From the new Adoremus Bulletin:

A priest in our diocese will be saying the “Tridentine Mass” in a private Mass for home-schooling families in our area starting next month. I have volunteered to lead the singing of the parts of the Mass in Gregorian Chant. I do own a choir edition of the Adoremus Hymnal and am familiar with some of the chant included in the book. Would the chant in the hymnal be used for the Tridentine Mass? At what times of the year? Are there any additional sources of chant that you would recommend to help get us started? Thank you. MaryBecker via e-mail

William Mahrt response:

Helen Hull Hitchcock forwarded your inquiry to me, and I can add a little bit to the information. Concerning the Ordinary of the Mass, the chants are essentially the same in both usages, so the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei would be the same, except that in the Tridentine use, the Kyrie is always nine-fold, while in the new user it is often six-fold; likewise, in the Tridentine usage the Pater noster is sung by the priest alone until the last line, which is sung as a response by the choir and/or congregation.

There remains the Propers of the Mass, however: the introit, gradual, alleluia or tract, offertory, and communion. These are often omitted in the new use or replaced with hymns, but that is not permitted in the Tridentine use; they must be sung there. Most correctly, they should be sung in their full Gregorian forms from the Graduate Romanum, though it was customary before the Council to sing their texts to simple psalm-tone melodies, which fulfills the requirement. Likewise, while the repertory of pieces for the Propers of the Mass is essentially the same in both uses, the specific assignment of pieces varies according to the day, since the calendar was subject to a thorough-going revision.

If you are just getting started, I would suggest that you go for the psalm-tone Propers. Ultimately the full Gregorian pieces should be used, but that is a major project requiring some considerable musical attention. The old edition of Rev. Carlo Rossini has been reprinted by the Neumann Press. I believe one should move on to singing the Gregorian pieces, but this is an-acceptable first step. With my best wishes for your project.

William Mahrt
President of the Church
Music Association of America
Editor of Sacred Music