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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 • “Entrance Chant” in English (26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B)

Jeff Ostrowski · September 24, 2024

HE SEMINAR I offer online is called “Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster.” Each presentation lasts about two hours, and there are five separate components: MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, and FRIDAY. I devoted time during the first segment to accompanying plainsong on the pipe organ. Some people consider the topic “dry”—although I personally love it—so it seemed best to cover it on the first day when minds were fresh and alert. In that segmant, I explain how to avoid stagnant harmonizations which lack direction. A good bassline can help one avoid chant accompaniments which lack a sense of “progression” or “direction” or “arrival.” Consider the following excerpts from my accompaniment of the ENTRANCE CHANT for this coming Sunday, which is the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

*  PDF Download • Non-Stagnant Harmonization by Jeff Ostrowski
—Excerpt: ENTRANCE CHANT for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

(1 of 3) Should Chant Be Accompanied? • We use accompanied plainchant at my parish and also unaccompanied plainchant. Both are beautiful and have their place. Sometimes one hears the objection: “But Gregorian Chant wasn’t originally accompanied on the organ…” I answer that objection below.

*  PDF Download • Singer’s Score (Treble Clef)
*  PDF Download • ORGAN ACCOMPANIMENT (2 Pages)

Here’s the direct URL link.

(2 of 3) Should Chant Be Accompanied? • What should our response be when people say that CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”) wasn’t ‘originally’ accompanied on the pipe organ? First of all, is it a true statement? I suppose broadly speaking it’s a true statement. On the other hand, it depends which plainsong one has in mind. Many instances of Gregorian Chant—which are beloved and quite popular—were composed in the 19th century or the 20th century. For example, the chants of the feast of CHRIST THE KING first came into being in the 1920s. The chants for the feast of the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION were created in the 1880s. (I could give hundreds more examples.) In other words, at the time those Gregorian Chants were created accompaniment on the pipe organ was the norm in virtually every country. That held true even for services which weren’t supposed to be accompanied—such as the REQUIEM MASS.

(3 of 3) Should Chant Be Accompanied? • But there’s a more fundamental point: the Catholic Church develops organically. The pipe organ was originally a secular instrument. As result, it was forbidden in Catholic churches—but that’s no longer the case. Indeed, the Second Vatican Council declared as follows: “In the Latin Church the pipe organ is to be held in high esteem.” The special cope vestment worn by the celebrant at Mass was originally a raincoat—but that’s no longer the case. Candles and liturgical torches were originally there for the sole purpose of providing light when it was dark outside—but that’s no longer the case. Pointing out a reality found 1,000 years ago is not necessarily relevant. Therefore, when someone says CARMEN GREGORIANUM wasn’t originally accompanied, the best response might be: “And your point is?” 😀

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Carmen Gregorianum Last Updated: September 24, 2024

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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

    17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    All of the chants for 27 July 2025, which is the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), have been added to the feasts website, as usual under a convenient “drop down.” The COMMUNION ANTIPHON—both text and melody—are particularly beautiful and exceedingly ancient.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Jeff’s Mother Joins Our Fundraiser
    To assist our fundraiser, Mrs. Kathleen Ostrowski has drawn several beautiful sketches which she offers to all our readers free of charge. If you have a moment, I invite you download them at this link.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Errors in Latin: “17th Sund. Ordinary”
    The COMMUNION for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) contains several typos in the Jogues Illuminated Missal with regard to the Latin text. That particular COMMUNION ANTIPHON is extremely ancient, and the English Adaptation is utterly gorgeous. For the record, it’s normal for books to contain typos; even books by Father Fortescue and Monsignor Knox have errors. Books by Solesmes Abbey—surely among the finest ever produced—contain many printing errors. Click here to see a few examples of typos.
    —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

In the United States, Archbishop Kenrick had said in his “Moral Theology” that it was acceptable to sing the “Véni Sáncte Spíritus” before the sermon.

— Monsignor Schmitt (1977)

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