WHAT IS THE IONIAN PSALTER?
The Ionian Psalter is a collection of Gradual Psalms to be sung following the first reading in the Eucharistic liturgy. It consists of antiphons (“refrains”) to be sung by the entire assembly (accompanied by the organ), and verses to be sung by the choir. Music for the assembly consists of antiphons set in “song” style with a regular occurring pulse. This has been done in full support of Joseph Gelineau’s contention that, in order to “stay together,” large groups of people require music with an obvious, regular pulse. It is with this intent that the majority of antiphons are based on similar harmonic progressions and melodic patterns in order to make them more immediately accessible. Their importance as “gathering music,” binding together the entire assembly of worshippers, cannot be stressed enough. The obvious simplicity of the antiphons should in no way suggest that their importance may be discounted; on the contrary, they are the golden binding thread. Each antiphon consists of an
