[Magdalen] Song of Mary

[Marion Thompson]

At my church we use _The Anglican Use Gradual_ and also plain chant for 
the psalms.  The congregation sings alternate verses of the psalm.  It 
is refreshing to find that this congregation does sing quite heartily 
whenever appropriate.

Marion, a pilgrim     ... today my sail I lift ....

On 1/20/2017 2:04 PM, Cantor03--- via Magdalen wrote:
>
>   
> Re:  Accompaniment of chant.
>   
> Solesmes has essentially recorded the entire Liber Usualis of  plainchant,
> and there isn't any accompaniment.  I sang the Latin Mass for years  in
> an always acapella group.  Imagine my surprise when a retiring
> O/C of the SSPX gave me a 10 volume set of Solesmes accompaniments
> for the Graduale Romanum.
>   
> Here was that holy of holy places responsible for the modern revival  of
> plainchant not only approving accompaniment of chant, but publishing
> keyboard accompaniments themselves.
>   
> It turns out that Solesmes only goes acapella for recordings.   Otherwise
> the monks sing with organ accompaniment.  At Fontgombault, chant
> is always accompanied.  When I've worshipped the Monastic  Offices
> with the Benedictines at Ettal near Oberammergau, the chant is
> always accompanied.
>   
> And as to Anglican Chant, you really haven't understood its  special
> qualities until you've heard a trained Anglican choir with a good
> organist illuminating the text.
>   
> I don't think congregations routinely sing Anglican (or plain) Chant
> very well, and except for short responsorials, I dislike chant being
> stuck in front of a congregation with the expectation they  will sing it.
> Just IMHO, of course.   YMMV.
>   
>   
>   
>   
> David S.
>   
>   
>   
>   
> David S.
>