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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

Sing Salve Regina in Your Rosary

Veronica Brandt · November 25, 2017

Madonna of the Rosary, Lorenzo Lotto OU FINISH THE FIVE DECADES of the Rosary. You know what comes next: the beautiful prayer Hail Holy Queen. It is a sublime prayer, but the Hail Holy Queen is only a translation of the Latin antiphon Salve Regina.

The Salve Regina is one of the most widely known Latin antiphons. Even Pope Francis is rumored to have sung it on occasion. If you are Catholic, chances are good that one day you will be surrounded by people lifting their minds, hearts and voices in this great prayer. Be ready!

By request I have prepared the chant with running English translations so you can understand as you sing:

    * *  Salve Regina Simple Tone (17th century) 1 page

    * *  Salve Regina Monastic Tune Simple Tone (17th century) 1 page

I put both Roman and Monastic versions as my mother’s choir uses the Monastic version and just about everyone else uses the Roman version. The simple tone only dates back to the 17th century so the differences are tiny. They haven’t had as much time to diverge as you find with the older Solemn Tones. I find the recordings from monasteries usually use the Solemn Tone as it is older and should be the default version. The Monastic is older than the Roman.

    * *  Salve Regina Solemn Tone (medieval) 1 page

    * *  Salve Regina Solemn Monastic Tone (medieval) 1 page

You can find a video of the Simple Salve, vocabulary and even a crossword puzzle at the page for the Salve Regina in A New Book of Old Hymns.

Speaking of my little hymnbook, Lulu currently has a coupon for 30% off print books and calendars expiring midnight on Sunday 26th November (or sometime in the middle of Monday for folks like me in Australia). Use LULU30

If you’re worried why the price for my hymnbook at Lulu has plummeted, it’s because I set the price in Australian dollars rather than US dollars. Lulu has printers all around the world, so time for shipping is usually a week or so. You can find other great publications here at Corpus Christi Watershed printed by Lulu, such as Lalemant Polyphony, Kevin Allen’s Emporium and the Goupil Gradual. With a 30% discount ( LULU30 ) today is a good time to stock up.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

*   Salve Regina is attributed to Blessed Hermann of Reichenau, a monk so crippled he could hardly move or speak, yet producing works on music, astronomy and history.

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

    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 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 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“I am now old but I was young when I was received into the Church. I was not at all attracted by the splendour of her great ceremonies—which the Protestants could well counterfeit. Of the extraneous attractions of the Church which most drew me was the spectacle of the priest and his server at Low Mass, stumping up to the altar without a glance to discover how many or how few he had in his congregation; a craftsman and his apprentice; a man with a job which he alone was qualified to do.”

— Evelyn Waugh (7 August 1964)

Recent Posts

  • Why A “Fugue” Here?
  • “Three Reasons To Shun Bad Hymns” • Daniel B. Marshall
  • “Puzzling Comment” • By A Respected FSSP Priest
  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
  • “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)

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