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Views from the Choir Loft

Solesmes Monastery & Latin Accents

Jeff Ostrowski · June 10, 2015

RECENTLY cited a Latin word whose accent determines the meaning. Solesmes always includes the accent, but at some point they decided to start including accents on words of two syllables, which is almost never done. I don’t know what prompted this decision, and they are inconsistent about this:

642 Solesmes Accents


I suspect that in a long melisma it’s hard to know “where you are” so it makes sense to place an accent on a word of two syllables. However—as I mentioned already—this is almost never done, because everybody knows that in Latin words with two syllables the accent goes on the first (except for Hebrew words).

It just feels odd to write Déus. Do people really think it could be Deús? Or maybe I need to realize that not everyone was blessed to have good teachers like I was.

Could it be that the Solesmes editions had begun to spread into countries whose language was not derived from Latin? They would probably appreciate accent marks on two-syllable words.

Another example of inconsistency:

636 hyphen

Another example of inconsistency:

615 accents


This one, as well:

564 accent


Look at the inconsistency between 1926 and 1955 on the words OMNEM and SUPER:

    * *  PDF Download • Case in Point

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

Filed Under: Articles 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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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 following question is asked by the Most Reverend Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Chur: May this Diocese’s ancient custom be continued of having the Celebrant in Sung Masses (excepting more solemn Masses) intone the Credo and when he is finished reciting it going on immediately to the offertory and finishing it while the credo is being sung by the choir?” (Dubium of Dec 1909)

— 11 December 1909

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