Sacred Latin Texts and English Translations for the Choral Conductor and Church Musician - (Music Reference Collection) by William Bausano

About the Book

This collection provides English translations for the Propers of the Mass--those portions of the Roman Catholic Mass which change from day to day throughout the Liturgical Year. Since the Middle Ages, these texts were set to music in the form of chant, and later as motets, and sung during the service of the Mass. Many of these musical works are the standard literature for choirs today and are regularly performed in concert and worship settings. New settings of Mass propers continue to be written by major contemporary composers. Because these settings of Latin texts are often published without English translations, this collection of more than 900 propers is a valuable reference for choral directors and church musicians and is the most comprehensive book of its type.

The proper's liturgical function provides the reader with information regarding the specific feast day (or days) for which particular texts were used. This is useful not only as basic background information but also as a valuable aid to assist in the artistic interpretation of the musical setting of a text. A listing of the feast days of the liturgical year is helpful to church musicians who wish to select music with Latin texts for use in worship services or as an aid for conductors as they program Latin sacred music in concert settings.

Book Synopsis

This collection provides English translations for the Propers of the Mass--those portions of the Roman Catholic Mass which change from day to day throughout the Liturgical Year. Since the Middle Ages, these texts were set to music in the form of chant, and later as motets, and sung during the service of the Mass. Many of these musical works are the standard literature for choirs today and are regularly performed in concert and worship settings. New settings of Mass propers continue to be written by major contemporary composers. Because these settings of Latin texts are often published without English translations, this collection of more than 900 propers is a valuable reference for choral directors and church musicians and is the most comprehensive book of its type.

The proper's liturgical function provides the reader with information regarding the specific feast day (or days) for which particular texts were used. This is useful not only as basic background information but also as a valuable aid to assist in the artistic interpretation of the musical setting of a text. A listing of the feast days of the liturgical year is helpful to church musicians who wish to select music with Latin texts for use in worship services or as an aid for conductors as they program Latin sacred music in concert settings.

Review Quotes

"Dr. Bausano's book is an extremely important contribution to the field of choral music. Although translations of the more familiar Latin texts are readily available, this book's first-rate translations of the Propers of the Mass are an invaluable tool for those conductors dealing with less common liturgical texts. Every music library and serious choral musician should own a copy."-Jerry Blackstone Co-Director of Choirs, University of Michigan

"William Bausano's compilation...is an excellent compliment to Ron Jeffers' Translations and Annotations of Choral Repertoire Volume I: Sacred Latin Texts. Dr. Bausano's compilation does not attempt to provide the in depth information of the Jeffers publication, but it contains hundreds of poetic translations not found in Jeffers' [book]. Thus, Bausano's publication of translations for the Latin Propers of the Mass becomes an important resource for conductors who perform motets or plainsong settings of these texts."-Rodney Eichenberger Professor of Choral Music, Florida State University

?[I]t is so well done and has value far beyond its initial intentions...?-Pastoral Music

"ÝI¨t is so well done and has value far beyond its initial intentions..."-Pastoral Music

"[I]t is so well done and has value far beyond its initial intentions..."-Pastoral Music

About the Author

WILLIAM BAUSANO is Professor of Music at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he is choral conductor and teaches choral music courses and voice. /e