100 Chants: A Resource for Choral Practice and Performance

Abstract

The purpose of this document is to create and present a varied collection of one hundred transcribed plainchants that may be used as a robust tool by contemporary choral musicians in the practice and performance of chant. All plainchants were chosen from the "Liber Usualis" (Solesmes, 1961), which contains the definitive Vatican Edition of Roman Chant employed by the monks of Solesmes and remains the Official Music Text sanctioned by the Catholic Church. Coupled with the transcribed music and translated Latin texts, will be reasons and process in selection of included chants, a compendious history of the transmission of plainchant from its oral beginnings, and a description of the notational system employed by the collection. Conducting and performance practice of the collection, including examples of grouping techniques, will also be briefly discussed. The plainchants will be presented in alphabetical order, after which two methods of the Latin text translations will be offered: literal and modernized. Two indices, including alphabetical and topical, will be proffered as a useful tool for the discerning conductor interested in including one of the transcribed plainchants into a varied concert program. This document is not a primer for the instruction of reading Gregorian chant notation or performing from a manuscript containing said notation. The notated music and description of transcription offered is a tool to be used by the choral musician who does not have the resources to learn or teach Gregorian chant notation, but still would like the educational or performance benefit of plainchant.