Credo I Hymnal 1940: Ordinariate Version?
  • trentonjconn
    Posts: 732
    At my parish, we've been singing the Credo in English, recto-tono, and accompanied for two-ish years now. It's better than not singing, but obviously inferior to a Gregorian setting. I would like to teach my choristers (and congregation) the English-ed Credo I as found at 720 in the 1940; however, because that translation says "...I believe one Catholic..." instead of "...I believe one HOLY Catholic..." the setting is unusable. Is there a version of Credo I in English to the correct ordinariate translation floating around out there somewhere? Square notes or modern notation are both fine. Accompaniment is appreciated as well.

    As a slight digression, the ordinariate in the U.S. is allegedly getting a standardized hymnal in the not-so-distant future (they say...). I'm a little worried that whatever Credo setting(s) will be contained therein won't match up with what I've taught the choir and congregation, so I wonder if perhaps I should just stay in a holding pattern with the recto-tono setting until we get our hands on hymnals. Thoughts on this are appreciated as well...
    Thanked by 2irishtenor M. Jackson Osborn
  • AbbysmumAbbysmum
    Posts: 60
    As a slight digression, the ordinariate in the U.S. is allegedly getting a standardized hymnal in the not-so-distant future (they say...). I'm a little worried that whatever Credo setting(s) will be contained therein won't match up with what I've taught the choir and congregation, so I wonder if perhaps I should just stay in a holding pattern with the recto-tono setting until we get our hands on hymnals.


    If they're anything like the CCCB here, which has been promising an imminent Catholic Book of Worship IV for like a decade now, I wouldn't rely on it coming in the near future.
    Thanked by 1trentonjconn
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,451
    The Creed is sung recto tono at Walsingham. This is a great disappointment (not to mention embarrassment) but we seem so far to be stuck with it. You are correct - at least it is 'sung'. Several years ago we began, at the beginning of Advent, to sing the Creed to one of its proper melodies. Although our people were picking up on it quite nicely it was withdrawn after a few weeks. Why would be anybody's guess - probably a few grumbling grinches or some higher authority who just didn't like it. This Creed is well known throughout the Episcopal church and should be familiar to your congregation. Jump in and try it!

    About the missing 'holy' in the 1940, it is a simple matter of inserting it between 'one' and 'Catholic' - thusly, one(fa) ho(fa)-ly(sol), Cath(sol) - etc.
    Note that the creed that is widely known amongst Episcopalians is no. 720, from the 'Fourth Communion Service'. It has the distinction of being the only Creed that was sung at Sarum.
    Let us know how this turns out!
    Thanked by 3CHGiffen tomjaw trentonjconn
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,888
    The style of singing reminds me of one of the EBC houses who released music in English after the council. The organ accompaniment is great, but many of you know how I feel about that and that it isn’t a surprise that I like it. The BCP text wouldn’t be my cup of tea, and perish the thought that I couldn’t use the Latin as the default text, but it’d be a nice treat for this to be used in English in a place that I visit now and again.

    1950s recording on YouTube

    (But also…General Theological Seminary…)

    Anyway I would take your favorite Latin Credo I accompaniment and go from there to adapt it. (I know, it’s work, but it’s probably worth it!)
  • IanWIanW
    Posts: 784
    Another (patrimonial) option is to sing it to Merbecke. Our organist accompanies from the New English Hymnal, and the congregation sings it well (as they do the rest of the Merbecke Ordinary).
  • whippetwalker
    Posts: 1
    Our congregation also usually sings the Credo set to either Merbecke or Missa de Angelis with the missing "Holy" smooshed in. Both options seem to work well!
    Thanked by 2trentonjconn IanW
  • liampmcdonough
    Posts: 317
    Sorry I can't answer the 1st question.
    As for the second dilemma, the ordinariate hymnal in its latest draft does not contain credo I. As far as I can remember from the ordinariate musician's colloquium round table, it contains only Credo III and the Merbecke Creed. As Mr Osborne points out, this is an unfortunate choice as Credo I is the Sarum creed. I voiced this concern to the hymnal committee. If you also hold this opinion I recommend you petition Mr Caruthers at the chancery so than more than one ordinariate choirmaster can be heard on this.
    Thanked by 3tomjaw trentonjconn M. Jackson Osborn
  • liampmcdonough
    Posts: 317
    as a side note, an "official version" of the merbecke with the right text had not been worked out yet for the hymnal, as of this Winter.
    At that time they were expecting publication in the Winter of this year.
  • trentonjconn
    Posts: 732
    Ah, that's disappointing indeed! I'll write in.

    Tangent here, but I've been wondering what sort of ordinaries will be included as well. Do you know? If so, could you list them either here or via PM?
    Thanked by 1tomjaw
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,888
    I would insist that it is not only the Sarum tone but it is the authentic tone.

    I hate to predict such a thing, but not including it would mean that you will either lose it or people will do the thing that having a hymnal tries to avoid.
    Thanked by 3trentonjconn tomjaw M. Jackson Osborn
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