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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

“Text-Informed Performance Practice in Chant”

Patrick Williams · June 18, 2023

CCORDING TO THE RUBRICS for the chant of the Mass, there are two ways of singing the full gradual chant: “Two [cantors] sing the Verse of the Gradual, and, after the final asterisk, the full choir finishes it; or else, if the responsorial method is preferred, the full choir repeats the first part of the Responsory after the Verse is finished by the cantors or cantor.” The first of these two methods is more prevalent by far. In The Chants of the Vatican Gradual, Dom Dominic Johner writes the following regarding the gradual for the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist:

1. The Lord put forth his hand, 2. and touched my mouth, 3. and said to me. At the end of the third phrase we are prompted to ask the question: What did God say? A colon was formerly placed after the words “said to me,” and the Alleluia with its verse was then considered their logical continuation. The fact is, however, that Gradual and Alleluia do not combine to form one whole; they are each assigned to a different mode, at least in the present case. Moreover, the words of Zachary as contained in the Alleluia-verse could hardly be ascribed to our Lord to whom the words of the Gradual refer. The term “Gradual responsory” implies what the answer to the above question will embody. After dixit mihi, the text Priúsquam . . . sanctificávi te of the Gradual should be repeated. Needless to say, this sequence was alien to the mind of the prophet Jeremias. (p. 394)

In Gregorian Chant according to the Manuscripts, Dom Gregory Murray notes the following:

The Gradual, as such, is responsorial in form. That is to say, after the solo verse has been sung, the first section (the respond) should be repeated. Although this is not the current practice, it is permitted, and there are some Graduals in which the words lose all meaning unless the repeat is made. For example, the Gradual Priusquam (for the Birthday of St John the Baptist) has a verse which ends ‘et dixit mihi’ (and he said to me). Without the repeat of the respond this hardly makes sense. (p. 47)

The following note is printed in the third edition of the Saint Edmund Campion Missal:

The choir always has the option to repeat the Gradual’s refrain section—as Abbat Pothier made clear in 1908 when the Editio Vaticana was published under Pope Saint Pius X—although this repeat in seldom taken, even in monasteries. For this particular Gradual, taking the repeat is recommended to complete the phrase “and said to me.” (p. 410)

The Newer Books • In the Graduale Novum, the opening text is Prius quam, not Priúsquam. The stress is on the first syllable, not the second.

This revision is consistent not only with many ancient sources, but also with the neumes, as the isolated note coincides with an unstressed syllable rather than the accented syllable. I was pleased to see a rubric included immediately after this chant in the 1974 Graduale Romanum that says, “Repetitur Priúsquam usque ad versum” (Priúsquam is repeated up to the verse), which echoes the Ordo Cantus Missae: “GR. Priusquam reincipitur post versum” (The gradual Priusquam is begun again after the verse). Although we who sing for the traditional Latin Mass are certainly not bound by these rubrics, they are perfectly sensible. Singing straight through may fulfill the letter of the law, but the older responsorial method is more in accord with a right understanding of this text. Let us sing with the spirit and also with understanding! (1 Corinthians 14:15)

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: June 19, 2023

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    New Bulletin Article • “21 September 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 21 September 2025) discusses some theological items—supported by certain verses in ancient Catholic hymns—and ends by explaining why certain folks become delirious with jealousy when they observe feats by Monsignor Ronald Knox.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!
    It’s always amusing to see old diocesan newspapers—in huge capital letters—advertising the Cheapest Catholic Paper in the United States. The correspondent who sent this to me added: “I can think of certain composers, published by large companies in our own day, who could truthfully brag about the most tawdry compositions in the world!” I wonder what she could have meant by such a cryptic comment…
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies
    Along with so many others, I have deep respect for Dom Gregory Gregory Murray, who produced this clever harmonization (PDF) of “O SANCTISSIMA.” It’s always amazed me that Dom Gregory—a truly inspired composer—was so confused when it came to GREGORIAN CHANT. Throughout his life, he published contradictory statements, veering back-and-forth like a weather vane. Toward the end of his life, he declared: “I see clearly that the need for reform in liturgical music arose, not in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a thousand years earlier—in the 8th and 9th centuries, or even before that. The abuses began, not with Mozart and Haydn, but with those over-enthusiastic medieval musicians who developed the elaborate and flamboyant Gregorian Chant.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“I have, on the other hand, retained several more or less traditional tunes, absolutely valueless and without merit from a musical point of view, but which seem to have become a necessity if a book is to appeal—as I hope this one will—to the varied needs of various churches.”

— A. Edmonds Tozer (1905)

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