Liber Usualis

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rben20

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Hello Catholics,

I’m looking for a Liber Usualis but was wondering if the traditional community had any experience with the latest ones being published? I would like to purchase one as I will be studying Gregorian Chant with a local music director. Just curious if anyone has one they recommend. Thanks!
 
rben20 said:
Hello Catholics,

I’m looking for a Liber Usualis but was wondering if the traditional community had any experience with the latest ones being published? I would like to purchase one as I will be studying Gregorian Chant with a local music director. Just curious if anyone has one they recommend. Thanks!
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I have one; however I would recommend instead the Graduale Triplex from Solesmes. Although it is only for the OF Mass, in addition to square-note chant notation it also includes notations of Laon and St Gall, two ancient methods of chant notation (without a staff) and once you get good at chant, it they will help you interpret subtleties. You might however find them distracting at first.

Also the study of Gregorian chant is a dynamic science, and as more research is done, differences in the melodies will come up, some subtle, some not-so-subtle, as the monks of Solesmes continue their research of ancient manuscripts. The square-note notation isn’t in fact the real melody: it is a single interpretation of it at whatever point in time it was published; we have no idea what “real” Gregorian chant sounded like. There can be significant differences between St. Gall and Laon and other ancient manuscripts.

An example is the new monastic antiphonary. Many melodies changed based on this research (some changes are very controversial), so there are marked differences compared to the 1934 antiphonary.

Basically I keep my Liber Usualis out of historical curiosity. Many, many differences compared to current interpretation of chant, psalm tones, etc.
 
Hey thanks for your info! I was learning primarily for the EF but I’m sure there are parts I could use also for the OF. I was going to buy the one from St. Bonaventure Publications just not sure how it is. My music director owns a very old one but I am not sure who published it
 
rben20 said:
Hey thanks for your info! I was learning primarily for the EF but I’m sure there are parts I could use also for the OF. I was going to buy the one from St. Bonaventure Publications just not sure how it is. My music director owns a very old one but I am not sure who published it
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If you need one for the EF, get one for the EF.

The one from St. Bonaventure Publications is from before 1962 so if you attend 1962 liturgies (most of the EF form ones are unless you go to an “independent” Chapel/Church). It will only have a few Masses omitted as far as I know, but not enough to be a big deal. It still works and you will be happier having the texts you need and not having to piece things together. That would be a huge pain and you will be thankful you have one consolidated text if you spend that much money.
 
Thank you very much for the info that you all have given me. Very great info especially the edition information.
 
Just purchased the angelus press. Thank you for all the information you all have given me. I will definitely look at the online resources as well!
 
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