The Spirit of Gregorian Chant - Church Music Association of America

HISTORY AND TRADITION 35
and should be included in the interpretation of the latter. Many
sentences of his later Papal decree are taken literally from this document.
It is apparent then that long before coming to the Pontifical
throne the author of the Motu Proprio revealed his ability as a judge
and critic of Church music. One must return to some of the Popes
of the "golden age" of Plainchant to find a parallel instance of
knowledge and personal activity in this musical tradition of the
Church. 1
The Decree Urbis et Orbis of the Motu Proprio, issued by the
Sacred Congregation of Rites on Jan. 8, 1904, pronounced the Papal
document binding on the universal Church (tanquam codici juridico
musicae sacrae vim legis pro universa Ecclesia habere voluit) and
this ecclesiastical body added its own support with the following
words: ab omnibus accipiatur Ecclesiis sanctissimeque servetur. 2
In the same year Pius X established a Papal Commission to prepare
a new Official Edition, and appointed the monks of Solesmes
to be the editors. In 1907 was issued the Graduate of the Vatican
Edition (Editio Vaticana), in the preparation of which the monks
used the more abundant material made available through their years
of research since the time of their last revision. The new Graduale
was declared to be authentic and typical on August 7, 1907, by the
Sacred Congregation of Rites, and a decree of April 8, 1908, makes
the Editio Vaticana obligatory upon the whole Church; its "free
rhythm" is likewise binding on all. 3 The preface to the Graduale
furnishes certain instructions for the proper interpretation of the
rhythm. Succeeding years have witnessed the publication of the
remaining liturgical chant books.
On December 20, 1928, marking the twenty-fifth anniversary
of the promulgation of the Motu Proprio, and the ninth centenary
of the call of Guido by Pope John XIX to Rome, Pius XI issued the
Apostolic Constitution Divini Cultus Sanctitatem, dealing with the
Liturgy as well as with Gregorian Chant and all other Sacred Music,
and reenforcing the decrees of the Motu Proprio. In this Constitution
he ordains that instruction in liturgical music shall commence
i Einf., Ch. VII.
2 Ibid
8 Letter of Cardinal Martinelli, Ref., New School of Greg. Chant, Part II, Ch. I.