Views from the Choir Loft

Cardinal Sarah Visits The Monastery of Solesmes

Corpus Christi Watershed · November 23, 2016

OBERT CARDINAL SARAH currently serves Pope Francis as Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. His Eminence visited the monastery of Solesmes toward the beginning of November:

6782 Cardinal Sarah Visits Solesmes Monks J

6782 Cardinal Sarah Visits Solesmes Monks I

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6782 Cardinal Sarah Visits Solesmes Monks B

6782 Cardinal Sarah Visits Solesmes Monks A

The Monastery of Solesmes has shared the following:

* * PDF Download • Robert Cardinal Sarah (6 November 2016)

* * PDF Download • Robert Cardinal Sarah (13 November 2016)

A few decades ago, the monks of Solesmes moved away from the theories of Dom Mocquereau, experimenting with other theories. Recently, however—under Dom Bruno—the monastery has returned to the “classic Solesmes” approach. Indeed, their most recent major publication, the 2012 Gregorian Missal, preserves 100% of the original ictus markings placed by Dom Mocquereau circa 1908. Many monks praise God at the Abbey of Solesmes, including the son of Leo B. Bozell (a friend of William F. Buckley Jr. and founder of TRIUMPH, a Roman Catholic magazine).

Julia Garcia contributed to this article.

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

“Tonus Solemnior” • How old is it?

In the 1962 Missal, a section called “præfationes in tono solemniore” contains ornate melodies for the Preface. An article posted on the blog of the Church Music Association of America claims the tone comes from “the late 19th century” and said its elimination “is one of the very few good things which the post-Conciliar reform did for Gregorian chant.” The author said: “The Roman solemn preface tone is already beautiful enough, there was no need to give a more Romantic feel.”

Some have asked us whether the tonus solemnior comes from “the late 19th century.” It does not. Their author was wrong by at least 400 years. I have seen this tone in MSS from the 1400s—and it may go back even further. Here is an example from 1494AD. And here’s another from the 1400s. The FSSP priests use these tones on high feasts, and the effect is unforgettable.

—Jeff Ostrowski

6 January 2022 • Quick!

A short version of the INTROIT for the feast of the Epiphany has been added to the Saint René Goupil Gregorian Chant Website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Confusing Feasts of Christmas

Whether one considers the Missale Vetustum or the post-conciliar calendar—or even the 1908 calendar—the feasts which follow Christmas are very confusing. Last year I created this comparison chart. I hope you find it helpful. As far as I can tell, my chart is the first effort to carefully detail the changes made to post-Christmas feasts (unless we also count the rather basic one by Lauren Pristas).

—Jeff Ostrowski