Gregorian hymn for organ blessing ?
  • probe
    Posts: 82
    We are to have a blessing for the 'awakening ' of our organ in two weeks. Does anyone have a suggestion for a hymn or chant that is simple enough for a general (unauditioned, one part, no harmony) Gregorian chant parish group to learn in two short rehearsals? Something to do with Psalm 150 perhaps?
  • francis
    Posts: 11,240
    If you have a hymn text, I can compose you one in any style and in any key either in modern or GC notation tomorrow.
  • SponsaChristi
    Posts: 652
    Honestly, it’s not Gregorian Chant, but a real beefy and voluptuous organ heavy Arrangement of All Creatures of Our God and King would be an excellent choice. It’s well known, fairly simple as long as they don’t get caught up on the dotted whole note towards the end, and the congregation will probably actually join you.
    Thanked by 1probe
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,931
    https://gregobase.selapa.net/chant.php?id=7942
    or
    https://gregobase.selapa.net/chant.php?id=20347
    and
    https://gregobase.selapa.net/chant.php?id=12214
    Thanked by 1probe
  • probe
    Posts: 82
    Thanks SponsaChristi, we'll have the regular church choir sing a couple of those, this is for the chant group, a more recent addition to our musical forces. Our very active PP is keen to reintroduce music and singing and he found an organ from another church closing. And organised two-year organ scholarships for four young people! How fortunate we are.

    Tomjaw, that's a lovely idea but my group would need a simpler one.
    Currently I'm leaning toward the simple repetitive Ubi Caritas, and Te Laudamus is just a bit longer.
  • tomjaw
    Posts: 2,931
    CANTANTIBUS órganis, Caecília Dómino decantábat dicens : * Fiat cor meum immaculátum, ut non confúndar.

    Drop this text into the editor here, http://bbloomf.github.io/jgabc/psalmtone.html

    Then choose the psalm tone, eg
    image
    EDIT Then check to see if it has made a mistake!
    Screenshot 2026-01-31 at 6.48.53 PM.png
    990 x 336 - 48K
    Thanked by 1probe
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 3,331
    Well it’s interpreting Caecilia as C-a-e, but it’s a digraph ae/æ, oops.
    Thanked by 3WGS tomjaw probe
  • probe
    Posts: 82
    Oh, that's a possibility, thanks @tomjaw for that reference to the psalmtone app.

    Thanked by 1tomjaw
  • Richard MixRichard Mix
    Posts: 2,935
    Liszt's mixed chorus Te Deum has enough unison to fit your circumstances and uses the tune your schola might find useful.
    Thanked by 1probe
  • probe
    Posts: 82
    Thanks @Richard Mix, that's one to remember if we do two-part pieces. The first part is unison and the rest may as well be for my purposes ;) Thank you for contributing this to CPDL! As you prepared the scores, I should alert you that the .mxl file ran out of lyrics after the 'salvum fac' but I can easily write them in. Not as complex as I'd expect from Liszt - the tune must be from the chant, yes? I've heard and sung a lot of Te Deum settings and I couldn't rely on memory to identify it, I'll have to look it up.
    Thanked by 1tomjaw
Add a Comment