This begs the question: who wrote this?

When I used to work at the Texas House, legislation was written by a team of lawyers from the Texas Legislative Council. Yeah, the bill had my member's name on it, but, an attorney actually wrote it. I wonder if the same concept applies here.

or else the Gregorian cadences should be adapted to fit the accentuation of the vernacular language.

English can easily be set to Psalm tones... you just have to repeat notes sometimes depending on accents. We sing them all time... correctly adjusted. I must admit, WLP does NOT understand the aspects of setting Psalms in English at all.

Paul Ford has written an excellent piece on this subject, and then demonstrates it in his BFW. I don't see what the problem is.

As someone who has straddled both sides of the divide regarding using Gregorian tones as-is for vernacular versus creating/adapting tones to better fit the characteristics of a particular vernacular, I don't really see this as a hornet's nest issue. Compromises need to be made regardless of the solution chosen.

At the moment, and for multiple reasons, I am leaning more toward the solution suggested by Sing to the Lord. I've put together a PDF that illustrates this, with examples.

Aristotle,

You know the absolute respect I have for your work. Thank you so much for sharing with us your "solutions" !!!

The issue (from my perspective) is not so much what we do in our times. For me, it is a matter of a Church document (Sing to the Lord) denying the existence (down through the centuries) of things like cursive cadences in Gregorian Psalmody and the prominent place they have had throughout history. It is troubling for me to read an author (whoever that author may be) who says to the Church in America, "This is how it must be done, and I'm not interested in what so many composers of chant did for so many centuries." In particular, I feel that ignoring huge and important sections of the Gregorian repertoire is irresponsible.

Others will disagree.

JMO, I don't read the document saying "This is how it must be done." It says this:

"Gregorian tones should generally not be... used for those vernacular languages that have final accents, or else the Gregorian cadences should be adapted to fit the accentuation of the vernacular language."

I read more flexibility into it in "generally not..." and then in "or else..." which gives another option.

I understand that the sticking point is "to fit the accentuation," and I respect your position on that. However, the way the medievalists did it is not necessarily the same as how we should do it, since they were using Latin and we're talking here about English. It is a fascinating question - whether Latin medieval practices can apply to English or not. The experts disagree on this point. One school of thought holds that English accents are heavier by nature than Latin accents, and hence, settings of English chant (including psalm tones) must consult the English accent more than is the case in Latin chant. I personally think English accents are weightier, but that it's not absolute and some subtlety and nuance is needed to find the most aesthetically satisfying compromise.

Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB

I was told this by the DRE who does not like all those reference to Latin and chant.

Ralph, mon ami, does this person's "DRE" moniker stand for Director of Ritual and Education? (Happily, I don't have this problem, ours being at her gig as long as I've been a DM, and we've been friends and associates since her youngest was one of my JrHi and HS choral kids.) If not, then simply mention CSL, MS, GIRM 2011, and if s/he wants to go to the mattresses, motus Tra/SumPont., and offer that once those have been consulted, to come back and discuss whether "LIKING!" Latin and chant is on the table for discussion or not. If that doesn't work, hold a crucifix before this person's eyes and quietly chant "The power of Christ compels you!"
How's that, Francis? I'm getting all chant Rambo out here!

Charles:

You are a scream... When I do it, however, I use the 6 foot crucifix from behind the altar (although, I must admit it's a bit cumbersome to hold)

Here's an interesting story.

At the beginning of the year I was told that I was not to use Latin music anymore in the Mass (we were between pastors at that time). That was going to be for at least six months. Being the obedient DoM that I am, I said, "obedience is greater than sacrifice. I will most willingly conform to your request. Consider it done." I told the choir and asked them to not discuss this AT ALL. That we were to be obedient and pray.

Then I went to God.

I started beseeching Jesus, (through Mary and the Angels) to come to the defense of the Church and her patrimony. My wife and I started praying the 'Psalms of Pleading' (these are a prescribed set of Psalms that ask God to lay waste the enemies of the Church. Please be clear, the enemies of the Church are spirits, not people, although people can align themselves with their intentions, usually out of ignorance, lack of proper formation as Catholics, and selfishness exerted through insistence on personal preferences--WARNING!!! you DO NOT want to align yourself with these evil spirits). We concluded each time by praying to St Michael (prayer of exorcism [short version we all know and love] 3x), the prayer to the "August, Queen of Heaven" and then the Memorare.

A couple of months ago, out of the blue, the issue was formally presented to the Parish Council and the question was asked, "Why is Latin (music) no longer allowed at Mass?" Well at that point the floodgates opened and the Angelic realm went into action. I kept my mouth shut (very important not to get in the way of God's action) and I and my wife kept on praying.

A couple of weeks ago the mandate was reversed and now I have been asked by the pastor to program Latin music for every liturgy during communion. No Ordinary is allowed as of yet, but I expect God will find a way to change hearts about that too.

I cannot mention details about what I and my wife witnessed during that time of "pleading" but let me tell you something... you DO NOT want to align yourself with the enemies (evil spirits) of God and His Church or the patrimony of Our Dear Lady. Fear of God is something we understand too little about this day and age. Jesus is a friend, but He is also a just God who hears the prayers of His people when they are oppressed. When we pray for our enemies, it is in this way that we should pray, using the Psalms as our guide. Then, get out of the way, and watch God act.

Francis: I employed your advice. Prayer and charity has already shown amazing results.