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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“Victoria not only made his professional debut as church organist: he also continued active on the organ bench until the very eve of his death. Indeed, during his last seven years at Madrid (1604-1611) he occupied no other musical post but that of convent organist.”
— Dr. Robert Stevenson (1961)

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PDF Download • Vespers Organ Accompaniments
published 10 June 2019 by Jeff Ostrowski

84247 stained NE OF THE MOST AWESOME things we do at my parish is Sunday Vespers. The whole congregation sings, alternating between Men & Women. It is beautiful beyond anything I could have imagined, although it took us a few months to get going. This would not be possible without the 465-page book I mentioned, created by Albert Bloomfield. The Magnificat changes each week, and I accompany Vespers on the organ. (Reminder: The men and women alternate, sitting on opposite sides of the congregation.) So, what scores do I use to accompany the (ever-changing) Magnificat antiphon & verse?

Well, you can see them if you wish (see below). You’ll notice the harmonies underneath the psalm tones are missing, because I like to improvise them.

These scores are very ugly—they are for private use only.

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • Epiphany

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • Holy Family

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • 2nd Sunday after Epiphany

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • 3rd Sunday after Epiphany

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • 4th Sunday after Epiphany

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • 5th Sunday after Epiphany

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • Septuagesima Sunday

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • Sexagesima Sunday

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • Quinquagesima Sunday

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • Low Sunday

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • 2nd Sunday after Easter

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • 3rd Sunday after Easter

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • 4th Sunday after Easter

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • 5th Sunday after Easter

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • Sunday after Ascension

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • Pentecost Sunday

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • Trinity Sunday

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • 4th Sunday after Pentecost

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • 5th Sunday after Pentecost

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • 6th Sunday after Pentecost

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • 7th Sunday after Pentecost

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • 8th Sunday after Pentecost

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • 9th Sunday after Pentecost

* *  (Magn. Ant. + Verse) • 10th Sunday after Pentecost


For some reason, I find it easier to improvise the harmonies for psalm tones, rather than read them.

If you have never done Vespers before, this xerox sheet is (perhaps) the best way to begin.

Vespers



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