I am going to sing/chant Fr. Rossini's propers, maybe some hymns, the simple Salve Regina, and have devised a way to sing the Stabat Mater for tomorrow's Mass of the Seven Sorrows of the Most Blessed and Ever Virgin Mary. My "scheme"/plan for singing the Stabat Mater goes as follows:

Since I am not of a high caliber nor am I prepared enough to chant the Stabat Mater solo, I will basically psalm tone it monotonously. My chant scheme, if it can be called that, is this:

Stabat mater dolorosa (G G G G G G G F)
juxta Crucem lacrimosa, (G G G G G G G F)
dum pendebat Filius. (G G G G G F G)
Cuius animam gementem, (G G G G G G G F)
contristatam et dolentem (G G G G G G G F)
pertransivit gladius. (G G G G G F G)

I am basically going to sing a monotone G ( I think that's a good note), and at the end of each stanza flex to an F. At the end of each phrase (every third stanza) the flex will be a little different.

I know that this is not the ideal, and that the real Stabat should be chanted. But I will be able to do so in this scheme, and the sequence will be sung. Father asked me if I could sing the Mass after this past Sunday's Mass (which ended past 6:30 PM), and this is the first time I recall Fr. asking me to sing at his private Mass, which  less than 20 souls attend each weekday and non-first class feast day.

If anyone believes this to be a severe rubrical violation, please let me know. I scanned Tra le Sollecitudini, written by Pope St. Pius X, of Blessed Memory, and found this:

It will nevertheless be lawful on greater solemnities to alternate the Gregorian Chant of the choir with the so called falsi-bordoni or with verses similarly composed in a proper manner.

Based on a google search and wiki of falsobordone, it has something to do with psalm tone, which is my attempt hear.

On several other occasions, I have sang simple melodies off the top of my head to psalm tone lyrics. I do realize Father and the congregation may not have noticed or commented due to not being that musically inclined to notice.

This will not be my first dance, so to speak. I have sang solo for Father's private Masses numerous times, have sang the Dies Irae (albeit imperfectly) at two memorial Requiems, including one for my father's death anniversary (R.I.P.), and another for a relative who unfortunately was not given a Catholic funeral, therefore we had to step in and get one said (R.I.P.)

I have also been a part of a pretty well known Boys Choir, of which I have sang with/been associated for over 14 years, starting as a young child at the age of 5.


I almost know that Father will be okay with this. Hopefully I can get some replies, as it is pretty late.