Looking for a PDF-1st Catholic American Hymnal

monasteryliturgist

Has anyone seen where I can find scans of the original Catholic Hymnal from John Aitkens "A Compilation of the Litanies and Vespers Hymns and Anthems as they are sung in the Catholic Church adapted to the voice or organ". I have found a version that just has text but not the music and on Hymnary they have a few things but I would like to see the actually original volume of scans if anyone knows of any resources.

ServiamScores

It appears the national library of Australia (of all places) has it. You have to have an account and log in to see it though. Alternatively, you could request a scan.

https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/3382690

unknownadversary

Here's the PDF.

Roborgelmeister

I remember playing No. 7, Pange lingua, as a voluntary in 1976. It was in some bicentennial collection I had.

monasteryliturgist

@unknownadversary Thank you so much!

monasteryliturgist · Screenshot 2026-10-28 184747.png

@unknownadversary or @Roborgelmeister
Any idea on what you think the invocations on the litanies would be? They have the Kyrie and the Christe exaudi etc. but not the Holy Mary etc. Do you think they would just do the Gregorian from that point?

Im trying to re-typeset it so its more legible

Richard Mix

"Ky - rie_e- leison" might be kinder, if that's indeed what's intended.

monasteryliturgist · Screenshot 2026-10-29 154059.png

@Richard Mix Well what do you think? I was trying to be faithful to what the scan showed. Historical accuracy versus how we notate it now? Im hesitant to change it due to this being a very historical work but Idk.

Richard Mix

I might have read too much into

trying to re-typeset it so its more legible

. ;-)

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