Vernacular Tune Adaptations of the Mass Settings
  • 0xNC
    Posts: 2
    Laudetur Jesus Christus!

    I've recently discovered the CMAA Adaptations of some of the Ordinaries from the Kyriale Romanum into English. It has piqued my interest (the translation/adaptation of the original tunes), so I've personally worked on a few Mass Settings, intending to change as little as possible. By this, I mean that if any extensions or shortenings are needed, I do so by removing repeated notes or by splitting a Punctum with a Punctum Mora into two separate Puncta.

    So far I've done a separate adaptation of Masses I, VIII, XI, XII (Different from the one by CMAA), and XVII, along with Asperges Me I and Vidi Aquam. I also intend to adapt Mass VII, IX, and XVI. I'd like to ask if anyone has any comments or critiques? (The files are attached below.)

    Thank you and God Bless!
    Missa I.pdf
    57K
    Missa VIII.pdf
    50K
    Missa XI.pdf
    49K
    Missa XII.pdf
    48K
    Missa XVII.pdf
    44K
    Rite of the Asperges.pdf
    45K
    Thanked by 3CHGiffen Chant_Supremacist m_r_taylor
  • Richard MixRichard Mix
    Posts: 3,039
    You do realize that one-syllable words don't get hyphens, don't you?
    Thanked by 20xNC CHGiffen
  • 0xNC
    Posts: 2
    What exactly do you mean by this exactly? (I'm unfortunately not very experienced in translating chant; I just read it.)

    If you mean it in the sense that it is incorrect in writing style to divide words like 'Lord' into 'Lo-' and 'rd', to my knowledge it is acceptable when writing lyrics to music to divide up the last letters from the vowel to mark when you stop singing the vowel.
  • davido
    Posts: 1,267
    That is not at all the customary way lyrics are treated in music engraving. Please study professionally produced music scores before publishing your own lack of knowledge on the internet.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • smvanroodesmvanroode
    Posts: 1,128
    to my knowledge it is acceptable when writing lyrics to music to divide up the last letters from the vowel to mark when you stop singing the vowel


    But then I do wonder how you’re supposed to sing ‘-rd’ or ‘-st’ over a long melisma...

    As for spelling: if you want to add an accent to ‘Kyrie’, it belongs on the ‘y’, not the ‘e’.

    As for the adaptations (‘intending to change as little as possible’), I'm more in the school of Fr. Columba Kelly OSB: starting with the structural pitches and adding melodic ornaments afterwards, while respecting the stressed syllables and sense units of the vernacular text. But that's entirely a matter of personal preference.
    Thanked by 2m_r_taylor CHGiffen
  • m_r_taylor
    Posts: 412
    But then I do wonder how you’re supposed to sing ‘-rd’ or ‘-st’ over a long melisma...


    Agreed - for example on Missa VIII, "rd" is marked over many long notes, but the singer isn't singing those notes but rather singing "o". Thus, "Lord" suffices for all. It's always understood that you stop singing the vowel at the end of the last note.

    I would go so far as to say this isn't just a matter of personal engraving preference; this choice would be a dealbreaker for me and most other choir directors.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 3,427
    (to the OP) It is not common to break up words this way.
    If you really "must" do so, have the word presented properly, and then indicate the consonant again in brackets at the end of the melisma.

    I recently felt compelled to do this for my transcription of Requiem Æternam into English, since some melismas were almost entire staves. You can see it here:
    https://catholicsacredmusic.com/blog/7v6ef3y8vt4nwrk2s5memo67uerwhj-2026

    Part of the problem with splitting up words incorrectly is that you're destroying the brain's ability to "chunk" the data. We've all read "Lord" a thousand times. When we read "Lo -    -    -    -" we are presuming something other than "rd" comes next, because "rd" is normally connected since it's a one syllable word. The practical effect of this is that people may make the wrong vowel shape in anticipation of a different syllable that never manifests. Worse still, putting "rd" on a melisma of its own is going to cause people to do some phenomenally ugly singing as they attempt to follow orders.
    Thanked by 1rvisser
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