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Views from the Choir Loft

Video • “Counting Gregorian Chant” … according to Dom Mocquereau’s Method

Jeff Ostrowski · January 14, 2023

HOSE WHO SEARCH archive.org for the name “Éthelbert Thibault” will come up with tons of search results. Father Éthelbert Thibault (1898-1953) had extensive musical training and taught at the University of Montreal (Québec), as did Dr. Eugène Lapierre, his friend and collaborator. Along with Clifford Bennett, Father Thibault produced the “Catholic Choirmasters Correspondence Course,” which included LP records with a seminary Schola Cantorum singing Gregorian chant. Those interested in the CLASSICAL SOLESMES METHOD will want to explore those (very copious) lectures and recordings. Some of the recordings are done according to Solfège, such as the Lauda Sion Sequence for the feast of Corpus Christi.

False Narrative • In an effort to mock the CLASSICAL SOLESMES METHOD, it was sometimes said in the past: “At the Abbey of Solesmes itself they don’t even use the Solesmes method!” That was supposed to be a devastating attack—but it was hardly that. The reality is, the 1-2-3 counting business was meant for amateur singers; it was never intended to be used by monks who sing the Divine Office for several hours each day. Therefore, it would be foolish to expect to hear the monks of Solesmes singing “1-2-3” instead of the words.

Counting “Jubiláte Déo” • Here’s an example—courtesy of Father Thibault—of how to “count” according to Dom Mocquereau’s method:

Example Chosen • The example in that video is the strenuous offertory (“Jubiláte Déo”) for the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany. Two years ago, I wrote extensively here and here about the feasts of Christmastide and Epiphany-tide, explaining how often the calendar has changed over the last 100+ years. In the second article, a chart is provided showing that editions prior to the Editio Vaticana—including the 1903 LIBER USUALIS by Dom Mocquereau—usually omitted the long beginning section. Incidentally, that Offertory also occurs on the 4th Sunday after Easter; otherwise I would not have been able to show how it looked in Mocquereau’s 1903 LIBER USUALIS. That’s because in those days the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany was always replaced by another feast, so Dom Mocquereau did not include that feast in his book.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Classical Solesmes Method, Dom Mocquereau, Dr Clifford Bennett, Éthelbert Thibault, Mocquereau Rhythmic Signs Last Updated: January 14, 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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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“Ways to receive Our Lord as King of the Universe…read and reflect on the Sunday Scriptures, plan your whole weekend around receiving your King, wear your best garments, spend time in quiet, kneel to receive Him, receive Him on the tongue, offer silent time of thanks after mass.”

— Most Rev. Bishop Strickland (15 December)

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