two extremely rare and fascinating Franciscan chant books! If someone would like to write a careful description of each, I will publish them. I’m afraid my knowledge of Franciscan traditions is pathetic.

The first one, “Cantuale Romano-Seraphicum,” was edited by Rev. Eliseo Bruning, OFM, and published by Desclée in 1951. It appears to be a collection of various chants of special use to Franciscans—and some have their own melodic variants. Many of these melodies cannot be easily found in any other book:

      * *  PDF • Cantuale Romano-Seraphicum (1951)

The second one is not quite as interesting. Called “Missae Propriae Ordinis Fratrum Minorum Ad Normam Gradualis Editionis Vaticanae,” it appears to contain feasts of special significance to Franciscans, as well as some rare Sequences:

      * *  PDF Download • Missae Propriae Ordinis Fratrum Minorum (1951)


My favorite part of this book tells singers IN BIG CAPITAL LETTERS what I often tell my singers:

236 Franciscan GRADUALE


It means not to double the length of notes with horizontal episemata.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • Gorgeous Book

If there is a more beautiful book than Abbat Pothier’s 1888 Processionale Monasticum, I don’t know what it might be. This gorgeous tome was today added to the Saint John Lalande Online Library. I wish I owned a physical copy.

—Jeff Ostrowski
Sound Familiar?

1 June 1579: “The chapter passes a rule that anyone ascending to the new organ without official permission shall be fined a month’s pay.”

26 October 1579: “The altar boys remain always separate and distinct from choirboys—the one group learning only plainchant and assisting at the altar, the other living with the chapel-master and studying counterpoint and polyphony as well. Father Francisco Guerrero postpones his departure for Rome and instead spends the entire year in Seville making ready for the trip. In the meantime he neglects his choirboys. On 16 November, after considerable complaint against their unruliness and ignorance, he engages an assistant, Bartolomé Farfán.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“After a discussion lasting several days, in which arguments for and against were discussed, the Council fathers came to the clear conclusion—wholly in agreement with the Council of Trent—that Latin must be retained as the language of cult in the Latin rite, although exceptional cases were possible and even welcome.”

— Alfons Cardinal Stickler, Vatican II ‘peritus’

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