The New Texts: Implementation without Accompaniment

[Calum Cille]

(I’m mortified, CC, that you think my comment was a roundabout way of asking you to shut up about chant rhythm, because it wasn’t.

Well, you will make sweeping generalisations about "people who have axes to grind" in response to JW's wondering "given especially given the reservations in this thread", some of which were mine! Although I will reiterate that I think the ICEL chant editions in English are generally very good. It isn't a task I would relish. Being a proportionalist and therefore using a style which does not frequently cause word accent problems, I'm sure I would be criticised producing editions unfriendly to those who use a fairly universal equalist style which frequently causes word accent problems where there are none otherwise.

I hate the idea of uniformity of chant performance style, and applaud those like the Dominicans who attempt to retain their own.

Do the Dominicans attempt to 'retain' their own? I would differentiate between styles/genres of chant as exemplified by the bare musical text (which the Dominicans have) and the performance styles of those styles/genres of chant exemplified in the musical text. The singers in the following Youtube clip are using the usual equalist approach; the '-per' of 'super' takes on an unnecessary musical stress when they sing it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRzOsCF6gSw

I do find those who bang on about the onlie true & authentic waye of performing something a bit anachronistic and tiresome, tho’, but that’s a matter for another thread).

I would agree. It is very tiresome that nuancing equalists speak to their contemporaries as if we all should just accept their oratorical fancies as proven historical fact just because there are a lot of them and they all (want to) believe it. People like Adam Bartlett will actually wholly delete a posting on the Musica Sacra forum if it dare present an alternative view to that of Dom Columba Kelly on a minor point of analysis in a particular chant. I actually got abuse for it. I complained about the moderation and censorship to several people connected with the website and got no reply from the Church Music Association of America. I have a copy of the post if anyone wants to see it.

Arguments along the lines of "this issue is settled", "you are misrepresenting things", "who are you" and "do you know enough about this subject" are par for the course. Apparently your argument is not worthy of examination unless you provide a reference or qualification of some kind. The following link will show a fairly average response to someone (ie, me) when they dare speak against the mantra of "speech rhythm".

http://www.praytellblog.com/index.php/2 ... -notation/

The 'majority opinion equals God's truth' approach to scientific truth continues but, now, chant scholars are increasingly rejecting the view that Solesmes' interpretation of equalism is represented in the most ancient notations, which at last favours us proportionalists. The only real (but ambiguous) evidence that nuancing equalist-accentualists have is various styles of ancient notation which do not clearly in themselves specify either precise duration or lack of it and are therefore no proof of such an ahistorical theory. Once one consults the historical record about duration, we find proportionalism advocated in all ancient periods over various approaches to singing chant.

http://www.calumcille.com/griogair/9.html

Whether we want to adopt that style today or not is a different question but we should at least be able to agree on what is historical fact and what is clearly not, and stop dismissing non-nuancing proportionalists with apparent contempt rather than as equals with a very valid viewpoint.

[Southern Comfort]

I think the problem, on this and other forums, is when a person gives the impression that they know it all, and that they are incapable of taking on board other opinions which could in fact have greater validity than their own. It is very difficult to dialogue with people who are convinced that they have the fullness of the truth, and that no one else has.

However, the essential purpose of this and other forums is that we all learn from each other, not try to bury each other under supposedly superior knowledge. Posts which give the clear message that the writer knows more than you, so don't you dare debate with him or her, are not helpful in this regard, especially when it becomes increasingly clear that a little knowledge cloaked in acres of jargon is actually a rather dangerous thing. Nor are posts which ask how dare you question my view, or put down the dialoguer. It would be really good if we could all show some respect for the knowledge and experience and personal opinion that each one has to offer, however much we may disagree with that they have to say.

[musicus]

Thank you, SC. Now let us all, once again, return to the topic, if we have anything to add on the subject.

[NorthernTenor]

Thank you, musicus.

[FrGareth]

Now that we are in the Age of Implementation, time to revive this thread too.

In my parish, following a taster evening open to the whole parish, we have made a shortlist of settings which seemed manageable without accompaniment:

Mass of Christ the Savior – Dan Schutte
- judged likeable and singable, our probable choice for Ordinary Time

Heritage Mass - Owen Alstott
- judged very likeable and singable, except for the Gloria; our probable choice for Advent and Lent

Mass for Teresa of Calcutta - Bob Fabing, SJ
- this setting was selected for high days and holy days; it includes a refrain in the Gloria

Mass of Joy – Kathleen Demny
- a lively and straightforward setting, though some high notes are more suited to children's voices; the Gloria is strong on repetitions
(This is the chosen setting for the primary school in the parish, too - important to know the setting for joint events.)

So far we are not ready to use any of these. Since early July we have been using the Missal Chants for the Holy, Holy and Eucharistic Acclamation B. The Gloria has been sung to a 3-note 2-line psalm tone. I can't see us easily tackling the Missal Gloria without accompaniment.

Is anyone else out there experimenting unaccompanied?

fr G

[Southern Comfort]

The Psallite Mass is designed to be sung unaccompanied, though accompaniments are provided for those who want them. Available from Decani Music and Magnificat Music. [Edited to say that you mentioned this setting in another thread, so you must already know that! Sorry!]