Appendix on Gregorian Melodies

Reason for writing about sacred chant

89. Our Most Holy Lord Pius Pp. X established new law concerning sacred chant; and because it is closely connected with the immediately preceding subject, it must here, as regards its publication, be recalled in a few words.¹

Summary of the acts; code of sacred music

I. Therefore, after by the motu proprio of November 22, 1903, he wrote a Code concerning sacred chant and restored Gregorian melodies to the Roman Church, by another motu proprio, April 25, 1904,² he established these principles:

1. Liturgical books cannot be approved which in chant differ from the authentic Vatican edition. Yet that variety can be introduced which the Roman commission on sacred chant has judged to be supported by probable authority (motu proprio, § d).

2. The Vatican edition is in the domain of the Holy See. Yet this, by imposing certain laws, will grant to suitable printers and publishers of every nation permission to print and publish it in whole or in part.

Instructions of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, August 11, 1905

II. According to these principles, the Sacred Congregation of Rites, by decree of August 11, 1905, published instructions which define all things more precisely in this manner:

Pontifical faculty for printing must be obtained

I. Publishers or printers of whatever place or region, who wish to print the Gregorian melodies contained in the Vatican edition, whether in equal form or larger or smaller, whether all or only some, shall take care first to obtain the faculty from the same Apostolic See.

Laws to be observed

II. By each of the publishers who has obtained a pontifical faculty of this sort, these things are to be most diligently attended to:

a) The form of the little notes and of the other signs of Gregorian chant must be preserved which the ancients established and the Vatican edition exhibits exactly.

b) Above all, nothing can be changed in the order in which the same little notes succeed one another for the various intervals of sounds.

c) Nor likewise in the manner in which the little notes themselves are joined for the diverse formulas of neumes, as they say.

d) The most absolute relation of the words of the sacred text to the little notes of the chant is also to be observed, so that each syllable lies wholly under its note or notes.

Faith must be made concerning agreement with the typical edition

III. Once the edition has been prepared and completed, it will be unlawful for anyone to publish it and to use it in sacred functions unless the Ordinary of the place has fortified it with a declaration, by which its agreement with the typical Vatican edition is established.

By the Ordinary from the report of censors

IV. But let the Ordinary not grant a declaration of this sort unless first censors skilled in Gregorian chant, after a most diligent comparison has been made, testify in writing, with conscience burdened, that the new edition altogether agrees with the Vatican one.

In which parts varieties are admitted, in which not

V. To those parts of the liturgical office which admit diverse chants according to the diversity of day or feast, as for example hymns and the Ordinary of the Mass, melodies can be adapted which are not found in the typical edition, and can be approved by the Sacred Congregation of Rites, with due conditions observed, especially those which are appended in § d) of the motu proprio of April 25, 1904.³ But in no way are varieties of tones or chants of this sort to be admitted in the remaining parts, for example in the Antiphons and Responsories either of the Office or of the Mass.

What of proper offices or newly conceded ones?

VI. But if there is question of proper Offices of some church or regular Order following the Roman rite, or of Offices newly granted, their Gregorian melodies, restored or arranged by skilled men, are likewise to be submitted to the approval of the Sacred Congregation of Rites; once this has been obtained, the Ordinary of the place, having been made certain, as above, concerning agreement with the originals recognized by the Sacred Congregation, will grant the required declaration.

Use of modern notes

VII. It can be tolerated that Gregorian chant be published in modern musical notes, provided the danger be carefully removed lest the order of the notes and neumes be disturbed in any way whatever. Therefore for these editions, for the convenience of the faithful, the Ordinary will be able to grant his approval if it has been established to him, according to articles 4 and 6, concerning faithful conformity with the typical edition or approved melodies.

Three exemplars to be sent to the Sacred Congregation

VIII. Whenever a book containing sacred chant or any liturgical melody is submitted to the Sacred Congregation of Rites in order to obtain approval, three exemplars are to be sent to the same.

Rights of the Holy See

IX. A Gregorian melody destined and recommended for liturgical use by the Sacred Congregation of Rites according to the aforesaid norms pertains to the sacred treasure or patrimony of the Roman Church, just as the text itself does. And so, when a new text is proposed or conceded to the faithful by the same, the chant corresponding to the text is reputed to have been conceded at the same time, so that no publisher or author can raise a complaint concerning the fact that the Apostolic See extends the same melodies to other churches.

Declaration, February 14, 1906

To these Instructions there was added the declaration of February 14, 1906, of this tenor:

Conformity with the typical edition is required in the form of the little notes and the manner in which they are joined

1. The form of the little notes of the chant must be preserved intact in such a way that all of those which have the same reason or signification, and therefore bear one and the same figure in the typical Vatican edition, likewise in another edition which can be approved by the Ordinary must necessarily be altogether similar and equal among themselves as regards form. And therefore signs which perhaps have been superinduced, with the Ordinary permitting, must in no way affect the form of the little notes, or the manner in which they are joined.

Confusion between typical notes and superinduced signs must henceforth be avoided

2. Although some edition has been recognized by the Ordinary or by the Sacred Congregation of Rites itself as in other respects, that is excepting signs, conforming with the typical edition, nevertheless it is necessary that henceforth it observe exactly the norms established above; insofar as, between typical little notes and signs which are added, confusion can no longer arise. Anything whatever to the contrary notwithstanding.

Decree of August 14, 1905

III. Moreover, by decree of August 14, 1905, the Sacred Congregation of Rites promulgated the typical edition of Gregorian chant, and, after recalling the laws which forbid books of Gregorian chant to be published without apostolic faculty or differing from the typical edition, manifested the wish of the Supreme Pontiff that the remaining liturgical books of the Roman rite be removed as soon as possible.⁴

These laws govern liturgical use

IV. These things which have been prescribed concerning chant refer in themselves to liturgical use, which the cited Instructions of August 11, 1905, n. IX, positively name; at the same time, however, the right of ownership which, in the same n. IX, the Holy See vindicates for itself in sacred chant approved by it must be observed.

¹ Cf. Periodica Nostra, t. 1, n. 10, p. 23 and following.

² In the same place, n. 68, p. 168 and following.

³ There no other condition seems to be required except that the varieties be indicated as supported by the authority of good codices.

⁴ Cf. Periodica Nostra, t. 2, n. 88, p. 38.