Views from the Choir Loft

Christmas at Christ the King (late!)

Corpus Christi Watershed · February 4, 2013

EO LABRECQUE sent us an E-mail on 29 December 2012 letting us know about a beautiful blog on the Catholic Champion. Due to the volume of mail we receive, it is not always easy to get to things in a timely manner, but this blog seemed to good to pass up, even though it is no longer Christmastide.

By visiting this website [url], you can view splendid pictures of the candlelit Christmas Mass in Sarasota, Florida. We hope our readers will continue to send us notification of events that we can help to make known to a wider audience.

To learn more, you may want to visit their website [url].

The photographer says: We had another wonderful candle lit Christmas Mass this year at Christ the King in Sarasota, Florida. I went up front to the left of the altar to take some pictures and I was enraptured. I never went back to my pew. I just knelt on the floor, prayed and took pictures the entire Mass. Here are a few of them. Thanks again to Father Fryar for giving us such a memorable Christmas Mass.

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

Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski