CHANTS for all SEASONS ORGAN ACCOMPANIMENT edited by Joshua Pacey organ accompaniment composed by Joshua Pacey
All books are published thanks to the generosity of the supporters of the Catholic Truth Society
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Concordat cum originali: Paul Moynihan, 24 June 2026 Imprimatur: Mgr Gerald J. Ewing, 6 July 2026 For and on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales Images: cover & pages 7, 19, 29, 37, 49, 53, 63, 71, 91, 101, 111: Stained glass window of Pope St Gregory the Great directing a Schola, St Mary’s Episcopal Church, Edinburgh. Photo by Fr Lawrence Lew OP. Pages 1& 2: Cross © Catholic Truth Society. Excerpts from the English edition of the Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. Excerpts from the Latin edition of the Missale Romanum © 2008 Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City State. Excerpts from the Order of Christian Funerals © 1991, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. First published in Great Britain in 2026 by The Catholic Truth Society, Cabrini Community Campus, Forest Hill Road, Honor Oak, London SE23 3LE, Tel: 020 7640 0042. © 2026 The Catholic Truth Society. www.ctsbooks.org. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without prior permission in writing of The Catholic Truth Society, or as expressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organisation. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, The Catholic Truth Society, at the address above. ISBN 978-1-78469-930-7 Vocal scores of this volume are also available: Chants for all Seasons (for Voice), ISBN 978-1-78469-929-1
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Contents Introduction..................................................................................................................... 5 Chants for the Liturgical Year Advent Missa Kyrie Salve
Mass XVII............................................................. 8
Alma redemptoris mater
Marian antiphon............................................... 11
Rorate caeli
Advent prose...................................................... 12
Conditor alme siderum
Advent hymn..................................................... 16
Veni, veni, Emmanuel
Advent hymn..................................................... 17
Christmas Missa de Angelis
Mass VIII............................................................ 20
Corde natus ex parentis
Christmas hymn................................................ 25
Resonet in laudibus
Christmas hymn................................................ 26
Hodie Christus natus est
Christmas antiphon.......................................... 27
Lent Ave regina caelorum
Marian antiphon............................................... 30
Attende Domine
Lent prose.......................................................... 31
Crux fidelis
Hymn for the Adoration of the Cross............... 32
Vexilla regis
Passiontide hymn.............................................. 34
Parce Domine
Lenten antiphon................................................ 35
Easter Missa Lux et origo
Mass I................................................................. 38
Regina caeli
Marian antiphon............................................... 43
Victimae paschali laudes
Sequence for Easter............................................ 44
Aurora lucis rutilat
Easter hymn....................................................... 46
O filii et filiae
Easter hymn....................................................... 47
Pentecost Veni Sancte Spiritus
Sequence for Pentecost...................................... 50
Veni Creator Spiritus
Hymn to the Holy Spirit.................................... 52
Corpus Christi Lauda Sion Salvatorem
Sequence for Corpus Christi.............................. 54
Adoro te devote
Hymn to the Blessed Sacrament........................ 60
Pange lingua/Tantum ergo
Hymn to the Blessed Sacrament........................ 61
Ordinary Time Missa Orbis factor
Mass XI.............................................................. 64
Salve regina
Marian antiphon............................................... 69
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General Chants Chants for the Ordinary of the Mass Asperges me
Sprinkling rite outside of Eastertide.................. 72
Vidi aquam
Sprinkling rite within Eastertide....................... 74
Credo I....................................................................................................................... 76 Credo III.................................................................................................................... 80 Pater noster................................................................................................................ 84 Te Deum
Hymn of praise and thanksgiving..................... 86
Chants for the Blessed Sacrament Adoremus in aeternum
At Benediction................................................... 92
O salutaris hostia
Hymn to the Blessed Sacrament........................ 94
Panis angelicus
Hymn to the Blessed Sacrament........................ 95
Ubi caritas
Hymn to the Blessed Sacrament........................ 96
Ave verum corpus
Antiphon to the Blessed Sacrament.................. 99
O sacrum convivium
Antiphon to the Blessed Sacrament................ 100
Chants for the Blessed Virgin Mary The Angelus............................................................................................................. 102 Ave Maria................................................................................................................. 106 Ave maris stella
Hymn to the Blessed Virgin............................ 107
Tota pulchra es
Hymn to the Blessed Virgin............................ 108
Sub tuum praesidium
Marian antiphon............................................. 110
Chants for the Dead Missa pro defunctis
Mass for the Dead............................................ 112
Subvenite
At the Final Farewell........................................ 116
Libera me
At the Final Farewell........................................ 118
Index............................................................................................................................ 120
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Introduction
T
he sheer size of the Church’s repertory of Gregorian chant can present questions and challenges for singers and parishes new to incorporating it into the sacred liturgy. Where does one begin? Which books of chant should we buy? Where will I find the chant I am looking for? Which chants are suitable for which occasions? And where can I find an organ accompaniment for this or that chant? Chants for All Seasons offers a solution to these challenges, collating a selection of commonly used chants arranged and organised according to the Church’s liturgical calendar: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, Corpus Christi, and Ordinary Time. Each section contains (if appropriate) a suitable setting of the Ordinary of the Mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei), the season’s traditional Marian Antiphon, and a number of other chants associated with the time. This will enable choirs, congregations and organists to be uplifted in prayer through the singing of chant without having to juggle several different books or collections. Also included are chants with wider application not tied to specific seasons, such as two settings of the Credo, the Pater noster, Marian chants, chants for the Blessed Sacrament, and the Missa pro Defunctis (Mass for the Dead). Most of the hymns contained have multiple verses. The number of verses sung may vary according to the requirements of the liturgy; it is not essential that every verse be sung. Additionally, the chants need not only be sung in the season in which section they are included. For example, Mass VIII – de Angelis is appropriate for singing on any Feast or Solemnity, not solely during the Christmas season. It should be noted that the seasonal assignations for the Marian antiphons are traditional but not binding, and with the exception of the Regina caeli (which may not be sung during Lent) they are freely interchangeable. If these antiphons are sung at the end of Mass, the versicles should not be included. The chants in this collection are presented in Latin, the language of the Roman Rite. English translations have been provided, though these are not intended to be sung, and in most cases would not fit the metre of the melodies. Chant is traditionally written in square notation on staves with only four lines, as found in publications such as those made by the monks of Solesmes, like the Graduale Romanum or Liber Usualis. This notation is unfamiliar to many, so the chants in this volume have been typeset in modern five-line stemless notation with the intention of making them as widely accessible as possible.
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The pitch of each chant has been chosen so as to be comfortable for the majority of vocal ranges. If any chant is performed without accompaniment, a different pitch may be chosen to better suit those singing. Most chants begin with a short incipit phrase to introduce the chant and establish the pitch and tempo, which is usually sung by a solo cantor or small group of singers (or in some cases the priest himself). The end of the incipit is indicated with an asterisk in the text, after which the remaining singers or congregation join in. Gregorian chant should be sung in a measured and flowing way, not too slowly, entirely guided by the text. Part of chant’s great strength and suitability for liturgical use is its basis in the text, most often itself drawn from Sacred Scripture, and so the clarity of the text should be at the forefront of the mind of those performing it. As the fathers of the Second Vatican Council noted in their document on the sacred liturgy: “The main reason for [Gregorian chant’s] pre-eminence is that, as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium [1963], §112) Two versions of Chants for All Seasons are available: one containing the chant melodies for use by singers, and another with newly-composed organ accompaniments. Neither beauty nor sacredness is sacrificed when Gregorian chant is sung with instrumental support, and it can be of great help to those beginning to use chant in their churches, as well as increasing the splendour of the liturgy. Traditionally, during Lent the organ is silent, especially between the Gloria of Maundy Thursday and the Gloria of the Easter Vigil; organ accompaniments for chants such as ‘Crux fidelis’ for Good Friday have been included as they might be of use at other times, for example on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (14th September). Chants for All Seasons aims to provide a foundational resource for those wishing to begin drawing on the “…treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art” (ibid, §112) that is the Church’s Gregorian chant tradition, to enhance and beautify the liturgy in their own parishes. With the exception of the Missa pro defunctis, it intentionally does not include any of the Propers of the Mass. As choirs and parishes become more comfortable using chant, it is hoped that this book may be used in tandem with the Graduale Romanum, or another collection of Mass Propers, further to utilise the treasury of the Church’s sacred music.
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ADVENT
?
@
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Mass XVII
Sundays in Advent & Lent Kyrie salve
Kyrie Ký - ri
-
-
e,
* e
Chri - ste,
e
Ký - ri
-
Ký - ri
- lé
-
-
-
-
-
e
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
lé
-
-
e, e
-
-
-
e,
-
-
lé
-
-
lé
e -
-
-
Repeat Christe i - son.
- i - son.
-
-
-
-
i - son.
Sanctus San
-
Repeat Kyrie i - son.
-
-
ctus,
* San
-
-
-
ctus,
San
-
-
-
ctus
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Mass XVII - Kyrie salve
Dó - mi - nus De -
cae
-
li
et
ter
- sán - na
- us
Sá
-
ra
-
-
gló - ri
in ex
- cél
in nó - mi - ne Dó - mi - ni.
Ho
ex
-
cél
-
-
-
-
-
-
ba
-
Ple - ni
a.
Ho -
sunt
a
tu
sis.
Be - ne - dí - ctus qui ve - nit
-
-
-
oth.
sán - na
-
-
in
sis.
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Mass XVII - Kyrie salve
Agnus Dei Ag - nus De -
- i,
* qui
tol
-
bis.
Ag - nus De
mi - se - ré - re
no
pec - cá - ta
mun - di:
qui
lis
tol
-
-
mi - se - ré - re
pec - cá
-
ta
lis
no
mun - di:
-
pec
-
-
i,
bis.
cá
-
qui
ta
mun - di:
tol
-
Ag - nus De
do - na no - bis
pa
lis
-
-
i,
cem.
KYRIE Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. SANCTUS Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. AGNUS DEI Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace. tr. from the Roman Missal
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Marian Antiphon
Alma Redemptoris Mater Advent to the Presentation of the Lord
Al
-
ma - nes,
-
-
ma * Re - dem - ptó - ris Ma - ter,
Et stel - la ma - ris,
Tu quae ge - nu - í - sti,
suc - cúr - re ca - dén - ti
na - tú - ra mi - rán - te,
Vir - go pri - us ac po - sté - ri - us,
pec - ca - tó - rum
mi - se - ré
quae pér - vi - a
-
por - ta
súr - ge - re qui cu - rat pó - pu - lo:
tu - um san - ctum Ge - ni - tó - rem:
Gab - ri - é - lis ab
re.
cae - li
o - re
su - mens il - lud A - ve,
During Advent V. Angelus Dómini nuntiávit Maríae. R. Et concépit de Spíritu Sancto. From 1st Vespers of Christmas to Candlemas V. Post partum Virgo invioláta permansísti. R. Dei Génitrix intercéde pro nobis.
Mother of Christ! hear thou thy people’s cry, Star of the deep, and portal of the sky! Mother of Him who thee from nothing made, Sinking we strive, and call to thee for aid: Oh, by that joy which Gabriel brought to thee, Thou Virgin first and last, let us thy mercy see. During Advent V. The Angel of the LORD brought tidings unto Mary R. And she conceived by the Holy Ghost. From 1st Vespers of Christmas to Candlemas V. After childbirth, O Virgin, thou didst remain inviolate. R. Intercede for us, O Mother of God.
Hermannus Contractus (1013-1054) tr. Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
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