No italics leading to the bold syllables in Liber Usualis
  • theCebuano_Child03
    Posts: 14
    So I'm currently learning how to sing Vespers in weekdays, using the Liber Usualis. I find it strange that there are no italics that indicate a change of note in the second half of a verse (e.g. Psalmus 114, page 280); whereas, in the Vespertini Psalmi per Tonos distributi, there are italics that assist me in knowing when to change note. I don't know if that makes sense, but I hope I could get some help :)

    Lastly, Tonus 3 g2 is nowhere to be found in my Liber. I may have just missed it.
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,440
    Because the ferial psalms are used in Paschal Time, with a single antiphon (Alleluia which changes daily) in the same mode as the first one per annum,
    I believe that tone 3g2 is in the Liber antiphonarius and in the Vatican Edition of the Antiphonale Romanum of course (but I like to look at the Vespersle as it’s smaller!). It’s only used during the week, and per the note in the Toni Communes, where this info is found if my memory isn’t playing tricks on me, you can swap 3g for it. Which is better imho as 3a2 is the same as 3G but with a podatus ending on La, and it’s commonly used on major feasts.

    Thanked by 1theCebuano_Child03
  • FSSPmusic
    Posts: 304
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  • theCebuano_Child03
    Posts: 14
    So given that this period of the liturgical calendar is not Paschal time, how would I normally sing Vespers? With what tone and which antiphon?
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,440
    As written, with the first through fifth antiphons, with the psalm changing tones accordingly on any day (which is to say most of them) where the office calls for the ferial psalms and antiphons.

    You really need an ordo and either Learning the Breviary (pre-55) or Learning the New Breviary (1960).
  • FKulash
    Posts: 84
    So given that this period of the liturgical calendar is not Paschal time, how would I normally sing Vespers? With what tone and which antiphon?

    Outside of Paschal time, ignore the antiphons consisting only of "Alleluia", and sing the others. For example, for Monday Vespers (starting on page 280) Psalm 114 is sung to Tone 1g2 with the antiphon "Inclinavit", Psalm 115 is sung to Tone 3g with the antiphon "Vota mea", and so on.

    Since different tones have different numbers of stressed and preparatory syllables, how can you print a psalm so it's pointed for two or more tones? Apparently, the editors of the Liber Usualis decided not to mark any preparatory syllables (with italics) in those cases, and to always mark as many stressed syllables (with bold face) as might be needed for any of the tones. For example, Psalms 115 is printed with only one stressed syllable marked before the ending, since Tones 1g2 and 3g both have only one stressed syllable at the end, but Psalm 119 is marked with two stressed syllables, because Tone 7b needs them, even though Tone 1g2 does not. If one has to point the same palm for two different tones, then I can't think of a better way to do it.

    Psalm 114 is sung to Tone 1g2 regardless of which antiphon is used, so they could have printed it with the preparatory syllables. I'm not sure why they didn't, though I can see reasons for doing it either way.
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