This book provides complete entrance, offertory, and communion propers in English with Psalms in modal chant, with four-line notation, for all Sundays and feasts. They can be sung by a single cantor or a full choir. The modes from the Gregorian original are wholly preserved to capture the sound and feel of the Graduale Romanum proper chants. The follow a chant formula to make singing easy for any choir in any parish. The project is sponsored by the Church Music Association of America, and is also published by the CMAA. 460 pages. Hardback.
Simple English Propers
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Adam Bartlett is editor of the Sacred Music Project and is also a music director in Phoenix, Arizona.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
It is hard to believe that the English-speaking Catholic world has had to wait 40 years for a dignified setting of the proper antiphons of the Ordinary Form of the Mass, but it's best to look forward to future riches rather than lament the gaps of the past. This book contains beautifully rendered, easily sung settings of the Entrance antiphon (or Introit), Offertory antiphon, and Communion antiphon for every Sunday and major feastday of the liturgical year (including instances where there are different options for Years A, B, and C).
When used at Mass, the Simple English Propers effect a truly a wonderful and refreshing change. Instead of singing a random hymn or even a hymn loosely related to the Sunday or feastday theme, the cantor or choir can sing the actual text appointed by the official liturgical books, in a Gregorian chant idiom passed down to us by our forefathers in the faith stretching all the way back to the early Church. The antiphons sound, in short, like sacred music: music that is woven of divine things, sung in honor of the Lord, and capable of raising people's minds to Him, in keeping with the specific aims of the liturgy of the day. We are, as earlier Popes have put it, singing the Mass, not just singing AT Mass.
The chant notation is very easy to read once you get the hang of it -- the introduction walks the user through the learning process in a few simple steps. I would say to any liturgical musician eager to promote beautiful music, as Pope Benedict XVI has asked us to do, and who wishes to follow conscientiously the norms of the Catholic Church for her worship: do not hesitate to get this book, and begin using it as soon as possible!
When used at Mass, the Simple English Propers effect a truly a wonderful and refreshing change. Instead of singing a random hymn or even a hymn loosely related to the Sunday or feastday theme, the cantor or choir can sing the actual text appointed by the official liturgical books, in a Gregorian chant idiom passed down to us by our forefathers in the faith stretching all the way back to the early Church. The antiphons sound, in short, like sacred music: music that is woven of divine things, sung in honor of the Lord, and capable of raising people's minds to Him, in keeping with the specific aims of the liturgy of the day. We are, as earlier Popes have put it, singing the Mass, not just singing AT Mass.
The chant notation is very easy to read once you get the hang of it -- the introduction walks the user through the learning process in a few simple steps. I would say to any liturgical musician eager to promote beautiful music, as Pope Benedict XVI has asked us to do, and who wishes to follow conscientiously the norms of the Catholic Church for her worship: do not hesitate to get this book, and begin using it as soon as possible!
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By gbren
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am a young Catholic musician. The idea of an official text of the Mass being completely ignored in favor of way sub-par material is mind boggling and upsetting, and that is exactly what has happened (for the most part) for more than a few generations now. The Simple English Propers is a wonderful part of the reform of music in Catholic churches that is increasing in intensity. Very sturdy book and very clear and beautiful print. Plus the actual musical material composed in this collection truly sounds like simplified versions of the chants found in offical books like the Graduale Romanum. Bottom line is this book is a must buy for any Catholic Church musician/director. The more of these replace our current "big 3 hymnals" the better.
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By Veritawesome
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
While most Catholics don't realize that the use of antiphons is the first (and therefore, preferred) option for music in a mass, this wonderful work offers much promise for parishes and communities that are struggling to be liturgically correct, without having to deal with the technical difficulties of the Latin propers. This book is ideal, also, for parishes as the new English translation of the Third Typical Edition comes into effect, as the major publishing companies (they are typically 3 letter acronyms.....) are merely rehashing the same old 70's and 80's melodies with the new words. Sentire Cum Ecclesia!!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential parish resource
This book enables a parish to worship with a truly authentic liturgy. The English chants are set to a form that any reasonably competent parish choir can master. Read more
Published 1 month ago by John
5.0 out of 5 stars
The first step in getting rid of hymns from the Mass
Simple and straight forward, with a very clean design (one antiphon per page, unless they run over), this edition of the Propers for the Entrance (Introit), Offertory, and... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Greg Plese
4.0 out of 5 stars
Plainchant for the Church Year
Today's review of Simple English Propers composed and edited by Adam Bartlett is geared toward all the music lovers out there, but it might also strike the fancy of those not so... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Stuart Dunn
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Have for All Catholic Musicians
This book is an absolute must have for all Catholic musicians. As is evidenced by the multiple sell outs of this book, more musicians are realizing that singing the appointed texts... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Ben
3.0 out of 5 stars
nice
I'm satisfied with this book. what an smart & great project to give us the ambiance of gregorian in english language. Read more
Published 15 months ago by beneluk
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well done chant settings with English texts
The Simple English Propers by Adam Bartlett is a comprehensive setting of chants for the Sundays and Feasts of the liturgical year. Read more
Published 17 months ago by LRS
5.0 out of 5 stars
OUTSTANDING QUALITY AND VALUE FOR MONEY!
Today, 7th December, as I am reviewing this truly excellent addition to Church literature, the book is 'out of stock', the initial print-run having been exhausted. Read more
Published 17 months ago by STEVE K
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simple English Propers
Excellent value hardback which is simple: just the Introit, Offertory and Communion Propers. Clearly laid out, ready to fulfil the requirements of the 3rd Edition of the General... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Neil Brett
5.0 out of 5 stars
Historical breakthrough!
For the first time in the History of the Roman Catholic Liturgy, we have the Propers of Mass set in the 8 Gregorian Modes in a very simple style beautifully adapted to our own... Read more
Published 20 months ago by B. Shonka
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simple English Propers
This is an excellent publication. The authors have performed a priceless service to the English-speaking Catholic world. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Deacon John
