# A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Gradual, The Roman

From volume 1 of the work.
​GRADUAL, THE ROMAN (Lat. Graduate Romanum; Old Eng. Grayle). A well-known volume of Ritual Music, containing a complete collection of the Plain Chaunt melodies appointed to be sung at High Mass throughout the year. The first idea of the Graduale Romanum, as well as that of its sister volume, the Vesperale, was undoubtedly suggested by the treasury of antient music, arranged, for the first time, in a systematic form, during the latter half of the 4th century, by Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, whose method of chaunting exercised a lasting influence upon mediæval art, notwithstanding the neglect to which it was consigned, when, some two hundred and thirty years later, that set forth in the famous Antiphonarium of Saint Gregory the Great was brought into almost universal use. Throughout the entire Western Church, this celebrated Antiphonary was all but unanimously accepted as the norm to which all other Office Books, of like scope and intention, must, of necessity, conform. It was, indeed, well worthy of the admiration it excited; but, unhappily, the uncertain and rudimentary character of its notation led to so much misunderstanding, and consequent corruption of the musical text, that, in process of time, every Diocese of importance claimed to have its own peculiar 'Use.' Hence, we find the Paris, Sarum, York, Hereford, and innumerable other Graduals, all differing widely in their details, though always exhibiting sufficient resemblance, in their general plan, to point to a common original. Attempts were made, from time to time, to restore a purer and more uniform practice: but, until after the revision of the Liturgy, by the Council of Trent, no real progress was made in the right direction. The first decisive step was taken by Pope Gregory XIII; who, in the year 1576, commissioned Palestrina, assisted by his friend and pupil, Guidetti, to revise, and restore to its original purity, the entire system of Plain Chaunt then in common use. This gigantic task, though never fully carried out, indirectly led to the publication of other invaluable works. A splendid folio Gradual was also printed at Venice in 1579–1580, by Pet. Liechtenstein. Another very fine copy—the Editio Plantiniana—was brought out, at Antwerp, in 1599: while, in 1614–1615, the celebrated Medicæan edition, which (though not free from error) has always been regarded as the most correct hitherto given to the world, was printed, at Rome, at the express command of Pope Paul V. It is needless to say that copies of these magnificent editions have long since become exceedingly rare, and costly. One of the best ​modern reprints—or, rather, re-compilations—is a Gradual, based upon the editions of 1599 and 1614, and printed, at Mechlin, in 1848, under the patronage of Cardinal Sterckx. A similar volume, intended for the use of the Dioceses of Rheims, and Cambrai, appeared in 1851: and a third, prepared for the press by Père Lambillotte, was published, by his executors, in 1857. Far more important, however, than any of these, is the latest edition, carefully revised by the Sacred Congregation of Rites, and first printed, at Ratisbon, by Friedrich Pustet, in 1871, under special privileges granted by His Holiness, Pope Pius IX.
[ W. S. R. ]