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Views from the Choir Loft

Gems in Latin and English

Veronica Brandt · March 14, 2015

Latin Hymns Fortescue YMNS CAN SOOTHE A FRAZZLED soul. There is a rhythm to them which invites singing along. The mind can tune in gradually. There is the repetition—by three verses you can usually join in, even if you never heard it before.

There is a whole treasure trove of Latin hymns. I have had a go at collecting them over at A New Book of Old Hymns. The thing that started me collecting was hoping to sing along with understanding. The choir would sing from their Libers and there were no translations easily available in the pew.

Now I know there have been many similar collections made, such as

• 1957 Mass and Vespers with Gregorian Chant—the Liber Usualis with English translations;

• The Parish Book of Chant by Richard Rice 2013;

• Chants of the Church, 1953 and again in 1954 with modern notes, available under Additional chant anthologies at Musica Sacra’s collection of Latin Chant and also in print through Lulu;

• and Latin Hymns by Fr Adrian Fortescue.

This latter is beautifully done. It is designed for a particular congregation, as described in the preface:

This book is meant to serve a practical purpose. In our church on Sunday evening, during and after Benediction, we sing various Latin hymns or antiphons. Since Compline hardly ever changes, an excellent way to remember the feast of season is to sing the Vesper hymns of the day, with its versicle and collect at Benediction. We have also a number of beautiful hymns about the Blessed Sacrament, our Lady, the Church, and so on. But if people do not understand what is sung, to them all is lost.   […]

Even if we do not have the chance to adorn a Sunday evening’s Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in a church, we can enjoy these hymns whenever and wherever we have the chance.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Gregorian Chant, Hymnbooks Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “For the Season of Pentecost”
    During the season of Pentecost, you might consider using this 2-page Piece “for the season of Pentecost.” Rehearsal videos are available at #40691, but the lyrics are different. Therefore, make sure your choir members understand that one can rehearse songs that have different lyrics (“CONTRAFACT”).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • (This Coming Sunday)
    Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”
    My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The People’s Hymnal suffers from a too literal and awkward translation. And even in the lovely Slovak “Memorare” in The Saint Gregory Hymnal we are still asked to sing “that anyone who sought thee, or made to thee his moan.” Why not “groan” or “bone” or even “phone?” The only thing necessary, it seems, is that it rhyme with “known.”

— Mons. Francis P. Schmitt (1958)

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