Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • Franz Liszt and Gregorian Chant

Jeff Ostrowski · May 17, 2019

ANY HAVE ASKED about the “corrupt” chant editions posted by CCWatershed in 2008. At that time, we were practically the only organization to value such editions, and people wanted to know: “What is the purpose of posting such books? Are we supposed to sing from them?” The short answer is: It is crucial to know what books the people were looking at in historical times. Nicolas Dufetel understands this all too well, and consulted the correct books for his fantastic article about Franz Liszt. It turns out Liszt was “obsessed” with trying to unlock the secrets of plainsong modality and rhythm, which at that time were not fully understood.

The Gregorian sheets with Liszt’s margin notes are not to be missed:

* * PDF Download • Article by Nicolas Dufetel

84559 Franz Liszt Gregorian Chant MSS

This document is courtesy of the HAL website, under the “progressive and awesome” Creative Commons which allows authors to share things but still receive full credit and legal protection.

Citation: Nicolas Dufetel. Religious Workshop and Gregorian Chant: The Janus Liszt, or How to Make New with the Old. James Deaville et Michael Saffle. Liszt’s Legacies. Based on papers presented at the International Liszt Conference held at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, Pendragon Press, pp. 43-71, 2014.

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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).

“What Martin Luther Said…”

My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.

—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