Polling results, Draft Zero, and the way forward.

[Matthias Bry]

Hello everyone !

The polling results are in the Anonymized raw results spreadsheet, and some graphs, analysis, and further reflection is avaiable in the Project preliminary design review (PDR) report.

Draft Zero is the reprinting of Sandhofe's book, minus proofreading, plus some corrections, minus the scores that are copyrighted under Sandhofe's name. It is almost complete : the ferial psalter is still missing.

Draft Zero is not a usable book (though I have been using it lately) but it serves two main purposes : establishing a format/page count compromise for the book (many people voted for a portable format, so it will most probably be portable, and around 1500 pages in length), and proving the latex template's robustness (I think it did!).

Draft Zero will not have the Tridentine psalter, unfortunately, which definitely will be included in the future book(s).

I am interested in feedback regarding the fonts, font sizes, layout, and so forth, because those can impact the page count significantly, so having them a settled as possible as early as possible is a good thing.

By the way, there is a good possibility that not one, but two books will be published: one with rhythmic signs, pointed psalms, no ancient neumes, and lots of repetitions to avoid page turns (that is, a practical edition) covering only Sundays and major feasts; and one without rhythmic signs, with ancient neumes, fewer repetitions, and possibly variants or at least references to source manuscripts (that is, a critical edition) covering all days in the liturgical year.

This possibility is still under consideration by the steering committee.

Meanwhile, a good chunk of work has begun with the invitatories : critical transcriptions of the Liber Hymnarius, cataloguing of invitatory formulas for reuse in new pieces, cataloguing of available tones for ps94 and their variants. This bit of work should be over by Fall 2022.

Fall 2022 will be dedicated to documenting the process as much as possible (git/github tutorials, typographical guidelines, a tutorial for using the website...) to flatten the learning curve as much as possible to get as many contributors on board as possible. I am also interested in feedback on the website, especially from people who feel up to the task of correcting GABC.

In Christo,

Matthias