Many people have written to ask what is the best introduction to chant. There are many on the market today, and some of them actually increase confusion rather than clarify. Ideally, an introductory book should explain how to read neumes, with a clear description of both rhythm and pitch, provide a bit of history about why we sing chant, and get the reader singing as soon as possible with the core repertoire for parishes — with as few unnecessary complications as possible.
Overall the best introduction available is not a new book but a newly in print book from the 1940s: Sister Mary Antonine Goodchild’s Gregorian Chant for Church and School. It is now available from the Church Music Association of America.
