PSALMODY GUIDE

NOTATION and SIGNS USED in this BREVIARY

I am aware of the difficulty of the sung psalmody, especially to people without any musical background. I will see later if musical samples for each antiphon and tone used in the Offices could be added on each page of the website .

+++++

I have used the NINE GREGORIAN TONES FOR THE PSALMODY using special additional signs to better follow the melodic line. (The notation is hand-written, then scanned and edited.)

1- The INTONATION                                                                                                      

a)  The dotted line in the beginning of a verse underlines  the syllables that carry the intonation of the tone. 

b) I introduced here something new. Normally the intonation is used only with the first verse but I have added it sometimes in the middle of the psalmsit when the verse is long enough to accept an intonation before the accent or to add majesty to the psalmody as in Daniel 3:52-57.

c)    If a verse starts without intonation, then there is a slash before the first word. { / }. 

d) If a dotted line is found under a syllable in the middle or at the end of a verse , it means that there is a neume falling on that syllable. The usage of such neumes is very common because of  the necessisty to adapt the dynamic of the tones - created initially for the Latin - to the English language.

2- The BOLD and ITALIC used together mark the syllable on which  the accent falls.

3- AN UNDERLINED SYLLABLE means that the following syllable is to be sung longer on the same note. A syllable put in italic after it marks when the tone breaks.

4-    A HYPHEN SIGN in the middle of a word – usually in the intonation or in the doxology - indicates a neume on the syllable. Ex: Glo-ry to the FATHER….  (such a hyphen is mainly used in the intonation of tones VII and the Peregrine tone)

5- The RESPONSORIES:   the tone for the responsories after the readings is one of the following:

a-   the first tone I used is indicated by a slash after the V and the R.   { V/  ,  R/} . It is as shown:

b-  If  the second tone I used is indicated by a dot after the V  and the R  { V. ,  R.}It is as shown:

6- The MAGNIFICAT

In some places the Magnificat canticle starts by ‘proclaiming’ the tone in the first line in that way which is indicated by the two brackets enfolding the line. The first part of the tone has only the intonation without the mediation and is separated from the second part by two slash signs. The second part shows the ending of the tone. This first line is sung by the cantor or the person leading the liturgy. The second line continues the normal way and is sung by the same group to which belongs the cantor or the leader.

Example in tone V: {. My soul proclaims //the Greatness of the LORD,}

I. my Spirit rejoices in GOD my SAVIOR

for HE has looked with favor on His lowly..Servant.