Singing the Mass antiphons

The antiphons in the Roman Missal and Graduale Romanum are the texts given by the Church herself for each particular liturgy. You can also find these texts handy through monthly or yearly missals such as Living With Christ. 

​During this time of pandemic, the singing of the Mass is now permitted by one cantor, under strict conditions. Cantor may sing for the assembly the propers of the Mass: Introit (entrance antiphon), Offertory antiphon and Communion antiphon. Antiphon psalm verses are optional.  Please refer to:  Liturgical Guideline Update (Sep. 25) - re: liturgical singing  ​

If you are not sure about singing the antiphons and would like to learn more about it - watch this course from Dr. Jenny Donelson (Seminary of New York/Dunwoodie) on How to add Antiphons to your Parish Sunday Mass.

The resources to sing the Mass antiphons are plenty, so please use one that would work best for your congregation and cantors skill. ​

Online and free resources to sing the antiphons in English

• Simple English Propers (SEP) 
  SEP provides complete entrance, offertory, and communion propers in English with psalms in modal chant, with four-line notation, for Sundays and solemnities. Practice videos available! More info about Simple English Propers
  • Download Single English Propers (chant notation) here
  • Download SEP accompaniment (standard notation) for these seasons:  Ordinary Time; Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter
  • Practice videos available here
    
    
• Lalemant Propers 
  The Lalemant Propers are extremely simple settings (in English) of the Mass Propers which make it possible for any person to sing these sacred prayers, even people who have no musical training whatsoever. More info about Lalemant Propers 
  • Download Lalemant Propers (chant notation) here
    
    
• Source & Summit Antiphons / Illuminare Publications
  Free weekly resources for Sunday antiphons during COVID-19. At this time of the pandemid in the Diocese, sing only the Introit (Entrance antiphons), offertory and communion antiphons, and omit the sung Responsorial Psalms, Alleluia and other ordinary parts.
  • Download weekly booklet for each Sunday here
    
    
• St Meinrad's Propers 
  By focusing on the idea that chants are simply sung prayer that springs from intensified speech, Father Columba Kelly brings us this collection of the Entrance and Communion Antiphons that make the serene beauty of chant more accessible for parishes and religious communities. Antiphons can be sung alone by the cantor, or as responsorial psalms with the assembly. 
  • Download St. Meinrad propers (chant notation - free) here 
  • Standard notation, CD & accompaniment are available for purchase from OCP here 
    
    
• Laudate Dominum Communion Antiphons 
  Laudate Dominum website features free, downloadable communion antiphons in standard notation for all liturgical year cycles, for use at Sunday and Holy Day Masses. Practice audio available! Antiphons can be sung alone by the cantor, or as responsorial psalms with the assembly. 
  • Download Laudate Dominum Communion Antiphons here

Can we use psalm tones to sing the antiphons?
Yes. Any liturgical texts can be sung with psalm tones.

• Here is a handy video of how to set text to psalm tones from David Clayton
• David Clayton's psalm tone examples 
  Mode I, Mode II, Mode III, Mode IV, Mode V, Mode VI, Mode VII, Mode VIII - 
  For more information, visit https://www.thewayofbeauty.org/psalm-tones
• St Meinrad Psalm tones | Chant notation | Standard notation | Accompaniment | Videos

Printed materials

• Proper of the Mass for Sundays and Solemnities (by Fr. Sam Weber)
  The Propers of the Mass book contains English chant settings for the Entrance and Communion Antiphons given in The Roman Missal, 2010, as well as suggestions for the Offertory Antiphons, following the pattern of the Graduale Romanum, 1974. For most antiphons, four levels of settings from complex to very simple are provided. Optional psalm verses are provided in the Gregorian psalm tone style. Thus this collection provides an option intended to suit the abilities and needs of any choir or cantor.
  • Buy Proper of the Mass for Sunday and Solemnities here 
  • Accompaniment in standard notation
    
    
• By Flowing Waters: Chant for the Liturgy (Paul Ford)
  By Flowing Waters is an English chant version of the two official song books of the Roman liturgy, the Graduale Romanum (the Roman Gradual) and the Graduale Simplex (the Simple Gradual).
  • Buy By Flowing Waters here
    
    
• The St. Peter Gradual (Carl L. Reid)
  An English-language Gradual, created specifically (but not exclusively) for the use of the Ordinariate, The Saint Peter Gradual: The Chants of the Mass for Sundays, Solemnities, and Feasts, has recently become available from Newman House Press. This is a resource which English-speaking Catholics may also be used to enhance celebrations of the Mass in the Ordinary Form.
  • ​Buy The Saint Peter Gradual here

To sing the Antiphons in Latin, use: Gregorian Missal, Graduale Simplex or Graduale Romanum