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Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

What Exactly Is “Uninspired” Church Music?

Jeff Ostrowski · December 10, 2013

HILE STUDYING Musicology in graduate school, I was occasionally asked to give presentations on Gregorian chant at local universities. During one talk, a student raised his hand and said, “This is the third time you’ve used the word ‘uninspired.’ What precisely do you mean?” I confess that his question rather stumped me.

Since that time, I’ve often tried to come up with a good definition for uninspired. Regarding music, perhaps a good definition would be, “When the text and words don’t match.”

THE VIDEO IN THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER has an “ObamaCare” song that recently won first prize in a government-sponsored contest. Most people would hear it and say, “She’s got a bad voice.” However, I disagree. I think she’s a good singer, but her song is uninspired. It also has some technical flaws … e.g. “oblivious” doesn’t rhyme with “serious.” The entire thing (subject, melody, feel, gestures) doesn’t match. It’s an uninspired song.

People sometimes believe “uninspired” means “simple,” but that’s wrong. Melodies can be very simple, but still inspired. Recently, a colleague whom I respect sent me a video called Psallite Sapienter. It certainly does contain simple music … but (in my humble opinion) it’s completely without inspiration:

      * *  Psallite Church Music • “Once this music gets under your skin, there’s no turning back!”

Can you hear how predictable the melodies and rhymes are? I love simple music … but I hate predictable music. Furthermore, such music will quickly begin to grate, and great music should never grate. So, perhaps another definition of uninspired might be, “Music that sounds like it took about five seconds to compose.”

Speaking of uninspired, have you heard what they’re doing to Christmas carols these days? Click on the little “play” button underneath the album cover to hear what I mean:

      * *  What Child Is This? • Cody Carnes & Dianne Michelle

I’m certainly not opposed to inspired and tasteful new versions of great tunes, but what those people did (in the above link) is an abomination. I believe that sacred words demand a certain level of respect, and the way those people are singing sounds affected and erotic. Sorry.

AT THIS POINT, you’re probably saying, “Jeff, instead of being so negative, why don’t you provide us with an inspired setting?” I suppose I owe the reader that, but it’s not easy for me. You see, after a year or so, I always begin to hate my compositions … However, I suppose the Chabanel Psalm from yesterday’s Mass could be considered “not uninspired,” and here’s how it sounds:


Notice I hesitate to call my setting “inspired.” Calling one’s own composition “inspired” sounds so arrogant!

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Reform of the Reform Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

A hymn verse need not be a complete sentence, but it must have completed sense as a recognisable part of the complete sentence, and at each major pause there would be at least a “sense-pause.” Saint Ambrose and the early writers and centonists always kept to this rule. This indicates one of the differences between a poem and a hymn, and by this standard most of the modern hymns and the revisions of old hymns in the Breviary stand condemned.

— Fr. Joseph Connelly

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