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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • 1909 “Modern Notation” Gradual (Extremely Rare) — 712 Pages

Jeff Ostrowski · January 25, 2023

HE TRUTH IS STRANGER than fiction. For example, it’s fascinating how JACKIE GLEASON couldn’t read a note of music, yet produced 100+ albums and still holds the record for the longest stay on the Billboard Top Ten Charts. Gleason’s first ten albums sold over a million copies each! Something else I find endlessly fascinating is how plainsong’s Melismatic Mora Vocis (which I have referenced so often) was completely forgotten for a century, due to the popularity of the rhythmic modifications Dom Mocquereau imposed on the official edition. It’s as if nobody was curious about the thousands of elongations added by Dom Mocquereau. Indeed, after one realizes what Dom Mocquereau did, it becomes impossible to “unsee” the bizarre way his additions were squeezed in, since the Vatican made it clear to Dom Mocquereau—by means of a letter dated 6 September 1906—that he wasn’t allowed to change any of the blank spaces.

No Condemnation • In spite of what some have claimed, I do not “condemn” those who follow the Mocquereau rhythm (as I did for more than 20 years). At the same time, we should understand what took place. In my opinion, we have no obligation to “conceal” or “suppress” the truth. For this reason, I have attempted to let people know why some choose to sing the Editio Vaticana the way it was intended to be sung by those who—at the behest of Pope Saint Pius X—created it.

Perfect Conformity • The 1909 SCHWANN EDITION is one of the most faithful books when it comes to the official rhythm. I’m tempted to say it is more faithful than any other book, but Father Mathias is also quite faithful, and so is the LEMMENSINSTITUUT faculty. Corpus Christi Watershed has paid to have this incredibly rare book professionally scanned:

*  PDF Download • 1909 GRADUALE Modern Notation (712 pages)
—40.4MB • Epitome E Graduali (Schwann) • Scanned professionally.

42970-Schwann-Modern-Notation-Epitome-E-Graduali-004
42970-Schwann-Modern-Notation-Epitome-E-Graduali-003
42970-Schwann-Modern-Notation-Epitome-E-Graduali-002
42970-Schwann-Modern-Notation-Epitome-E-Graduali-001

The technical title is Epitome E Graduali, because it’s not “complete” inasmuch as certain items (such as Graduals and Tracts) have been simplified. This book is also known as Römisches Gradualbuch. I can’t imagine how many hours of painstaking work were required to produce such a book.

Can You Help Us?

We Desperately Need Donations! • I believe so strongly in what we are doing, I’m not ashamed to beg. Obtaining these rare books (and having them professionally scanned) has required thousands of dollars. We have more books to release, but more are waiting to be scanned. When we scan them “in house” the quality suffers—although the file size is much larger (which is inconvenient for our readers). That’s why we prefer to have these books scanned professionally. The online library our organization has created is about 24x larger than the UCLA music library (in terms of liturgical books) … and you can access all the books completely free of charge!

Can you please make a donation right now?

*  Donate to Corpus Christi Watershed • Via CORNERSTONE

Thank you for your consideration, and God bless!

Some books we have recently obtained and scanned:

*  PDF Download • Weinmann Gradual on Five Lines! (692 pages)
*  PDF Download • Wagner’s “Kyriale Accompaniment” (138 pages)
*  PDF Download • 1908 Solesmes Graduale Romanum (1,077 pages)
*  PDF Download • 1920 Plainsong Booklet on 5 Lines! (326 pages)
*  PDF Download • 1908 Schwann Graduale Romanum (1,129 pages)
*  PDF Download • 1942 Nova Organi Harmonia Ad Graduale (343 pages)
*  PDF Download • Msgr. Nekes “Kyriale Organ Accompaniment” (175 pages)
*  PDF Download • 1905 Lecoffre KYRIALE (95 pages)
*  PDF Download • 1913 “VESPERALE” by Schwann (954 pages)
*  PDF Download • Springer’s Gradual in Modern Notation (870 pages)
*  PDF Download • 1915 “Gregorian Vesperale” on Five Lines! (651 Pages)

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured, PDF Download Tagged With: Abbot Joseph Pothier of Solesmes, Editio Vaticana, Lalande Online Library, melismatic morae vocis, Mocquereau Rhythmic Signs Last Updated: February 23, 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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    (Part 2) • Did they simplify this hymn?
    Choirs love to sing the resplendent tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1929, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. Their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1929 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. As always, the Germans added an organ INTRODUCTION. For the record, I posted a different harmonization a few months ago which was downloaded more than 2,000 times.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Lectionary Comparison Chart”
    Various shell corporations (in an effort to make money selling Sacred Scripture) have tinkered with the LECTIONARY texts in a way that’s shameful. It’s no wonder Catholics in the pews know so few Bible passages by heart. Without authorization, these shell corporations pervert the official texts. Consider the Responsorial Psalm for the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If you download this PDF comparison chart you’ll notice each country randomly omits certain sections. Such tinkering has gone on for 60+ years—and it’s reprehensible.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Monsignor Klaus Gamber Speaks!
    An interesting quotation from the eminent liturgist, Monsignor Klaus Gamber (d. 1989): “According to canon law, a person’s affiliation with a particular liturgical rite is determined by that person’s rite of baptism. Given that the liturgical reforms of Pope Paul VI created a de facto new rite, one could assert that those among the faithful who were baptized according to the traditional Roman rite have the right to continue following that rite; just as priests who were ordained according to the traditional Ordo have the right to exercise the very rite that they were ordained to celebrate.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Abbat Pothier’s great accomplishment is having returned to the Catholic world—along with the traditional melody—the traditional way of performing it. The foundations laid by this providential man have been accepted by all those who practice Gregorian chant.”

— Dr. Peter Wagner (Commissionis Pontificiæ Gregorianæ Membrum)

Recent Posts

  • Children’s Repertoire • Mueller’s Recommendations
  • PDF Download • “Marian Antiphon Booklet” (4 pages) + Five Rhythmic Considerations
  • False Accusations
  • (Part 2) • Did they simplify this hymn?
  • PDF • “Lectionary Comparison Chart”

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