Views from the Choir Loft

Patience, Patience, Patience

Dr. Lucas Tappan · February 5, 2015

OR SEVERAL WEEKS I stood in front of fourteen probationers during our weekly rehearsal. (Yes, that is too large a group, but more about that in another post.) This lively bunch of 8 boys and 6 girls had been working hard, but knew they were nearing break time—the rehearsal is 2 hours long with a 10 minute break in the middle—and of course a couple of boys were getting restless. (What boy wouldn’t in an after school rehearsal like this, right?)

I decided to take a moment to teach a lesson as well as impart some culture before the really important stuff—like snack time—began. I started recounting a story from Hillaire Belloc’s Cautionary Tales for Children ¹ about a boy named Jim and the importance of listening to those in authority. I barely had time to tell them about “Jim, who ran away from his nurse” when a little girl got so excited that she stammered, “and, and…and he was eaten by a lion.” Right afterward a boy mentioned another story he knew out of the same book and now all the kids were talking and laughing. It wasn’t long before I had lost all control—time for break! True, my plan didn’t work, but at least they knew about Hillaire Belloc; I guess Catholic culture isn’t completely dead!

I bring this up because before you ever begin working with children you must realize that while it is fun, it can be overwhelming at times. I have known people who began teaching music in the class room and within a couple of years decided they would rather work for a bank. So, I tell you Patience, Patience, Patience in Adversity. You will make it in the end!

Lastly, as I begin blogging here, I have decided to make two weekly posts: one around Monday that will deal with the practical aspects of children’s choirs and choir schools in general; and one around Thursday dealing with the practical aspects of sight-singing and ear training. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.

NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1 If you have never read these stories, read them with your children TONIGHT! They make for great, very politically incorrect bed time reading

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

About Dr. Lucas Tappan

Dr. Lucas Tappan is a conductor and organist whose specialty is working with children. He lives in Kansas with his wife and four children.—(Read full biography).

PDF • “Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 21 December 2025, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is the famous “Roráte Coeli” and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)

The Responsorial Psalm may be downloaded as a PDF file (organist & vocalist) for 12 December, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When it comes to the formulary for this Mass, it’s astounding how infrequently it’s included in official books. Prior to Vatican II, one had to search through “supplemental material” printed in the back of hand-missals and graduals. But since 1970, the feast is virtually nonexistent. According to the UNIVERSAL KALENDAR, 12 December is the “Feast of Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, Religious” (Die 12 decembris: S. Ioannæ Franciscæ de Chantal, religiosæ). Why should that feast overpower Our Lady of Guadalupe? In the United States, OLG is celebrated—and I’d assume in Mexico, Central America, South America, and Canada—but, as I said, the Propria Missae are virtually impossible to locate. I possess only three books which mention this feast.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Accompaniment (Advent Hymn)

Many organists are forced to simultaneously serve as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment (PDF) which in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal is hymn #661: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (for ADVENT). I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 2,900 times in a matter of hours—so there appears to be interest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Santo Santo Santo”

Those searching for a dignified, brief, simple, bright setting of SANCTUS in Spanish (“Santo Santo Santo”) are invited to download this Setting in honor of Saint John Brébeuf (organist & vocalist). I wonder if there would be any interest in me recording a rehearsal video for this piece.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Leo XIV on Sacred Music

On 5 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV made this declaration with regard to liturgical music.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”

According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.

—Corpus Christi Watershed