Holy See Endorses Parish Book Of Chant

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The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, the office of the Holy See responsible for supervising the observance and application of the dispositions of Pope Benedict XVI’s motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, has endorsed The Parish Book of Chant, published by the Church Music Association of America (CMAA).

In a letter dated December 4, 2008, to Jeffrey Tucker, managing editor of the quarterly journal Sacred Music, Msgr. Camille Perl, vice president of the pontifical commission, observed that The Parish Book of Chant “ may serve both forms of the Roman Rite admirably.”

The full text of Msgr. Perl’s letter reads:

“We wish to acknowledge receipt of the material which you kindly sent: Psallite Sapienter, The Parish Book of Chant, and the fall 2008 number of Sacred Music.

These are high quality publications and we are particularly pleased to note that The Parish Book of Chant may serve both forms of the Roman Rite admirably. This, as you point out, is a very strong point in favor of this attractively presented collection of chants useful for choir and congregation. Indeed, Gregorian Chant is the common heritage of all Catholics of the Roman Rite as is effectively indicated by Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 116.

“We are sure that Psallite Sapienter will also be a helpful tool for choir directors and organists who must provide appropriate music for the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

“Wishing you and all of your collaborators a Blessed Advent and Christmas season, I remain, Sincerely yours in Christ,”

Rev. Msgr. Camille Perl
Vice President

The Parish Book of Chant is a unique resource for choirs, priests, families, and congregations who seek to sing and understand the universal musical tradition of Catholic people. It is a 6” x 9” hardbound volume, 192 pages, with a very beautiful cover and outstanding print quality, available for $ 14.00 per copy.

It has been developed with the hope of bringing to life, in every parish and home, what the Second Vatican Council called a “treasure of inestimable value,” the Church’s treasury of Gregorian Chant.

It was compiled and expertly typeset by Richard Rice (Communio) with the assistance of the CMAA and many people involved in sacred music in the United States.

It is available from Aquinas and More books. If you have questions or special requests, call the publications department of the CMAA at 334-703-0884.

Among its features: It contains a complete order of Mass for both the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite and the Extraordinary Form, in side-by-side Latin and English. The Ordos include the sung responses of the people and celebrant. In this respect, it serves as an ideal resource for parishes that use both forms or simply hope to emphasize the relationship between them.

It contains a large Kyriale, which is a collection of chants that make up the “Ordinary” of the Mass: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei. These are the main sung parts of the Mass that are used throughout the year and the parts that all people are invited to learn and sing. This includes the four full Credos in addition to many Mass settings that have been beloved for the dominant part of Catholic history all over the world.

It collects 71 Latin chants, with English translations, that are for occasional use in Mass in various seasons of the year, such as hymns for Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, as well as Marian hymns and chants for funerals and other occasions. These are hymns that constitute the most serviceable of the repertory, have inspired composers for ten centuries, and have been in the minds and hearts of Catholics for generation after generation.

All music is set on four- line staffs with newly typeset neumes that make the music crystal-clear for singing. The music also includes the traditional Solesmes markings to assist in rhythmic understanding and interpretation.

It includes a seven-page tutorial on singing chant that is invaluable for the beginner and can also teach the more advanced singer. It teaches understanding of signs, melodies, style, rhythms, and modes, all in a very brief section at the back of the book.

Additional features include the order of service for benediction, Gospel canticles, litanies, and Alleluias for both forms. These features were chosen with the parish experience in mind. There is no existing resource that combines them into a single volume: the Mass, the people’s music, tutorial, and translations. Again, this is not a reprint but a newly created book that offers the core of the people’s Gregorian music.

This book is certainly the most valuable resource yet produced to help Gregorian Chant assume its “pride of place” in Catholic liturgy.

This item 8684 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org