Pothier Teaches Us to Sing an Antiphon
A look at Dom Pothier’s performance instructions for a communion antiphon reveals a great deal of complexity in this pre-Mocquereau interpretive approach.
melismatic morae vocis
The Official Chant Rhythm • “How Does It Sound?”
“The Vatican Edition … contains absolutely all that is needed for the exact rendition of the liturgical chant.” —Sacred Congregation of Rites (1911)
Gregorian Chant • “Its True & Authentic Rhythm”
For this coming Sunday (Passion Sunday), there’s only one “MMV” singers must observe—and I placed a little arrow above it.
The Responsa ad dubia and the Solesmes Chant Restoration
The early history of Solesmes plainchant research provides a historical parallel for responding to current Vatican liturgical rules.
PDF Download • Vespers Organ Accompaniment — “Our Lady of Guadalupe” (12 December)
Vatican II said: “Pastors must see to it that Vespers is celebrated in parishes on Sundays and the more solemn feasts” (SC §100).
8 August 2021 • “More on the Moræ”
If you look at the 1961 Solesmes Gradual for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost, you will see that somebody in the 1960s was trying to figure out the “melismatic moræ vocis” (a.k.a. “Vaticana white notes”) which we have spoken of so frequently on this blog.
“Slanty Wampus” Doesn’t Count
From one of my composition teachers…
“Old Solesmes” Method • What’s That?
I recently conducted an experiment…with surprising results.
The First Time We’ve Ever Done This Correctly!
Abbot Pothier included a section called “De Ritibus Servandis In Cantu Missae.”
PDF Download • Several Useful Plainsong Books
“Variae Preces” (1892) — “Cantus Varii” (1902) — “Cantus Varii” (1928) — “Cantus Selecti” (1957)
Dom Pothier • “To The Eyes And To The Ears”
For years, I couldn’t understand this business about “the eyes and the ears.” What did Pothier mean? Then it hit me. • Topics include Dom Joseph Pothier, the mora vocis, Abbot Pothier’s brother (Dom Alphonse Pothier), Dom Lucien David, Dom Paul Jausions, and a truly magnificent story about Pope Pius X and Abbot Pothier, which is essential reading+
The “Mora Vocis” • What is that?
The “Pre-NOH” editions have quite an idiosyncratic way of lengthening the neumes. • Fulsome illustrations are included examining and explaining the mora vocis of the Vatican edition; also mentioned is Dom André Mocquereau, Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val, and Pothier’s Liber Gradualis (1883)+
Extremely Rare! • 1908 Solesmes Graduale (PDF Download)
I’ve been searching for this book for twenty years! • For the first time in history, the Graduale Romanum from 1908 (with Solesmes rhythmic markings) has been scanned and uploaded • Includes copious and detailed information about the rhythm of the Editio Vaticana (“Vatican Edition”) you won’t find anywhere else+
“Morae Vocis” acc. to the Vatican Edition
The «Kyriale» contains very few melismatic morae.
Sloppy 1953 Schwann
The “white notes” (as Dr. Joseph Lennards called them) are quite sloppy, which really took me by surprise.