Music Question: Litaniae Sanctorum

[William777]

Ever since I saw PJPII’s funeral, where they chanted the Litany of the Saints, I’ve wanted to learn the piece in its entirety - music and words.

I happened across an almost exact version of it on YouTube.

youtube.com/watch?v=CKWRuFjIRFo&feature=related

I looked it up in Liber Usualis, but I couldn’t find it.

Is there a place where I can get the sheet music?

I’m assuming the chant music will not have an organ accompaniment to it, but I would like to know if I can somehow work that in too?

Thanks and God Bless,

wm

 

[YoungTradCath]

One major difference you will find is that the Litany goes, “Ora pro nobis,” pray for us. At John Paul’s funeral, it was changed to, “Ora pro eo,” pray for him.

 

[William777]

I found it on page 198 of the Missale Romanum 1962:

media.musicasacra.com/pdf/missale62.pdf

But it doesnt describe the organ, which may well just be improvised, as it isnt a very hard organ accompaniment. I didnt expect the Missale to have the organ in it though.

The other problem is the chant described in the Missal Romanum doesnt have everything in the video. Around 4:40 in the video they start chanting in a different manner that seems to depart, and then they eventually come back to the main chant, and then at 6:00 and 7:00 they start to do some stuff I cant find in the book.

Anyway, any help much appreciated.

Thanks and Blessings,

wm

 

[YoungTradCath]

I found it on page 198 of the Missale Romanum 1962:

media.musicasacra.com/pdf/missale62.pdf

But it doesnt describe the organ, which may well just be improvised, as it isnt a very hard organ accompaniment. I didnt expect the Missale to have the organ in it though.

The other problem is the chant described in the Missal Romanum doesnt have everything in the video. Around 4:40 in the video they start chanting in a different manner that seems to depart, and then they eventually come back to the main chant, and then at 6:00 and 7:00 they start to do some stuff I cant find in the book.

Anyway, any help much appreciated.

Thanks and Blessings,

wm

There may be some actually composed organ accompaniments, but I imagine they are rare. It is no surprise that there is no music for the organ in the Missal; Missals never contain accompaniment music, for it is all Gregorian. In my experience they are usually improvised. A regular, unaccompanied Litany, like the one in the Missal, is hauntingly beautiful as well.

The Litany of the Saints according to 1962 books is longer than the one according to the 2002 Latin books or 2011 English translations. It also contains different saints. Your best bet is to simply look in the 2002 Latin missal, or better yet, the Graduale Romanum. It will be in both. However, I am not sure if the particular Litany used at this funeral is different even from the Litany in the 2002 Missal.

In the end, if you can’t find it, it is not going to be too difficult to make your own. The Litany is highly repetitive and so if some invocation here and there in the video is not in the Litany, just stick it in. However, this would not be licit for use liturgically. Only the Litany in the liturgical books would be licit.

 

[OraLabora]

There may be some actually composed organ accompaniments, but I imagine they are rare. It is no surprise that there is no music for the organ in the Missal; Missals never contain accompaniment music, for it is all Gregorian. In my experience they are usually improvised. A regular, unaccompanied Litany, like the one in the Missal, is hauntingly beautiful as well.

The Litany of the Saints according to 1962 books is longer than the one according to the 2002 Latin books or 2011 English translations. It also contains different saints. Your best bet is to simply look in the 2002 Latin missal, or better yet, the Graduale Romanum. It will be in both. However, I am not sure if the particular Litany used at this funeral is different even from the Litany in the 2002 Missal.

In the end, if you can’t find it, it is not going to be too difficult to make your own. The Litany is highly repetitive and so if some invocation here and there in the video is not in the Litany, just stick it in. However, this would not be licit for use liturgically. Only the Litany in the liturgical books would be licit.

Solesmes does have some music for organ accompaniment, including for accompaniment of the Graduale Romanum:

solesmes.eu/GB/editions/livres.php?c2M9MjA=