English Propers and the New Translation of the Roman Missal (RM3)
  • ClergetKubiszClergetKubisz
    Posts: 1,912
    I was inventorying the choir loft today and I found three complete sets (enough for a relatively large choir) of the English Propers. They are quite old, and I imagine they have not been used for some time. I'd like to ask Father if we can start doing them, possibly at the beginning of the new Church year, but I have a question first: did the New Translation affect the English Propers that existed at that time?
  • SkirpRSkirpR
    Posts: 854
    First to answer your question, the translation was revised with regard to the Missal propers, but 1) it is ideal that the Graduale propers be sung vs. the Missal propers, 2) the Graduale propers have no official translations, and 3) even if they're Missal propers you're singing, if we're permitted to substitute a hymn that has nothing to do with either proper, it seems to me singing a slightly different translation of one of the propers is better than that.

    Second, where are they from? Publisher? Editor? Composer(s)?
  • ClergetKubiszClergetKubisz
    Posts: 1,912
    I have the "Proper of the Mass" by Fr. Carlo Rossini (two sets, one Complete, containing the Votive Masses and I and II Class Feasts, and the other just containing the Sundays), and "Selected Propers of the Mass" by A. Edmonds Tozer.

    I'm kinda new to the whole Propers thing: I don't know the difference between the Graduale Propers and the Missal Propers. Are the Graduale Propers only in Latin, since they have no official translation, or can one find them translated to English? I wish that I had brought home a copy of the English Propers I have at the church: it would probably state whether it was based on the Graduale or Missal Propers, yes?
  • ClergetKubiszClergetKubisz
    Posts: 1,912
    The Rossini is Imprimatur 1933.
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,216
    The attractive and useful CMAA web site has a list of over 20 collections of propers adapted into English. Some present translations of the Graduale Propers (usually from the translation by Solesmes), and some present the Missal Propers. The list was curated by thoughtful forum members Ben Yanke and Noel Jones, without whom, etc., etc.

    They vary in style: some are set to psalm-tones, as were the Rossini propers of the 1930s (e.g., the "Lalemant Propers"); some use simple modal melodies ("Simple English Propers"); some present the English texts with authentic Gregorian melodies from the Graduale, with adaptations ("American Gradual").

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