Attached is a booklet in PDF format with Pope St Pius X's
Motu Proprio on sacred music
Tra Le Sollecitudini (1903), including his accompanying letter to Pietro Cardinal Respighi, Vicar of Rome, followed by the text of perhaps a little-known instruction from Cardinal Respighi (1912) which indicates the will of the reigning Pontiff.
Cardinal Respighi was Vicar of Rome from 1900 until his death in 1913:
Pietro Respighi - WikipediaHis letter starts on page 20. On page 22 we read: "In order to facilitate so important a work, it has seemed good to us to give a few practical rules to which
by order of the Holy Father, all persons whatsoever who have to do with the performance of music in the Churches and Chapels in Rome are required to give ear".
Immediately follows: "The best ecclesiastical traditions demand that the whole assembly of the faithful should join in the singing at all liturgical functions, by executing the parts of the text which are assigned to the choir, and that a special
Schola Cantorum should alternate with the people, undertaking the more richly melodious parts, which should be strictly reserved to them.
Further on, under 'Rules for Superiors of Churches' on pp 26 and 27 we read: "...they should should explain to the people... inviting the faithful to cooperate in this matter especially by taking a more active part in the sacred functions, by singing the
Kyrie Eleison, the
Gloria, etc., ..."This is a good lesson on how careful we must be in judging on such matters. It would seem to vindicate Archbishop Lefebvre (and the sermon given by Bishop Tissier which I posted in another thread) as also the Popes following Pope Pius X up to Pius XII who have been harshly criticised in this and other matters by some contemporary scholars who too readily discard the liturgical directives of the Vicar of Christ as being the deviations of a hijacked Liturgical Movement.