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.”
“May our voices be the instruments through which God breathes new life into the ancient chants of the Catholic Church, decrepit through centuries of neglect and misinterpretation!” —Patrick Williams
“The problem with semiology is not that it neglects the rhythmic indications of the oldest sources, but rather that it overinterprets them, like the nuance theory on steroids.” —Patrick Williams
“The equalist plainchant of the High Middle Ages is as far removed from the rhythmic chant of the Early Middle Ages as the isometric chorales are from their rhythmic predecessors.” —Patrick Williams
“The original chant handed down from the Fathers of the Church has strict rhythmic proportions and a steady beat.” —Patrick Williams
Fascinating details from never-before-seen letters recently discovered in southern France!
… including a deliciously dazzling discovery you won’t want to miss!
There’s nothing necessarily authentic about the “authentic” rhythm.
The incomparable Andrew Hinkley kindly set it to plainchant notation.
You look upon these thousands of manuscripts in much the same way that I view the plainsong editions of Guillaume-Gabriel Nivers.
“It is important that these melodies should be performed in the manner that they were originally conceived as works of art.” —St. Pius X
A brief historical survey of free rhythm in plainchant, as practiced from the modern monastic foundation of Solesmes (1833) to the present.
Patrick Williams addresses points raised by Matthew Frederes and Jeff Ostrowski
Including three (3) professionally-scanned versions of the Kyriale, released here for the 1st time!
“I greatly appreciate your hospitality and willingness to engage in dialogue.” — Dom Concordia, OSB
A few further thoughts on what ways of singing chant are “allowed.”
The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!
But we’re under pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”
We don’t want to do that. We believe our website should remain free to all.
Our president has written the following letter:
President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)
