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Views from the Choir Loft

“Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary” • (Hymn)

Jeff Ostrowski · May 19, 2023

Y COLLEAGUE, Patrick Williams, has given me permission to share with our audience a recording his choir made of “Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary.” This famous metrical hymn is known as THE HYMN OF SAINT CASIMIR. In 2015, I wrote a massive article about this hymn’s provenance. I won’t repeat what I said there, because this hymn has such an elaborate history it could easily serve as the basis for a dozen dissertations. Roman Catholic translators—who changed the hymn into English, Polish, Greek, French, Spanish, Italian, and Hungarian—miraculously kept the original rhyme scheme!

“Non Sint In Vobis Schismata” • Readers may have noticed I don’t necessarily “see eye to eye” with Mæstro Williams when it comes to plainsong rhythm. We have attempted to share these arguments with readers in the Gregorian Rhythm Wars series. Musicians often struggle to remain charitable when they have disagreements. We’re attempting to demonstrate that it’s possible to disagree without being disagreeable—please pray for us! In any event, it’s crucial to find areas of agreement where possible. I would like to say that I think Patrick’s recording (below) is praiseworthy:

*  Mp3 Download • “Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary”
—Live recording directed by Patrick Williams.

Other Sources • Abbat Pothier’s Latin/French “Liber Usualis” (1896) includes a plainsong version of this hymn. There can be more than one good harmonization for a hymn melody. The Brébeuf Hymnal harmonization (#768) is excellent. [It can be found in the organ accompaniment volume or the choral supplement.] I’m not sure which harmonization Patrick used. The Brébeuf Hymnal also includes a “text only version,” meaning you can sing the lyrics to a different tune. By the way, someone in Spain has made a nice recording of the Latin version, and it’s interesting to hear how the singer pronounces the letter “G.” The metrical tune commonly chosen has various names, including “SUNRISE” and “LAUDES MARIAE.” Believe it or not, the hymn tune called “DAILY DAILY” is a completely different melody.

Laudate Hymnal (1942) • The Laudate Hymnal (1942) by Father Andrew Green, OSB, uses the “LAUDES MARIAE” melody for a Christmas text:

*  PDF Download • “Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary” (TUNE)

Mediator Dei Hymnal (1955) • Joseph Vincent Higginson, in his “Mediator Dei Hymnal” (1955)—which he published under the fake name of “Cyr De Brant”—adds a passing tone. Otherwise, the melody is identical.

*  PDF Download • “Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary” (TUNE)

New Saint Basil Hymnal (1958) • When it comes to “The New Saint Basil Hymnal” (1958) published by Edward C. Currie, I have serious doubts about the athletic line given to the bass section towards the end:

*  PDF Download • “Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary” (TUNE)

Dr. Theodore Marier Hymnal • Notice how Dr. Theodore Marier uses the “LAUDES MARIAE” melody for two different texts, and neither is the Hymn of Saint Casimir:

*  PDF Download • “Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary” (TUNE)

Conclusion • It’s important to cultivate a love for Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Jesuit Martyrs of North America—Brébeuf, Lalemant, Jogues, Goupil, Lalande, Daniel, Garnier, and Chabanel—each had a strong, ardent, powerful devotion to the Blessed Mother. Their main base of operations was named in her honor: “Sainte-Marie among the Hurons.”

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Hymn of Saint Casimir, Omni Die Dic Mariae Last Updated: May 19, 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

    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
    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

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

“The scholar who lives only for his subject is but the fragment of a man; he lives in a shadow-world, mistaking means for ends.”

— Msgr. Ronald Knox (1888-1957)

Recent Posts

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