Bracketed references in '61 GR
  • jabv
    Posts: 16
    I have Volume I of the 1961 GR as published by CMAA through Lulu (http://www.lulu.com/shop/desclee/graduale-romanum-1961-volume-1/hardcover/product-1345055.html). Looking at the Solemnity of St. Joseph on p. 458 as an example, I notice some chants are referred to by bracketed references, e.g. "Introitus. Justus ut palma. [45]." Other chants have references without brackets, and these point to pages within this volume of the GR. Where do the bracketed references point? Thank you!
  • igneusigneus
    Posts: 390
    It is common in liturgical books to have several independently numbered sections. Often a section with "mere numbers", a "bracketted section" and a "asterisked section".

    It's slightly impractical from the user's point of view, but it saves some headaches to the typesetter. (Especially in the epoch of manual typesetting.)
    Thanked by 1jabv
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,319
    The brackets almost always refer to the page numbers within the common Masses or offices, so it restarts on [1], with the Apostles or the BVM usually.
    Thanked by 1jabv
  • jabv
    Posts: 16
    @MatthewRoth - thanks for chiming in. I am not sure I understand what you mean by "common Masses or offices."
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,319
    Ah, commons are those Masses or offices which are not unique to a feast and whose parts are repeated for several feasts. They are categorical, e.g. Apostles, the BVM, Martyrs, Virgins, Widows, Bishops, and Confessors.

    Masses or offices which don’t repeat are considered proper. OK, it is true that sometimes part of a proper office or Mass is used for another, in which case you turn to the other Mass at the appointed time. You could have all proper chants, all common chants, or common and proper chants, whether from the proper of that day or from another day which is being repeated.
    Thanked by 1jabv
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,782
    It can be quite complicated at first... but some kind people have made it easy,

    Try this, http://bbloomf.github.io/jgabc/propers.html

    OR

    http://www.gregorianbooks.com/saints.html

    Use the drop down menu / scroll down for the feast you want.
    Thanked by 3MatthewRoth jabv CHGiffen
  • madorganist
    Posts: 906
    In the 1961 GR, pp. [1]-[149] come between 658 and *1.
    Thanked by 1jabv
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