When Solesmes was commissioned to produce their first official Graduale, it was only an interim work. The 1961 GR is based on the 1908 edition produced to meet the need identified by Pope Pius X as quickly as possible*. Thus Sacrosanctum Concilium 117 :Why is that?
The revision allowed the restoration of ancient chants which had been dropped from the repertoire, and the removal of inauthentic later compositions. GR1974 also takes advantage of the greater variety of texts in the OF, and the revision of the calendar.117. The typical edition of the books of Gregorian chant is to be completed; and a more critical edition is to be prepared of those books already published since the restoration by St. Pius X.
It is desirable also that an edition be prepared containing simpler melodies, for use in small churches.
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