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Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • 1915 “Gregorian Vesperale” … Printed On Five Lines! (651 Pages)

Jeff Ostrowski · October 11, 2022

ISTORY. Some consider it boring. For myself, I find it riveting. For example, consider the history of ULYSSES S. GRANT. He would win the Civil War and serve two terms as president. Yet when the Civil War began, having failed at everything he ever attempted, Grant was working for his younger brothers, selling hats to farmers’ wives! He and his wife were slave owners. Indeed, Grant used slave-labor to construct a house he dubbed “Hardscrabble.” John Wilkes Booth would have murdered Ulysses S. Grant alongside Abe Lincoln, but Grant’s wife hated Lincoln’s wife. Therefore, Grant made up an excuse not to attend that famous performance of Our American Cousin (where Lincoln was assassinated). At the Battle of Cold Harbor, both Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee exhibited unspeakable cruelty, allowing their wounded soldiers to die horribly—wailing in the June hot sun—rather than admit defeat. (Once the white flag was raised, medics were allowed to collect the wounded.) In spite of all that, Grant wrote this letter to his young daughter.

More History! • Regarding the following book by Father Weinmann, one could easily write multiple doctoral dissertations on the history surrounding it. One could discuss the marvelous abilities of printers in those days. One could discuss the tensions of the Pontifical Committee for Gregorian Chant (1904-1913)—tensions which resulted in rival publications (French Vs. German). One could discuss what it was like to be a musician in those days: No electricity; Bad plumbing; No email; No airplanes; No cars; No air-conditioning; No modern medicine; and so forth. One could discuss the effect of WW1 on church music. One could discuss monastic life in France, at a time when French anti-clerical laws were banishing citizens from their own country—although the very same banished clerics came back to fight for their country! I could go on…

*  PDF Download • FR. WEINMANN’S VESPERALE (651 Pages)
—Published in 1915, with chord symbols, on five lines (but with Gregorian notation).

Karl Weinmann (1873-1929) • Father Weinmann (d. 1929) was a Catholic priest who obtained his doctorate—his dissertation (1905) was “Das Hymnarium Parisiense”—under Dr. Peter Wagner (d. 1931), director of the Gregorian Academy in Freiburg (Switzerland). Dr. Peter Wagner was a member of the Pontifical Commission on Gregorian Chant established by Pope Pius X for the creation of the Editio Vaticana. In the German PREFACE to the book (see above), Father Weinmann explains the little chord symbols.

A Good Use • This book by Father Weinmann is extremely helpful for those who (like myself) accompany plainsong on the pipe organ directly from the Gregorian notation. Try one of the more challenging Magnificat antiphons and see if you agree.

Explanation Video • How to read the “pure” Editio Vaticana (a.k.a. the “untouched” Vatican Edition), which is still the official rhythm of the Catholic Church:

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured, PDF Download Tagged With: Antiphonale on modern staves, Antiphonale Romanum Weinmann, Dr Peter Wagner Gregorian, Gregorian Chant, Gregorian Chant 5 Lines, Karl Weinmann 1873-1929, Karl Weinmann 5 line Antiphonale, Modern Notation Gregorian Chant, Vesperale By Weinmann, Vesperbuch Carolus Weinmann, Vesperbuch Karl Weinmann, Weinmann Vesperale on Modern Staves Last Updated: May 16, 2023

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —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

On October 14, 1968, our Holy Father, Pope Paul VI, in an address to the Roman liturgy Consilium, pointed out the abuse which wants to “remove the sacred from liturgical worship and replace the holy with the commonplace and the every-day.”

— Quoted by Roger Wagner in a 1970 article

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