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Propers    (Proprium de Tempore)

Ps. 107, 1. Parátum cor meum, Deus, parátum cor meum: * cantábo, et psallam in glória mea.

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Quick jump:
Advent  →  1st, 2nd, 3rd (Gaudete), Great Antiphons / O Antiphons, 4th.
Christmas  →  Midnight, Dawn, Day, St Stephen, St John, Holy Innocents, Octave.
Epiphany  →  Epiphany, Holy Family, 2nd, 3rd.
Septuagesima  →  7ma, 6ma, 5ma.
Lent  →  Ash Wednesday, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th (Laetare).
Passion/Holy Week  →  Passion, Palm Sunday, Mon, Tue, Wed, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday. (Holy Week)
Paschal time  →  Easter Sunday, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, 1st (Quasimodo), 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, Ascension.
Pentecost  →  Pentecost, Monday, 1st (Trinity), Corpus Christi, 2nd, Sacred Heart, 3rd,
Pentecost 4th  →  4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd.

Intr. = Introitus, Introit
Grad. = Graduale, Gradual
All. = Alleluia
Tract. = Tractus, Tract
Seq. = Sequentia, Sequence
Offert. = Offertorium, Offertory
Comm. = Communio, Communion

Ant. = Antiphona, Antiphon
Ps. = Psalmus, Psalm
Hymn. = Hymnum, Hymn
Cant. = Canticum, Canticle
Missa. = Missa, Mass
      LU = The Liber Usualis 1961 - PDF
GR = Graduale Romanum 1961 - PDF
GV = Graduale Vatican 1908 - PDF
MV = Mass and Vespers 1957 - PDF
LB = Liber Brevior 1954 - PDF
OF = Offertoriale 1935 - PDF
VPC = Vers. Psalm. & Cant. 1962 - PDF
SOV = Simple Offert. Verses 2008 - PDF
AR = Antiphonale Romanum 1949 - PDF
LR = Liber Responsorialis 1895 - PDF
GB = GregoBase


Singing rules.
     
Mode Final Tenor     M F T
 1  D A serious 1A A E
 2  D F sad/content 2A A C
 3  E C mystic 3B B G
 4  E A harmonious 4B B E
 5  F C glad 5C C G
 6  F A devout 6C C E
 7  G D angelic
 8  G C perfect

(examples at the bottom of the page)

Proper mode
/
tone
LU - MV
LB
GR - AR
OF - GB
Comments
1st Sunday of Advent
1st Week of Advent, Monday
1st Week of Advent - Tuesday
1st Week of Advent - Wednesday
1st Week of Advent - Thursday
1st Week of Advent - Friday
1st Week of Advent - Saturday
2nd Sunday of Advent
2nd Week of Advent - Monday
2nd Week of Advent - Tuesday
2nd Week of Advent - Wednesday
2nd Week of Advent - Thursday
2nd Week of Advent - Friday
2nd Week of Advent - Saturday
3rd Sunday of Advent
Great Antiphons / O Antiphons
17 Dec - O Sapientia
18 Dec - O Adonai
19 Dec - O Radix Jesse
20 Dec - O Clavis David
21 Dec - O Oriens
22 Dec - O Rex gentium
23 Dec - O Emmanuel
Monday before the Vigil of the Nativity
Tuesday before the Vigil of the Nativity
Wednesday before the Vigil of the Nativity
Thursday before the Vigil of the Nativity
Friday before the Vigil of the Nativity
Saturday before the Vigil of the Nativity
3rd Week of Advent - Monday
3rd Week of Advent - Tuesday
3rd Week of Advent - Wednesday in Ember Week
3rd Week of Advent - Thursday
3rd Week of Advent - Friday in Ember Week
3rd Week of Advent - Saturday in Ember Week
4th Sunday of Advent
4th Week of Advent - Monday
4th Week of Advent - Tuesday
4th Week of Advent - Wednesday
4th Week of Advent - Thursday
4th Week of Advent - Friday
24 Dec - Vigil of the Nativity
Christmas - Matins
Christmas - Midnight Mass
Christmas - Lauds
Christmas - Prime
Christmas - Mass at Dawn
Christmas - Terce
Christmas - Mass of the day
Christmas - Sext
Christmas - None
Christmas - Vespers
26 Dec - St Stephen, the First Martyr
27 Dec - St John, Apostle and Evangelist
28 Dec - Holy Innocents
Sunday within the Octave of Christmas
Grad. Speciosus forma
Ps. 44, 3 et 2.
3 LU434

MV354
GR45

GB1308
E
Difficult piece, not many Graduale are in mode 3.
- A few patterns are repeated. Learn this proper by decomposing the various phrases into patterns. It helps.
- Notice the 3 occurrences of a lovely pattern GB-DCC-ABA on hominum, bonum and Regi.
- Pay attention to the 2 occurrences of the episemed note F after E on the word est and the end of calamus. Memorize this particular jump of a semitone.
- Be careful at the 2 patterns GA-FE-GA on the words tuis and scribentis: the second GA is difficult to pitch unless you quickly memorize the first one. Also at the end of these words there is a GF-GE where the F is not easy to pitch: in doubt sing it silently and get to the final double dotted notes.
29 Dec - St Thomas Becket of Canterbury, Bishop and Martyr
30 Dec - 6th day within the Octave of the Nativity
31 Dec - St Silvester, Pope and Confessor
1 Jan - Octave day of Christmas (Circumcision of Our Lord)
2-5 Jan - Most Holy Name of Jesus (Sunday between Circumcision and Epiphany or 2nd Jan if no Sunday)
Grad. Salvos fac nos
Ps. 105, 47.
Isai. 63, 16.
3 LU447

MV367
GR51

GB670
D/E
OK, it is a long and tricky gradual in mode 3...
- First difficulty on the word congrega: it tooks me some practice to master the strange torculus ACA. You would expect the syllable "con" to end up on C, it is not natural to come back to A, but it is actually the "grega" which does end up on C.
- Be careful at the word confiteamur: two small drops a semitone CB after the big jump a 4th on the previous ut.
- On sancto tuo the note A is sung many times, some of these A have an episema meaning emphasis and lengthening; keep the note high in mind before exploring the lower notes of tuo.
- The word gloria is a bit tricky: remember "ria" starts on the same A as ends "glo". Also the "a" is just a second higher than the previous note, and tua starts on F, same as the ending of "ri". Seems obvious but...
- The "a" of tua starts a minor 3rd lower than "tu", it shouldn't be too difficult. At least there is an episema to regroup.
- Good breath before pater noster. Careful at the drop a 4th down DA. And don't forget the "r" at the end of the melism.
- The word saeculo starts on the same note as the previous "a"... There is an episema to regroup again.
- Two difficulties on nomen: 1) there are 9 notes on "no"... 2) "men" has a drop a 4th down CG.
- The final tuum mimics tua, same melism addressing The Lord our God.
5 Jan - St Telesphorus, Pope and Martyr (Memory)
5 Jan - Eve of the Epiphany
6 Jan - The Epiphany of Our Lord
7-13 Jan - The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (1st Sunday after Epiphany)
Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany or 1st Sunday after Epiphany
7 Jan - Second day within the Octave of The Epiphany
8 Jan - Third day within the Octave of The Epiphany
9 Jan - Fourth day within the Octave of The Epiphany
10 Jan - Fifth day within the Octave of The Epiphany
11 Jan - Sixth day within the Octave of The Epiphany
11 Jan - St Hyginus, Pope and Martyr (Memory)
12 Jan - Seventh day within the Octave of The Epiphany
13 Jan - Octave of Epiphany - Commemoration of Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ
2nd Sunday after Epiphany
3rd Sunday after Epiphany
4th Sunday after Epiphany
5th Sunday after Epiphany
6th Sunday after Epiphany
Saturday before Septuagesima
Septuagesima
Grad. Adjutor in opportunitatibus
Ps. 9, 10-11 et 19-20.
3 LU498

MV430
GR74

GB222
E/F
Difficult piece. Doable but need serious practice.
- Careful at the incipit with the various 3rd and 4th.
- The words qui noverunt are a bit tricky: starting on a small semitonesque second EF it jumps with DFA = three notes of a minor chord, giving this unique flavour.
- Then you have a jump a 5th on quoniam which will come back again as a 4th two lines later on the same word.
- A few notes difficult to pitch on Domine:
1) a 4th down CG on the porrectus,
2) then a major 3rd down AF, followed by another major 3rd up GB,
3) finally the porrectus on "mi" is episemed but not the ones on "ne", it is tempting to lengthen the whole.
- After the second quoniam, the word non is divided in two parts:
1st part: chaotic movements between A and C,
2nd part: beautiful jump high BE-FDB followed by D-ECA;
ECA composes a minor chord = minor third AC + major third CE
but this particular set of notes FDB is called a "diminished" chord composed of two minor thirds BD and DF, as explained in this page: http://piano.about.com/od/chordskeys/a/dim_chords.htm:

« Diminished Chords and "Dissonance" - The reason for a diminished chord's bizarre sound is its tonal instability (or "dissonance"). The intervals in a diminished triad, for example, are equally spaced – there are three intervals between B-D, and also between D-F – and this lack of harmony within the chord is what causes the ear to seek tonal resolution. »
... Therefore the need of the following ECA which makes the dissonance vanishing and brings back harmony.
- Next you find again the three notes DFA of a minor chord on the word infinem like previously on noverunt.
- The word pauperis has a quilisma followed by a liquescent, this liquescent is where you sing the "u" of "au".
- Next the word patientia is syllabic, seems obvious but be careful on this DEGAG.
- Double lovely pattern on aeternum to express life forever... I suppose. It will sound better if you sing the whole in one breath.
- The final phrase starts with exsurge, Domine, wonderful with its three fourths. Sing with majesty.
- The final word homo is beautiful too, with these ascending and descending notes from bottom D to top C, to conclude with the final E. This last phrase is a treat.
Septuagesima Week - Monday
Septuagesima Week - Tuesday
Septuagesima Week - Wednesday
Septuagesima Week - Thursday
Septuagesima Week - Friday
Saturday before Sexagesima
Sexagesima
Sexagesima Week - Monday
Sexagesima Week - Tuesday
Sexagesima Week - Wednesday
Sexagesima Week - Thursday
Sexagesima Week - Friday
Saturday before Quinquagesima
Quinquagesima
Grad. Tu es Deus
Ps. 76, 15 et 16.
3 LU512

MV446
GR81

GB850
A/B
- Watch the various B in this proper, especially followed by C.
- Also memorize the E, final of mode 3, it appears here and there.
- Notice a rare 5th on a torculus resupinus at the word notam.
- Next you encounter a succession of major thirds up and down GB and BG on the words fecisti and gentibus. The word gentibus continues with a jump down a 4th AE on "bus": that's where you remember the importance of memorizing the E.
- The four notes GC-AB of "vir" on the word virtutem are a bit tricky to sing. Before you start, visualize the fourth GC then insert the second AB.
- Another place to look at the various B: in brachio tuo where most of the notes stay between C and A, a little interval of three semitones, when the ear would like to come back to the G of Liberasti. Also here it is tempting to sing not one but two or three notes on "tu"... It is the next "o" which takes all the five ending notes before the quarter bar. Eventually do not breathe at this quarter bar but take one good breath before in brachio.

Monday after Quinquagesima
Tuesday after Quinquagesima
Ash Wednesday (Quadragesima)
Thursday after Ash Wednesday
Friday after Ash Wednesday
Saturday after Ash Wednesday
1st Sunday of Lent (or 1st Sunday in Quadragesima)
1st Week of Lent - Monday
1st Week of Lent - Tuesday
1st Week of Lent - Wednesday in Ember Week
1st Week of Lent - Thursday
1st Week of Lent - Friday in Ember Week
1st Week of Lent - Saturday in Ember Week
2nd Sunday of Lent
2nd Week of Lent - Monday
2nd Week of Lent - Tuesday
2nd Week of Lent - Wednesday
2nd Week of Lent - Thursday
2nd Week of Lent - Friday
2nd Week of Lent - Saturday
3rd Sunday of Lent
Grad. Exsurge... non praevaleat
Ps. 9, 20 et 4.
3 LU553

MV483
GR123

GB1298
D/E
"Exsurge" = raise, stand up.
- Mode 3 = mystic. Sing it with a steady pace to reflect this mystic mood.
- There are a few similar groups of notes with two torculus: G-ABA-BCB, like Do-Re-Mi-Fa, coming back a few times: on praevaleat, judicentur, in conspectu.
- Watch out the major third down AF on tuo, as well as tua in the end.
- Do not pause between inimicum and tuum.
- Read carefully the notes of retrorsum, especially around the porrectus at the top.
- There is a long "peribuuuunt" and after that a longer "facieeeee" to be sung in one breath... if you can, or breathe at the first quarter bar. Good breathing exercise. Relax. Words are expressive: "You have made my enemy perish before Your face". So to make a point. God speaks to his people through the words, through His Word, and the Church expresses through the chant.
- As Dom Gajard from Solesmes once said: "You see, Gregorian chant is the official commentary, given authentically by the Church, of liturgical texts". And it's obvious this proper reflects that. "Rise, O Lord, let not man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your presence. V. Because my enemies are turned back, overthrown and destroyed before You." (source)
3rd Week of Lent - Monday
3rd Week of Lent - Tuesday
3rd Week of Lent - Wednesday
3rd Week of Lent - Thursday
3rd Week of Lent - Friday
3rd Week of Lent - Saturday
4th Sunday of Lent
4th Week of Lent - Monday
4th Week of Lent - Tuesday
Grad. Exsurge... fer opem
Ps. 43, 26 et 2.
3 GR143
GB152
4th Week of Lent - Wednesday
4th Week of Lent - Thursday
4th Week of Lent - Friday
4th Week of Lent - Saturday (Saturday before the 1st Sunday of the Passion)
Grad. Tibi Domine
Ps. 9, 14 et 1-2.
3 LU566 GR149
GB818
The melody on the word Domine in the verse can be found on the Grad. Adjutor from Septuagesima.
Passion Sunday (1st Sunday of the Passion)
Grad. Eripe me Domine
Ps. 142, 9 et 10.
Ps. 17, 48-49.
3 LU570

MV499
GR152

GB760
D/E
The melody seems to remind Grad. Exsurge from 3rd Sunday of Lent. It starts the same... and that's it pretty much, because there are many differences and it is slightly more difficult.
- Take a good breath before inimicis meis, there is a long melism on "meis". And remember to say the "s" at the end, not at the quarter bar.
- The porrectus of facere starts on two notes C and A, sung before on the word me. So it is just a repetition of the same CA.
- Also watch out the drop a major third down BG at facere. Plus the second one AF at the end.
- Take a good breath at the quarter bar after voluntatem before engaging the long melism of tuam.
- If you have to breathe on liberator meus it sounds better if you pause at the second quarter bar. Otherwise if you are two cantors, the other one can breathe at the first quarter bar, and later eventually. And don't forget the "s" at the end.
- The melody on the word iracundis is tricky: tristropha + episemed C then semitone towards B, coming back to dotted note C and once again B, so it is really like a repetition; the difficulty comes with the jump a minor third BD followed by a gentle come back on the climacus DCB. After that it is easier.
- The next words ab insurgentibus are a bit difficult to articulate at first (especially the "ab") ending on a semitone CB... and without any pause it continues towards in me. It ends strangely on a semitone FE after a drop a major third AF.
- In the same way the words exaltabis me end on a semitone CB followed by a full bar, a big stop.
- The intervals on the words a viro are tricky: there is the podatus minor third DB followed by a torculus CED which is actually a big major third. If you don't push it high enough you might miss the coming back to D at iniquo.
- Watch out the two major thirds on the last word me: BG and AF; especially the second one AF: during the first distropha AA visualise the F as major third then sing a simple Do-Re-Mi for FGA, and find the second distropha AA, same as before.
Passion Week - Monday
Passion Week - Tuesday
Passion Week - Wednesday
Grad. Exaltabo te
Ps. 29, 2-4.
3 LU--- GR160
GB277
Passion Week - Thursday
Passion Week - Friday
Passion Week - Friday - Seven Dolours of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Passion Week - Saturday
Palm Sunday (2nd Sunday of the Passion), with procession of palms
Monday in Holy Week
Grad. Exsurge... et intende
Ps. 34, 23 et 3.
3 LU607
GR185

GB783
Tuesday in Holy Week
Grad. Ego autem
Ps. 34 , 13 et 1-2.
3 LU610 GR187
GB903
Wednesday in Holy Week
Maundy Thursday Tenebrae
Mass of the Holy Oils
Maundy Thursday Solemn Mass
Good Friday Tenebrae
Good Friday afternoon liturgy
Holy Saturday Tenebrae
Holy Saturday Paschal Vigil
Holy Saturday Paschal Mass
Easter Sunday
Easter Monday
Easter Tuesday
Wednesday in Easter Week
Thursday in Easter Week
Friday in Easter Week
Saturday in Easter Week (Sabbato in Albis)
1st Sunday after Easter - Low Sunday / Quasimodo / Dominica in Albis
2nd Easter Week - Monday
2nd Easter Week - Tuesday
2nd Easter Week - Wednesday
2nd Easter Week - Thursday
2nd Easter Week - Friday
2nd Easter Week - Saturday before the 2nd Sunday after Easter
2nd Sunday after Easter
3rd Easter Week - Monday
3rd Easter Week - Tuesday
3rd Easter Week - Wednesday
3rd Easter Week - Thursday
3rd Easter Week - Friday
3rd Easter Week - Saturday before the 3rd Sunday after Easter
3rd Sunday after Easter
4th Easter Week - Monday
4th Easter Week - Tuesday
4th Easter Week - Wednesday
4th Easter Week - Thursday
4th Easter Week - Friday
4th Easter Week - Saturday before the 4th Sunday after Easter
4th Sunday after Easter
5th Easter Week - Monday
5th Easter Week - Tuesday
5th Easter Week - Wednesday
5th Easter Week - Thursday
5th Easter Week - Friday
5th Easter Week - Saturday before the 5th Sunday after Easter
5th Sunday after Easter
Rogations - Greater and lesser litanies
Rogations - Greater and lesser litanies (Out of Paschal Time)
6th Easter Week - Monday - Rogations
6th Easter Week - Tuesday - Rogations
Vigil of the Ascension
Ascension - Matins
Ascension
Friday after Ascension
Sunday after Ascension
Vigil of Pentecost (Whitsun Eve) before 1955
Vigil of Pentecost (Whitsun Eve)
Pentecost (Whit Sunday) - 1st Vespers
Pentecost (Whit Sunday) - Matins
Pentecost (Whit Sunday)
Monday in Whitsun Week (Whit Monday)
Tuesday in Whitsun Week (Whit Tuesday)
Wednesday in Whitsun Week (Ember Wednesday)
Thursday in Whitsun Week (Whit Thursday)
Friday in Whitsun Week (Ember Friday)
Saturday in Whitsun Week (Ember Saturday)
1st Sunday after Pentecost - Most Holy Trinity Sunday
Former 1st Sunday after Pentecost
Corpus Christi - Matins
Corpus Christi
2nd Sunday after Pentecost (formerly known as Sunday within the Octave of Corpus Christi)
Sacred Heart of Jesus
3rd Sunday after Pentecost (formerly known as Sunday within the Octave of the Sacred Heart)
4th Sunday after Pentecost
4th Week after Pentecost - Saturday
5th Sunday after Pentecost
6th Sunday after Pentecost
7th Sunday after Pentecost
8th Sunday after Pentecost
9th Sunday after Pentecost
10th Sunday after Pentecost
11th Sunday after Pentecost
12th Sunday after Pentecost
13th Sunday after Pentecost
14th Sunday after Pentecost
15th Sunday after Pentecost
16th Sunday after Pentecost
17th Sunday after Pentecost
Wednesday in Ember week of September
Friday in Ember week of September
Saturday in Ember week of September
18th Sunday after Pentecost
19th Sunday after Pentecost
20th Sunday after Pentecost
21st Sunday after Pentecost
22nd Sunday after Pentecost
23rd Sunday after Pentecost
Sundays between 23th and 24th after Pentecost
24th and Last Sunday after Pentecost