Views from the Choir Loft

A Hymn That Just Keeps Popping Up

Jeff Ostrowski · November 16, 2017

HE COMMITTEE on which I serve continues to make progress on the St. Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal. We often provide multiple tunes for a single hymn text, because congregations appreciate this. Besides, singing the same text to a “new” tune can make one appreciate different aspects of the text which, after all, is a prayer.

One tune that keeps popping up is INNSBRUCK, often paired with O Esca Viatorum (link)—a traditional Eucharistic hymn. After finishing editing one of the texts for INNSBRUCK, I was driving down the road listening to a marvelous recording of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion…

…and what should I hear?

* * Mp3 • Excerpt from Bach’s St. Matthew Passion

J.S. Bach “recycled” many works, but in the Brébeuf hymnal we stop short of going as far as he does. For example, Bach used the PASSION CHORALE in many places, including his Christmas Oratorio! That’s pretty bold, folks.

I did not tell my choir this in advance, but during Mass last Sunday, I suddenly felt inspired to sing INNSBRUCK. I asked them to pull it out, and they sang it very well:

Someone in the pews recorded the entire Mass, which you can view on YouTube.

Albert Schweitzer—speaking specifically of Bach’s incomparable and magnificent Art of the Fugue—wrote that Bach’s music inhabits a “still and serious world…deserted and rigid, without color, without light, without motion; it does not gladden, does not distract; yet we cannot break away from it.” Believe it or not, that’s actually a compliment!

(Those who love Bach will understand.)

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

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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Dom Pothier • Photo from 1904

Dom Paul Cagin, in a 1904 publication (L’oeuvre de Solesmes dans la restauration du chant grégorien) made sure to include a beautiful image of Dom Pothier, the legendary abbot of St-Wandrille. Also shown is a very young Dom André Mocquereau. Auguste Pécoul—considered the spiritual “son” of Abbat Prosper Guéranger of Solesmes—wrote as follows on 24 June 1901: “To forestall any confusion, let us remember that there is just one Gregorian notation—that restored, according to the ancient manuscripts, by the eminent Abbot of Saint-Wandrille, Dom Pothier.” ✠

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “3-Voice Motet” (Father De Laet)

I believe 99% of our readers will recognize this hymn tune. Perhaps Father Edgard De Laet should have called it a ‘hymn’ instead of a ‘motet for three voices’—but he’s technically correct, since MOTET is defined as: “a short piece of sacred choral music, typically polyphonic and unaccompanied.” The even verses are for three voices, as you will see if you download the PDF score at #20245. The odd verses may be song a cappella SATB or unison with organ.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”

I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of January (2026)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)

I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.

—Jeff Ostrowski