Chants for the Roman Missal Resources

ICEL  – The ICEL chants put the emphasis on the words, and it would be pastorally beneficial for us to choose the setting that is as uncomplicated as possible, so that the words we pray can become the focus.

Chants of the Roman Missal – Musica Sacra, Church Music Associations of America

The National Association of Pastoral Musicians  –  The National Association of Pastoral Musicians has done a wonderful job of recording these Mass settings and has posted these audio files on their website: http://www.npm.org/Chants/index.html. The resources on this page are designed for priests, deacons, and musicians to learn and/or teach the music found in The Roman Missal. For each sung part of the Mass, you will find a recording in MP3 format and a PDF of the text with musical notation. You may freely download and use the files on their page for your own parish or personal use.

Pastoral Themes: The New Roman Missal  –  Additional information is available on Archdiocese of Boston for the new Missal

Sacred Music: Library of Gregorian Chant Propers in PDF

“Gregorian Chant has always been regarded as the supreme model for sacred music, so that it is fully legitimate to lay down the following rule: the more closely a composition for church approaches in its movement, inspiration and savor the Gregorian form, the more sacred and liturgical it becomes; and the more out of harmony it is with that supreme model, the less worthy it is of the temple. The ancient traditional Gregorian Chant must, therefore, in a large measure be restored to the functions of public worship, and the fact must be accepted by all that an ecclesiastical function loses none of its solemnity when accompanied by this music alone.”

Pope Pius X, Tra le Sollecitudini, 1903

“Finally, while respecting various styles and different and highly praiseworthy traditions, I desire, in accordance with the request advanced by the Synod Fathers, that Gregorian chant be suitably esteemed and employed as the chant proper to the Roman liturgy.”

Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis, 2007

The PDF files below are reproductions of the Gregorian Chant propers of the Mass in notation inspired by the Liber Usualis. These were developed for scholas and choirs of the apostolates of the Institute of Christ the King. They are free to download for use in the study and performance of sacred music.

The files are roughly organized by calendar day, which simplifies locating propers for upcoming celebrations. But please note: The indicated dates are only for organizing the files; it is absolutely necessary to consult a liturgical calendar or Ordo to determine which Mass is to be celebrated on a given day.

In a few cases, the files contain chants that might not be used on the indicated day, but are interesting for historical reasons. Unfortunately, it is not feasible to include explanatory notes in the files themselves. Chanters may find it helpful to consult the various editions of the Liber Usualis and Graduale Romanum, or ideally a Priest to indentify with certainty which chants are to be sung.

Jump To: Lent, Septuagesima, After Epiphany, Christmas, Advent, After Pentecost, Paschaltide, Holy Week, Common of Saints, Votive Masses, Kyriale

Source: Sacred Music: Library of Gregorian Chant Proper – Institute of Christ The King Sovereign Priest