Society of Saint Gregory

Well, come along - I'm sure there will be some wrinklies there too!!

Hi Tsume. We'd be delighted to welcome you to the cathedral for the Chant Day. Regarding youngsters, there will be about 60 of them at the Chant Day doing a workshop on chants of the ordinary suitable for children so we're doing our bit with the young too! And you are correct - there is a discount ...

Dear all A shameless plug I'm afraid. We are hosting a Gregorian Chant day at St George's RC Cathedral, Southwark on 17 June 2006. The day will involve various classes designed to meet the various abilities and levels of experience of all who participate in the event, and will be led by some of the ...

Well, I think that most people would know what I mean when I refer to the 'Old Mass' - and a few hundred years seems pretty old to me! Yes, I refer to the Mass of Pius V. We could quibble all day about how old things have to be to be referred to as old!! In any case, certainly in England the 'Old ...

Very beautiful Gwyn. The Trinitarian emphasis at the offertory was one present in the Old Mass too. There is a beautiful prayer just before the Orate fratres which is well worth reading.

Presbyter, you have hit the nail on the head and expressed yourself far more eloquently on the subject than I ever could!! I agree – moreover, if my understanding is correct, the offertory was (in days gone by) one of the parts of the Mass that contained many beautiful prayers (albeit priestly pray ...

I beg your pardon. You are quite right - it is indeed Musicam Sacram. I am getting my documents muddled!

Having had time to read Presbyter’s comments more carefully, I would say that what we are trying to do is the exact OPPOSITE of the simple slotting of metrical hymns into the celebration of Mass - Beginning, Offertory, Communion (lets have two here because there's time) and End. That is why the boo ...

Thanks for your comments Presbyter. However, if we included all this we would end up with a 3 volume set! However, as I said, there will be a psalter, and the dialogue parts of the mass will be included in the Order of Mass itself - in English and Latin. Alleluias and other acclamations can be ...

that is, ahem, the Ordinary of the Mass, as we used to say. I'm a bit puzzled by this, too. I've seen it writ that it's not called that any longer, but Musicam Sacram uses the terminology and it's a very convenient shorthand... what's the 'correct' version now? A specific instance set to music ...

Oooohh!! Ouch! What's a question mark between friends?!?

[One good reason for ordering a hymnal liturgically is that it is not unknown for the above to be sung in honour of Our Lady.. ]

Quite!![/quote]

Dear all I have been so overwhelmed by the number of responses I have received regarding this venture that I have given up trying to deal with each one as they arrive!! Thanks for your helpful remarks – I have learnt something from each and every response. Here is a series of answers to some of you ...

Sidvicius. Many thanks! Good point. This will be 1 melody/hymn per page, rest assured!! Nick

Whilst I agree to an extent with Benevenio's comments, I think that most people can remember the numbers of frequently used hymns. Sad person that I am, I manage to remember various hymn numbers from various different books - so much so that I bus route numbers in London are referred to as Soul of ...