The Advent Project: The Later-Seventh-Century Creation of the Roman Mass Proper (review)
Neil J. Roy
The Advent Project: Later-seventh-century Creation of Roman Mass Proper. By James VP McKinnon. (Berkeley: University California Press. 2000. Pp. xiv, 466. $ 50.00.) In his final book, McKinnon (deceased 1999) has crowned a prestigious career with work impressive erudition that is bound to shape future studies Gregorian chant, liturgy, and history early western worship. An authority on medieval church music, traces evolution Christian chant from 200 800. book challenges two long-held theories: this developed organically over Jewish psalm performance or texts assigned each day liturgical calendar, only gradually resulted labor many generations. argues convincingly that, near end seventh century, Proper their music derived short-term, concerted effort which he coined the Project. According McKinnon, schola cantorum formed in Rome during course century. This group musical experts, rough equivalent one today's faculties, sought establish standardized repertoire for entire year. Beginning Advent-Christmas season, produced pertinent then proceeded arrange Lenten sequence. project providing chants calendar proved too ambitious therefore ended without complete success. It managed, nevertheless, provide Sundays feasts first Sunday week after Pentecost. product was transmitted north Alps eighth century eventually became what now known as chant. divided into three parts, prehistory Propers, examines background seventh-century Rome, finally treats itself. part, takes reader through four liturgy. Arranging chronological regional order patristic references reconstructs origins its placement, singers who performed it. ecclesiastical prosperity followed upon imperial accession Constantine gave rise, later fourth golden age achievement. Patristic writings amply testify developments liturgy song. nearly centuries silence death Augustine Hippo (430) collapse Empire are marked by paucity extant sources. scarce material these better represented Gallican English sources rather than ones. chapters second part set stage project. outlines gradual development sacramentary lectionary view showing how different composition antiphoner. third try date …
Catholic Historical Review