The Graduale Parvum introits in Latin and English and all in square notation are presently being uploaded week by week on the website of the Blessed John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music.

http://jhnilm.org.uk

In the music to be provided to the Conferences of Bishops, ICEL seriously considered employing the venerable four‐line square note notation of the Latin chant books. Once one learns the medieval notation, which does not take long, it is in some ways easier to read than modern five‐line notation. But pastoral considerations argued against this approach. There is danger that the traditional four‐line notation would pose a practical hindrance and psychological barrier for some singers. The uppermost goal must be to enable sung liturgy.

Though a standard G clef (without key signature) is used with this five‐line notation, it is not intended to suggest an absolute pitch, but rather, as in four‐line notation, relative pitch, to accommodate various ranges of voices that will be singing these chants. Recordings of this music at different pitches will eventually be made available on line free of charge on various Web sites. A celebrant, for example, will be able to click on the text of the Sunday Preface to be chanted and hear a recording of it. Furthermore, composers will be able to provide their own accompaniments (at more than one pitch) of people’s parts such as the Gloria, Creed, Sanctus, Memorial Acclamations, and Agnus Dei.

It is a daunting responsibility to prepare liturgical books for the liturgy, which is “a sacred action surpassing all others” (SC 7). ICEL hopes that its efforts will help the people of God to worship worthily, and thereby achieve the purpose of the liturgy, which is the sanctification of people and the glorification of God (see SC 10).

But pastoral considerations argued against this approach. There is danger that the traditional four‐line notation would pose a practical hindrance and psychological barrier for some singers. The uppermost goal must be to enable sung liturgy.