This two-volume
work (568 pages) contains the proper melodies of the introits, graduals,
alleluias, tracts, offertories, and communions for all Sundays of the
year, for all Feasts of Our Lord included in the calendar of the American
Episcopal Church, and for other occasions on which a parish church is
likely to have a sung mass. The culmination of 27 years work, Mr. Ford
has adapted the melodies to the words, employing the methods used by
composers of Latin chant both in the Middle Ages and in the 20th century
and not merely strung English words under notes arranged for Latin words.
His principal source for the melodies has been the Graduale Romanum.
Texts are based on the psalter of the American Book of Common Prayer
(1979) and the Revised Standard version of the Bible.
The book is organized according to the lectionary of the Episcopal Church,
which is modelled closely on the Ordo Lectionum Missae. For those occasions
to which the ECUSA lectionary and the OLM assign entirely different
readings there are two sets of chants provided.
The price of the book is $99 (U.S.). Purchasers are authorized to make
photocopies for local use.
A Review of The American Gradual
This book adapts the chants of the Graduale Romanum . Its coverage is not complete, but includes the music for all occasions at which a choir is likely to be present. Its primary target is the Episcopal (Anglican) Church in America, and therefore the English translation of the psalmody is taken from the official psalter used by American Anglicans. As the author points out, however, the assignment of chants to liturgical occasions in the present edition of the Graduale Romanum has been adapted for the new three-year lectionary used in the Roman rite since the 1970's. Many other denominations, including the churches of the Anglican Communion, now use a virtually identical lectionary, so that the assignment of chants in the new Graduale may be used in the worship of any denomination using this lectionary. The American Gradual gives alternative assignments of chants where there are differences between the Roman and Anglican lectionaries, so that the needs of both rites are covered. This book is therefore suitable for use by Roman Catholic churches wishing to use the chants of the Graduale Romanum in English.
An introduction explains the thinking behind editorial decisions: In the 20th century, chant books in Solesmes style with English texts were created for use in the Church of England; this book is intended to be a modernisation of the earlier work done by G. H. Palmer, Francis Burgess & al . The need for adaptation of the melodies to suit the English text is stressed; some English versions of plainchant have failed "to adapt the chant at all". It is accepted that even most professional singers cannot read Solesmes notation, and so the chant is presented in a modern notation accompanied by various diacritical marks representing neumatic separations and some episemata . The intention behind this is that singers, rather than following the Mocquereau rhythmic system of the older Solesmes editions, will attempt the even older "accentualist" system of Pothier, modified by the more recent semiological insights of Cardine. Here the edition differs from the more recent Solesmes books, which have tried to represent every rhythmic nuance of the early notation. The opinion of Dom. Jean Claire and Cardine is quoted, that the attempt to reproduce them all in performance "invariably robbed the chant of fluency". As someone accustomed to attempting their performance every Sunday, I would not wholly agree with this, and sometimes find that both the lack of some of rhythmic indications and the presence of others does not always quite feel "natural". However, this is a small quibble, since what is presented is a far truer reflection of the rhythmic nuances of the earliest manuscripts than is the official Graduale Romanum . The adaptation of the chant melodies to the English text is admirable, and I hope that it will be much used. The book may seem expensively priced at $99, but it is not: the price includes copyright permission for purchasers to make photocopies (for use exclusively in their own church).
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