Psalms: Gradual and Responsorial

[Frazier_York]

D.O.M.

Recently, I was reviewing the rubrics regarding the Responsorial Psalm at Mass. (This was in the context for helping a family plan a funeral.) I wanted to open discussion on these as they appear in the IGMR of the new U.S. Missal and the Introduction of the Lectionary and invite your comment, especially in light of recent postings regarding the use of “On Eagle’s Wings” as a legitimate substitute.

The following (with added emphases) is from n. 61 of the General Instruction, (U.S.) Roman Missal: “In the Dioceses of the United States of America, instead of the Psalm [which by extension includes certain scriptural canticles] assigned in the Lectionary, there may sung either the Responsorial **Gradual **from the Graduale Romanum, or the Responsorial **Psalm **or the **Alleluia Psalm **from the Graduale Simplex, as described in these books, or an **antiphon and Psalm from another collection **of Psalms and antiphons, including Psalms arranged in metrical form, providing that they have been **approved **for use by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop. Songs or hymns may not be used in place of the Responsorial Psalm.”

An added option, not given in the Missal, is found in the *Introduction *of the Lectionary which notes that the Psalm of the Responsorial may be sung (i.e. chanted) straight-through, without the response. (This may not be done, however, if the psalm is recited.)

Comments and Disputed Questions:

1. The general principle is that all liturgical texts must be approved. Since the *Roman Gradual *and *Simple Gradual *have not (yet?) been published with the approbation of the U.S. Conference of Bishops, can other collections (such as “An American Gradual”) be used? Would approval from the Ordinary needed for this? OR, could any chant tones set to the Revised NAB psalms (the current approved translation for the U.S.) be permissible?
2. There has been a lot of discussion about what constitutes a “psalm” on the occasion of the Responsorial. In the case of “metric psalms” this is a very specific genre in which the actual psalm texts (sometimes slightly paraphrased, but still complete) are set to metered music. The old “Bay Psalter” of 17th century New England is one of our earliest examples for this country, although many fine modern collections are available. To my knowledge, none have been approved for liturgical use by any Ordinary in the U.S. Also, the above quote given from the GIRM was substantially the same as the recent U.S. Conference’s guidelines on liturgical music, except that the word “paraphrases” referring to metric Psalms was removed in the version of the directive appearing in the Missal.

In the case of “On Eagle’s Wings,” while the text is taken from scripture, it cannot be said to be considered a “chant,” which the rubric would presuppose. (Compare, e.g. Owen Alcott’s settings of the responsorial psalms and other similar collections.) Likewise, it is not truly a “metric psalm” but more of an “anthem” i.e. a hymn using scriptural texts, which on this basis would disqualify it based on the prohibition of “songs or hymns”–which makes no distinction between the texts being scriptural or not. Also, any other number of post 1970s compositions of like manner would be excluded for the same reason. (I point out that this would apply to the psalm at the time of the readings only.)

Thanks in advance for your (name removed by moderator)ut.

 

[Frazier_York]

• A clarification: When I mentioned the Roman Gradual (Graduale Romanum) and Simple Gradual (Graduale Simplex) in the context of approbation by the U.S. Bishops, I meant a partial or complete verson of these official liturgical books in the *English *language.

Also, for those not familar with the books, a brief explanation is in order:

The *Gradual *is a book containing the official chants of the Mass, both ordinary and proper, including the chants at the introit (entrance), offertory and communion. There were several editions since Trent (including the current “extraordinary” usage) and one promulgated for the post-conciliar Roman Mass. The chants of the *Roman Gradual *contain an antiphon and at least one verse; sort of like a “truncated” responsorial. Usually, the antiphons are very long and often not a little complicated in their chant…but beautiful, all the same. The format is the same in both pre and post conciliar versions, although the latter has a greater number of selections.

The Simple Gradual, intended for “smaller churches” or when a trained cantor/choir cannot execute the more complicated settings of the Roman Gradual, contains simplified Gregorian Chants for general seasonal use. These are set in a responsorial fashion, as with the Responsorial Psalm. Indeed, this is the more ancient usage of the Roman liturgy. (For an example, note Midnight Mass from St. Peter’s in Rome, in which the antiphon will be repeated against several other scriptural verses.)

Again, no official English language version of these Latin books has been
promulgated by the U.S. Bishops for use in the Roman Rite. As stated earlier, it might be permissible to use the texts of the Graduals in conjunction with the Revised NAB translation.

 

[JGMendes4049]

There is neither an official English–language version of the Graduale Romanum nor the Graduale Simplex, I think. Off the top of my head, there is By Flowing Waters, by Paul Ford. I’m pretty sure it hasn’t been promulgated as the official English–language version, but it is approved, as far as I know.

 

[Frazier_York]

Right…Thanks for that, J.G.!

*By Flowing Waters *is an English language version of the Graduale Simplex, with some enhancements. The difficulty with BFW is that it does not have the formal approbation of the U.S. episcopal conference, only its cmte. on divine worship, i.e. it is not an “official” English language version, as the Missal, Pontifical, Ceremonial of Bishops, etc.

Still, any Ordinary is within his rights to approve it. Does anyone know if BFW has been endorsed by any of the U.S. bishops?

A blessed feast of Christ the King to all!