About this blogger:
Jeff Ostrowski
A theorist, organist, and conductor, Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004), and did graduate work in Musicology. He serves as choirmaster for the new FSSP parish in Los Angeles, where he resides with his wife and children.
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We sternly urge adherence to the established norms by those who raise an uproar or a challenge in the name of a misunderstood creative freedom, and thus inflict so much harm on the Church with their rash innovations, so vulgar, so frivolous—and sometimes even lamentably profane. Otherwise the essence of dogma and obviously of ecclesiastical discipline will be weakened, in line with the famous axiom: "lex orandi, lex credendi." We therefore call for absolute loyalty so that the rule of faith may remain safe.
— Pope Paul VI (27 June 1977)

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PDF Download • “Christ The King Hymnal” (1954)
published 21 October 2015 by Jeff Ostrowski

178 Knauff Christ the King 1954 OME OF YOU KNOW I’m currently involved in a hymnal project. As part of our research, we peruse old hymn books searching for melodies and/or texts of a high quality. Whenever I find a particularly intriguing Catholic hymnal, I try to share it with our readers. This one is 232 pages:

    * *  PDF • CHRIST THE KING HYMNAL (1954)

The vast majority of these hymns will be unfamiliar to most USA Catholics since they come from the German tradition. The collection was produced by Rev. Aloysius Knauff in Saskatchewan (CANADA). However, the lion’s share of work was done by Sister Pauline of St. Clare Convent (CINCINNATI, OHIO), who translated tons of hymns from German into English. I’m afraid to admit that some of her renderings strike me as a bit forced. The back of the book has quite a nice section of indices.

From the book’s PREFACE:

ROM THE RICH TREASURES of Catholic hymnody of several centuries I have endeavored to choose the best. To this precious legacy from our forefathers I have added many hymns from more recent composers. I have resisted the temptation of including certain hymns which, although very popular, have melodies or texts of inferior character, such as the hymns O du mein Heiland hoch und hehr, Es bluht der Blumen eine, Geleite durch die Wellen, etc. Wherever possible, I have added the Latin text to the English with the hope of extending the repertoire of hymns and motets which could be used at High Mass. Latin hymns for Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament commence with hymn No. 160 on page 172 and will no doubt be appreciated—particularly in convents, seminaries, and boarding schools, where Benediction is very frequent.

A word of sincere thanks is due here, first to my collaborator, Mr. Hubert Wachendorf of Aachen, Germany, who has succeeded in producing a fine accompaniment to most of these hymns; to Sister Pauline, S.P.S.F., of St. Clare Convent, Hartwell (Cincinnati, Ohio) who has made excellent translations for most of the German hymns; and to Dr. Eugene Lapierre of Montreal, Canada, for the accompaniments to the Gregorian chants…

To get an idea how these hymns actually sound, click on the video in this article and go to the last verse, which is sung in SATB harmony.




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