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Views from the Choir Loft

Palm Sunday Outline • Extraordinary Form

Jeff Ostrowski · March 29, 2015

10a. The singing the Antiphon “Hosanna Filio David” begins the ceremony, as the celebrant walks to a table:

Ant. HOSANNA FILIO DAVID   •   PDF Score   •   1st Video   •   2nd Video   •   Organist


12a. Then comes the blessing of the palms.

Dominus vobiscum. etc.

The celebrant sings a Collect beginning with Oremus.


14a. Celebrant sprinkles with Holy Water the palm branches—those on the table, as well as those in the hands of the people (unless branches will be distributed to them after the blessing).

“Two methods of blessing the branches are offered in the restored Ordo Hebdomadae Sanctae. First, the branches may be prepared by the faithful and brought by them to the church, where they are blessed before the procession. Or the branches may be prepared in the church, blessed, and then distributed to the faithful for the procession. In any case the branches for the clergy and servers are not distributed to them until after the blessing.”


16a. Celebrant incenses the branches on the table and those held by the people (unless branches will be distributed to them after the blessing).


18a. Having kissed the Altar, the Celebrant distributes palm branches to the servers and people (unless the people have theirs already). During the distribution, the following antiphons & psalms are sung:

Two antiphons w/ psalms: PUERI HEBRAEORUM   •   First Antiphon   •   Second Antiphon

If these chants are not long enough, they are repeated until the distribution of palm branches is finished. If, on the other hand, the distribution ends first, the “Gloria Patri” is sung at once, followed by the antiphon.

Therefore, this PDF SCORE will be useful where the people are already holding the palm branches—since the only distribution in that case will be to the Altar Servers, which takes a very short time.


20a. After a Gospel (Mt 21: 1-9) is sung or read, the procession begins, when the Deacon (or Celebrant) sings:

101 Procedamus in pace


22a. During the procession—wherein the people process holding palm branches—all or some of the following selections may be sung:

First Antiphon • Occúrrunt turbae

Second Antiphon • Cum ángelis et púeris

Third Antiphon • Turba multa quae convénerat

Fourth Antiphon • Coepérunt omnes turbae

Hymn to Christ the King • “Glória laus et honor”
Vocal Score   •   Organist Score   •   1st Video   •   2nd Video

Fifth Antiphon (Version A) with Psalm • Omnes colláudant nomen tuum

Fifth Antiphon (Version B) with Psalm • Omnes colláudant nomen tuum

Sixth Antiphon • Fulgéntibus palmis prostérnimur

Seventh Antiphon • Ave Rex noster

The faithful may also sing the hymn CHRISTUS VINCIT or any other chant in honor of Christ the King.


24a. When the procession enters the church, that is, as the celebrant goes through the door, a Responsory (Ingrediénte Dómino) is begun, which is found at the GoupilChant Website, along with the rest of the Mass chants for Palm Sunday.



HELPFUL RESOURCES for PALM SUNDAY in the EXTRAORDINARY FORM:

1   Msgr. Frederick R. McManus • RITES of HOLY WEEK (1956). Courtesy of RARTY.

2   St. Peter’s Abbey, Solesmes • REVISED PALM SUNDAY with MUSIC (1957).

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Palm Sunday Extraordinary Form 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

Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Giovanni Doni is known for having changed the name of note “Ut,” renaming it “Do.” He convinced his contemporaries to make the change by arguing that 1) “Do” is easier to pronounce than “Ut,” and 2) “Do” is an abbreviation for “Dominus,” the Latin word for the Lord, Who is the tonic and root of the world. There is much academic speculation that Giovanni Doni also wanted to imprint himself into musical canon in perpetuity because “Do” is also ulteriorly an abbreviation for his family name.

— Giovanni Battista Doni died in 1647AD

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