The Recovering Choir Director

Starting last week, I started to memorize two of the simpler Gregorian Chant propers for the upcoming Sundays; namely the Introit and Communion antiphons. The motive was to so as to better internalize the melody, text and meaning of each.

It makes a huge difference.

From my brief experience, it liberates the chant from the printed page in an indescribable way; it is almost as if the chant truly develops wings and literally flies. With a text-centric approach like the one I employ in private, the tempo does tend to take off as well, which is probably a dubious result in the ears of many.* But the effect can hardly be described as “notey”, a term of critique employed by Dr. Bill Mahrt during the advanced chant rehearsals at last summer’s Colloquium.

Another effect is one of increased concentration. Without the help of the printed page, I’m forced to remember the smallest contour of the chant, and literally think ahead to the next syllable, the next word, the next phrase, in order to make it a whole.

A surprising effect is one of increased comprehension. While I’ve sung the chant for over five years now, I had not truly started to plumb the depths of the meanings illumined by the melodies until I went “off book”. As I memorize the chants, I also memorize as much as possible the meanings behind the Latin. The Gregorian Missal for Sundays is of great assistance in this regard.

The final beneficial effect (at least as far as this post is concerned) is one of portability. Since I now ‘own’ the chants with my being, I can literally take it with me without requiring the printed page.  To prove the point, I can type out the words to next Sunday’s Introit and Communion (antiphons only, no verses) without recourse to the books. I’m not looking, and I didn’t memorize chapter and verse, so I can’t provide those here:

• Introit: Si iniquitátes observáveris, Dómine; Dómine, quis sustinébit? Quia apud te propitiátio est, Deus Israel.
  
• Communion (EF): Ego clamávi, quóniam exaudísti me, Deus; inclína aurem tuam, et exáudi verba mea.
• Communion (OF): Aufer a me oppróbrium et contémptum, quia mandáta tua exquisívi Dómine: nam et testimónia tua meditátio mea est.

Trying it to the best of one’s ability will be a profitable exercise. One could start with the responses and perhaps move on to the Greek- and Latin-language Ordinary, or even to perhaps a Communion antiphon with particular significance.

It is a great way to respond to St. Paul’s admonition to the Colossians, which is an admonition to us all.**

* Recordings will be available soon.
** Related shameless plug linked here.