* Brébeuf Hymnal • “What People Are Saying”
(Testimonials from Catholics in the pews.)
* Brébeuf Hymnal • “What Experts Are Saying”
(Testimonials from authorities on Sacred Music.)
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)
Our Articles • Some Examples
Did Vatican II “restore” the hymns—as mandated by §93 of Sacrosanctum Concilium? Read more →
Forty images of (IMHO) the patron saints of church musicians. Read more →
Did you know Catholics began translating hymns from Latin into the vernacular about 400 years before the Protestant Revolution? Read more →
“Accepting Vatican II” seems to mean deliberately contradicting the actual documents of Vatican II. Read more →
Throughout my career, I have tried to follow the advice Cardinal Mercier gave the young Fulton J. Sheen. Read more →
Do what's right, say your prayers, offer each day to Jesus Christ, and hold your head high! Read more →
Why on earth does the cost of butter matter? Read more →
All Saints—November 1st—will be here before you know it! Read more →
This piece works well in the “OF” (Ordinary Form) and also the “EF” (Extraordinary Form). Read more →
Including a live recording (without organ) of “Alleluia, Sing To Jesus” by a volunteer choir. Read more →
Father Valentine used to say: “The cemeteries are full of people who thought they were indispensable.” Read more →
After more than a year of Vespers having been forbidden (due to Covid-19) we're back! Read more →
Including seven (7) examples of musical diversity. Read more →
If you fail to carefully plan your rehearsal, you'll be eaten alive. And rightfully so! Read more →
“Once there were lost islands, but most of them have been found…” Read more →
Add variety to the singing, so choir members will “take delight” in what they are doing—and they should be “taking delight” in singing praises to God. Read more →
Hymns by Monsignor Knox often make reference to “the friendless”—have you ever been without a friend? Read more →
Did you realize there are two versions of this famous hymn? Read more →
The Pentecost Sequence harmonized by Father Green, Father Jones, Dom Gregory Murray, Max Springer, Achille P. Bragers, and more! Read more →
From one of my composition teachers… Read more →
What is the best way to get your choir singing when they first return? Here are some tips… Read more →
Including a wonderful hymn for the Ascension. Read more →
Venerable Pope Pius XII explicitly allowed vernacular hymns during High Mass in 1958. Read more →
Including a live recording of a hymn about a donkey. (Not kidding!) Read more →
Is this normal? (Answer: “yes”) Read more →
I fail to see how such a position can be defended… Read more →
Ten ways to make your musical selections during Mass a delight for all present. Read more →
Can Gregorian Chant be harmonized? Does it work? Monsignor Jules Vyverman demonstrates for us! Read more →
Vernacular hymns at Communion during EF High Mass—your thoughts? Read more →
Five reasons keeping Holy Saturday in the morning is a good idea. Read more →
In the 1980s, Father Valentine wrote to a Vatican Congregation in Rome about this omission. It still hasn't been fixed. Read more →
I've never spent as much time creating a Liturgical Chart as I did for this one. Read more →
Each monastery had its own particular way of singing plainsong. Read more →
The Consilium asked (15 March 1965): “Is it pleasing that the feast of the Holy Family be suppressed?” • Discussion of the First Sunday After Epiphany; the Feast of the Holy Name; the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord; the two (2) instances of different “Jubilate Deo” Offertories which repeat; “Abhinc Duos Annos” (23 October 1913); and many other items+ Read more →
“Variae Preces” (1892) — “Cantus Varii” (1902) — “Cantus Varii” (1928) — “Cantus Selecti” (1957) Read more →
The question of “Thee, Thy, Thou, Thine” • Speaks about whether referring to the “original version” of a hymn text makes sense • Treatment of the beautiful hymn melody called “Lafitau” and a harmonization by Claude Goudimel (d. 1572) with the melody placed into the Tenor voice+ Read more →
Sviatoslav Richter couldn't function—much less perform—unless he carried around his pink, plastic lobster for comfort • Have you ever become discouraged about your abilities? Have you ever felt contempt for your early artistic creations? Typos from beautiful books are included in this reflection+ Read more →
Archbishop Sheen immediately replied: “Then I didn't explain it correctly, because it should be a mystery” • Including Rex Sempiterne Caelitum, Jesu Nostra Redemptio, Vexilla Regis Prodeunt, Auctor Beate Saeculi, A Solis Ortus Cardine, Jesu Redemptor Omnium, Conditor Alme Siderum, Corde Natus Ex Parentis, Pange Lingua Gloriosi, Veni Creator Spiritus, and more! Read more →
This is perhaps the single most significant liturgical document CCWatershed has ever unearthed—and translated to English! • Explains the origin of “Gradual Antiphons” vs. “Missal Antiphons” (a.k.a. “Sacramentary Antiphons”)+ Read more →
I bet you never noticed this, but here's the proof! • Believe it or not, the Nicene Creed never says Our Lord “died,” and this article provides full documentation; also included are beautiful manuscript images from the greatest Dutch illuminated manuscript in the world: Catherine of Cleves Hours (15th century MS.)+ Read more →
(Keven Smith) • Ever had a man express interest in your choir, only to discover that he has trouble matching pitch? You may just need to unlock his high range. Here's how I'd approach the situation • James C. McKinney is mentioned+ Read more →
For years, I couldn't understand this business about “the eyes and the ears.” What did Pothier mean? Then it hit me. • Topics include Dom Joseph Pothier, the mora vocis, Abbot Pothier’s brother (Dom Alphonse Pothier), Dom Lucien David, Dom Paul Jausions, and a truly magnificent story about Pope Pius X and Abbot Pothier, which is essential reading+ Read more →
The “Pre-NOH” editions have quite an idiosyncratic way of lengthening the neumes. • Fulsome illustrations are included examining and explaining the mora vocis of the Vatican edition; also mentioned is Dom André Mocquereau, Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val, and Pothier’s Liber Gradualis (1883)+ Read more →
(Keven Smith) • I’ve come to realize that the vast majority of “tone-deaf” people aren’t really tone-deaf at all. They just haven’t been trained to coordinate their voices with their audiation+ Read more →
Lies containing a little truth are the most difficult to quash • Here is the definitive, final exposé on why the “Spoken Propers” don’t match the “Sung Propers.” • In October of 1972, the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy falsely equated the “Spoken Propers” with the “Sung Propers” and proclaimed: “These antiphons are too abrupt for communal recitation” • Several official English translations of the Roman Gradual have received the imprimatur multiple times+ Read more →
This 2020 chant edition makes possible the chanting of Lauds according to the Liturgy of the Hours. Read more →
(Keven Smith) • Here are some suggestions on how to get the most out of your unusual combination of skills and traits+ Read more →
(Keven Smith) • Now is the perfect time for us all to stop and reflect on where we came from as church musicians. What was it that first made you interested in singing, directing, or playing the organ?+ Read more →
Blessed Alfredo Ildefonso Cardinal Schuster was a Benedictine monk who became the Archbishop of Milan. Read more →
