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Views from the Choir Loft

Fr. George Rutler Weighs In On The Campion Missal

Jeff Ostrowski · April 15, 2013

ATHER GEORGE RUTLER is known all over the world as a preacher, and like many other Catholics, I grew up listening to his tapes (they were “cassette tapes” in those days). However, it turns out Fr. Rutler has many other talents. Among other things, he’s a truly gifted musician, first rate painter, and quite a sportsman, including things we might not expect, like boxing. I’m not a good writer, so rather than going on and on, let me simply say that Fr. Rutler is a truly brilliant man.

I would like to share a comment Fr. Rutler made about the Campion Missal [url]:

“Attractively, even elegantly, produced, the appearance of this Missal and Hymnal is appropriate to the high quality of the contents. It should be of great benefit of those who assist at the Traditional Mass and those who would be interested in learning more about it.”
        — Rev. George William Rutler

More than a decade ago, I listened to Fr. Rutler give a talk about beauty. If I remember correctly, he said beautiful things possess “goodness and perfection of form,” or some such words. Then he pointed out, “You will never understand the purpose and order of the universe if you like rock music. Have you ever noticed that rock music has no form? It doesn’t even have a proper ending: it just fades out.” These words are quite profound, and he’s absolutely right: rock music usually has no form or structure. It’s usually just a “riff” that repeats endlessly. Here’s an example of how a rock music song ends. By the way, it turns out the song actually has a different ending for “live” concerts. They end it by saying, “Don’t stop.” Without question, sounds terrible . . . no wonder they usually just “fade away” when possible.

Even the really good Disney movies have a “shape” to them. Think of that classic, “Robin Hood.” It definitely has a beautiful “shape” to the way the story is presented (when the conflict happens, etc.).

In the future, I hope to write more about beauty and purpose in the universe in the context of what we’re trying to do at CCW.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Fr George William Rutler Last Updated: October 6, 2020

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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).

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Quick Thoughts

    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Don’t You Agree About These?
    If you want to make Jeff Ostrowski really happy, send him an email with effusive praise about the individual voice recordings for hymn #296. [Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass] They came out dazzlingly sensational, don't you agree?
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The Humanists abominated the rhythmical poetry of the Middle Ages from an exaggerated enthusiasm for ancient classical forms and meters. Hymnody then received its death blow as, on the revision of the Breviary under Pope Urban VIII, the medieval rhythmical hymns were forced into more classical forms by means of so-called corrections.”

— ‘Father Clemens Blume, S.J.’

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