Chant and the Mass

Proper of the Mass (Roman Gradual)

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The Roman Rite has two forms: Ordinary, and Extraordinary.

The Ordinary Form (OF) is often called “Novus Ordo”, or “Vatican II” Mass. The Extraordinary Form (EF)* is often called “Tridentine Mass” or “Traditional Latin Mass” (TLM).

The sacred music recommended by the Catholic Church for both forms of the Roman Rite, Ordinary and Extraordinary, have a lot in common:

  • Gregorian Chant is the preferred music of the Church,
  • When the Catholic liturgy calls for “necessary” music, it is always vocal and monophonic music (chant), not instrumental and/or polyphonic (several voices).
  • Musical instruments, especially the organ, are welcome in both forms of the rite as a complement, a support and an enhancement of the vocal music. The human voice is however the primary “instrument” of the Liturgy.

To know more about

  • The Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, click here.
  • The Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, a good place to start is reading :
 
Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship, issued by USCCB, on November 14, 2007 (a quick 70-page read, download here: SingToTheLord )
 
To go deeper, read:
 
The General Instructions of the 2011 Roman Missal (USCCB)
 
Musica Sacram : 1967, post-Vatican II, instructions on Music in the Liturgy.
 
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy : the “original” text from the Vatican II Council on the Liturgy.
 
EXAMPLES OF PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:
 
 
 

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