CURRENTLY SERVE on an international committee working on a collection called the St. Brébeuf Hymnal. We have assembled something like 200,000 pages of old hymnals, and naturally we focus mainly on the Catholic hymnals. We’ve also encountered some fantastic non-Catholic hymnals.
You’ve probably never seen these 1,151 pages:
* * PDF Download • Anglican Hymnal (57.1MB)
Many pieces in this Anglican collection are actually translations of Roman Catholic hymns, such as Ave Maris Stella, Audi Benigne Conditor, Ad Regias Agni Dapes, etc. (Readers will mainly be interested in sections 3 and 4.)
To demonstrate how marvelous this book is, I’ve compiled the complete indices:
* * PDF • COMPLETE INDEX [all 4 volumes]
When I was in college, we analyzed 4-5 different versions of Hassler’s “O Sacred Head Surrounded” harmonized by J.S. Bach—and I really wish I’d saved them because they were beautiful. Here’s an interesting harmonization found in the 1907 hymnal:
They also have many “Englished” settings Propers:
Those interested in proofreading the St. Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal should email the committee. My understanding is they’re searching for proofreaders. Make sure the word “proofreader” is in your email subject line.
Full title of book:
THE NEW OFFICE HYMN BOOK
PARTS I. AND II.
Part I.
CONSISTING OF
INTROITS FOR THE SUNDAYS AND FESTIVALS
WITH THE GRADUALS AND ALLELUIAS,
AND SOME SEQUENCES.Part II.
CONSISTING OF
OFFICE HYMNS, CHIEFLY FROM THE ROMAN
AND SARUM BREVIARIES, TOGETHER
WITH THE PROPER MELODIES.THE NEW OFFICE HYMN BOOK
PARTS III. and IV.
CONSISTING OF
HYMNS NEW AND OLD, SACRED SONGS,
CAROLS AND LITANIESTHE WORDS SELECTED AND EDITED BY
Rev. J. F. W. BULLOCK, M.A.
Rector of Radwinter; Editor of “Daily Lections.”THE MUSIC SELECTED AND ARRANGED BY
Rev. C. J. RIDSDALE, B.A.
Vicar of S. Peter’s, Folkestone;
Editor of the Music of “The Children’s Service Book.”(London: Novello and Company, 1907)
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