“PSALLITE DEO NOSTRO”
PRESENTATION OF THE REPERTORY OF AMBROSIAN CHANT
A new publication by the Province of Varese which has recovered invaluable religious and cultural roots Last year the Province of Varese, which has a long tradition in organising musical and organ music events, decided to direct some events towards the specific field of Ambrosian Chant, in view of the anniversary of the 5th centenary of the Dedication of the Church of the Ambrosian Hermits in Sacro Monte di Varese, the only trustees of Ambrosian Chant.

The “Psallite Deo Nostro” collection of Ambrosian chants, stems from a cultural operation carried out by the Province and was inspired by the Simple Antiphonal published in 1997 under the patronage of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini. These works (250 pages, published by LIM) were coordinated by Ferruccio Ferrari and accomplished by Maestro Ottavio Beretta who transcribed the Ambrosian melodies into modern notation, by Don Alberto Turco who edited the critical reviews, by Mons. Luciano Migliavacca who composed the second formulary of the Mass in Italian, and the restoration of the hymn “Deus creator omnium” was accomplished by maestro Fulvio Rampi and President Gianluigi Rusconi; all with the collaboration of the Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra di Milano.

The volume was presented by the President of the Province of Varese, Massimo Ferrario, and introduced by the Archbishop of Milan, Carlo Maria Martini and contains, in modern notes on a stave, both the ritual recitative of the Holy Mass in Latin and Italian, and a wide choice of Ambrosian chants. Worth noting in the collection are the 35 Ambrosian hymns with the melody, Latin and Italian texts all in a flowing style.