An illuminated Kyriale?
  • What sort of interest would there be in printed an illuminated edition of the Kyriale? Something that is a practical item for those who regularly sing the Gregorian Chant masses, but is also a beautiful item to have. Large print for the chant, having, for example, convenient page turns: Kyrie and Gloria over a two-page spread and the Sanctus and Agnus Dei over another two-page spread. Could also be produced in a large quarto edition, for the chant enthusiast who would like to do it like the monks back in the old days with two large Kyriales, chanting side-to-side.

    Such an edition would contain the complete Kyriale, the Kyriale Simplex, the Ad Libitum chants and perhaps a few of the common masses such as the Requiem, Missa Pro Sponsis, and the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Common of Martyrs, etc.
    Thanked by 1JulieColl
  • Wonderful idea!
  • Of course, the chant will be a completely new typeset which will make it clear where the quelismas are in the chant. Nice and large to make it easy to read. I'm just shy of 30 and already have a hard time reading the music out of the old Liber Usualis!
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    ... completely new typeset ...
    Typeset? Typeset?? Why not produced from meticulously hand engraved and beautifully illuminated on finest vellum originals?
    Thanked by 1Adam Wood
  • ryandryand
    Posts: 1,640
    WAS IT TYPESET IN 19TH CENTURY RUSSIA???
    Thanked by 2Ben eft94530
  • Um...... what is typeset???
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • JahazaJahaza
    Posts: 470
    For me interest in an illuminated Kyriale would depend very much on the artist.
    Thanked by 3CHGiffen CCooze Ben
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    Exactly, Jahaza.
  • In the middle ages they did not have them, I say stick with tradition and stop innovating and illuminating where no man has gone before. There is a reason for the season of no illuminated kyriales. Iluminated Graduales in the quality of 13th c. Venice would be received much better thsn a kyriale.



  • Chris-
    Don't be so quick to discourage a good idea. They are rare, indeed, nowadays, but the breed of really awe inspiring calligraphers and illuminaters is not altogether extinct. I think that searching them out and commissioning such a work as Hartley has in mind is a superb idea. Of course, quite a few pasettas would be involved.
  • An illuminated Graduale would be quite a hefty tome which would probably spend it's entire life on a bookshelf. The idea behind an illuminated Kyriale is that it would be small enough to be a practical to carry item. A small one might even be used by members of the congregation, though I imagine that a parish church would not put them in the pews as they would probably get stolen!

    An illuminated Kyriale would be something that I imagine would be treasured by the singers who use them, and would make a lovely gift (for that Traditional Catholic who has everything!)

    For example, we might have images of the ressurection illuminating Mass I Lux et Origo, as it is the Easter Mass. De Angelis would have angels, obviously, Mass IV would have images of the Apostles, the Requiem Mass would have funeral images, Mass IX would have images of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Orbis Factor might be illuminated with the Genesis creation story. Various Common would have relevant images, etc.

    The only point of contention would be Mass XVII and Mass XVIII as they are used during Advent and Lent.
  • rogue63
    Posts: 410
    Daniel Mitsui is the guy for this---check out his plates for the new Pontifical.