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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Five ways to print the Propers

Veronica Brandt · July 11, 2015

Albion Press 1830s HE GREGORIAN CHANT PROPERS of the Roman Rite are treasures of inestimable value and so readily available. That is not to say they are easy, but the main difficulties can be 1, knowing which pieces to use when and 2, reading and interpreting the music.

In the first difficulty the easiest answer is to ask the priest who will be celebrating Mass. The second is dealt with in more detail at How to Read and Sing Gregorian Chant – eleven lessons to get you started.

Ideally choir members would do well to have their own copy of the Liber Usualis or the Liber Brevior, and know how to use them. Failing that, the person encouraging them to learn the propers can smooth the way for singers by printing copies of the propers. These can be annotated to your heart’s content.

Five different ways to print the propers:

FIRSTLY you can download and print the propers from Rene Goupil Propers here on Corpus Christi Watershed. This is mainly for Sundays. Just scroll down the desired day and download the scores as needed. This also has recordings of all the music – an amazing resource!

SECONDLY there is another similar collection at the Institute of Christ the King. As above, this one is mainly for Sundays. The main difference is that they lack translations and the music tends to be a little larger.

THIRDLY you could download and print from scans of the Liber Usualis. This may require a little more work, but has all the music you need for the majority of Missa Cantatas.

FOURTHLY you could avail yourself of the Propers Tool. The drop down menu has a list of Sundays to choose from, but also a Custom option at the bottom of the list which allows you to choose the exact piece you require for any day of the year. The default setting is to print everything on one page. This also has the added facility to reduce tunes down to psalm tones for any challenging antiphons.

LASTLY, there is GregoBase. This is a collection of all the chant from the Graduale Romanum and Liber Usualis in a database that permits volunteers to correct any discrepancies in transcription. The most straightforward way to find what you need is “by incipit” or the first few words of each piece you need. Each piece is available in a few different formats. The png format is handy for inserting into word processor files to make your own booklets.

There you have five ways to print the Latin Gregorian Chant propers for the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. I hope it makes the task of bringing the Propers to life a little less daunting.

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 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

President’s Corner

    New Bulletin Article • “21 September 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 21 September 2025) discusses some theological items—supported by certain verses in ancient Catholic hymns—and ends by explaining why certain folks become delirious with jealousy when they observe feats by Monsignor Ronald Knox.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!
    It’s always amusing to see old diocesan newspapers—in huge capital letters—advertising the Cheapest Catholic Paper in the United States. The correspondent who sent this to me added: “I can think of certain composers, published by large companies in our own day, who could truthfully brag about the most tawdry compositions in the world!” I wonder what she could have meant by such a cryptic comment…
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies
    Along with so many others, I have deep respect for Dom Gregory Gregory Murray, who produced this clever harmonization (PDF) of “O SANCTISSIMA.” It’s always amazed me that Dom Gregory—a truly inspired composer—was so confused when it came to GREGORIAN CHANT. Throughout his life, he published contradictory statements, veering back-and-forth like a weather vane. Toward the end of his life, he declared: “I see clearly that the need for reform in liturgical music arose, not in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a thousand years earlier—in the 8th and 9th centuries, or even before that. The abuses began, not with Mozart and Haydn, but with those over-enthusiastic medieval musicians who developed the elaborate and flamboyant Gregorian Chant.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

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— Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (2016)

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