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Views from the Choir Loft

Repeating Repertoire? • Dr. Hamilton

Dr. Gregory Hamilton · April 1, 2020

HEN considering whether is it is wise to repeat musical repertoire, it might be a good idea to look at how and when the ‘propers’ and the readings of the liturgy repeat during the liturgical year. It is instructive to look at how the church employs the repertoire of Gregorian chant through the liturgical year. While many days have particular “proper” chants—only sung for that particular day, a cursory look through the Graduale Romanum will reveal that many chants are used for multiple liturgical days.

For example: on the Feast of Joseph, March 19th, the communio is Joseph Fili David, but there is a note “or” Fili quid fecisti—which is also used as the communion for Holy Family. For Corpus Christi the offertory chant is Portas Caeli however the “or” is Sanctificavit Moyes which is also the offertory for 24th Sunday on Ordinary Time. Similarly on that same 24th Sunday, year B, the communio is Qui vult venire, which is also used for the 12th Sunday Year C.

Many similarities can be observed in looking at the scripture reading in the lectionary, especially in the Novus Ordo. Psalm 51 occurs a dozen times in the lectionary during the year, for such diverse days such as St. Thomas Aquinas, weekdays during ordinary Time, many days in Lent, and the Easter Vigil. In some cases, a Psalm antiphon is repeated, however the verses are different. Many psalm antiphons have 5 or 6 different versifications, so the antiphon is repeated throughout the year, but with variety in the verses to harmonize with the day, season or the other readings in the lectionary. As well, when the body of a psalm such as 51 is repeated, the same verses can be presented, but with different antiphons chosen from the body of the psalm.

Incidentally, the revision of the lectionary where a greater selection of scriptures were chosen by the Vatican II council fathers, is considered by some 1 as one of the most positive results of the council. Just by examining the psalms, one can see a much greater selection of readings.

What may be gathered from these examples: we can conclude that there is no reason not to repeat musical repertoire, and even the “propers” of the liturgy as well as the readings offer many instances where certain chants and texts are repeated throughout the liturgical year.  As we know, the readings, pericopes and liturgical season and should be our guide to repertoire.

 


NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   “Without a doubt, the massive introduction of scripture in the missal constitutes the most spectacular of the councils’ liturgical reform.”—Adrian Nocent. For a challenge to this view, see The Bugnani-Liturgy and the Reform of the Reform; László Dobszay pg. 121 ff.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Repeating Repertoire Last Updated: April 1, 2020

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About Dr. Gregory Hamilton

Dr. Gregory Hamilton is a composer and performer currently on the faculty of Holy Trinity Seminary in Dallas TX.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Booklet of Eucharistic Hymns” (16 pages)
    I was asked to create a booklet for my parish to use during our CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION on 22 June 2025. Would you be willing to look over the DRAFT BOOKLET (16 pages) I came up with? I tried to include a variety of hymns: some have a refrain; some are in major, others in minor; some are metered, others are plainsong; some are in Spanish, some are in Latin, but most are in English. Normally, we’d use the Brébeuf Hymnal—but we can’t risk having our congregation carry those heavy books all over the city to various churches.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“If we continue to tolerate sad examples of liturgical abnormalities, experimentation, abuse, and simply poor-quality liturgies, why should we single out those connected to the ancient rites of the Church for special vigilance? It just doesn’t seem right.”

— An Example of a response (sent to Pope Francis) Re: the TLM

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