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.

“Entrance Chant” • 23rd (Ordinary Time)

This coming Sunday, 7 September 2025, is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). You can download the “Entrance Chant,” conveniently located at the feasts website. I also recorded a rehearsal video for it (freely available at the same website). The Communion Chant includes gorgeous verses in FAUXBOURDON. I attempted to create a rehearsal video for it, and it’s been posted at the feasts website, called by some: “church music’s best kept secret.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • 3 September

According to the MISSALE RECENS, the Feast of Saint Gregory the Great occurs on 3 September (the date Gregory became pope). Formerly, his feast was celebrated during Lent, on 12 March (the day Gregory died). In Latin, the feast is: Die 3 Septembris: S. Gregorii Magni, papæ et Ecclesiæ doctoris. you can download the Latin Introit, the Latin Offertory, as well as the Communion with gorgeous fauxbordon in English. Abbat Joseph Pothier—along with Dom André Mocquereau, Bishop Laurent Janssens, Father De Santi, and other Gregorian superstars—sang with a choir of 1,210 voices (from 36 different Roman colleges) under the direction of Monsignor Antonio Rella. That Mass included the “Alma cohors,” a special SEQUENCE for Saint Gregory…much to the dismay of those who believe in strict adherence to rubrics. The Mass on 11 April 1904 was celebrated by Pope Saint Pius X, at the great GREGORIAN CONGRESS held in Rome “to mark the 13th Centenary of the death of Saint Gregory the Great.” Someday, there’s much I’d love to say about this congress. We even have recordings (!) from it (made in 1904 by the Gramophone Company) with choirs conducted by Dom Pothier, Dom Mocquereau, Dom Janssens, Monsignor Rella, Baron Kanzler, and others.

—Jeff Ostrowski

New Bulletin Article • “7 September 2025”

My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article is called: “Professor Bouyer’s Regret.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)

How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).

—Corpus Christi Watershed

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