Tones of the Preface

Tridentine Community News (June 12, 2011):

On your way to work or school every day, you probably take a regular route. You can drive it without thinking, every turn being ingrained into your habits. One day, the road is closed, and you have to start thinking again; how can I get to my destination? What side streets or alternative routes will work?

So it is with the Preface Responses in the Extraordinary Form of Holy Mass. Virtually all of the time, we are accustomed to singing the Tonus Solémnis, or Solemn Tone of the Preface Dialog. You know the tune. It goes like this:


Recently, however, Mass requests have been coming in for High Requiem Masses on weekdays (on Fourth Class Feasts or Ferias on which the Daily Mass for the Dead is allowed). In a Requiem Mass, it is not permitted to sing the Solemn Tone of the Preface. Instead, the celebrant must use the more modest Ferial Tone. The Ferial Tone is also specified for High Masses on Ferias and lower-class Feasts, but we rarely hear it because we ordinarily have Low Masses on those days. It is therefore appropriate to make our readers aware of this requirement and to present the music for the Preface Dialog in the Tonus Feriális, or Ferial Tone:



While we are on the subject, we would be remiss if we did not mentioning the third Preface Tone, the Tonus Solémnior, or More Solemn Tone. This is a relatively complicated melody to sing and is typically only attempted by our most musically skilled celebrants on special occasions or on major feasts such as Christmas. The More Solemn Tone Preface settings are contained in an appendix of the altar missal, indicating that the Church does not expect them to be used as often as the two other Preface Tones, both of which are provided within the central body of the missal. The More Solemn Tone Preface Dialog is as follows:



If we are aware that a celebrant plans to use the More Solemn Tone Preface, we will print the music in the Propers Handout. As for the Ferial Tone Preface, it is simple and similar enough to the conventional Solemn Tone Preface that we encourage those who attend our weekday Masses to become familiar with it, so that a “detour” does not derail you during the Holy Mass.

Special Tridentine Mass in Lapeer

On Sunday, June 26 at 12:30 PM, Immaculate Conception Parish in Lapeer, Michigan will hold a special Mass in the Extraordinary Form. Celebrant for the Mass will be Fr. Clement Suhy, OSB. Immaculate Conception has been on the Latin Mass radar screen for quite some time: Every Thursday at 8:45 AM, a Latin Novus Ordo Mass is celebrated. More tellingly, this parish is one of few in North America to use “Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Canticles”, the superb hymnal published by the Boston Archdiocesan Choir School.

Tridentine Masses This Coming Week

Mon. 06/13 7:00 PM: High Mass at St. Josaphat (Pentecost Monday)

Tue. 06/14 7:00 PM: High Mass at Assumption-Windsor (Pentecost Tuesday)

Wed. 06/15 7:00 PM: High Mass at St. Josaphat (Ember Wednesday)

Fri. 06/16 7:00 PM: High Mass at St. Josaphat (Ember Friday)

Sat. 06/18 Noon: High Mass at St. Josaphat (Ember Saturday)

[Comments? Please e-mail tridnews@stjosaphatchurch.org. Previous columns are available at www.stjosaphatchurch.org. This edition of Tridentine Community News, with minor editions, is from the St. Josaphat bulletin insert for June 12, 2011. Hat tip to A.B.]