Online Edition – February 2007
Vol. XII, No. 10
Chant Resources for Parishes
“Good music helps to promote prayer, to raise the minds of people to God and to give people a taste of the goodness of God…. Gregorian Chant is marked by a moving meditative cadence. It touches the depths of the soul. It shows joy, sorrow, repentance, petition, hope, praise or thanksgiving, as the particular feast, part of the Mass or other prayer may indicate. It makes the Psalms come alive. It has a universal appeal which makes it suitable for all cultures and peoples.”
— Cardinal Arinze
from Language in the Roman Rite Liturgy: Latin and Vernacular
Keynote address to Gateway Liturgical Conference, November 2006
(see www.adoremus.org/CardinalFrancisArinze.html)
For those interested in exploring the use of chants, here are some useful resources:
The Adoremus Hymnal — contains five Latin chant Masses, and five English settings, a core collection of hymns in both English and Latin. A set of 4 CDs with recordings of all Masses and one verse of each hymn is available. Hymnal info: www.adoremus.org/Hymnal1.html.
“Jubilate Deo” — provided by the Vatican as a “minimum repertoire” of Gregorian chant for every parish, includes Mass chants and selected hymns. See new section on Adoremus web site (www.adoremus.org) for printable music (from The Adoremus Hymnal) plus mp3 files. (Booklet format of Jubilate Deo is available online from St. Cecelia Schola Cantorum —www.ceciliaschola.org/notes/jubilatedeo.html).
Graduale Romanum (The Roman Gradual) — the complete set of Gregorian Mass chants in Latin, in square notation. Published by the Abbey of Solesmes, the book may be ordered from CanticaNova (www.canticanova.com).
Graduale Simplex (The Simple Gradual) — a collection of simpler Mass Chants in Latin, in square notation (neumes). This collection is an official alternative for smaller parishes, published by the Libreria Editrice Vaticana, and is also available from CanticaNova.
English Chant Project — a work in progress by Father Samuel Weber, OSB, in anticipation of new English texts for Mass. Permission to use copyrighted musical settings and texts are granted to participants in this project on a “for educational purposes only, not for profit or resale” basis. (Permission to use copyrighted texts of the current Sacramentary and Lectionary must be obtained by individuals from the copyright holders). Participants receive copies of this work, and agree to provide feedback that will aid in producing a full version when new translations are approved. (See samples on facing page.)
To participate in this project, contact:
The Rev. Samuel F. Weber, OSB,Wake Forest University Divinity School, Box 7719 – Winston-Salem, NC 27109-7719. Ph: 336-758-4289; E-mail [email protected].
Mundelein Psalter — the first complete one-volume edition containing the approved English-language texts of the Liturgy of the Hours with Psalms that are pointed for the chanting of the Divine Office. The music consists of simple yet beautiful Gregorian-based modes composed for this Psalter. Developed at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary and edited by Father Douglas Martis, the new Psalter is being published by Liturgy Training Publications (available April 2007).
Communio Project — The Church Music Association of America (CMAA) has made Communion chants for Sundays and Holy Days available on its website, Musica Sacra. To view this and other chant resources, visit www.musicasacra.com.
Letter to Editor!
About the Pueri Cantores – Young Singers
In “Language in the Roman Rite Liturgy: Latin and Vernacular”, Cardinal Arinze’s keynote address to the Gateway Liturgical Conference (published in Adoremus Bulletin December 2006-January 2007), he made reference to Pueri Cantores and Pope Benedict’s endorsement of its work.
This wonderful organization encourages young Catholics to sing the great liturgical music of the Church. Young choristers singing in parish and school choirs are invited to become members to encourage one another and participate in local, national and international Choir Festivals. At the Gateway Liturgical Conference 750 choristers sang at a Festival Mass celebrated in the Cathedral of St. Louis. I doubt that most of those young people will forget that experience! Pueri Cantores offers a alternative to the “hot dog and hamburger” music that we have been feeding our younger generation of Catholics.
As the Episcopal Moderator of the American Federation Pueri Cantores, Cardinal George of Chicago, has said, “Though many years have passed, I remember singing in the Paulist Choir in Chicago as a boy. Worshipping God in song gave me a great joy and satisfaction. It can give the same to singers and their supporters, as well as their listeners.”
For information about the American Federation Pueri Cantores please contact the national office, 615 East Chapman Avenue, Suite 200, Orange, CA. 92866. An informational DVD and printed information is available.
Father David M. Dye
Board Chairman, AFPC
Response:
Those who attended the Festival Mass at the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica will not soon forget these inspiring young choristers! AB readers will be hearing more about the Pueri Cantores soon. Meanwhile, we are pleased to be able to publish this letter with basic contact information.
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