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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.

*** 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: 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

“I would hope there is a place [at Mass] for the avant-garde in the same way I think there has to be a place—and we have to be careful with this—a place for Jazz and a place for Evangelical and all of that. […] On theological grounds, I do think we need interaction with the culture at the level of high art or at the level of more commercial pop culture.”

— Fr. Anthony Ruff (22 June 2016)

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