Lancelot Andrewes Press
  • bgeorge77
    Posts: 190
    Anyone have an opinion on these books:
    http://www.andrewespress.com/mdn.html

    They're basically a source of Gregorian chant in English, mostly for High Anglican types but also for "Western Rite Orthodox", that is to say, Eastern Orthodox who use the Roman Rite (in the Sarum Use, I think, though not sure)
  • bgeorge77
    Posts: 190
    Another book of theirs that looks interesting:

    http://www.andrewespress.com/dunstan.html

    English psalms set to Gregorian psalmtones.
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,376
    These books are outstanding. Every Catholic choirmaster should have the St Dunstan's Plainsong Psalter; better yet: for his/her entire choir (if not in the pews). This is the Miles Coverdale psalter (plus a number of Canticles) pointed and set to the eight square-noted psalm tones. It is the fitting successor to Canon Winfred Douglas' out of print Plainsong Psalter. This is the official English psalter of St Basil's School of Gregorian Chant. The only minus is some of the very dated prefatory material - but this can be ignored. Would that there were a similar book using one of the better modern, or non-Tudor, translations. I say this because of those who might use it but for the older English. Still: it is a treasure and a superb resource.
  • mjballoumjballou
    Posts: 993
    Every time I read about these, I think I should buy them - especially since I do boatloads of material in English. Maybe I'll make it a New Year's Resolution. Much more entertaining that losing 15 pounds (or growing 1-1/2 inches).
  • Chris_McAvoyChris_McAvoy
    Posts: 389
    Yes, these books should be the standard at all Western Catholic Churches.
    The Monastic Diurnal and St Dunstan's Plainsong Psalter changed my life.
    After rehearsing with the Schola Cantorum at Mater Dei Latin Mass Community at St Lawrence Chapel in Harrisburg, PA I asked one of the members to sing the "Alma Redemptoris Mater" titled "Gracious Mother of Our Redeemer" set to the simple melody (it also has the complex melody). They match the melody of the latin so closely and the translations convey such accuracy and beauty.

    These Plainsong Divine Office Books represent the future of English language Latin Catholic Chant in the United States.

    They are the future of Church music for most of the USA I believe.

    The "Gracious Mother of Our Redeemer" to the simple melody was so beautiful that one of the other schola cantorum members immediately exclaimed afterward "That hymn could almost make me enjoy attending the Novus Ordo"

    Now that is the ultimate compliment. I do now have the eloquent words can not express the necessity of purchasing these books from lancelot andrewes press. If you combine them with Bruce F Ford's "American Gradual", my 40 Notker Sequences in english and Episopal Fr Trey's Sung Gospels and you have the perfect authentic gregorian chant covering all liturgical music in english instead of latin.

    http://www.nku.edu/~gartigw/gospel_table_080519.htm

    The future is here. Take it and pray with it, let it help you to salvation as it has me. The revolution will soon begin !
  • Chris_McAvoyChris_McAvoy
    Posts: 389
    Once again, I encourage the Church Music Association members to buy these books and use them, make recordings of the antiphons on CD's and mp3's and distribute them to all the Bishops of the USCCB, music directors, leaders of lay confraternities/societies and Catholic primary schools music teachers.

    They are worth every penny, take something to the pawn shop if you must.
    The Monastic Diurnal Noted and St Dunstan's cost a total of only $80 for about 1300 pages of the melodies thousands of saints were formed with. The heart of who we are today the beauty matching anything in a tridentine or byzantine liturgy.

    examples:

    Epiphany - Lauds - Antiphon 1 - Ante luciferum genitus (Before the morning star begotten) (take 1)
    http://www.zshare.net/audio/71438948ecf6d7d4/

    Epiphany - Day II - Vespers - Antiphon on Benedictus - Hodie caelisti sponsa (Today the Church is joined) (take 1)
    http://www.zshare.net/audio/714388957b1f4317/
    Epiphany - Magi Videntes (Magi Beholding the star) - Antiphon on Magnificat (take 1).mp3
    [URL=http://www.zshare.net/audio/7143898484e15d5e/]Epiphany - Magi Videntes _Magi Beholding the star_ - Antiphon on Magnificat _take 1_.mp3 - 0.78MB[/URL]



    Whatever you do buy these books and sing with them !
  • Chris_McAvoyChris_McAvoy
    Posts: 389
    Apologies for my limited vocal abilities, before these previous 6 monthes I had not sung before and have yet to hire a coach to help me expand my range and make the most of my larynx.
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