Reading Solesmes Using Pothier's Vatican Edition Rhythm
  • I have the Graduale Triplex and the Graduale Simplex. Learning more about the Vatican Edition, is it possible to sing the rhythm put forward by Dom Pothier using either of those publications? Or does the Solesmes edition, in addition to adding the rhythmic markings, change the spacing etc. of the chant? And does the LEV Simplex follow the Vatican Edition, or does such a thing even exist in the post-Vatican II publications?
  • I can't speak for the Graduale Simplex, but broadly speaking, the Triplex replicates the spacing of the Vatican Edition, as did all the previous Solesmes publications, such as the Liber Usualis, since the Vatican Edition was propagated. There may be a few inadvertent discrepancies here and there, but it is certainly possible to sing in Pothier's accentualist manner from that book.

    My understanding of all the post-conciliar editions is that the Vatican Edition retains its status as the official text, so I assume that all of these various books try to replicate the spacing.

    I find Pothier's theories extremely interesting (he is a fantastic writer and his book retains so much value after almost a century and a half) and not easily reduced to simple principles, so it may be indeed difficult to do what you are suggesting, just given the overlay of so much contradictory rhythmic information on the page, but I would be interested to hear how you fare with it.
    Thanked by 1tomjaw
  • I admit I am only really familiar with Jeff Ostrowski's talk about reading the Official Vatican Edition. Now I realize I ought to read the method, but at least I can try to get a start on it.
  • Jeff's talk is a good start, and Jeff has done a lot to promote Pothier. But he still often defines it in opposition to Solesmes, so he makes it sound more equalist than I think it probably really was.

    If you read French, Pothier's book is invaluable. I also compiled some material on this at the colloquium a couple of years ago and I will attach that here. I cover Pothier's views in the first chapter. This is my attempt to lay out four different methods in as irenic a manner as possible. I do really love Pothier and consider him very inspiring. I hope you find it useful.

    Someday this might be a book, God willing!

    Gregorian_rhythm.pdf
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