• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

  • About
  • Symposium
  • Hymnal
  • Jogues Missal
  • Site Map
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Dom Gregory Murray’s People’s Mass & Holy Week

Jeff Ostrowski · March 24, 2013

OR YEARS, I’ve heard about Dom Gregory Murray’s People’s Mass. At the moment, I won’t reveal too much, since later on I will be posting several rare documents by Dom Murray, but suffice it to say he loved to brag about this Mass. Written first in Latin, later in English, he would brag, saying, “It may not be musically rewarding, but I sold more copies than anybody else.” I have no way to verify his statement one way or the other, but allegedly both versions sold millions and millions of copies.

I have a lot of respect for Dom Gregory Murray’s compositions. At a later date, I hope to post online (for free) his beautiful “organ preludes for manuals only” which he started writing in the 1930s. I’ve played these for a decade and love them. However, when I finally saw his People’s Mass, I was very disappointed. I found it very predictable and uninspired. However, several of the sections are growing on me a bit.

Anyway, here’s the Latin version. Somebody could make a lot of money by “plugging in” the New Translation of the Roman Missal and selling it:

      * *  Dom Gregory Murray’s “People’s Mass” (Latin version) [pdf]

I found this in a fascinating collection that we posted in 2008 by Eugene Lapierre:

      * *  Accompaniment to the Music of Holy Week [pdf]

By the way, Dr. Eugene Lapierre was the one who encouraged Roger Wagner to complete his doctorate “in absentia.” I believe Wagner’s dissertation was on the music of Josquin Des Prez. Anyway, we’ve posted many Gregorian accompaniments by Lapierre, but that book is probably the most exceptional one, because of the interesting things he included. I hope you enjoy it!

It has been in the Lalande Online Library since 2008. As some of you know, in 2008, Corpus Christi Watershed released about 25,000 pages of Sacred music for free and instant download:

      * *  St. Jean de Lalande Website [url]

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe to the CCW Mailing List

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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”

I’m still trying to decide how to visually present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores, using what is (technically) the official rhythm of the Church. You can download my latest attempt, for this coming Sunday. Notice the “trochee trouble” as well as the old issue of neumes before the quilisma.

—Jeff Ostrowski
16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?

This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that sounds like harmonized plainsong.

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Young people have entrusted me with their absolute preference for the Extraordinary Form… […] But, above all, how can we understand—how can we not be surprised and deeply shocked—that what was the rule yesterday is prohibited today? Is it not true that prohibiting or suspecting the Extraordinary Form can only be inspired by the demon who desires our suffocation and spiritual death?”

— Cardinal Sarah to Edward Pentin (23 September 2019)

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • “A Canon Choirs Love!”
  • On Mistakes (Part I of II)
  • 19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”
  • “Gregorian Chant Not In Danger Pope Tells French”
  • PDF Download • “O Salutaris” (Modern Setting)

Copyright © 2022 Corpus Christi Watershed · Gabriel Lalemant on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.