Liturgy of the Hours: The Mundelein Psalter

[Tepeyac]

I’ve been thinking of buying a copy of the Mundelein Psalter, which is the psalter of the Liturgy of the Hours in english set to chant, using official, approved texts. I believe it’s basically Morning and Evening Prayer, and maybe Night Prayer. The website for the book is here:

  [Mundelein Psalter](http://www.usml.edu/liturgicalinstitute/projects/psalter/psalter%20home%202007.htm)

Sound Files here:

Sound Files

Does anyone have experience using this book? Did you like it? Is the music easy to learn if you have little or no musical knowledge?

Also I read somewhere that the tones used are those of St. Meinrad’s Archabbey. Is that correct and if so how close are they to the regular gregorian tones?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Tepeyac]

So I take it no one here has used this book? That’s too bad. I was hoping for some feedback. I hope someone finds the links useful at least.

 

[AJV]

I’ve been thinking of buying a copy of the Mundelein Psalter, which is the psalter of the Liturgy of the Hours in english set to chant, using official, approved texts. I believe it’s basically Morning and Evening Prayer, and maybe Night Prayer. The website for the book is here:

  [Mundelein Psalter](http://www.usml.edu/liturgicalinstitute/projects/psalter/psalter%20home%202007.htm)

Sound Files here:

Sound Files

Does anyone have experience using this book? Did you like it? Is the music easy to learn if you have little or no musical knowledge?

Also I read somewhere that the tones used are those of St. Meinrad’s Archabbey. Is that correct and if so how close are they to the regular gregorian tones?

Thanks for any help.

I’ve not used it, but if you want, I know someone who does. I believe he might even be a member of the forum (although posting rarely)

 

[drforjc]

You might find discussion on it if you search through the archives at The New Liturgical Movement blog.
I’ve also considered purchasing it but have not yet committed to spending 50 or so USD for it. I might yet do so at some point.

 

[RJJ]

I just saw the post re the Mundelein Psalter. I use it every day to pray (chant) morning and evening prayer. I’d be glad to help you. Are you familiar with the regular 4 vol Liturgy of the Hours books or with the 1 volume Christian prayer? Also, I hate to tell you this, but this will be easier if you have a copy of the Mundelein Psalter before I try to help you.

The Mundelein Psalter is chant, but not Gregorian chant, although the hymns tunes are (I think). This Psalter is none-the-less a very good introduction to singing the office and will keep you going for years to come. It is in English, not Latin, although the hymn texts include the Latin and the tunes correspond to the Latin text. The English translations, therefore, have to be a little “free” in order to fit the meter.

Having used the Mundelein Psalter for just over a year now, I find it very hard to simply recite the office. It just needs to be sung!

 

[RJJ]

I’d better clarify what I just said…

The Mundelein Psalter uses approved English transaltions for everything but the hymns, for which there are no approved translations. (There really isn’t a standard set of Hymns.) Here’s the note from the Mundelein Psalter web site:

"The Latin hymns are taken from the second typical edition (editio typica altera), of the Liturgy of the Hours. (The “typical” edition is the Vatican’s official Latin version.) Most of these hymns come from revered, ancient texts composed by the Fathers and theologians of the Church. The hymns are appropriate to the specific hours and should be sung in their entirety.

The English language translations used in The Mundelein Psalter come from a variety of sources, most notably the Sisters of St. Cecilia’s Abbey on the Isle of Wight who have graciously provided the texts."

 

[Tepeyac]

RJJ, thank you for your reply!

Like another poster said I’m not yet comitted to spending the 50 dollars, more or less, but I’m wondering if it would be worth it. I’ve become interested in singing the office and I’ve come across several things online but they been mostly Anglican resources and usually based on the Book of Common Prayer or the pre-Vatican II Benedictine office. I was hoping for something Catholic for the current Liturgy of the Hours.

I’ve used the 1 vol. Christian Prayer in the past but I actually use a latin american edition of the 4 volume Liturgy of the Hours. I’ve become interested in singing the office but I haven’t found anything in spanish that’s really apealing (with one exception, sort of*) so I’ve been looking around for something available in english.

Could you tell me if the music is easy to pick up? Would this be difficult for someone with very basic music skills? How long does it usually take you to chant an offie? Also, is there a lot of Proper material or is it mostly just the ordinary?

Thank you for any advice!

** the exception is an edition of the responsorial psalms in spanish set to gregorian chant that I saw for sale online. It’s meant for Mass but I might be able to adapt it to the office, if I can teach myself to read modern notation (though I can sort of make out chant square notes). *

 

[RJJ]

Let me know how much music you do know and I will do what I can to get you started. The Mundelein Psalter makes it pretty easy. It might be easier to do this via e-mail because I will send you some mp3 snippets. It’s a lot easier just to hear the modes than it is for me to describe them. You can learn the hymns using the audio files on the Mundelain Psalter web site.
–Richard