ABOUT THE MANUAL
Our Lady of Triors Abbey
The manual represents the teaching of the Schola Saint Grégoire in LeMans, France. The Schola has been dispensing instruction in Gregorian Chant since its establishment in 1938. Laus in Ecclesia level 1, published in 2012, is the latest revision of its instruction manual for beginners. The second volume of Laus in Ecclesia appeared in French in 2016; the English translation will be published soon. Laus 3 has recently been published in French; the English translation is not expected to be published before 2028.
ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR
Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey
The translator is a monk of Clear Creek Abbey who has long been interested in Gregorian chant and the liturgy. The translation is from the French volume, Laus in Ecclesia, a review and updated version of the standard first level teaching of the Schola Saint Grégoire in LeMans, France. For more information on this school, see Excursus 8, 12 and 14 of the manual Laus in Ecclesia, Level One. Both the French and the English versions are full of color illustrations that clarify the teaching and beautify the pages.
Everything you need
Learn Gregorian Chant
The title of the series of three books announces clearly the spirit in which this course on Gregorian chant is conceived. Gregorian chant was made for the liturgy. This course is entirely aimed at training the faithful to sing competently and beautifully within the context of the Mass and the Divine Office.
- Instruction
- The instruction covers the various practical aspects of singing Gregorian chant.
- Exercises
- The exercises develop skills in solfeggio, rhythm, and reading chant notation. This is an important part of the training offered by Laus in Ecclesia. It is supplemented by audio files that can be streamed or downloaded from this website. The audio exercises are also available, upon request, on an audio CD.
- Written Assignment
- Laus is designed as a correspondence course.
- To get the most out of the instruction contained in the manual the student will want to do the exercises and the homework assignments and have them graded.
- Exercursus
- An excursus at the end of every chapter gives background on various topics concerning Gregorian chant and its restoration in the Church.
Laus in Ecclesia is designed as a correspondence course.
To get the most out of the instruction contained in the manual you will want to do the exercises and the homework assignments and have them graded.
Course
The full level one course comprises:
- the instruction contained in the level one manual
- video lessons (optional)
- audio samples to help with the exercises at the end of each chapter
- homework assignments (one assignment per chapter)
- $100 grading fees (payable by check) to have level one assignments graded.
- test to earn certificate
Frequently asked questions
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The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as especially suited to the Roman Liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services. Numerous are the testimonies that could be invoked in praise of this music. Pope Saint Pius X, in his Motu Proprio of 1903, referred to Gregorian chant as “the supreme model of Church Music.” One of the most celebrated composers of modern times, Olivier Messiaen, said the following: This Gregorian chant is an art which is both divine and human—divine because of its supernatural inspiration and that sweet and lovely odor of sanctity which breathes in all its melodies; and, at the same time, profoundly human by its musical structure and in the response it finds in simple, upright souls eager for the truth. (Dom Joseph Gajard, The Solesmes Method, 1951).
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Send the electronic document by email. Email will be provided after sign up. Send the work on paper by mail to:
Laus in Ecclesia Homework
280 Gooseberry Drive
Reno, NV 89523