BreviaryTunes (Free) Apple iOS –This is a rescue app for the one frustrating element in praying the Divine Office which commonly trips us up before we even start–the hymn. In a group setting we exchange inquisitive looks with the prescribed hymn, wasting several page-flipping, memory-searching minutes before we settle on one commonly titled: “one we know.”
BreviaryTunes saves you from that conundrum. With a tap of the icon on your iPhone or iPad, you’ll have before you a list of just about every hymn in your Shorter Christian breviary by its corresponding number.
Tap the hymn and you get a little audio player with volume control to hear the melody. Of course, once you have that, you can sing to your heart’s content. Don’t have the tune number (as with your 4-volume set)? You can search by opening line (title) or even meter. Input the number of verses you have, and the tune repeats so you can use it as accompaniment to your singing.
Copyrighted hymns are not available (Sion, Sing isn’t singable anyway).
On my iphone, I place this app icon next to my breviary app icon, right where it belongs.
I’m looking for the perfect complete Liturgy of the Hours app. It must match in all details the USA four volume set including the hymns as if it were published now. It would have at least iOS and Android versions. It would also mimic the Divine Office.org with variable speed accompaniment, both musical and vocal. Ideally on days of commemoration, etc. the ferial first and second readings would also be easily accessible. For future additions to the calendar, the commons would also be readily accessible. I suspect that many would be willing to pay not only a just wage but a premium for such a service.