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Corpus Christi Watershed

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

Your Christmas Present!

Jeff Ostrowski · December 24, 2017

90902 CCW present E RECENTLY launched a special fundraising drive, and promised to release certain items if we met our goal. Thanks to your generosity, we succeeded; so below are the files we promised. Of course the money is important—because it allows us to survive—but on a level you might not realize, the fundraising also gives encouragement. It demonstrates that our efforts matter enough to readers that they’ll donate (and church musicians are not wealthy). We enjoyed reading the little “notes” you sent in with your pledges, even the electronic ones.

When our contributors get discouraged, I always say the same thing: “Remember we are trying to do something positive. This is not easy; and the proof is how few Catholic websites are positive vs. how many Catholic websites consist of negativity, gossip, and scandal.”

Merry Christmas!

    * *  PDF Score • Kevin Allen “Gloria” (Never Released)

PDF Document (score)

EQUAL VOICES : Mp3 Audio

SOPRANO : Audio

ALTO : Audio

TENOR : Audio

BASS : Audio

Listen to an excerpt of the premiere performance conducted by Dr. Horst Buchholz. The piece is dedicated to St. Jean de Brébeuf, and Mr. Allen really captured the sound of the North American missionaries.


    * *  YouTube • Dr. Tappan — TRAINING YOUTH CHOIRS (46 minutes)

YouTube Video

This 46-minute video contains a marvelous presentation by Dr. Lucas Tappan.


    * *  PDF • Jeff Ostrowski — CRUCIAL SURVIVAL TACTICS (12 pages)

PDF Document (12 pages)

This 2017 presentation by Jeff Ostrowski is totally different than the speech he gave in 2016.


    * *  PDF • Pete Avendaño — REPERTOIRE FOR CHILDREN (17 pages)

PDF Document (391 pieces)

You will not want to miss this marvelous list compiled by Pete Avendaño, containing approximately 391 pieces. Mr. Avendaño is one of the world’s most esteemed teachers of youth singers.


    * *  PDF • Dr. Calabrese — REPERTOIRE FOR CHILDREN (32 pieces)

PDF Document

This list of 32 pieces that work well for children was compiled by Dr. Calabrese for one of his talks.


    * *  PDF • Dr. Tappan — REPERTOIRE FOR CHILDREN (3 pages)

PDF Document (3 pages)

Dr. Lucas Tappan has assembled a list of pieces “that just work.”


    * *  PDF • Fr. Popplewell — HYMN TALK (13 pages)

PDF Document (notes)

These are the notes Fr. Popplewell used for his talk on hymns.


    * *  PDF • Dr. Calabrese — RENAISSANCE TALK (2 pages)

PDF Document (notes)

These are the notes Dr. Calabrese used for his talk on Renaissance polyphony.


    * *  PDF • Jeff Ostrowski — ONLINE RESOURCES (5 pages)

PDF Document

Jeff Ostrowski gave this presentation, entitled: “Taking Advantage of Online Resources.”


    * *  PDF • Nova Organi Harmonia — VOLUME SIX (126 pages)

    * *  Low Res (8MB) • NOH Volume 6

    * *  High Res (239MB) • NOH Volume 6

For decades, we have been searching for Volume 6 of the Nova Organi Harmonia. We have obtained a pristine copy, and made two versions: Low Res (8MB) and High Res (239MB). These are extremely rare Gregorian chant accompaniments.


    * *  PDF • SYMPOSIUM BOOKLET (260 pages)

PDF Document (260 pages)

This 260-page booklet is not something you can live without.

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

    Pipe Organ “Answers” in Plainsong?
    In 2003, I copied a book by Félix Bélédin (d. 1895), who was titular organist—from 1841 to 1874—at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Lyon (France). In 2008, we scanned and uploaded the book to the Lalande Online Library. Nobody knows for sure when the book was published; some believe it first appeared in the 1840s. In any event, one who examines this excerpt, showing GLORIA IX might wonder why it says the organ answers in plainsong. However, the front of the book explains, telling the organist explicitly when to “respond in plainchant.” This is something called organ alternatim. Believe it or not, the pipe organ would take turns with the choir, playing certain texts instrumentally instead of having them sung. I’m not very well-versed in this—pardon the pun—but if memory serves, ORGAN ALTERNATIM was frowned upon by the time of Pope Saint Pius X. Nevertheless, French organists kept doing it, even after it was explicitly condemned as an abuse.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (5th Sunday of Lent)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 5th Sunday of Lent (22 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. Traditionally, this Sunday was called ‘Passion’ Sunday. Starting in 1956, certain church leaders attempted rename both ‘Passion’ Sunday and ‘Palm’ Sunday—but it didn’t work. For example, Monsignor Frederick McManus tried to get people to call PALM SUNDAY “Second Passion Sunday”—but the faithful rejected that. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (Holy Thursday, 2026)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Holy Thursday, which is 2 April 2026. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a more piercingly beautiful INTROIT, and I have come to absolutely love the SATB version of ‘Ubi cáritas’ we are singing (joined by our burgeoning children’s choir). I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
    How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
    I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
    For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“I would hope there is a place [at Mass] for the avant-garde in the same way I think there has to be a place—and we have to be careful with this—a place for Jazz and a place for Evangelical and all of that. […] On theological grounds, I do think we need interaction with the culture at the level of high art or at the level of more commercial pop culture.”

— Fr. Anthony Ruff (22 June 2016)

Recent Posts

  • Pipe Organ “Answers” in Plainsong?
  • “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
  • “Versions of the Psalter” • Jeff Interviews Top Biblical Scholar: Dr. Mark Giszczak
  • PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
  • Summer 2026 • “Gregorian Chant Course” at Aquinas College (Nashville, TN)

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