Views from the Choir Loft

Disney’s “That Darn Cat,” Life Teen Masses, and More

Jeff Ostrowski · May 28, 2013

USIC AND SOUNDS have a strong influence on the way we feel. I’ve never understood the following argument (which I’ve heard with my own ears numerous times while taking part in panel discussions):

All music is equal. We cannot say one music or one style is better than another. We cannot say that a particular style of music is more appropriate for worship. The notion that a certain type of music which developed in Europe over the centuries is “better” for Mass is offensive.

It seems obvious to me that different musical styles have entirely different effects. Listen to the music in this excerpt from Walt Disney’s That Darn Cat (a great movie, by the way!):

Here’s an article about “Life Teen” Masses, which includes many quotes from Dr. William Mahrt of Stanford:

* * 2008 Article on Life Teen Masses [pdf]

I’m not going to comment on the article (it would take forever!) but feel free to do so in the combox if you wish. By the way, many quotes in the article seem to be drawn directly from the Watershed Documentary Sacred, Beautiful, & Universal.

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

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).

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

To end an impropriety, noticed particularly at orchestral Vespers, when two or three Psalms are sung with full orchestra, and then the other Psalms and the Hymn are rapidly hurried through with organ accompaniment only […] we order that at Mass all portions of the text, including “Agnus Dei,” be sung with orchestral accompaniment. […] Moreover, the musicians are not allowed to put the instruments away and leave their places before the conclusion of the sacred function.

— Cardinal Patrizi (18 November 1856)