cantate domino
Chant trainer
The chants a Catholic layperson is most likely to meet, at Mass, at Benediction and through the year. Pick one, set it to your voice, and sing. The trainer listens through your microphone and shows your voice on the square notation as you go.
In 1974 Paul VI sent every bishop a small book, Jubilate Deo, of the chants he hoped all the faithful would know. The 16 of them gathered here are marked; the rest are the seasonal Marian antiphons and other well-loved chants.
The Mass
The people's chants of the Ordinary, with the sprinkling rite before Sunday Mass.
- Kyrie XVIMode III
The simplest Kyrie, for weekdays. Each line is sung three times, as marked.
Kyrie eléison. Lord, have mercy.
neumaticunder a minuteJubilate Deo
- Gloria VIIIMissa de Angelis · Mode V
The best-known Gloria, from the Mass of the Angels, for Sundays and feasts outside Advent and Lent.
Glória in excélsis Deo. Glory to God in the highest.
syllabic2 minJubilate Deo
- Credo IIIMode V
The Creed most congregations know, for Sundays and solemnities.
Credo in unum Deum, I believe in one God,
syllabic3 minJubilate Deo
- Sanctus XVIIIMass XVIII
A plain Sanctus for weekdays, especially in Advent and Lent.
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dóminus Deus Sábaoth. Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts.
syllabicunder a minuteJubilate Deo
- Agnus Dei XVIIIMass XVIII
The plainest Agnus Dei, sung at the breaking of the Host.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi : miserére nobis. Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
syllabicunder a minuteJubilate Deo
- Kyrie VIIIMissa de Angelis · Mode V
The Kyrie of the Mass of the Angels, the most widely sung chant Mass.
Kyrie eléison. Lord, have mercy.
melismatic1 min
- Sanctus VIIIMissa de Angelis · Mode VI
The Sanctus of the Mass of the Angels.
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Holy, holy, holy
melismatic1 min
- Agnus Dei VIIIMissa de Angelis · Mode VI
The Agnus Dei of the Mass of the Angels.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi : Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
neumatic1 min
- Pater nosterThe Lord's Prayer
Sung by all at Mass after the Eucharistic Prayer.
Pater noster, qui es in cælis : Our Father, who art in heaven,
syllabic1 minJubilate Deo
- Asperges meMode VII
Sung as the priest sprinkles the people with holy water before Sunday Mass, outside Eastertide.
Asperges me, Dómine, hyssópo, et mundábor : Sprinkle me, O Lord, with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
neumatic1 min
- Vidi aquamMode VIII
Takes the place of the Asperges on the Sundays of Eastertide.
Vidi aquam egrediéntem de templo, I saw water flowing from the temple,
neumatic2 min
Our Lady
The four antiphons that close Compline through the year, and other prayers to the Virgin.
- Salve ReginaSimple tone · Mode V
Marian antiphon after Compline from Trinity Sunday until Advent.
Salve Regína, mater misericórdiæ, Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy,
syllabic1 minJubilate Deo
- Alma Redemptoris MaterSimple tone · Mode V
Marian antiphon after Compline from Advent until the Purification (2 February).
Alma Redemptóris Mater, Loving Mother of the Redeemer,
syllabicunder a minute
- Ave Regina caelorumSimple tone · Mode VI
Marian antiphon after Compline from the Purification until Holy Week.
Ave Regína cælórum, Ave Dómina Angelórum Hail, Queen of heaven; hail, Lady of the angels.
syllabicunder a minute
- Regina caeliSimple tone · Mode VI
Marian antiphon of Eastertide, after Compline and in place of the Angelus, from Easter to Pentecost.
Regína caeli laetáre, allelúia : Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia:
syllabicunder a minuteJubilate Deo
- Sub tuum praesidiumMode VII
The oldest known prayer to the Mother of God, found on a third-century papyrus.
Sub tuum praesídium confúgimus, sancta Dei Génitrix : We fly to your protection, holy Mother of God:
syllabicunder a minute
- MemorareMode IV
The prayer of confidence in Our Lady traditionally ascribed to St Bernard, in the Solesmes setting for devotions.
Memoráre, o piíssima Virgo María, non esse audítum a saéculo Remember, O most loving Virgin Mary, that never was it known
neumatic2 min
- Ave MariaMode I
The Hail Mary, set to a simple chant.
Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum, Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;
syllabicunder a minute
- Ave maris stellaMode I
The Vespers hymn for feasts of Our Lady.
Ave maris stella, Dei Mater alma, Hail, star of the sea, loving Mother of God,
neumatic2 minJubilate Deo
The Blessed Sacrament
Hymns for Benediction, Corpus Christi and adoration.
- Adoro te devoteMode V
St Thomas Aquinas's hymn of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.
Adóro te devóte, latens Déitas, Devoutly I adore you, hidden Godhead,
syllabic3 minJubilate Deo
- O salutaris HostiaMode VIII
Sung at the start of Benediction, as the Host is placed in the monstrance.
O salutáris Hóstia, O saving Victim,
neumaticunder a minuteJubilate Deo
- Pange linguaMode III
Aquinas's hymn for Corpus Christi, sung on Holy Thursday as the Sacrament is carried to the altar of repose.
Pange lingua gloriósi Córporis mystérium, Sing, my tongue, the mystery of the glorious Body
syllabic3 min
- Tantum ergoMode III
The last two verses of the Pange lingua, sung at Benediction before the blessing.
Tantum ergo Sacraméntum Venerémur cérnui : So great a Sacrament, then, let us bow down and worship;
syllabic1 minJubilate Deo
- Ave verum corpusMode VI
A medieval hymn to the Real Presence, often sung at the elevation or at Communion.
Ave verum Corpus natum Hail, true Body,
neumatic1 min
The Holy Spirit
For Pentecost, confirmations, and whenever the Spirit is invoked.
- Veni Creator SpiritusMode VIII
Calling on the Holy Spirit: at Pentecost, confirmations, ordinations and the start of great undertakings.
Veni Creátor Spíritus, Come, Creator Spirit,
syllabic2 minJubilate Deo
- Veni Sancte SpiritusSequence · Mode I
The Golden Sequence, sung before the Gospel at Pentecost.
Veni Sancte Spíritus, Come, Holy Spirit,
syllabic2 min
Through the year
Advent longing, Lenten penance, Holy Thursday and the joy of Easter.
- Rorate caeliMode I
Advent: the refrain from Isaiah 45 between four verses of longing for the Saviour.
Roráte caeli désuper, Drop down dew, you heavens, from above,
syllabic3 min
- Attende DomineMode V
Lent: a plea for mercy, with a refrain between five verses.
Atténde Dómine, et miserére, Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy,
syllabic2 min
- Parce DomineMode I
Lent and times of penance: the refrain from Joel 2 with verses.
Parce Dómine, parce pópulo tuo : Spare, O Lord, spare your people:
syllabic2 minJubilate Deo
- Ubi caritasMode VI
Holy Thursday, at the washing of feet: the hymn of charity.
Ubi cáritas et amor, Deus ibi est. Where charity and love are, God is there.
neumatic2 minJubilate Deo
- Victimae paschali laudesSequence · Mode I
The Easter Sequence, sung before the Gospel on Easter Day and through its octave.
Victimae pascháli laudes ímmolent Christiáni. To the Paschal Victim let Christians offer praise.
syllabic1 min
Thanksgiving
The Church's great hymn of praise.
Scores are GABC transcriptions from GregoBase; each chant page credits its transcriber and source book. Translations are our own, phrase by phrase.