A New Edition of the Liber Usualis to be Published
  • Studio_Buglio
    Posts: 6
    Greetings to all members of this forum,

    We would like to announce that our company, Studio Buglio will soon be publishing a digitally typeset trilingual edition of the Liber Usualis.

    This edition, published for the Tridentine parishioners of Hong Kong, will contain English and Traditional Chinese translations of all texts in the Liber Usualis, along with its original Latin. This includes not only translations of the rubrics, but also of the liturgical texts such as Scripture readings, prayers, and the sung-text of the chants.

    The book is estimated to contain about 2,700 pages, with a thickness of about five centimetres.

    At the appendix of this edition, you will find a musical index of all chants in the book, indexed by both Parsons code (see explanation below) and numeric musical notation.

    Along with the hard-copy of the book, we are also publishing an abbreviated PDF version of the Trilingual Liber Usualis, and a Parsons-code Search Program for Gregorian chant.

    The abbreviated PDF version includes the text and chants of the Ordinary of the Mass, and the Propers of major feasts.

    The Parsons-code Search Program is software for searching through chant notation by melodic motion – movements of the pitch up and down. For example: if I search for “＊↑-↓”, the program will return all occurrences of any note followed by a higher note, followed by the same note, followed by a lower note. This representation makes it particularly easy to search when the notes’ values are unknown.

    The hard-copy of the Liber Usualis, along with the PDF and the Parsons-code Search Program, can be ordered together for $145 (USD).

    (A discount will be given to all customers if we receive more than 500 orders.)

    If you are interested in purchasing our edition of the Liber Usualis, or have any inquiries, please send us an E-mail at Studio.Buglio@gmail.com.

    To place an order through E-mail, please include the following:
    1. Your full name.
    2. The address (and postal code) the books are to be delivered to.
    3. The number of copies you would like to order.

    Thank you for your consideration,

    Studio Buglio.
    Thanked by 1tomjaw
  • CharlesSA
    Posts: 169
    If it is being published for "Tridentine parishioners," would it be correct to assume that it will follow the rubrics/calendar of the 1962 missal?
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • Studio_Buglio
    Posts: 6
    Thank you for your inquiry.

    Our customers range from parishioners of the diocesan Latin Mass to those who only attend the SPPX. Some of them have expressed aversion to the 1962 rubrics and calendar, while others feel an obligation to follow them.

    To balance it out and create an edition suitable for most people, we chose to base our work on the 1961 edition of the Liber Usualis.

    But since we are using Latex and the typesetting is automatic, we are always able to change this until we begin the printing process. Please feel free to give advice on the subject.

    We have already received about 200 orders of this edition, but would need another 50 orders to reach the minimum quantity for an offset print-job. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, please send us an E-mail at Studio.Buglio@gmail.com.

    Thank you,

    Studio Buglio.
  • Andrew_Malton
    Posts: 1,215
    Could a few sample pages be displayed? Or is there a web site?
  • Studio_Buglio
    Posts: 6
    A sample page is attached below for your reference.

    Below is a link to a YouTube video about our project. It is in Cantonese, but you can turn on Google-translated subtitles.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1te9APhbS0

    (The man in the video is a Catholic YouTuber who kindly volunteered to promote our project.)
    Liber_Sample.jpg
    1500 x 1093 - 377K
    Thanked by 3Bri CHGiffen veromary
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,868
    we are always able to change this until we begin the printing process. Please feel free to give advice on the subject.


    The key thing would be Holy Week and the Pentecost Vigil, Perhaps have an appendix at the back with the 1962 versions or pre 1955 versions.
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,883
    the Rogation Mass has a unique Alleluia replaced by two double Alléluias, and the Litany is doubled during the procession just as it is at the paschal vigil of the classical Holy Week and at the Vigil of Pentecost.

    Also, I’m committed to LaTeX myself, so it’s cool to see you doing the whole project with LaTeX and not just the chant, but I am wary of a new Liber Usualis. The size is already unwieldy, it doesn’t look like you’re making it much bigger…and the layout is not great. Praying Vespers in particular is frustrating.
    Thanked by 1tomjaw
  • Studio_Buglio
    Posts: 6
    We have considered reprinting other books such as the Liber Brevior or the Graduale Romanum, but none of them seem to have enough reputation to attract the amount of orders necessary for offset-printing.

    As for the font size, we are working on making it as large as possible. The final outcome will hopefully be more readable than the sample.

    Do you have any suggestions on enhancing the layout?

    Thank you,

    Studio Buglio.
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,883
    I would not republish the Liber Usualis is what I’m trying to say. Definitely not trilingual: either you can read English, or should be able to, or can read Chinese…the nexus of needing both is a small circle. I know two people in it IRL!

    The problem of reputation isn’t that important. you have to do the promotion. 200 people would order the Solesmes gradual (I would do 1938, with an appendix for 1950-1955-1960 changes).

    The Liber’s layout is a pain: small size, small font, Kyriale or festal Vespers psalms in the front, the rest in the middle, Sunday Vespers or Compline in the front, so the book is mostly in your right hand… page flips are awkward and delicate. You should have an antiphonal (vesperal) or a gradual. I love the Liber in theory but in execution I’m not a fan after years of reflecting.
    Thanked by 1tomjaw
  • StimsonInRehabStimsonInRehab
    Posts: 1,950
    Can I put in a request for publication of 1957's Mass and Vespers with Gregorian Chant?
    Thanked by 1ServiamScores
  • unknownadversary
    Posts: 3
    I would recommend not calling it "Liber Usualis", as it will probably cause confusion down the line (Think of people wanting to buy a copy, but their search gets flooded by the original)
    That is my two cents.
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,309
    Try . . . Useful Book...
    Thanked by 5a_f_hawkins CHGiffen tomjaw igneus Heath
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,868
    Or even 'Not very user friendly book'...
    Thanked by 4Liam MatthewRoth igneus veromary
  • Studio_Buglio
    Posts: 6
    Thank you for your advice,

    Unfortunately, we have difficulty attracting enough costumers who are interested in Gregorian chant books other than the Liber Usualis. Even with a book as reputable as the Liber Usualis, we still struggle to find enough orders to meet the minimum quantity of printing.

    With that being said, we can still try promoting Mass and Vespers with Gregorian Chant. But given that most of our returning customers are already committed to a trilingual Liber Usualis, a book covering similar material might not attract sufficient interest.

    If you are interested in having any liturgical book reprinted, and also happen to know a community or institution with the same interest, please inform us by E-mail. A share of profit can be arranged.

    Thank you for your consideration and understanding,

    Studio Buglio.
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,309
    Tomjaw - title & subtitle might capture both:

    USEFUL BOOK:
    But Not A Very User-Friendly Book
    Thanked by 6MatthewRoth CHGiffen igneus tomjaw OMagnumMysterium veromary
  • Studio_Buglio
    Posts: 6
    To maintain resemblance of the original title, “Liber Usefulalis” might be another option.
    But the subtitle will have to be in fine print.
    Thanked by 4igneus Liam tomjaw veromary
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