Chanting The Liturgy Of The Hours

[tnavarro61]

How do we chant the psalms of the Liturgy of the Hours? I am so interested to learn.

[Ed Normile]

Chanting is not so hard to accomplish, I am am sure I could still do it. I remember back in school chanting during mass. I will tell you a weird thing, I was looking in a catholic gift book store just before Christmas when a set of Liturgy of the Hours books sort of called to me. I wanted to buy them before Christmas and start the practise, I read the preface and thought what a great devotion. I still want to get a set, but as I am self employed and a tad financially embarrassed at the present I will have to wait until things straighten out a bit, and I feel God is patient enough to understand.

ed

[MithLuin]

Chanting can be done in many different ways. Some are quite simple, others take a ton of skill. Many are quite beautiful. Most versions have their roots in different traditions.

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmU0FJf-Fqo]HERE[/url] is a rabbi chanting Psalm 1 following a Syriac tradition. Well, I understand 'Adonai' anyway!

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RLpKTA4FAU&feature=related]Byzantine[/url] chanting psalm 117 in tone 5.

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leZ6t-1mVfs]Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth[/url] (singing, not really chanting)

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVu7m1xswmk&feature=related]Benedictines of Ampleforth[/url] chanting Compline (Night prayer) [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XRRcQKfKC4&feature=related](Part 2)[/url]

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88pas04vFyI&feature=related]Benedictines of St. Vincent's Archabbey[/url] chanting Vespers (evening prayer)

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfHxH1XrKos]Trappists, Psalm 18[/url]

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7Rh_DeQmZY&feature=related]Cistercians[/url]

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ww_e4dTTbs&feature=related]Vespers, 1962 missal[/url], ([url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U13NCdxqBfk&feature=related]Part 2[/url]) ([url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DEV-HCLDyk&feature=related]Part 3[/url])


A 'How to' from the version used by Servants of the Word:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD6x7alQvtU[/media]


The easiest way to learn to chant the Office is to visit a religious community that does so and learn to do it the way they do it.

[Micah]

Mith, the second one, Psalm 118, was beautiful. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/like.gif[/img]

[Cam42]

[quote name='tnavarro61' timestamp='1294575061' post='2198107']
How do we chant the psalms of the Liturgy of the Hours? I am so interested to learn.
[/quote]

[url="http://www.transitofvenus.nl/LiturgiaHorarum/"]Liturgia Horarum in cantu[/url]

Now you can learn....

[Chiquitunga]

[quote name='MithLuin' timestamp='1294592404' post='2198155']
Chanting can be done in many different ways. Some are quite simple, others take a ton of skill. Many are quite beautiful. Most versions have their roots in different traditions.[/quote]

Great post MithLuin! Carmelites (at least the Discalced Carmelite communities I've visited) use monotone chant (which I find very beautiful in its simplicity/austerity) on ordinary days and Gregorian chant on Sundays and Solemnities .. except for the hymns at the beginning of the Office/other times which were Gregorian.

[quote name='Cam42' timestamp='1294722872' post='2198883']
[url="http://www.transitofvenus.nl/LiturgiaHorarum/"]Liturgia Horarum in cantu[/url]

Now you can learn....
[/quote]

Wow, neat site there .. thanks for posting!

[tnavarro61]

[quote name='MithLuin' timestamp='1294592404' post='2198155']
Chanting can be done in many different ways. Some are quite simple, others take a ton of skill. Many are quite beautiful. Most versions have their roots in different traditions.

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmU0FJf-Fqo]HERE[/url] is a rabbi chanting Psalm 1 following a Syriac tradition. Well, I understand 'Adonai' anyway!

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RLpKTA4FAU&feature=related]Byzantine[/url] chanting psalm 117 in tone 5.

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leZ6t-1mVfs]Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth[/url] (singing, not really chanting)

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVu7m1xswmk&feature=related]Benedictines of Ampleforth[/url] chanting Compline (Night prayer) [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XRRcQKfKC4&feature=related](Part 2)[/url]

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88pas04vFyI&feature=related]Benedictines of St. Vincent's Archabbey[/url] chanting Vespers (evening prayer)

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfHxH1XrKos]Trappists, Psalm 18[/url]

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7Rh_DeQmZY&feature=related]Cistercians[/url]

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ww_e4dTTbs&feature=related]Vespers, 1962 missal[/url], ([url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U13NCdxqBfk&feature=related]Part 2[/url]) ([url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DEV-HCLDyk&feature=related]Part 3[/url])


A 'How to' from the version used by Servants of the Word:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD6x7alQvtU[/media]


The easiest way to learn to chant the Office is to visit a religious community that does so and learn to do it the way they do it.
[/quote]

Thank you very much for the links! Yes I visit a religious community but I am TOO shy to ask! Haha they know I can't sing!

[tnavarro61]

[quote name='Cam42' timestamp='1294722872' post='2198883']
[url="http://www.transitofvenus.nl/LiturgiaHorarum/"]Liturgia Horarum in cantu[/url]

Now you can learn....
[/quote]

COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you very much!

But uh-oh, it's in Latin. My Breviary is in English! Maybe the Lord is teling me to start learning and applying Latin! COOL!!!!!

Edited January 11, 2011 by tnavarro61

[MithLuin]

No worries, I can't sing either. I still join in when others are chanting. With monotone chanting, you hold one note for most of the line, and then do something different at the end. The video I linked as a 'how to' is that type. If you're doing it on your own, that's probably the easiest way to learn. You can use different ones for morning, evening and night prayer, for instance.

A simple version of Compline: [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je5QTTHJ0Jc]part 1[/url], [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzejg6cwl-Y&feature=related]part 2[/url], [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2kz-gxj-PQ&feature=related]part 3 (Salve)[/url]

Edited January 11, 2011 by MithLuin

[fides quarens intellectum]

[quote name='tnavarro61' timestamp='1294575061' post='2198107']
How do we chant the psalms of the Liturgy of the Hours? I am so interested to learn.
[/quote]

Well, you can always plainchant to get you into the habit of chanting instead of reading the words - basically, pick a tone and stick to it. Then, if you want to get fancy, here are some easy cheat sheets I have for simple two-line chanting:

[img]http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc490/fidesqi/P1110012.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc490/fidesqi/P1110008.jpg[/img]


These are for two-line chanting (so you repeat them if there are four or six lines in a stanza). If a psalm has three lines in a stanza, you would sing the first part of the tone for the first line, hold the first note of the second part of the tone for the entire second line, then sing the rest of the second part of the tone for the third line as normal.

[Cam42]

[quote name='tnavarro61' timestamp='1294754784' post='2198960']
COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you very much!

But uh-oh, it's in Latin. My Breviary is in English! Maybe the Lord is teling me to start learning and applying Latin! COOL!!!!!


[/quote]

The Lord already told you that you should start learning and applying Latin....look to [url="http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html"]Sacrosanctum Concilium no. 36[/url].

[tnavarro61]

[quote name='MithLuin' timestamp='1294759650' post='2198973']
No worries, I can't sing either. I still join in when others are chanting. With monotone chanting, you hold one note for most of the line, and then do something different at the end. The video I linked as a 'how to' is that type. If you're doing it on your own, that's probably the easiest way to learn. You can use different ones for morning, evening and night prayer, for instance.

A simple version of Compline: [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je5QTTHJ0Jc]part 1[/url], [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzejg6cwl-Y&feature=related]part 2[/url], [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2kz-gxj-PQ&feature=related]part 3 (Salve)[/url]
[/quote]

I'll try monotone singing! Thanks for the link, that is very interesting. Wish every parish would do that!

[quote name='fides quarens intellectum' timestamp='1294763832' post='2198982']
Well, you can always plainchant to get you into the habit of chanting instead of reading the words - basically, pick a tone and stick to it. Then, if you want to get fancy, here are some easy cheat sheets I have for simple two-line chanting:

[img]http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc490/fidesqi/P1110012.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc490/fidesqi/P1110008.jpg[/img]


These are for two-line chanting (so you repeat them if there are four or six lines in a stanza). If a psalm has three lines in a stanza, you would sing the first part of the tone for the first line, hold the first note of the second part of the tone for the entire second line, then sing the rest of the second part of the tone for the third line as normal.
[/quote]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Edited January 11, 2011 by tnavarro61

[tnavarro61]

[quote name='Cam42' timestamp='1294764255' post='2198985']
The Lord already told you that you should start learning and applying Latin....look to [url="http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html"]Sacrosanctum Concilium no. 36[/url].
[/quote]

Gotta read that stuff. :wink: Thanks for the link. So I got what the Lord is asking from me right!

[tnavarro61]

[quote name='fides quarens intellectum' timestamp='1294763832' post='2198982']
Well, you can always plainchant to get you into the habit of chanting instead of reading the words - basically, pick a tone and stick to it. Then, if you want to get fancy, here are some easy cheat sheets I have for simple two-line chanting:

[img]http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc490/fidesqi/P1110012.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc490/fidesqi/P1110008.jpg[/img]


These are for two-line chanting (so you repeat them if there are four or six lines in a stanza). If a psalm has three lines in a stanza, you would sing the first part of the tone for the first line, hold the first note of the second part of the tone for the entire second line, then sing the rest of the second part of the tone for the third line as normal.
[/quote]

please explain how you use it. do you sing the same notes all throughout?and does the half note still equal to 2 counts ?

[fides quarens intellectum]

[quote name='tnavarro61' timestamp='1294822655' post='2199308']
please explain how you use it. do you sing the same notes all throughout?and does the half note still equal to 2 counts ?
[/quote]

Okay. If you notice, there is no time signature, so don't think of them as half-notes. The "half-notes" just mean they are used for more than one syllable, and the filled in notes are used for one syllable. So, you hold the "half-note" for the first part of a line, vary it at the end, then the last "half-note" used for a line is usually the last whole word or the last syllable, whichever does not sound awkward (you kind of get a feel for things after you've been doing it a while - depending on the tone you are using, you sometimes combine the last two words with that last note). You usually hold that last "half-note" a tad (just very slightly) longer than you do the other notes, so that it feels like you are ending a line, and you always take a slight pause before moving on to the next line.

Look at tone #8 as an example. There are two notes, A and G, both "half-notes," then a vertical bar, then three more notes after the bar, F, G, and an E. The notes before the vertical bar, A and G, are the first line, and after the bar, F G E, are the second line. So, let's take that with today's Psalm 36 from Morning Prayer for Wednesday Week 1 (you can also use these tones for Latin, but I don't have a Latin breviary, so please forgive the use of English):
- "Sin speaks to the" would be sung at an A pitch, then "sinner" at the G for the first line, followed by a slight pause, then
- "In the depths of" at the F pitch, "his" at the G, and "heart" at the E. slight pause, then the next line -
- it's back to the first half of the psalm tone with "There is no fear of" at A and "God" at G; slight pause, then
- "Before" at F, "his" at G, and "eyes" at E.

Another example, using tone #1 would give you G E F G for the first line and A G F G for the second. Apply that to the second stanza in Psalm 36 from this morning:
- "He so flatters himself" in G, "in" in E, "his" in F, and "mind" in G, pause, then
- "That he knows" in A, "not" in G, and "his" in F, and "guilt" in G, pause, then
- "In his mouth are mischief" in G, "and" in E, "de-" in F, and "-ceit" in G - notice that this is a two-syllable word, but this is the least awkward way to use a line of chant with four notes for this line; slight pause, then last line -
- "All wis-" in A, "-dom" in G, "is" in F, and "gone" in G.

One more example, using a Psalm with three-line stanzas. I'll use tone #7, G F E F and F E D E, and I'll use Psalm 110 from Sunday Week 1's Evening Prayer II:
- "The Lord's revelation" in G, "to" in F, "my" in E, and "Master" in F, slight pause,
- "'Sit on my right'" - just hold that line at the F since this is the second line of a three-line stanza, slight pause, then finish that half of the tone with the third line -
- "your foes I will put be-" still in F, "-neath" in E, "your" in D, and "feet" in E
The next stanza works the same:
- "The Lord will" in G, "wield" in F, "from" in E, and "Zion" in F, slight pause,
- "Your scepter of power" held at F, slight pause,
- "rule in the midst of" still in F, "all" in E, "your" in D, and "foes" in E.

Hope these examples help. Of course, you would also intone the antiphons with the same tone you are about to use. Let me know if I'm not making sense - kind of hard to explain it without singing it!