Responsorial Psalm

Guest Author · September 1, 2015

The Responsorial Psalm: What You Never Knew!

…including recent documentation from the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy (USCCB).

Corpus Christi Watershed · June 25, 2014

Common Responsorial Psalm Texts

“Nevertheless, in order that the people may be able to join in the responsorial psalm more readily, some texts of responses and psalms have been chosen…”

Aurelio Porfiri · June 20, 2014

My Funeral

I am dead. And now here I am viewing my funeral. The people in attendance are not aware that I am looking at them.

Aurelio Porfiri · June 18, 2014

Responsorial Psalm: The “Gelineau Disease” ?

Someone might exclaim: “You also are doing this. We’ve seen your settings of the responsorial psalm!”

“Tonus Solemnior” • How old is it?

In the 1962 Missal, a section called “præfationes in tono solemniore” contains ornate melodies for the Preface. An article posted on the blog of the Church Music Association of America claims the tone comes from “the late 19th century” and said its elimination “is one of the very few good things which the post-Conciliar reform did for Gregorian chant.” The author said: “The Roman solemn preface tone is already beautiful enough, there was no need to give a more Romantic feel.”

Some have asked us whether the tonus solemnior comes from “the late 19th century.” It does not. Their author was wrong by at least 400 years. I have seen this tone in MSS from the 1400s—and it may go back even further. Here is an example from 1494AD. And here’s another from the 1400s. The FSSP priests use these tones on high feasts, and the effect is unforgettable.

—Jeff Ostrowski

6 January 2022 • Quick!

A short version of the INTROIT for the feast of the Epiphany has been added to the Saint René Goupil Gregorian Chant Website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Confusing Feasts of Christmas

Whether one considers the Missale Vetustum or the post-conciliar calendar—or even the 1908 calendar—the feasts which follow Christmas are very confusing. Last year I created this comparison chart. I hope you find it helpful. As far as I can tell, my chart is the first effort to carefully detail the changes made to post-Christmas feasts (unless we also count the rather basic one by Lauren Pristas).

—Jeff Ostrowski