Psalmtones Counterpoint?
  • bgeorge77
    Posts: 190
    So the situation:

    Our parish's lifeteen group sings the propers (all of them) from the Anglican Use Gradual. This is good in that each proper always sounds the same from week to week.

    But I was wondering if anyone has ever composed a counterpoint or harmony to the tones used in the AUG?

    I don't mean simply following a fifth or fourth below, though that could be a first step.
  • No, the first step was getting your lifeteen group to sing the propers from the Anglican Use Gradual!
  • francis
    Posts: 10,668
    you could adapt the psalm tone harmonies from the NOH

    We sing the same ones, except I dub in the modern English from the GM.
  • bgeorge77
    Posts: 190
    @frogman: yeah it took some time but they sing the propers every week now.

    @francis: Oh what is the NOH? That sounds interesting.
  • Steve CollinsSteve Collins
    Posts: 1,021
    "Nova Organi Harmonia"
    http://chabanelpsalms.org/introductory_material/Gregorian_organ_accomp/
    Organ accompaniment, in strictly modal style, to the entire Liber usualis, in 7 volumes.
  • bgeorge77
    Posts: 190
    WOW THANK YOU!!

    Now I just need to figure out how this all works with AUG.
  • bgeorge77
    Posts: 190
    Notes for myself and for anyone else desiring to follow this path:

    The Anglican Use Graduale (AUG) uses the Gloria Patri tones for the antiphon parts of the propers. These tones can be found on p14 of the Liber Usualis.

    Every Sunday is the same, and for this reason we use it with our LifeTeen group.

    AUG use: Tone 7 for the Introit. Tone 2 for the Offertory. Tone 1 for Communion.

    The goal here is to find accompaniment, so that the pieces can be sung in two, three or four part harmony, as the choir gets comfortable with the basic tones.

    The Nova Organi Harmonia (NOH) does not seem to have a one page summary of these Gloria Patri Tones. However, it does include the Gloria Patri as part of the Introits.

    Thus, you will need:

    An example of a Tone 7 Introit. Adorate Deum---NOH v.1 p126
    An example of a Tone 2 Introit. Dominus dixit--- NOH v.1 p49
    An example of a Tone 1 Introit. Exsurge--- NOH v.1 p138
  • francis
    Posts: 10,668
    bgeorge

    I knew I saw these somewhere!!! Perfect for adapting psalms to four parts. (thanx to JO and watershed once again)

    http://jeandelalande.org/UPLOAD_to_LALANDE_LIBRARY/YiMgO_103.pdf

    I am going to set this weeks to these. Will post so you can have them.
  • Have you thought of using several easy Anglican chants, the same ones each week, for your purposes?
    This would be a perhaps more musically satisfying alternative, since you want harmonised chant.
    If you are interested and want examples, e-mail me.