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Views from the Choir Loft

Ten Reflections on “Pride of Place”

Andrew Leung · September 8, 2016

CTL Pride of Place AM SURE MANY OF US have heard or read that “Gregorian Chant should be given a pride of place (or main place) among different style of church music”. If not, here is the exact quote from the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, no.116:

The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services.

This phrase is not invented by myself or some “liturgists”, it comes directly from the Second Vatican Council. Are we doing what the Council asked us to do? Some of us are, but most of us probably don’t hear Gregorian chant in Catholic churches these days. How exactly, then, can we give Gregorian chant a pride of place?

There are many articles with very practical advice on our blog about how to chant or introduce chant to a parish. So instead of listing out advice and methods, I would like to write a reflection in the style of an “examination of conscience”. I believe that spirit behind the term, “pride of place”, is greater than just singing at Mass or chanting the Propers. We can find out whether we have given Gregorian chant its pride of place in our parish by reflecting on the following questions:

1. Are we singing the Gregorian Propers and Ordinaries, which is specially suited to the Roman Liturgy, at our parish Masses?

2. Do we understand the texts of the chant and fully express them through our voices?

3. Gregorian chant and prayer are inseparable, are we praying when we chant?

4. Do we sing the Gregorian Ordinaries proper to each liturgical season? Or are we doing the minimum by chanting Missa de Angelis or Missa Jubilate Deo every week?

5. Do we spend enough time to practice Gregorian chant so that we can improve our techniques? Do we take advantage of conferences and workshops to further study the art of chant?

6. Other than chanting the Propers and Ordinaries, do we make use of the Gregorian hymns for different liturgical seasons and devotions?

7. Do we study the symbols, voicing and other traditions of the chant repertoire?

8. When we are given the opportunities to improvise on the organ, how often do we improvise on Gregorian melodies?

9. Are we familiar enough with the repertoire to be able to point out the hidden chant melodies in polyphonies and other works?

10. Are we doing our best in rehearsals and the liturgies so that we can touch people’s heart with the beauty of Gregorian chant?

These are some questions I asked myself to see if I truly grasp the true spirit of Gregorian chant, the true meaning of “pride of place”. If we put chant in a pride of place, we will realize that Gregorian chant is a very rich repertoire and you can never get bored with it.

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 Andrew Leung

Andrew Leung currently serves the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers, and music director at Our Lady of China Church.—(Read full biography).

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    26 January 2023 • FEEDBACK
    “Jeff, I wanted to personally thank you for your spiritual witness at the Symposium & often blogs that you write too. Praying that prayer in the mornings My God, my Father and my all (by Cardinal Merry Del Val), mentioning saints’ stories of Brébeuf, Jogues, John Vianney, monks who fought in WWII, their hard work in spite of terrible conditions, their relentless zeal for the faith, their genuine love for the laypeople they served, etc. Overall though—more than anything concrete I can point to that you did or said—it was your demeanor at the Symposium. I could tell you really absolutely love and believe the Catholic Faith. You don’t get that everywhere, even in Church circles. And your humility is what then makes that shine even brighter. It is super inspiring! God is working through you probably way more than you know.”
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    Symposium Draft Schedule Released!
    Those who head over to the Symposium Website will notice the tentative schedule for 2023 has been released. This is all very exciting! Very soon, we will begin accepting applications, so please make sure you have subscribed to our mailing list. If you are subscribed, that means you'll hear announcements before anyone else. (It’s incredibly easy to subscribe to our mailing list; just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.)
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    Good Friday Polyphony by L. Senfl
    The editor of the Sacred Music Magazine recently made available to the public this splendid article by our own Charles Weaver. It includes an edition of polyphony for the GOOD FRIDAY “Reproaches.” Renaissance composers often set the various offices of Holy Week; e.g. readers will probably be familiar with the beautiful TENEBRAE setting by Father Tomás Luis de Victoria (d. 1611). From what I can tell, Ludwig Senfl (d. 1543) was originally a Catholic priest, but eventually was seduced by Luther and ended up abandoning the sacred priesthood.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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