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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Innocuous But Uninspired Music At Mass?

Jeff Ostrowski · January 28, 2015

407 NPM OMETIMES PEOPLE who think they’re brilliant try to “reinvent everything” but end up proving themselves foolish. Peter Wagner’s disciple, Joseph Gogniat, was an enemy of the singing at Solesmes and published an entire book opposing Mocquereau’s theories. He even convinced Cardinal Pacelli—who would be elected Pius XII a few months later—to endorse it. To replace the classical Solesmes method, however, he invented his own system of notation which, as you can see, was even more confusing!

One of the leading postconciliar composers was Carey Landry. When I worked in the Ordinary Form, my boss frequently forced me to play Landry’s songs at Mass (and some are well crafted). To this day, many of his compositions are sold by Oregon Catholic Press. Many faithful Catholics were horrified when they first heard this type of music 1 being sung at Mass:

      * *  Audio Excerpt • by Carey Landry (Oregon Catholic Press)

When I was little, I remember singing some of these same songs at Mass (although I refused to do the hand gestures), and OCP still sells several I recall.

OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES, faithful priests have eliminated much of what was done in the ’70s and ’80s, but many “contemporary” composers have produced new music that—while not offensive—strikes me as uninspired. In particular, I’ve noticed this with the billions of musical settings produced for MR3. Maybe a quick “live” recording from an actual Mass will illustrate what I’m getting at:

      * *  “Live” Recording At Mass • Innocuous But Uninspired Kyrie Eleison

In the years immediately following the Council, some insisted upon Mass Ordinaries in the vernacular no matter what they sounded like. (I hope to post some of these in the coming months.) One Gloria I saw printed on a 1960s Mass Card uses the tune from “Soul of my Savior” over and over, almost like a warped isorhythmic motet. People seemed determined to create something “new”—similar to Joseph Gogniat—but forgot that music has been developing for centuries. They should have immersed themselves in the masterpieces of the past as a prerequisite to composing music for God’s house.

Gregorian composers had an extremely sophisticated way of setting music. Our ears don’t easily tire of their compositions, though the melodies are often simple. Those unfamiliar with the Gregorian style often complain that notes are placed on the “wrong” syllables, but their arguments are invalid. The Gregorian composers knew very well what they were about:

405 Fourteenth Cent. hymnus


The Renaissance masters also took advantage of what had been learned about music through the ages. Their compositions do not obscure the text, but elevate it in a sophisticated manner, overlapping phrase after phrase. How different this is from the extremely predictable approach of so many of today’s composers, where each phrase is separated like a baby who’s learning “Goo goo gah gah.”

In essence, we’re on the right track, and progress is being made. Eventually (perhaps) we’ll reach the same level of musical sophistication Catholics had a millenium ago! It reminds me of a coffee mug I saw years ago. Showing a circular track, it said: “I’m so far behind, I think I’m ahead.”



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   This is often done in the name of “stylistic diversity of all the various contemporary cultures.”

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

Filed Under: Articles 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

    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Although the New Testament is now so much more important to us than the Old, we must remember that the archetype of the Canon of Scripture is the Old Testament. At first that was the whole Bible, to Christians as to Jews. When the apostles speak of “Scripture” they mean the Old Testament only. Indeed, the way in which the books of the New Testament came to be considered canonical was by making them equal to those of the Old.

— Rev’d Doctor Adrian Fortescue

Recent Posts

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  • “Three Reasons To Shun Bad Hymns” • Daniel B. Marshall
  • “Puzzling Comment” • By A Respected FSSP Priest
  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
  • “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)

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