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Views from the Choir Loft

It Has Arrived! • “Proper of the Mass” (Ignatius)

Jeff Ostrowski · April 7, 2015

944 Weber Propers Missal Gradual VER A PERIOD of weeks, we’ve discussed the current system of replacing assigned Mass texts in the Ordinary Form, which violates liturgical law. 1 Priests wishing to allow their congregations to pray the actual prayers of the Mass have a solution in the Jogues Lectionary, the only pew book containing the full Vatican II propers in Latin & English.

But what about the music?

Many parishes use the Lalemant Propers (very simple); Simple English Propers (fairly simple); or Graduale Parvum (simple). 2 Yet, when it comes to Ordinary Form propers, we need as many options as possible, and a fantastic book appeared today:

* *  PROPER OF THE MASS — 1,292 page book

I won’t reproduce the descriptions given there, but please notice that Fr. Weber’s book provides multiple settings for each chant. Below are audio samples demonstrating a “simpler” setting and a “complex” setting of the same Entrance chant. If you’re familiar with the ancient Latin version (“Judica Me”) you will notice that Fr. Weber’s version sounds quite similar:

Simpler Setting:   YouTube   •   Mp3 File

Complex Setting:   YouTube   •   Mp3 File

I ordered my copy today; when it arrives, I hope to write a comprehensive review of Fr. Weber’s masterpiece.

Proper of the Mass: Entrance, Offertory and Communion Antiphons for Sundays and Solemnities (Benedict XVI Institute, 19 March 2014)

*** UPDATES :

Lovely images of this book can now be viewed.

Andrew R. Motyka has posted a beautiful review of this book.

 

HIGHLY RECOMMEND this new English Gradual to anyone who wants to sing the proper antiphons on a regular basis and is looking for very accessible, yet most beautiful chant in the vernacular. We cannot thank Fr. Samuel Weber enough for all his hard work, a true labor of love and dedication to liturgy and the Church. I am most confident that this new Gradual will become a standard work and hopefully find a home in many parishes.

—Dr. Horst Buchholz (Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, MO)

 

 


NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Daniel Craig’s landmark article presents important documentation from the USCCB which—although it dates from a few years ago—is still pertinent.

2   Even more options, along with audio samples, can be found here.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Graduale Romanum Roman Gradual Propers, Propers Ignatius Press by Fr Samuel Weber Last Updated: October 25, 2024

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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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Booklet of Eucharistic Hymns” (16 pages)
    I was asked to create a booklet for my parish to use during our CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION on 22 June 2025. Would you be willing to look over the DRAFT BOOKLET (16 pages) I came up with? I tried to include a variety of hymns: some have a refrain; some are in major, others in minor; some are metered, others are plainsong; some are in Spanish, some are in Latin, but most are in English. Normally, we’d use the Brébeuf Hymnal—but we can’t risk having our congregation carry those heavy books all over the city to various churches.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“However well equipped and trained a choir may be, all its good points may be obscured by an unsuitable accompaniment. In fact the organist can, in a large measure, either make or mar his choir. It must be owned, however, that the accompanist of Plainsong has to contend with many difficulties. […] The purist will still find his best enjoyment of the chant when it is sung unaccompanied, but to most a becoming accompaniment gives an added charm.”

— Benedictines of Stanbrook (1905)

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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.

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