A Plain and Easy Introduction to Gregorian Chant

Format: Book
Media: Wire-bound, soft cover (104 pages)


Dr. Susan Treacy, Professor of Music at Ave Maria University, has written a clear, useful introduction to the art of singing Gregorian chant. Coming from practical student use at Franciscan University of Steubenville, this book offers both information and technique on the music that holds "pride of place" in Roman Rite liturgy. It is intended as a very basic introduction to Gregorian chant and its notation for Catholics who would like to be able to follow the call of Vatican Council II to "devout and active participation" and "to say or sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them [the faithful]." The pedagogical method employed is based on the method of chanting developed in the late nineteenth century by the Benedictine monks of the Abbey of Saint Peter of Solesmes, France. Specifically, most of the chant repertoire in this book is oriented toward actual liturgical use, and is intended to help Catholics to chant their parts at Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours. In addition to ten chapters that deal with the basics of chant notation and the modal milieu in which chant occurs, the eight appendices are a treasury of reference material:

Contents (104 pages):

• Preface
• Table of Abbreviations
• Chapter   1 — Basics of Chant Notation; Single Neums
• Chapter   2 — Binary, Ternary & Compound Neums
• Chapter   3 — The Rhythm of Gregorian Chant
• Chapter   4 — Modes & Modality in Chant; RE Mode
• Chapter   5 — Latin Accents & Phonics; Introduction to Psalm Tones
• Chapter   6 — MI Mode
• Chapter   7 — FA Mode
• Chapter   8 — SOL Mode
• Chapter   9 — Some Other Gregorian Psalm Tones
• Chapter 10 — Chanting the Mass Ordinary and Propers
• Appendix 1 — Glossary
• Appendix 2 — Summary Tables of Finals & Dominants of the Church Modes
• Appendix 3 — Summary of the Church Modes
• Appendix 4 — Summary of the Psalm Tones
• Appendix 5 — The Ecclesiastical Pronunciation of Latin: A Summary
• Appendix 6 — A Guide to Setting Latin & English Words to the Gregorian Psalm Tones
• Appendix 7 — Chant Anthology
• Appendix 8 — The Degrees of Participation in Musicam sacram (1967)
• Select Bibliography

A Plain & Easy Introduction to Gregorian Chant can offer you valuable information on the Church's own music, particularly if you're starting a schola in your parish.

Susan Treacy, Ph.D., joined the faculty at Ave Maria University in Naples, Florida, as Professor of Sacred Music after having taught at Franciscan University of Steubenville and Luther College. She was named Chairman of the Department of Music in Fall 2006. She holds a Ph.D. in historical musicology from the University of North Texas, an M.Mus. in opera from the Manhattan School of Music, and a B.Mus. in voice from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. Her research interests are in Catholic liturgical music and English devotional song, and besides having published scholarly articles, Dr. Treacy writes a regular column, Musica Donum Dei, for the Saint Austin Review (StAR). Dr. Treacy directs the Women's Schola Gregoriana at AMU. While at Franciscan University she directed the Schola Cantorum Franciscana and she was a section leader and soloist with the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh. She was a member of the editorial committee for The Adoremus Hymnal and is on the board of the Church Music Association of America.