Mass of the Holy Rosary (Rev. R.J. Sorin)
  • LexOrandi
    Posts: 5
    This might be a long shot as I don't know how well-circulated this Mass setting was...I'm looking for a score of the Mass of the Holy Rosary by Rev. R.J. Sorin which has an organ accompaniment. I currently have an arrangement of it for three voices, but the organ accompaniment is very sparse as it's basically just the voice parts. I'm hoping there might be a more substantial accompaniment available, but can't find anything online except for a MuseScore arrangement with an accompaniment for strings which will be a bit time-consuming to typeset for organ.

    Any help appreciated!
  • Jeffrey Quick
    Posts: 2,276
    That's how Nemmers published their things: largely settings for small and incompetent choirs. I don't recall seeing "organ editions" in their listings. Oddly, I don't have Sorin on my wiki, though I've encountered the name. I might have gone looking for dates and come up short (some very obscure composers on the Nemmers roster.) (there are 2 VIAF records and neither has dates).

    If it's after 1930, technically you should ask permission for any rearrangement. Otherwise, have at it.
    Thanked by 1LexOrandi
  • Don9of11Don9of11
    Posts: 846
    If Fr. Sorin was a relegious priest for example O.F.M.; O. P.; O.S.B., etc., you can reach out to the repsective order's archivist and see if they have a copy. I have had good success whenever I have done this. For example, Mass in Honor of Our Lady by Sister Mary Gisela, S.S.N.D.

    You might check the CMAA forums Caecilia and Choirmaster archives. There are some real gems hiding in those collections if you have the patience to sort through them.

    I also looked through my copy of "American Masses and Requiems" by David DeVenney and the mass by Rev. R.J. Sorin is not listed, although there are three other "Mass of the Holy Rosary" that are listed.
    Thanked by 2Andrew_Malton LexOrandi
  • Jeffrey Quick
    Posts: 2,276
    The Caecilia was for awhile essentially a house organ of McLaughlin & Reilly, and reprinted samples of their music. I don't think they did anything from Nemmers.

    A number of the Nemmers crew were Norbertines:L. A. Dobbelsteen, Matthias Vanden Elsen, and Robert Sromovsky (slightly younger, not really a Nemmers guy), who were connected with St. Norbert College, which has developed a page about them including digitized prints and manuscripts. But Sorin was not part of that.
    Thanked by 2irishtenor LexOrandi
  • Jeffrey Quick
    Posts: 2,276
    I found a bit of info on Fr. René Joseph Sorin. b. France April 18, 1870, d. DeLisle MS Feb. 6, 1955. In 1896 he was made pastor of Our Lady of Good Hope in DeLisle MS and served for 56 years. In 1922, he asked for relief and the Josephite Order came in and established St. Stephen's Mission Church for the Black Catholics. OLGH was destroyed by Hurricane Camille in August 1969 and St. Stephen's was made the parish church.

    An article from 1930 notes Fr. Sorin's compositions, his well-trained choir and fine baritone voice. So he's definitely our guy. Which doesn't really help get a score to anyone, but it's more info than you'll find in one place.
    Thanked by 4Don9of11 CHGiffen irishtenor LexOrandi
  • LexOrandi
    Posts: 5
    Jeffrey and Don - thank you both for your input.

    I have not chosen the Mass myself, but I have been asked to accompany it in a few weeks' time... Given the number of free scores out there, the fact that Fr Sorin's work doesn't really feature indicates that he is pretty obscure. The Mass of the Holy Rosary is pretty, but clearly designed to be easy and accessible for amateur choirs. As I said, I'm expected to just play the vocal score, which has a few additional notes for the organ where the singers have rests. I reckon the result will be that it will sound very plain and lack the colour and sense of movement that a proper accompaniment could bring.

    As I mentioned in my original post, there is an arrangement of it for strings on MuseScore, which I have purchased. I think I will contact the arranger and ask his permission to reduce the score to an organ accompaniment.
  • Jeffrey Quick
    Posts: 2,276
    Given the number of free scores out there, the fact that Fr Sorin's work doesn't really feature indicates that he is pretty obscure.


    That's true; he was. But when it comes to free scores of liturgical music, everybody is obscure. Academic and public libraries, which are major drivers of digitization, don't collect in this area, and those which do are small Catholic institutions (e.g., Duquesne) without the funds to get everything out there. A lot of the repertoire literally hit the dumpsters during the '60s, so there are fewer copies circulating. And the average DM who has copies lying around can't/won't make it a priority to put things up. Which is why, when we have a thread like this and somebody finds the missing music, I'm onto people to get me a copy if they aren't up to putting it on IMSLP themselves.
    Thanked by 1LexOrandi
  • oldhymnsoldhymns
    Posts: 275
    I have an extra copy of Father Sorin's "Missa Angelica," Copyright 1915. There's an interesting statement on the front cover: "PRICE. First copy $1.00, additional copies at 40 cents each, the same as if voice parts were published. Most singers prefer the score. Send for complete catalogue of Masses and Songs to Rev. R. J. Sorin, DeLisle, Miss."

    Last year I delivered to Catholic University of America 17 boxes of Catholic Liturgical Music (all Latin), including 1,016 different Masses. I feel for sure Sorin's Mass of the Holy Rosary was included. I doubt that CUA has catalogued this donation at this point, but you could ask Sally Kendrick, Rare Books Librarian, CUA, as she was my contact person.

    I have a number of Father Sorin's English hymns.

    Thanked by 3Don9of11 CHGiffen LexOrandi
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