Starting a Schola Cantorum for my church
  • bhcordovabhcordova
    Posts: 1,168
    My choir director (also the director of music & liturgy) would like to start a Schola in the fall with me leading the Schola. I have been to two Summer Chant Intensives (probably why she wants me to lead it). I would like advice on what books would be helpful to teach chant to whoever decides to join, and whether it would be better to start off in English or Latin. A little background on our parish - we are located in Nacogdoches, Texas (Deep East Texas) and are part of the Diocese of Tyler. Most members of the existing choir cannot read music, so I would expect that most people wanting to join would be at a similar level. During Lent & Advent, we chant the Sanctus & the Angus Dei in Latin and the Kyrie in Greek. We have started chanting the Entrance Antiphon in English, using the Revised Grail Psalm for the verses.

    Any help will be appreciated.


    Thanks in advance,

    Billy Cordova
  • TCJ
    Posts: 992
    If they don't know how to read any music, that might make it easier for them to learn square notation. They won't have the mental block of always trying to see it as modern notation.
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • Jeffrey Quick
    Posts: 2,102
    OK, presumably this is for the OF?
    I would second the square note suggestion. But teach them how to read SOMETHING, for the sake of the Church. And since there are only 6 intervals in chant and no chromaticism, it's an easy place to start. Nobody wants to "go to school", but there's a lot one can smuggle into the rehearsal process. I don't know about effectiveness yet, because I've just started with this program.
    If your priest wants both, try to get the Ordinary in Latin and the Propers in English.
  • bhcordovabhcordova
    Posts: 1,168
    Yes, this is for the OF. I don't think the EF is said anywhere in my diocese.
  • barnabus1898barnabus1898
    Posts: 91
    I agree with Jeffrey. If your priest is ok with doing at least the Sanctus and Agnus Dei in Latin, and the Kyrie in Greek, that would be the place to start with something other than English. We do these for our Basilican Masses (we're in your sister city of Natchitoches, Louisiana). The Gloria is still in English, and the Creed is spoken.

    If you can get your schola doing the Simple English Propers, there are free organ accompaniments in a thread on this forum. These are especially handy if you're dealing with beginners or need a little extra boost to help the congregation.

    I also use the Chabanel Psalms from Corpus Christi Watershed for the Responsorial Psalm. I convert these to chant for my schola with GABC and also put them in this format for our worship aids. If you don't have time for all that, you can just leave them in modern notation.

    Most people know the ICEL melodies for the Ordinary. You can look these up in the original notation and Latin/Greek in any Kyriale or Liber. There are free downloads of those on musicasacra.com

    Good luck to you starting this schola! We've had ours for a year now, and I really enjoy both groups that sing for the Ordinary and Extraordinary form. I think you'll really enjoy it too!
  • matthewjmatthewj
    Posts: 2,700
    My humble opinion is...
    DO NOT do the Simple English Propers.

    Do the Lumen Christi Propers, Psalm, Alleluia (from the Graduale Simplex). They are not more difficult than the SEP and are better.

    They are all available here (most with accompaniments):
    http://www.illuminarepublications.com/scores/
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  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    Playing devil's advocate, there is an aspect to the pedagogical value of the SEP's (not in comparison or contrast with LCM) in that the formulaic similarities throughout the SEP help both in acquisition of recognizing and remembering the intervallic patterns as well as reading and "interpreting" the modicum of neumes. The added benefit of having the pointed verses and their tones is also a plus.
    Mind you, MJM, we're now using Meinrad and will permanently switch to LCM in Advent 2015. I'm only advocating the plusses of SEP just as I would Rice's Simple Choral Propers as learning vehicle for basic choral skills acquisition.
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  • matthewjmatthewj
    Posts: 2,700
    The LC series has all of the verses pointed also. They are posted on the website and are in the Lumen Christi Simple Gradual.

    There is no need to use the SEP. Just step past them on your way to the better chants.
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  • MaryAnn Carr WilsonMaryAnn Carr Wilson
    Posts: 1,738
    I have found Arlene and Jeffrey's PDF pamphlet, "An Idiot's Guide to Square Notes", to be really helpful in teachng beginners.

    Having taken a choir or two from no chant to full propers, I'd start with some great chant hymns in the parish book of chant, and a simple ordinary. Maybe a Communio once a month, and an introit for special feasts, as approved by the pastor.

    The idea would be to get the choir comfortable with the style, and the congregation loving the beauty of it. I'd recommend singing acapella if at all possible, and going for quality over quantity.

    Regrettably, I don't have enough familiarity with English simplified settings to offer advice on the various arrangements.
    Thanked by 2canadash bhcordova
  • hartleymartin
    Posts: 1,447
    Where you start will depend on the skill of the singers that you have.

    I'd start right back at basics with the Missal Chants for the Ordinary both in English and Latin. These are the most important chants to start with. If you have support from the clergy, get them to chant all their parts of the mass as well. It makes a huge difference when the priest is seen to be in support of music.

    From here, teach them to sing the Gregorian Ordinaries. Mass XVII for Advent and Lent, Mass XI for Ordinary Time and you can probably get away with using Mass VIII during Christmas and Easter (and other Feast Days) for the time being. It also helps to learn a couple of Ad Libitum Chants. Agnus Dei Ad Libitum II is a prime example and this should be made familiar to the schola and the congregation.

    Simple English Propers is the best place to start with chant propers. It allows the singers to develop an ear for the modes. You might not sing them forever, but it is always a good resource to fall back upon if you have to throw together something quickly (as seems to happen often in the Catholic Church!)

    From the SEP, look into other chant collections such as BFW, the Simplex and other collections. The Simple Latin Propers is something I look forward to, and I hope that it develops into a full collection as this will be useful for both the OF and EF liturgies. The ultimate aim is to sing the Gregorian Propers from the Graduale Romanum, but this takes a fair bit of time and dedication to do. It is better to do simpler chants well than to butcher the more difficult ones.

    Don't be afraid to look through the Graduale Romanum for some of the simpler chants though, and another good option is to learn the ad libitum communion antiphons such as Gustate et Videte. There are seven such antiphons in the OF liturgy and it would be highly commendable to make these familiar to the schola.

    In the way of chant hymns, I am sure that there are at least a dozen worth learning. Start with the Seasonal Marian Antiphons and the Ave Maria. Chances are that most people already know the Pange Lingua/Tantum Ergo even if just in it's English form. There are so many to chose from: Adoro Te, Jesu Dulcis Memoria, Conditor Alme Siderum, Veni Veni Emmanuel. Look to the Breviary Chant hymns as a good starting point.

    Also, don't discount singing familiar hymns in their original Latin text such as "O Filii et Filiae" and "Adeste Fideles."

    A good way to start with responsorial psalms is to just use the office psalm tones. Tone II and VIIIG are quickly picked up by congregations and mean that they don't have to learn a new ditty each week. At the moment I'm doing this all the time so that the congregation will be familiar with the tones when we start doing vespers and/or compline again.
    Thanked by 2melofluent bhcordova
  • StimsonInRehabStimsonInRehab
    Posts: 1,935
    One resource I've been using with the local university ministry is the packet "Jubilate Deo", which includes the basic chant repertoire as envisioned by Pope Paul VI - both the ordinary of the mass and assorted chants. Arlene and Jeffrey have graciously posted a copy on their parish website for print:

    http://www.ceciliaschola.org/notes/jubilatedeo.html
    Thanked by 1bhcordova
  • MaryAnn Carr WilsonMaryAnn Carr Wilson
    Posts: 1,738
    Jubilate Deo- yes! A great starting point with an indisputable pedigree.
    Thanked by 1Ben
  • hartleymartin
    Posts: 1,447
    Jubilate Deo - Of course! I had forgotten all about that little treasure!
  • bonniebede
    Posts: 756
    I second jubilate deo, it is the basis of the programme for my kids schola.
    its only drawback is that, although it gives you enough music for a full mass, it draws from different masses, which might sound a bit odd. On the other hand, by learning those pieces first, you can then tackle a whole mass, ie missa de angelis, knowing you have a base of one familiar piece to work out from.
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,229
    OTOH, the Mass setting in the 1970's version of Jubilate Deo is rather spartan. It might be good to choose something more fun and decorative for starters.
    Thanked by 4melofluent Gavin Richard Mix StimsonInRehab
  • bonniebede
    Posts: 756
    perhaps the 1987 jubilate deo bk, would be better, with its wider range of mass parts
    http://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/7448/jubilate-deo-editions-available/p1
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,229
    It is better; but good luck getting your hands on some for a group. They went out of print, and at the moment, the whole paxbook.com web site (seller of books from the Vatican press) has disappeared from the net.
    Thanked by 1bonniebede
  • bonniebede
    Posts: 756
    Thanks RC. the vatican catalogue says they have a few left, I'm going to see if i can
    get one direct from there.
  • bhcordovabhcordova
    Posts: 1,168
    @harleymartin, where can I find the Missal Chants?
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,229
    bonniebede, what web site for vatican books is working for you? Can you post a link?
  • bonniebede
    Posts: 756
    I was looking at this
    http://www.libreriaeditricevaticana.va/content/dam/libreriaeditricevaticana/Catalogo/Catalogo Lev Intero.pdf
    and have emailed them to see what response might be forthcoming, I'll let you know.

    I have emailed them in English, which can cause problems, it is frustrating that they don't use latin instead of Italian.
    Thanked by 1eft94530
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,229
    For what it's worth, this bookstore in Padua offers it too:
    http://www.libreriadelsanto.it/libri/9788820926977/iubilate-deo-cantus-gregoriani-faciliores.html
    Thanked by 2bonniebede bhcordova
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