Views from the Choir Loft

Choir of Sainte Marie • “THE GREAT WEEK”

Corpus Christi Watershed · March 14, 2005

You are also responsible for learning
the PALESTRINA ALLELUIA:
26561 • “Alleluia for SATB” • PDF Score (Singer)

EQUAL VOICES : YouTube
SOPRANO : YouTube
ALTO : YouTube
TENOR : YouTube
BASS : YouTube

Music list: Palm Sunday
Music list: Holy Thursday
Music List: Good Friday
Music List: Easter Sunday
Reminder: the “feasts website” is https://www.ccwatershed.org/feasts/

Holy Thursday:
call time for men & women = 6:15pm

Women must learn the fantastic Introit for Holy Thursday:
ENTRANCE CHANT SCORE • rehearsal video

Innsbruck Tune:
Men and women must learn:
O Esca Viatorum (“O Food the pilgrim needeth”)
Learn the SATB parts by using the score below.
The one marked “Innsbruck.”

Good Friday:
call time for men = 2:15pm
call time for women = 3:00pm (When the ceremony itself begins)

Men must learn:
Musical Score • rehearsal video

Innsbruck Tune # 334:
Men and women must learn:
Crux Fidelis (a.k.a. “Pange Lingua Gloriosi”)

Holy Saturday:
The full choir has no responsibilities for the Easter Vigil.
Rehearsal at the choir director’s home in Muskegon 10:30am, and “potluck” afterwards.
495 S. Getty St
Muskegon, MI 49442

Easter Sunday:
Call time = 9:00am

Full choir is responsible for learning the Easter Sunday Sequence.
The singers’ score is on page 3 of that PDF file.
You should listen to this rehearsal video.

You are also responsible for learning
the PALESTRINA ALLELUIA:
26561 • “Alleluia for SATB” • PDF Score (Singer)

EQUAL VOICES : YouTube
SOPRANO : YouTube
ALTO : YouTube
TENOR : YouTube
BASS : YouTube

You are also responsible for learning GLORIA iii:

* PDF Download • VOCALIST SCORE

Here’s the direct URL link.

Mp3 version of Gloria iii

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

PDF Download • “Sprinkling Rite”

Liturgical reformers who gained power after Vatican II frequently caused great suffering to musicians. With the stroke of a pen, they sometimes make changes that would require thousands—or even millions—of man hours (work undertaken by composers and editors). The Sprinkling Rite during Eastertide is but one tiny example. The version given in that PDF document was the original melody for Roman Missal, Third Edition. Some still prefer that version. However, at the last moment, an “unknown hand” tinkered with a few notes in the antiphon. Those who examine the current edition can verify this with their own eyes.

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘Sarum’ Good Friday?

Plainsong of the Roman Rite has many variants—i.e. slight ‘variations’ or ‘alterations’ made to the ancient melodies. Variants often thrive in particular religious orders. Likewise, before Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church, Gregorian Chant variants were frequently associated with individual cathedrals in England: Hereford, Lincoln, Salisbury, and so forth. In the early 20th century, the (Anglican) organist at Westminster Abbey married “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” to this beautiful variant melody from England. Those who sing Gregorian Chant on Good Friday will recognize the melody. What do you think of this pairing?

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Eb Organ Postlude”

Gustav Adolf Merkel (d. 1885) was a German organist, teacher, and composer. Although a Lutheran himself, he held the appointment at the (Roman Catholic) Cathedral of Dresden from 1864 until his death. You can download his Organ Postlude in E-Flat, which I like very much. He has an interesting way of marking the pedal notes. What do you think?

—Jeff Ostrowski

“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