Views from the Choir Loft

Catholic Service to be Celebrated in the Chapel Royal

Andrew Leung · January 5, 2016

HAT EXCITING NEWS! For the first time in more than 450 years, a Roman Catholic service will be celebrated in the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace. Vincent Cardinal Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster, is going to celebrate Vespers on February 9 in Henry VIII’s chapel. The Dean of the Queen’s chapel will be giving a sermon during the service. The music will be provided by The Sixteen and Genesis Sixteen under the direction of Harry Christopher. The repertoire for this historical liturgy includes Thomas Tallis’ Magnificat, William Cornysh’s Salve Regina and John Taverner’s ‘Leroy’ Kyrie.

Before Vespers is celebrated, the Cardinal and Dean will be in conversation under the heading “Faith and the Crown” in the Great Hall of Hampton Court. The discussion will explore the relationship between the two churches and the monarchy. They will also talk about the role the Chapel Royal in maintaining elements of Catholic worship to the present day.

In the past, Sacred Music had played an important role as a bridge between the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. We can see that in the live of faithful Catholic composers like Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, Edward Elgar, etc.; these composers wrote liturgical music for both Churches. In the recent years, we have seen the Choir of Westminster Abbey singing Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica with the Sistine Chapel Choir, and Pope Benedict XVI attending Evensong during his visit to the United Kingdom. Let us pray for the success of this Vespers and discussion. May God united us together through beautiful music and liturgies. Ut Omnes Unum Sint!

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

About Andrew Leung

Andrew Leung currently serves the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers, and music director at Our Lady of China Church.—(Read full biography).

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

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