Views from the Choir Loft

1939 Little Grammar of Gregorian Chant (Gogniat)

Corpus Christi Watershed · March 19, 2013

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* * 1939 Little Grammar of Gregorian Chant (Gogniat)

• Little grammar of Gregorian chant : to propagate the principles contained in the Vatican edition • Joseph Gogniat, Professor at the College St-Michel, at the Albertinum and Salesianum Seminaries, and at the Conservatories of Fribourg and Lausanne, Organist at the Cathedral • : : Book in English (but, according to 1938 note by the Bishop of Gera, first appeared in French) : : 79 pages • 1939 : : Fribourg, Switzerland : OEuvre St-Canisius.•

• This is a copy of a copy. • The original book is signed on the cover by Msgr. Richard J. Schuler, who gave it a nice Review in the 1957 Edition of Caecilia. There is a 1938 recommendation from E. Card. Pacelli. • Gogniat studied with Dr. Peter Wagner. The English translation was done by Fr. Charles Dreisoerner, another student of Dr. Peter Wagner. •

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

“Music List” • All Souls (2 November)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 2 November 2025, which is the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (“All Souls”). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the top-notch feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

2-Voice Arr. • “Creator of the Starry Height”

Do you direct a choir consisting of women or children only? (Some call this a “treble” choir.) Download a two-voice arrangement of Creator of the Starry Height set to the tune of IOANNES by clicking here and then scrolling to the bottom. In our times, this hymn is normally used during ADVENT, and the Latin title is: Cónditor alme síderum. It’s important to say “cónditor”—placing the accent on the antepenult—because ‘condítor’ in Latin means “one who embalms the dead.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Equal Voices” Choir Pieces

My colleague, CORRINNE MAY, has posted some delightful compositions for equal voices: that is, choirs consisting of all men or all women. Included there are settings of the “Ave Maria” and “Tantum Ergo.” They strike me as relatively simple and not excessively lengthy. (In other words, within reach of volunteer singers.) Even better, all the scores have been made available as instant PDF downloads, completely free of charge. Bravo!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski

New Bulletin Article • “12 October 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 (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.

—Jeff Ostrowski